Even though
I've been playing golf since I was a teenager,
it wasn't until a few months ago that I took
some formal instruction.
It was an
interesting experience. A young, 28-year-old PGA
professional said, "Take your five iron and hit
30 golf balls while I videotape your
swing."
Later, we
reviewed the video. Using a computer, he took
the video my swing and put it side-by-side with
the swing of professional golfer, Nick
Faldo.
Over and over, he showed me my swing then Nick
Faldo's swing.
"Do you see the
difference?" he asked. "You're swinging with
your arms, shoulders, and hands. He's getting
his whole body into it. To realize your
potential, and to release the most power, you
have to get your whole body into it."
He was right, of
course. And it occurred to me that his
observation was true of the church, as
well.
To accomplish
God's vision, to experience the full power of
the community of faith, to allow the Holy Spirit
to fully penetrate and guide a congregation, the
whole body must be engaged in
ministry.
That means no
sitting on the sidelines, no partial
commitments, no lackluster participation. It
means every person must use his or her God-given
gifts and talents from God. Church and
communities suffer when Christians allow their
gifts to go unused.
Swing away in
2003, and let God act to make your church
everything He intended it to be!
|
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Bishop
G. Lindsey Davis
North Georgia Conference
The United Methodist Church
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