Ministries:
Adult | Teens | Children

Pastor's Pen's:
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

Sermon Series:
Following Jesus
Earthly Cross
His Name Is
Apostles Creed
Dealing with Feelings
Jonah
Get Real
Promised Land Living

Grace Church
257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105

(262) 763-3021

Email:
Pastor Scott Carson

Secretary Patti Hall

PASTOR'S PENS 2007

Grace Church of Burlington June 24, 2007 “The only thing you take with you when you're gone is what you leave behind.”    John Allston             One morning in 1888 Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, awoke to read his own obituary. The obituary was printed as a result of a simple journalistic error. In reality it was Alfred’s brother who had died in an explosion at their plant and the reporter carelessly reported the death of the wrong brother. Any man would be disturbed under the circumstances but to Alfred Nobel the shock was overwhelming because he saw himself as the world saw him: The “Dynamite King,” the great industrialist who had made an immense fortune from explosives. This, as far as the general public was concerned, was the entire purpose of Nobel’s life. None of his true intentions, which were to break down the barriers that separated men and ideas for peace, were recognized or given serious consideration. He was simply a merchant of death and for that alone he would be remembered. As he read the obituary with horror, he resolved to make clear to the world the true meaning and purpose of his life. This could be done through the final disposition of his fortune. His last will and testament would be the expression of his life’s ideals and ultimately would be why we would remember him. The result was the most valuable of prizes given to those who had done the most for the cause of world peace. All of us have heard of it. Today we know it as the “Nobel Peace Prize.”             We live in a world that has little concern about leaving a legacy. The motto of the “Me Generation” is “eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow, we die.” That’s completely understandable for lost secularists. They don’t realize that this world is not the end but the beginning. In reality this world is a short parenthesis out of all of eternity for the child of God.             There, though, is no better way to leave a legacy or to give your life significance than to invest in the next generation. As you read through the pages of Scripture, you will see a continual pattern of investing in and preparing the next generation. But that’s also completely counter-cultural. Lost people do not typically invest in the next generation, instead they sabotage them by leaving them “bills” that the next generation will have to pay for. As God’s people though, we cannot just live for ourselves and our time but must look down the road for those who are following after us.             A little while back, one of our men was talking to me about a Sunday School teacher who took a special interest in him when he was a young man.  Personally, I can remember  countless  teachers  and youth workers  who took a special interest in me and invested in my life. I am where I am today because of their  investment in eternity.             If you are not involved in some form of second generation ministry at Grace, let me encourage you to sign up! In a few weeks we will have VBS and will be in need of a full staff. Please see either Mike Cote or Jackie Strelow to find out how you can serve the Lord during that week. Then, every Sunday there are opportunities to serve in either Children’s Church, the Nursery or Sunday School. Janell Alvarez heads up our Junior Church. Sarah Leafblad would love to share how you can serve in our Nursery. Andrea Baas has a few open slots for this fall for our Sunday School Ministry. Then, we have outreach ministries throughout the school year seeking to share the gospel with young hearts which then reach their entire family. Children’s Music Club is directed by Jane Carson. Jane Gorsline directs Kids Quest (5th & 6th grade young people). Karyn Borucki directs our Jr Hi Ministry and Mike Cote directs our Sr Hi ministry.             Ministering to children and young people is not always easy. Anything worthwhile though takes time, energy and effort. There is hardly any better return on your investment than a 2nd Generation Ministry. Pagans are tragically leaving any and all significance behind. As believers, we can send our’s on ahead. That’s what Jesus challenged us to do: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20). Have significance and leave a legacy – get involved with young people and the next Grace Church!!