Text Box: We are well into the graduation season as most colleges have had their graduation in the past month and June will bring high school graduation ceremonies. I have been to more graduations than I care to remember. I have always been happy for the graduate, but it seems like most events have been in big buildings with bad sound systems and not enough air conditioning. The graduation ceremonies tend to exhaust my short attention span, especially when sitting on wooden bleachers. I’m sure my own graduations had some of the same discomforts. The difference is that I only remember the positive moments. I remember good times with friends as we said goodbyes. I remember a few classmates who were thrilled with their accomplishments. Even speeches were better at my graduations as they were addressing a part of my life story. The point I would like to make this month is that there is a difference between being an observer of life and being a participant. We respond differently if we are the graduate or if we are the observer of the graduation. Our society has become good at observing other people’s lives. Sports fans sit on the couch, eating junk food, watching skilled athletes do all the work. Romance fans watch soap operas about passionate relationships, without addressing their own relational shortcomings. The popularity of reality shows on TV has everything to do with watching someone else live an interesting life. Most of us live vicariously through the lives of others. Our Christian faith calls us to the playing field. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are Text Box: God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” It must grieve God’s heart to see so many of His followers wasting time watching others live interesting lives, while not doing the work God has for us to do. God wants us to be doing the good works that He has prepared for us. This may include taking risks and leaving our comfort zone. I believe that our lives would be inspiring to others if we are living the adventure God has called us to live. Some ways to live this out is to build new friendships, volunteering at a program that needs your skills, joining a Bible study or take a college course. Seek God’s will for your life and step out by faith. Galatians 6 speaks about sowing and reaping. Verse 9 points out, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” I should warn you that living a full life can be tiring. Responding to the world’s needs carries a cost. Being involved in people’s lives usually brings conflict that is more real than the misunderstanding of a television program. Helping people may bring weariness, which we must press through. My prayer for everyone associated with Fort Lee Gospel Church is that we would live a full life under the direction of God’s leading. Let us spend more time living life than watching life. Life is better when we are celebrating the events of life rather than watching others accomplish successes while we are sitting on the hard bleachers. And an added note, congratulation 2010 graduates! Text Box: On Graduation and Living Life

Fort Lee Gospel Church

1625 Palisade Ave.                     Fort Lee, NJ 07024           (201)947-1465   

Pastor: Rev. Rick Spenst                       

Web site: www.fortleegospel.org

E-mail:

fortleegospel@juno.com

Gospel News
Text Box: June 2010

Yard Sale

2

Spring Cleaning

2

Youth Group

2

Faith & Reason

2

June Events

3

Church Picnic

3

Vacation Bible

3