10 November 2010 Few will be chosen

A dose of desperation, brought on by the seeming impossibility of the task, makes even Arminians practical Calvinists. What I mean is that when you are attempting something as outlandish as this Construction Phase, the sovereignty of God becomes the last remaining encouragement.

It is the sovereignty of God that guarantees and generates success. True success is traceable to the sovereignty of God in some shape or form. Success knows no other origin.

It is with this notion that I observe the Lord putting together the founding members of Urban Design Church. They are few. But they are chosen. It is the Lord who wills. It is the Lord who constitutes. I am prepared to entrust the success of the project to the Project Manager. It is His HR division that must furnish Urban Design Church with the necessary personnel.

The measure of my success is not the quantum of those following; but the quantum of trust and faith that I vest in the Sovereign. Personal faith in a personable God is the criterion of success we will be judged with on that Day.

There is a deligthful young man, freshly married to an equal delight, from America. Young, happy, smart. I like their style. Considered, sincere, humble. My kind of people. O, and he designs websites. The forensic guys found the fingerprints of God all over them.

Then there is a teacher and his lovely wife. They are servants who operate off a revelation of a God who is to be passionately served. Mature believers, full of faith, with a heart to serve a something greater, rather than their something better. I prophesied over them that the Lord was going to make giants out of them. The stature of the King that drops from heaven like a mantle is some mark.

Then there are two missionaries. Full of zest for the King. Zeal for His house already consumes them. Their easy-going manner belies an intelligence beneath. Capable people travelling a road less fashionable out of a personal obedience.

And then there is Jono, my great friend from South Africa. He has risked much to be in Singapore. He has said unknown of goodbyes to many things in South Africa. He is one of the finest example of true courage that I know. Heaven, one day, will tell of his private bravery and the unrecognized sacrifices he has made. The Lord will repay him many-fold for his honest sufferings. God is making a world-beater out of him.

And then there is the middle-aged American husband of one and father of three. He is a fine example of a God-fearing man, set on honouring the King in all ways he knows how. He is also an example of the undeniable sovereignty of God. God delievered him into this church as a brown-wrapped and string-tied parcel, with our name and address writ large in black marking pen on the outside.

There might be others that God will unveil. For now, this is our squad. He is a general who marshalls His troops to all sectors of the battle-field. He can call a man from the east. He summons who He pleases. I defer to His divine prereogative.

These are our first sheep. May their pastures always be green and their waters ever still. And may we have a commendation on that Day for our time of association together.