Pastor's Perspective - Desperate!

Dear FCC Family & Friends,

Since last weekend I have become a lay expert on the subject of tuberculosis; not because I wanted to, but because of a high-attention news story.

A 31-year-old attorney from Atlanta, Andrew Speaker, is currently being treated in Denver for the deadly disease. Speaker is being criticized globally for his recent decision to fly internationally – intentionally and needlessly exposing fellow passengers to this respiratory attacker. He denies that he knew about the seriousness of his condition and that he would have never put others at risk. As I’ve followed this story daily, the Lord reminded me of another infectious carrier who put others at risk found in the pages of the gospels – the woman with the issue of blood.

According to Matthew and Mark, for twelve long disheartening years, an unnamed woman suffered from an unnamed hemorrhaging condition. The Bible tells us that she completely emptied her piggybank on medical treatment and suffered greatly under the care of many doctors. Perhaps even more painful than her physical agony was her emotional torment. Her daily existence was wretched because she was shunned by everyone she came in contact with. According to Levitical law (Lev. 15:25-33) to have any physical contact with another human being meant defiling them and making them ceremonially unclean also. She was rejected, suffering and desperate for help and hope. And one day, hope came to town!

The Bible shares that when she knew Jesus of Nazareth was passing by, she intentionally put others at risk by fighting through the crowd to touch Him. Something strong rose up inside of her that He was her one and only answer, that somehow this Galilean prophet esteemed people over protocol. Her desperate condition warranted desperate measures. She risked what was wrong in man’s eyes for what was right in God’s – and won! Her miraculous premeditated encounter with Christ was just what the doctor hadn’t ordered.

Let me ask you an honest question. How desperate are you for Christ?

I’ve found that people who are truly desperate for something respond in desperation. They risk it all. They don’t allow people or things to separate them from their destination, their cure or their answer. They recognize that only Jesus Christ delivers and has the words of life. They are willing to get undignified if necessary to connect with Heaven, realizing He’s it. He’s the Ultimate. He’s ultimately it!

Friends, as your pastor and brother in the Cause, I’m recklessly desperate for Jesus Christ. I’m looking for some co-desperates to join me in church this Sunday.

Can I count on you?

In the Fight,

Steve