We had a good discussion Sunday night (February 27). I think we were able to answer all the questions everybody has at this point. We will have more family discussions and will need to fine-tune the building. However, I believe we will be able to vote on this Sunday morning with confidence. Remember, we are voting to build at a cost not to exceed $1.5 million, we would borrow up to $500,000, the building will be built by Solsbee Construction Company, and we would borrow the money from First Piedmont Bank in Boiling Springs.
Now can be accomplished in this regard without faith. So, let me encourage you in your faith. Faith is the one godly character trait that is absolutely essential as we move to building. I can't improve on the definition of faith we find in Hebrews:
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).
Two words that jump off the page are "assurance" and "conviction." Both of these words are descriptive of faith and therefore give us a pretty clear definition. First, faith is assurance. This means that when we exercise our faith we are sure. We are issuing a "guarantee" or "title deed" that we believe what we hope for is really going to happen. Paul wrote something similar to the Romans,
...Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience (Romans 8:24-25).
Second, faith is conviction. F. F. Bruce wrote, "Physical eyesight produces conviction or evidence of visible things; faith is the organ which enables people (like Moses in v. 27) to see the invisible order" (The Epistle to the Hebrews, p. 227). The invisible is the spiritual; it is in the realm of God and therefore in the realm of the possible.
Men and women at Calvary Church with good minds and great integrity have prayed, discussed, prayed some more, planned, and come up with a plan we believe is the path for us to follow in order to honor God the best. God has promised to bless His church, and we are going to take God at His word! Faith in God says that we have both the assurance and conviction that God will do what He says He will do.
Grace & Peace,
Scott
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