Whom Shall I Send?

“Our external delights, our earthly pleasures, our ambition and our reputation, our human relationships, for all of these things, our desires are eager, our appetites strong, our love, warm and affectionate. When it comes to these things our hearts are tender and sensitive, deeply impressed, easily moved, much concern and greatly engaged. We are depressed at our losses and we are excited and joyful about any worldly success or prosperity. But when it comes to spiritual matters, how dull we feel. How heavy and hard our hearts. We can sit and hear of the infinite length and height and breadth and love of God in Christ Jesus, of His giving of His infinitely dear Son, and yet sit there cold and unmoved. If we are going to be excited about anything, shouldn’t it be our spiritual lives? Is there anything more inspiring, more exciting, more lovable and desirable in heaven or on earth than the Gospel of Jesus Christ? We should be utterly humbled that we are not more emotionally affected than we are in the church.”

- Jonathan Edwards

• Story of a woman, visiting Hagen Daaz, standing in front of Paul Newman.

• A number of years ago, a woman in Kansas City walked into a Haagen-Dazs ice cream shop at the Plaza shopping center. While waiting, she turned to find actor Paul Newman standing behind her! He was in town filming the movieMr. & Mrs. Bridge, and was now standing behind his biggest fan.

He smiled at her and said "hello." She took one look at those legendary blue eyes and her knees almost buckled. Her heart was in her throat. She tried to speak, but not a sound came out. Mortified, she turned around, paid for her ice cream, then quickly walked out of the store.

Outside, she sat down on a bench and caught her breath. As she calmed down, she realized she didn't have her ice cream cone. She was debating walking back in to get it when Paul Newman walked out. "You looking for your ice cream cone?" he asked. Speechless again, she nodded. "You put it in your purse with your change."

• Why is it that people can get excited or fighting mad about a football team that they aren't on or a school they didn't attend, but we have to stoke the fire under them before they show some excitement about the savior who rescued them from eternal separation from God?

• How do people sit in church, so nonchalant, as if its not all that special?

• Why do people look at you strangely if you are excited and praising God, even in church?

• Is it that they don't know the one they say they worship?

• Is it that the reason the fail to worship, in church, is because there is no one there to worship?

• Story of the rodeo cowboy visiting church.

Isaiah 6:1-5

• How do we not fall on our face before God knowing that we are so utterly unworthy of anything from him including being in his presence?

I have come to realize that I don't even know what I need, so I ask him to supply what he knows I need.

Isaiah 6:6-9a

"Do Something" Matthew West

I woke up this morning Saw a world full of trouble now Thought, how’d we ever get so far down How’s it ever gonna turn around So I turned my eyes to Heaven I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?” Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of People living in poverty Children sold into slavery The thought disgusted me So, I shook my fist at Heaven Said, “God, why don’t You do something?” He said, “I did, I created you”

• If not you...who?

Isaiah 6:1-10