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Steve Haley
W
President
WELCOME!
Steve Rose
VP for Administration
Aaron McNulty
VP for Finance
hen you hear the word “Jesus,” what is the next thought that
comes to your mind? At the end of this welcome, I will tell you
my response!
Many years ago, when I was applying for a job in the law enforcement
field, I undertook a series of tests including a word association exercise.
The test giver would say a word, and then, I was required to say the very
first word that came into my mind. During the test I was offered a number
of common, insignificant, unrelated words which seemed to have little
importance, and then without warning a more emotionally charged word
would be introduced, and, I’m sure, my response was then evaluated and
recorded. I don’t remember exactly what words I was offered that day, but
I do know the most important of all words was not on the test: “Jesus.” It
is that word, that name, that in terms of my priorities and interests, I must
respond to every day. My answer to the claim of Jesus on my life is a far
more important test then the word association exercise, for this measurement
determines how much I truly love God.
In Luke 9:58-62 is the story of Jesus measuring the importance of
discipleship and the value that three individuals placed on following Christ,
in contrast to following lesser gods. The interaction Jesus has with three
“would be disciples” could even be viewed as an ancient form of the word
association test. Jesus could have said the word “discipleship,” and the first
response might have been “comfort.” The second individual is given the
word “discipleship,” and his response was “family.” The third candidate
for discipleship was presented the same invitation, and his response was
“courtesies” or “protocol.” One gets the impression that none of the three,
at least at the time, chose Jesus over other priorities. How sad! What a loss.
In Revelation 3:16, Jesus warns the last day Church of Laodicea that it
has become a tepid destination for the spiritually bored. A place where God
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