Unshakable

The committee for our 51st church anniversary chose a theme that speaks of how we managed through the years: UNSHAKABLE.

That brought me back to a classic Sunday school action song:

The wise man built his house upon the rock. x3

And the rains came tumbling down.

The rains came down and the floods came up x3 

And the wise man’s house stood firm.

The foolish man built his house upon the sand x 3

And the rains came tumbling down

The rains came down and the floods came up x3

And the foolish man's house went splat.

Unshakable is about having a firm, unwavering trust in God that remains totally steady, even during severe trials, doubts, or crises. That is a paraphrase based on what I understood from our guest preacher.  He said more, and these I summed up in my small notebook as he spoke.   

It’s relying on God's unchanging character and promises instead of reacting with panic to external storms.

It’s maintaining calm during chaotic events through active prayer.

It’s continuing to serve and obey God regardless of personal cost or opposition.

It's standing secure on a foundation upon the Rock (echoing the lyrics of the Sunday school song).   

Matthew 7:24–27 (NIV) reads, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Unshakable was a month-long celebration in September. But it was on the 3rd Sunday when we came together for fellowship and fun as a family after the worship service.

I'll keep these four photos to remind me that of the 51 years, my family and I have been here for 49. Despite insurmountable problems—not unlike earthquakes of the highest magnitude--that caused changes, we stayed.

With our elders, pastors, and invited community leaders  

Somewhere buried in this crowd is my brother, Matt, who used to attend our worship services here in the early days when he and his family loved nearby 

Wth Sis Carol (left), wife of our guest preacher (right) 

Why? Because the God we serve remains unchanged, UNSHAKABLE