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From the Desktop of the Pastor – Week of the 13th Sunday after Pentecost

Hi everyone,

So this past week something weird happened. A game on my son’s ipad somehow reset itself and all his progress, and I mean ALL his progress was lost. And the thing about my son is when he gets into a game, he really gets into it so he was pretty far. All the time and effort he put into that game just *poof* disappeared for no explicable reason.

He was not happy, as you’d imagine.

In fact, he cried, as would I. Actually, he did more than that. He bawled. And bawled. And bawled. For like 45 minutes too. And all I could do was sit there beside him and reassured him that I know how he feels (which I literally do as he’s deleted more than a few of my saved games in the past). I guess this is worse because it wasn’t anyone’s fault. It was just some glitch that came out of nowhere. Technology is great when it works, but when it doesn’t, it sucks.

But it was interesting to see this kid’s passion. His heart. And all the effort he put into his game and really, a lot of other parts of his life. It’s just unfortunate that in this particular area of life, he’d have to start all that effort over again.

Here are the readings for next week:
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Psalm 1
Philemon 1-21
Luke 14:25-33

Jesus tells us that there is a cost in following him. But it isn’t a cost that would make us cry (not directly at least), but it’d be a cost that would mean a big difference in our lives…. sorta.

What I mean is that as we follow Jesus, as we learn more about God’s grace and mercy, as we more clearly see God’s kingdom injected in the world, that cost doesn’t feel like a cost anymore. It doesn’t feel like work. Rather, it becomes what gives us joy, what gives us hope, and what gives us peace.

This isn’t to say that discipleship is easy. In fact, it’ll be hard as bumps along the way will be inevitable. There is a reason why he calls it “picking up our crosses”. But the path and journey will be live-giving as we see the difference we can be in a world that is so in need of its Saviour.

So as my son pours out his passion and heart into his game or whatever else he might be into, so we begin to pour out our passion and heart in God’s ministry for the world, knowing that this isn’t just what we’re called to do, but what we are created to do. Thanks be to God!

Have a great week, everyone!

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