Bushes Burn

As we discussed a number of topics at the conference I attended on the weekend, one of the Scripture passages came up that we all know. It is found in Exodus, chapter 3, where the angel of the Lord appears to Moses through a burning bush. In a desert, of course, that image might not be too unusual, but as I think about the California wildfires for the past week or so, perhaps it is. Unlike the hundreds of homes and miles of landscape that have been consumed, this particular bush was not consumed. God, it seems, wanted Moses to stop, take time to listen to His words, and respond. I wonder how many times God has either spoken to us in His still quiet voice or through a dramatic situation and we have simply continued on our tasks ignoring Him.

It seems now that I am in my sixties I have more time to reflect upon lost opportunities of the past than ever. I do not believe God wants to to feel guilty about these, and I do believe He still speaks to us and give us new challenges at any age. I go to a church downtown that participates in numerous outreach activities in conjunction with other churches in the city. It provides a number of opportunities for its members to learn and grow spiritually. It does not, however, seem to have any evangelistic programs to bring in new members.

The church essentially has four missions: to grow closer to God personally, to participate within the church community in rituals and activities, to help others through social outreach programs, and to evangelize. I believe the latter is equally as important as are the other three. As I look around the congregation each Sunday morning, I realize again the need to bring in new people. How to do that exactly I am not sure. I trust that I will listen to God's voice should He speak in a burning bush, or otherwise, to me personally.