Jesus Christ is the great physician.  In the church we stress the need of serving God, loving/helping others, using spiritual gifts on the front row seat of God’s Kingdom work, wonderful privileges, yet the bottom line: Jesus Christ has come to serve us.  Jesus is the Great Physician able to heal the body, mind and soul.  Why is it important to see Jesus as the world’s most amazing doctor?  This poem titled, “And God Said If” says it well:

If you never felt pain, Then how would you know that I’m a Healer?
If you never went through difficulty, How would you know that I’m a Deliverer?
If you never had a trial, How could you call yourself an overcomer?
If you never felt sadness, How would you know that I’m a Comforter?
If you never made a mistake, How would you know that I’m forgiving?
If you never were in trouble, How would you know that I will come to your rescue?
If you never were broken, Then how would you know that I can make you whole?
If you never had a problem, How would you know that I can solve them?
If you never had any suffering, Then how would you know what I went through?
If you never went through the fire, Then how would you become pure?
If I gave you all things, How would you appreciate them?
If I never corrected you, How would you know that I love you?
If you had all power, Then how would you learn to depend on me?
If your life was perfect, Then what would you need me for?

One person compared life to the Olympics: If you get up you earn a bronze medal.  If you get dressed you earn a silver medal.  If you show up you earn the gold medal: “No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.” Getting up forces you to face the day.  Dressing up gives you hope.  Showing up means you are participating in life today, ready to make a difference.  Get up, dress up, show up. 

Get involved in the world around you.  It’s all about the kingdom.  Be ready to serve the Lord.  In today’s scripture Jesus is saying NOW IS THE TIME.  I’m up…  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.”  I’m dressed… “because he has anointed me” “I’m here” to preach…to proclaim…to heal…to release…to declare… 

Once upon a time, my mother unfairly got upset with me.  My favorite fruit is the orange.  I developed the skill of peeling an orange so the peel stays together.  One day, I was perhaps 7-8, my mother counted how many oranges I had eaten.  She thought it was unreasonable in one day to eat 8 oranges!  She made a rule.  From that day on I was limited to know more than 3 a day.  To this day, if I were to even think about eating a 4th orange, I would feel guilty.  It’s a silly little personal temptation. 

The word temptation has been high jacked to cover trivial personal disciplines.  If I say “temptation” what’s the first word that comes to mind?  [Chocolate]  One person wrote, “[My personal temptation]  fried egg sandwich with mayo, lima beans, and fried okra...” 

Administration: such a boring word….To some nothing could sound more dull.  Young children love their teachers at school, the teacher is the center of the school universe.  Then you hear about the principle, not having a clue as to what the principle is for other than to be sent to and get a swat ~ or in the old days you did (raise your hand if you ever got a swat) eventually you hear about the school administration…stuffy mysterious people somewhere in the dark recesses of the school halls…

Administration.  I chose the Exodus scripture because it is a wonderful example of Administration: Jethro helping Moses be organized.  For the first time in 400 years the nation of Israel is independent, in fact, when they went to Egypt they were only a large family...  God intended us to be together… as the Kendall Seeds of Hope Campus is launched, a team is being formed… I am not certain what God has in mind in the Foothills, but this flatlander is excited!  I am excited about Sumas, I am excited about the Foothills, we are on the Front Row seat.  Sometime, ask Jeff about Kendall ~ he is so excited to have a Front Row seat.