47 year-old Pastor Justin Buzzard did something this week that most sane people would avoid: he took the field in his first college football game in almost 30 years. Not long ago I was near the sideline of a UofL game when a twentyish tight-end crashed into a phalanx of defenders. The collision was so violent, the noise so disturbing, I thought “he might never walk again.” Then all the players involved popped right up and ran back to the huddle. I remember thinking, “what I meant was I would never walk again if that happened to me.” Kudos to Justin for taking the risk and getting in the game. He said he’s been driven by his motto “risk not rust.” I can think of some other “R” words that might be relevant like recovery, rest, retirement, ruin, rupture, and reckless.
Justin said the reason he’s dragging his old bones back onto the field is not for anything more noble than just pure enjoyment of the game. He simply loves football. He’s willing to endure the challenges that come with the game, including the 12 hour class load, because of his zeal and his passion for football.
This week as I prayed over the coming year and all we have ahead of us, there’s one word that kept coming to mind that Justin used:Â Zeal. Titus 2:14 says Jesus redeemed us “from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
This next year will be all about pressing ahead with renewed energy and passion as a church. I believe God is at work in fresh new ways in our church, doing “a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19). This is the year we will step up with renewed passion and energy and zeal to join in what He is doing.
Our first step is to end this financial year on a high-note. Sunday I presented the budget and shared an estimate on how our year is projected to end. Right now we’re on pace to end with somewhere between a $20,000-$30,000 shortfall between giving and expenses. This is an improvement over last year (a $53,000 shortfall). But I think we can do better. Now is the time for us to declare this as a breakthrough year. According to our Chairman of the Elders, we’ve had a shortfall at the end of the year every year since Pastor Joel left, roughly TEN years. We’ve made incredible progress over the last five years, and now it’s time for us to turn the corner and never look back.
Please pray about giving at least $100 beyond your normal giving between now and September 30th (give online here). If every family in the church did this, we would meet and maybe surpass this shortfall. Please pray about taking this step of faith in the coming weeks! It’s time for our church to step forward with a breakthrough year, which I believe will launch us into a season of new gospel growth and excitement.