What could you do if you dared to experience 20 seconds of insane courage? Sure, we look back on missed opportunities in our lives but from now on with all the opportunities ahead if you had enough faith to step out in trust and do the right thing with 20 seconds of embarrassing courage? This Sunday, we are celebrating the hall of fame of faith for Washington Cathedral to see and hear the stories of people who stepped out with the faith of David facing Goliath and took a stand to make sure that there was a church that was committed to share the good news of Jesus Christ with a world full of people who are very far from God. I can think of so many heroic stories that I am sure that your soul will be stirred. We wouldn’t be here without those hero’s of the faith and we know that there is a bright future for this great caring network becoming a movement as long as we can pass the baton to those ready to carry on the same kind of gutsy - courageous faith that Jesus asked of his disciples.
We will have a very memorable slide show depiticitng this courage through thirty two years. In John chapter 15 which comes right after John 15 if you were wondering. Jesus decides to talk straight to the disciples – no more parables or metaphors for a few minutes. He was going to display his love by volunteering for the cross. He prophesies that his friends the name he chose to call his followers will have their sadness turned to joy. In verse 31, he tells them they are all going to run. They are going to chicken out. Yet when he is alone he will no be alone because the Father will be with him. Wow – this sermon could be entitled never alone. He tells them they can have peace when they go through incredible trials and sorrows but take heart his moments of courage mean he is overcoming the world.
I stood on the church hill with retired marine and Korean War veteran, Bill Holmes and hardly anyone showed up for our salmon dinner kickoff to build Spirit Falls. Every conversation I tried to enter they would grow silent because they were talking about me. Where did I get off thinking this church would prevail through such tough times. Bill Holmes invited me to go the edge of the hill with him. He always had my back often attending every service just to pray for me. Even though he was many years older than me he had played point guard for Seattle University during their glory years. We played basketball together and I never saw a guy so old who could sill mix it up with the young guys and deliver a high lob pass so accurate that I couldn’t help but score. Yes in those days when I jumped I actually left the ground. Bill spoke to my fears. He said, Do you see it pastor Tim? I said, "see what?". He said the sanctuary with a glass steeple, and a beautiful waterfall.” I said, yes but I was just trying to see it through my discouragement and loneliness knowing that Bill had pancreatic cancer and would not be there for the big battle to come. He said, you know what else I see? I said, no. He said I see it full of people all kinds of people many times a week until the end of the world.” I was about a 20 second conversation- 20 seconds of faith – 20 seconds of insane courage.
Don’t miss this Sunday and learn how 20 seconds of courage can change your life.
Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim Whie