Letter from Pastor Bill

                What do you do when you fall flat?

          Saul of Tarsus was a young rabbi with a bright future. (Acts 9:1-9) He hated the followers of Jesus; was determined to locate these heretics, chase them down, and destroy them.  He knew he was right.  He was doing it for God.

          As he traveled, he couldn’t forget the words of the martyr Stephen.  He had been at Stephen’s stoning, had even watched the stoners’ clothing for them.  Then boom!

          Nearing Damascus he was confronted by Jesus in an explosion of light.  Saul fell to the ground. 

          What do you do when you fall flat?  First, you ask how you got there.  Saul was convinced that he was doing the will of God, but he had really been doing his own thing.  He was operating out of his own prejudices.

          Next, you accept new vision.  Saul had been so sure of himself --- that he was right and the Christians were wrong.  Now he learned that the very ones he had been persecuting were God’s special saints.  He had to turn completely around and accept the new reality.

         But most importantly, you seek God’s will.  Sometimes we are afraid God will want us to do what we don’t want to do.  But if we listen to God’s call, He will give us the strength and gifts to see it through.

In Christ,

 Pastor Bill