Isaiah, Us, and Hope

As followers of Christ, we are called to be a hopeful people. We trust in the promises of God. We believe that the present reality is not the whole of God’s plan. We believe there is something better than the present reality, certainly in the life to come, but also in this life. I am not talking about prosperity for ourselves, where we look up and God rains down the material blessings upon us. But instead, we trust that we might see a day when the nations of the world might “beat the swords into plowshares, and spears into pruning hooks.” (Isaiah2:4).

Isaiah is a hope-filled book, a book crying out for justice, a book that proclaims the coming of the Savior, a book that assures us that “those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.,” (40:31).

This is an exciting and challenging time in the life of Northminster. It is an exciting time because of the promise of God through the prophet in Chapter 43. “Behold, I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” There is a spirit of enthusiasm here, and I perceive it. It seems as though every day God is doing a new thing here. The number of people who recently pitched in to make Vacation Bible School such a success stands out as one example. But also the quiet ways that people are being ministered to by their brothers and sisters. Less dramatic, yes. Less obvious, yes. But no less important.

As people of hope we do not slow down even during challenging times. We do not close our doors, our arms, our hearts. And this is the challenge. Given the passion with which we approach ministry around here, there is a reality that may have passed by some of you.

You need not look deep into our financial statements to see that we are behind. (Please see the BFMC report for specific figures.) Our committees and ministries cut their budgets before this year and are doing a great job staying under those reduced budgets. We don’t have an expense problem; we have a revenue problem. Our Business Facilities Management Committee is working hard to find a solution to this problem.

As people of hope, we do not give up, but we must also find a way to close the gap in order to continue carrying out our mission in this place and time.

One day I was walking down the street in Pittsburgh and while waiting to cross the street a man approached the woman next to me and asked, “Maam, do you have an extra dollar?” She calmly replied, “There’s no such thing as an extra dollar.”

These words may ring more true today than ever for some of us. However, as people of hope we cannot afford to think this way. $10-15 more per week per family would go a long way in helping NPC face this challenge. That’s a dinner home instead of pizza out. That’s taking your lunch to work instead of eating out. That’s taking your own coffee instead of buying from the local coffee shop.

I understand you may have taken some of these measures already to make ends meet. However, think and pray about the ways you might be able to help, trusting in the words of our Lord, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Is. 43:1-3).

Peace,

Patrick