July 2024

Dear Cobham Park Church Family,
[The following story is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.]
I find myself at an all-American Fourth of July family cookout. I have grass-stains on my clothes from playing ball with the kids. I feel the growing warmth of sunburn on my neck and arms. I’ve manned the old charcoal grill while my eyes filled with smoky tears. Yes, this is the good life!
The children impatiently wait for dark; they’ve been eyeing the impressive array of pyrotechnics on the launch platform in the backyard. By “launch platform”, I mean a decaying wood crate topped with a sheet of tinfoil. In the dimming light, lawn chairs are arranged at a safe distance, and several blankets are spread nearby on the grass. A crowd gathers there in eager expectation.
The family patriarch (we’ll call him “Rick”) gives the signal for the show to begin. Of the several men gathered near “ground zero”, I am given the profound honor of lighting the first fuse of something called “The Rebel Yell”. Three seconds later, I will lose some of my high-frequency hearing. After ten minutes of colorful sparks, booms, and whistles, we decide that it’s time to set off the good stuff. One particular rocket looks like it could put another man on the moon; it has to be over two feet tall! Once again, I am handed the lighter. The fuse begins to burn, and we step back and cover our ears…but then the fuse fizzles. Nothing happens; it’s a dud.
Rick demands that everyone stay where they are—that he will take care of this. He soon retrieves a torch and lighter fluid from the garage. This makes the rest of us pretty nervous, so we convince him to wait while we try to light the fuse again. Several more attempts fail; we might as well be trying to light asbestos. Finally, Rick intervenes by soaking the rocket with lighter fluid and then torching it (kids, please don’t try this at home). The whole launch platform then ignites, setting off secondary explosions from a nearby unopened bag of fireworks. Children squeal, lawn chairs are kicked over, and the men frantically try to douse, stomp, and smother the blast zone inferno.
The acrid smoke gradually clears enough to reveal a circle of burnt grass, charred wood, ashes—and one large unlit rocket. (I don’t think Elijah could have called down enough fire from heaven to light that thing!)
Sadly, this family memory reminds me of my own spiritual launch attempts. When I try to ignite fresh faithfulness, the fuse often fizzles. Even when I douse my life with Bible study and use the “try-harder” torch, my willpower might as well be made of asbestos! Despite my good intentions, resolutions, and calculations, stubborn sins remain. I can certainly relate to Charles R. Swindoll:
…old habits die hard, and the flesh knows sin like you know how to ride a bicycle. It never forgets…that’s why the flesh can never conquer itself or choose not to sin when given a chance—and the world gives it numerous opportunities to ride again.
What about you? Do you feel spiritually burned out? Have your best efforts to “do better” failed? Stop trying to light the dud of self-help. It’s time to share Jesus’ work. Let’s see what He can do!
Oh, what a terrible predicament I’m in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free (Romans 7:24-25; The Living Bible).
This is what our upcoming Revival services are for. Revival isn’t about tradition, entertainment, or trying harder. It’s about getting back in touch with Jesus and His mighty power at work in us! To this end, we’ve set aside the evenings of July 29th through the 31st to be available for whatever God wants to do. Please pray personally for this Revival. Ask the Lord to rekindle the faith you once knew—or to ignite it for the first time! He will launch your life to new heights—if you’ll let Him take the lead!
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think (Ephesians 3:19-20; NLT).
In His Love,
Pastor Keith