When my medical scans last May revealed one more opportunity to live a life that really matters, I asked the Lord to tell me what I needed to do with the time I had left on earth. The question became a matter of deep prayer. And as clearly as I've ever heard the Lord speak, the Lord said to me, “Preach, pray and serve people." I ran my revelation past Sandy and she replied, “You might lighten up on the preaching when you are out of the pulpit, but otherwise go for it."

Today I raise that question with you on this important day in our life together. “What will you do with the years you have left on earth?" For some that's most of life! For others, it's only a fleeting moment! Yet, time like an ever rolling stream bears all who breathe away. The urgent question of stewardship is what will we do with what we have?

I. THE FIELDS ARE RIPE FOR HARVEST.

Jesus made that statement. He had just given a Samaritan woman a taste of living water and she, in haste, left her water pot and brought a whole village to meet her Master.

The disciples urged Jesus to eat. But Jesus says, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about. My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and finish His work." As a whole village assembled on the hillside, Jesus says to his disciples, “Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest."

My daddy might have said, “Make hay while the sun shines." Tony Campolo would say, “Carpe Deim, Seize the Day." I say, “Live like you're dying."

God's work is urgent. I know a thousand years in God's sight is nothing more than a passing day or one night shift. God's time is not our time. We mark time by minutes; God marks time by millenniums. We talk about events; God talks about eternity, but let us not be lulled to sleep. Paul said, “Now is the acceptable time, today is the day of salvation" (II Corinthians 6:2).

Autumn is awesome. Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one fall day. Autumn is brief. The beautiful sunshine this morning will turn into cold winds and clouds will come. The leaves will fall; the barrenness of winter will be with us, but some things won't wait. The fields are ripe for harvest.

There are opportunities for ministry looming before us this fall day that will not last forever. The hills of Williamson County are covered with people. The time to reach them is now. It's time for a second campus. Two hundred young singles assemble in our youth center every Monday night. They will not wait forever to be connected to this church. Children grow up overnight; youth graduate and go away. The time for making disciples is now.

God's goal is greatness. Give of your best to the Master. Give Him first place in you heart. Give Him first place in your service, consecrate every part. You know what I love about this congregation? I love your passion for excellence. You will not settle for mediocrity. It doesn't make it an easy place to work. Your expectations of the staff are high. Our buildings bring glory to God. Our programs are second to none. Our lay leaders are dedicated and responsive. That's what a church ought to be. It ought to be the very best that it possibly can be for the glory of God; that's what church is all about.

Did you hear the story about a woman who found a forgotten turkey in the bottom of her freezer? It had been there for years. She called the Health Department to see if it might still be good to eat for Thanksgiving. “If you know for sure that the temperature has stayed below zero, the turkey probably won't hurt you," said the kind person on the phone, “but, I would think after all these years it wouldn't taste very good." “That's what I thought," replied the caller. “I think I'll just give it to the church. I'm sure they can use it."

God is asking for our first fruits, not our leftovers. Jesus didn't give us the good commandment, he gave us the Great Commandment. Jesus didn't leave us the good commission, he left us the Great Commission. The need to make disciples of all nations is just as urgent today as it ever was. We are called to greatness. The fields are ripe for harvest.

II. STRENGTH FOR OUR LABOR, THE LORD WILL PROVIDE.

In Philippians 4:13 we read, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"

What can I do? I can PRAY. There's a peace in my heart that the world never gave, a peace it cannot take away. I think that's what Paul had in mind when he said, “I have learned to become content in all circumstances." Contentment comes through communion with God. Will you join me in ceaseless prayer, in intercessory prayer, in Wednesday night prayer? A large part of prayer is paying attention to God. I think I am beginning to understand what it means to “pray without ceasing." Do you understand that? I understand what it means to receive the prayers of others. Your intercessory prayers make a difference.

I can be present. To offer our presence to another is one of the finest gifts we can ever give. To offer our presence to God is an enriching act of worship. Some of you have more money then you have time. I've been making a lot of calls recently to persons visiting this congregation. I hear your struggles to find time. You have so many things coming at you. But, let me ask an honest question. In the light of eternity, is one hour a week to worship God too much of an imposition? The example you set for your children will make a lasting difference.

When George Barna asked Americans their most keenly felt spiritual needs, they replied:

Increase in our commitment to the Faith,
Increase in our knowledge of the Bible.

We are dedicated to doing everything in our power to give you multiple opportunities to worship God and grow in your discipleship. Will you seize the day?

I can offer a gift. John Maxwell once said, “God's gift to me is my potential. My gift to God is what I do with that potential." Certainly our potential is limited. I learned in high school that I was not going to be a professional basketball player. After years of beating a golf ball around golf courses, it became clear to me that I was never going to make any money playing golf—not even from my friends. As Jesus' parable suggests, some of us have five talents, some two, others only one. But all of us do have potential. What will I do with the potential I have? The advice of John Wesley was very wise:

Make all you can,
Save all you can,
Give all you can,
As long as you can.

Do you know what a ten percent collective contribution from this congregation for another year will mean? It will mean capturing opportunities for ministry that we have never had before. What can I do? “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Your responses on this card will determine the ministries we undertake for 2006. This church has yet to reach its full potential. Let's take a collective ten percent step forward in our giving next year.

I can serve. If you haven't seen the video shown on Laity Appreciation Night you have missed one of the most entertaining events in the history of the congregation. We tried to envision the disaster of one Sunday at BUMC without volunteers. Believe me, you don't want that to happen. It would mean Beth Teegarden driving the bus, Tina Rose teaching all Children's Sunday School classes, Mary Ann Haney singing a solo and me preaching with a crying baby in my arms. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. Find at least one thing you will do for the glory of God. If you need help, let us help you.

Five years ago when God delivered me from the curse of the Episcopacy, stripped me of all my conference political power in Kentucky and sent me down here to the foreign mission field of Brentwood, I had no idea what to expect. Today, two things are very clear to me. It's been better than I could have ever imagined. And, we've only just begun.

God does supply all our needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus. Today I want to express my gratitude by making a commitment of prayers, presence, gifts, and service.