Initially, my curiosity got the better of me and I started responding to emails and voicemails to learn a bit more about the 'exclusive club' I was being invited into. At first, it was almost too good to be true. And then I found out that the whole thing was a scam. It was a very good scam perpetrated by someone with a very 'posh' accent, but a scam nonetheless.
The upside was that my credit card company was able to reverse the charge for the 'initiation fee'!
(I know you're laughing at me... I can hear you from here!!)
The initiation fee for a legit 'Who's Who' list usually isn't paid by credit card, it's earned by achieving something amazing and overcoming multiple obstacles along the way. There are no shortcuts. There is always hard work, focus, courage, persistence, discipline, self-sacrifice and the list goes on.
Hebrews 11 has a long list of people who made God's 'Who's Who' list. The stories behind the names on the list make my heart beat a little bit faster and stir something deep inside me. I love the wins that come along with following what God puts in your heart. As I read about the price these people paid to see those wins come to pass, I tremble at the thought. Add to that the sobering reality that some never saw the fulfilment of what they believed for and the price just becomes that much greater.
Along the way, they 'conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; they shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; their weakness was turned to strength, and they became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.' (v. 33, 34) The very thought of what they experienced takes my breath away... and they accomplished it all through an obedient faith that propelled them forward and did not permit them to quit.
For the past few days, I have been reflecting on the scope of what we have undertaken as a ministry. If I say it quickly enough, the vision to provide chaplaincy ministry to every politician in Canada almost seems attainable. When I take the time to say it slowly and measure the weight of that goal and the challenges that it presents, the task starts to feel more impossible than doable. At this point, there are only two options before me. I can permit myself to be overcome by the scope and size of what God has put before me, OR I can align myself with the saints I read about in Hebrews 11.
I choose the latter because those people made their lives count for something!
Nothing worthwhile happens unless we are PRAYERFUL, FAITHFUL, COURAGEOUS and OBEDIENT.
(LI Value Statement)
We know we won't get there by ourselves and we know that we can't get there without people like you praying for us, believing with us, partnering with us and supporting us. Right now, your prayers, encouragement and partnership mean more to us than ever before.
Thanks for standing with us!
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