Beginnings

When Johnny Carson went off the air, he
looked everyone in the eye (well, through their TV
sets) and thanked them all for allowing him into their
home for so many years. I’d like to start our ministry
with Defiance the same way Johnny went out, by
thanking you all for opening up your hearts and your
homes to us. In the few short weeks we’ve been here,
everyone has made us feel loved and accepted (and
well-fed). I’m already to the point where thanking
people individually runs the risk of leaving someone
out; you have all been truly great.

Breathing in all of this fine Buckeye air reminded
me of a story I heard a long time ago about
Ravi Zacharias, a famous and brilliant teacher of the
Christian Faith. Ravi was discussing the new Wexner
Art Center at Ohio State University, and he was told
that the building was designed with the postmodernist
view of reality. One of the basic beliefs of postmodernism
is the idea that everything is questionable;
there is no such thing as objective truth because
the merit or truthfulness of all things is left to
be decided by the individual. Simply put: something
is true if I believe it to be true.
His guide told him, “This is a new art building
for the university. It is a fascinating building designed
completely with postmodern concepts. The
building has no pattern: staircases go nowhere; pillars
support nothing. The architect designed the
building to reflect life.” Ravi turned to the man describing
it and asked, “Did they do the same thing
with the foundation?”

Ravi’s point should be immediately clear:
foundations have to be anchored to something real,
something that will hold. As much as the architect
wished to express a trendy way of thinking that
thrives on relativism and subjectivity, he was forced
to rely on a sturdy, unquestionable foundation.
Without it, the building falls.
God blessed me with a wonderful congregation
who believe in and rely upon the Word of God. As we
grow, expand, and bring on new ministries or goals,
let us always remember that our foundation comes
from the One who will always be relevant, will always
be true, and is never subject to today’s passing trend.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today,
and forever.” ~Hebrews 13.8

in your service and His,
-bill