Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

What's at the Center of Your Life?
by Tom Goodman
October 26, 2011

Have you ever thanked God for shoes?

Not shoe sales, now, but shoes.

Canadian pastor and author Mark Buchanan recalled a worship service in Uganda:

Every Sunday evening, about 100 Christians from the neighboring area would gather to worship. They met under a tin-roof lean-to that was set at the edge of a cornfield. They sat, when they did sit, on rough wood benches. The floor was dirt. The instruments were old. Some of the guitars didn't have all the strings. But they could worship! They made hell run for shelter when they got loose.

One Sunday evening, the pastor asked if anyone had anything to share. A tall, willowy woman came to the front. She was plain-featured, but she was beautiful. "Oh, brothers and sisters, I love Jesus so much," she started.

"Tell us, sister! Tell us!" the worshippers shouted back.

"Oh," she said, "he is so good to me. I praise him all the time for how good he is to me. For three months, I prayed to the Lord for shoes. And look!" And at that the woman cocked up her leg so that we could see one foot. One very ordinary shoe covered it. "He gave me shoes. Hallelujah, he is so good." And the Ugandans clapped and yelled and shouted back, Hallelujah!

I didn't. I was devastated. I sat there hollowed out, hammered down. In all my life I had not once prayed for shoes. And in all my life I had not once thanked God for the many, many shoes I had.

I have to admit that I'm not where she's at yet. I want to get there, though. How about you? We need to bring a passion for God back into the center of our lives.

On Sunday mornings, we've been working through the biography of King David. When he began his reign at the age of 30, one of the very first things he did was to bring back the ark of the covenant. The ark was the little chest that once resided in the holiest part of the tabernacle. It was the symbol of God's reign. In 1 Samuel 6, the Philistines defeated Israel and captured the ark. But in 2 Samuel 6, some 60 years later, David's first priority as king was the return of the ark.

What was he doing? He wanted God's authority at the center of his life and his nation.

Join us this Sunday @ 10 and let's recommit to bring passion for God's reign back to the very core of our own lives!

--Tom

Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them here.

Check out my weblog here.

Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them!

Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail.

FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org

LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here.

MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.

Winning Ways - from Hillcrest Baptist Church, Austin, Texas	Contact Tom Goodman, Pastor
Manage Your Subscription -- Subscribe/Unsubscribe	Contact Us About Your Subscription
What's at the Center of Your Life? by Tom Goodman October 26, 2011 Have you ever thanked God for shoes? Not shoe sales, now, but shoes. Canadian pastor and author Mark Buchanan recalled a worship service in Uganda: Every Sunday evening, about 100 Christians from the neighboring area would gather to worship. They met under a tin-roof lean-to that was set at the edge of a cornfield. They sat, when they did sit, on rough wood benches. The floor was dirt. The instruments were old. Some of the guitars didn't have all the strings. But they could worship! They made hell run for shelter when they got loose. One Sunday evening, the pastor asked if anyone had anything to share. A tall, willowy woman came to the front. She was plain-featured, but she was beautiful. "Oh, brothers and sisters, I love Jesus so much," she started. "Tell us, sister! Tell us!" the worshippers shouted back. "Oh," she said, "he is so good to me. I praise him all the time for how good he is to me. For three months, I prayed to the Lord for shoes. And look!" And at that the woman cocked up her leg so that we could see one foot. One very ordinary shoe covered it. "He gave me shoes. Hallelujah, he is so good." And the Ugandans clapped and yelled and shouted back, Hallelujah! I didn't. I was devastated. I sat there hollowed out, hammered down. In all my life I had not once prayed for shoes. And in all my life I had not once thanked God for the many, many shoes I had. I have to admit that I'm not where she's at yet. I want to get there, though. How about you? We need to bring a passion for God back into the center of our lives. On Sunday mornings, we've been working through the biography of King David. When he began his reign at the age of 30, one of the very first things he did was to bring back the ark of the covenant. The ark was the little chest that once resided in the holiest part of the tabernacle. It was the symbol of God's reign. In 1 Samuel 6, the Philistines defeated Israel and captured the ark. But in 2 Samuel 6, some 60 years later, David's first priority as king was the return of the ark. What was he doing? He wanted God's authority at the center of his life and his nation. Join us this Sunday @ 10 and let's recommit to bring passion for God's reign back to the very core of our own lives! --Tom Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them here. Check out my weblog here. Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them! Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail. FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here. MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.