Central Family,

Last night your church council and leadership spent the better part of an hour thinking and reflecting about REVEAL 2009. In the weeks and months to come you will hear much more about REVEAL 2009 and how it will impact our life together at Central. However I want you to know ahead of time that the MAIN THING of REVEAL 2009 is to develop Christ-centered disciples. The whole point of why we exist as a church is to be used by God so that people come to a place of faith where men, women and children say, “My relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship in my life. It guides everything I do.”

Can you imagine yourself making that confession? Does your relationship to Jesus guide everything you think, say and do? John Ortberg speaks of faith as core conviction; “I identify what I believe by the way I act.” This Sunday we are privileged to learn from someone who lived in such a way; DANIEL. Take a few minutes and read Daniel 6. It is a story that can teach us so much on how to be faithful in 2008.

John Mack is a Pulitzer-Prize-winning psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He confesses to being surprised by “how many of the political and intellectual leaders I admire for their efforts on behalf of human life have spent time in prison. Facing up to the established order, taking a stand with one’s whole being, exposing one’s vulnerability, and risking the loss of personal freedom all seem to inspire both leaders and their followers.” (John Mack, “Blowing the Western Mind – An Essay.”) Didn’t Jesus say, “Yes, you will suffer; yes, you will be delivered to the jailers; yes, you will be put in prison; and yes, you will be killed in this world. But be of good cheer: I have overcome the world….not a hair of your head will be lost, for by your endurance you will gain your lives.” Few of us face the day-to-day threat of being imprisoned, tortured or killed because of our faith but we certainly can learn from the examples of those who are persecuted. 
And yet we face the same issue as those who are persecuted. In one sense of the word we live in the same type of culture that Daniel lived in. The world – regardless of place or time – will always want us to save and preserve its powers and principalities. We, however, are called to reveal to the world a different power and a different principality – God’s power and God’s principality that stands as an alternative to world’s powers and principalities.

In United States we hear a lot about “Culture Wars.” This is but another name for the War of Idols. Paul Tillich is helpful; “Idolatry is the elevation of a preliminary concern to ultimacy…Something essentially finite is given infinite significance. The conflict between the finite basis of such a concern and its infinite claim leads to a conflict of ultimates; it radically contradicts the biblical commandments.” When all is said and done – it is a matter of Lordship! For Daniel he staked his whole life on the Lord God. What about you? What about me? In January you will have an opportunity to have further conversation about this through the Truth Project.

This Sunday we will gather around Daniel 6 – prior to worship take time to read and pray through the story. And come with open hearts and open minds to receive God’s Word. Dwight Moody said, “Behind every work of God, you will always find some kneeling form.” Three times a day Daniel got on his knees and prayed. Beginning today let’s join Daniel and bend our knee to the Lord God! And as we bend our knees he will become the most important person in our life and will guide everything we do.

Paul Johansson