According to US Federal census data for 2000 there is a statistic that shows how often people move.  According to the data available less than 60% of the people lived in the same house for five years. I’ve heard that about half of the people in our county have moved in the past ten years.  In the Alaska Moravian Church most pastors and their families especially are constantly on the move each autumn as they journey to serve the Lord in a new village in southwestern Alaska.  This always presents a number of challenges for each family member.

We understand the concept of moving.  From our high school or college course we learn after all America is a nation of immigrants; and all immigrants are people who have left one home for another.  Moving is a part of our culture..

Why do people move?  For some it’s the prospect of a better job or a better life.  For some it’s a matter of physical health.  For some it’s a matter of emotional health.  For some it’s the pursuit of an education.  For some it’s the desire to get away from someone or some thing.  As we look at our towns, in the inner cities of Anchorage, Eagle River and Wasilla, many people from the outlying rural areas have moved and are moving because of the high cost of energy and food in the bush.

Abram moved.  We may move at some time.  I know that each of us has had our own reasons for moving.  We understand the concept of moving and sometimes the hardships associated with moving and we understand the various reasons why we move.

The story of Abram speaks about a man who leaves his family and moves to a place he’s never seen.  He moves because of a request from God and his personal yearning as a man of faith to grow in his faith.  It’s really a spiritual quest or journey.

Taking a look at this chapter of Genesis 12, Abram's story is a journey of faith.  It starts with the call of God.  The call may be made over and over again for us to move forward into new spiritual challenges.  But the real journey begins when there is a response of faith to a move of God in our own hearts.  Is God dealing with you to make a big change?  Are you willing to move by faith?

Jesus called the Disciples.  They followed.  God spoke to Moses through the burning bush.  He responded.  In our biblical text for today, Abram hears God speaking and then responds by taking his family and leaving his home.  God blessed this move.  Will God bless your move?  We really need to pray for wisdom and guidance for those that are thinking of leaving their villages; living in Anchorage is not easy.  [ For those villagers out there thinking about moving, I would advise getting as many viewpoints as possible before you make a move.  God speaks through His community of faith, through the scriptures and circumstances.  If you do plan on moving I trust that you will think and pray about it.  God will bless this strategy and of course we would love to have you.......notation by Pastor Nicholson Aug. 17, 2008].

God promises to help and guide us in the changes that come to our lives.  Our lives are really a journey of faith.  We know that the trip doesn’t happen all in one day.  It always begins with the call of God and the response of a faithful servant.  But it still includes stopping points along the way.

Take a look at Genesis.  First, Abram and Sarai leave Ur.  They arrive at Haran.  Then they leave Haran.  They arrive in Canaan.  And still the trip forward continues.  “He journeyed by stages toward the Negeb” says Gensis 12:9.  For the Disciples in the New Testament, there were stops in the synagogues and cities and gardens.  There was a stop when Jesus died on the cross of calvary.  And there was a stop when he was raised from the dead.  But the journey continued.  A biblical scholar has said that "The book of Acts is, in many ways, the story of that continuing journey for the Body of Christ, the Church."

As we listen to the Holy Spirit today, maybe the practical application for us is that we need to be more patient with God as we struggle with our own journeys through pain and sickness, and even through family members dying.  Some people indeed are pessimistic for the future with everything that we need costing more and our wages are remaining the same.  Let’s recognize that today our journey through life is difficult only when we try to think of the end or arrival of the travel.  We need to think of just today.  God's grace is sufficient for today.  We simply need to move forward in faith one step at a time.

Don't just look at the end of our journey.  We should try to see what God is doing in our lives during the difficulty; what is he trying to teach us as we travel on.  What is the importance of our own journey; are we allowing God, Christ to be Lord and guide us through the Holy Spirit.  So that Romans 8:28…”all things work”….. will become real for us.

In our own Church we may think of Sunday School as a journey that leads to Confirmation.  So often with the students I’ve had, we look at Confirmation as a sort of “end of the road” experience where faith development ends.  So often our graduates leave the church then.  It is not supposed to be that way.  Our Confirmands; anyone who is part of our church much recognize that the journey of faith and commitment to the church never ends.  We must recognize that our faith is never fully developed.  There is still more to learn, more to understand, more to experience.  God continues to call us to new adventures in our journey of faith, just like Abram who later would become Abraham, the Father of Faith.

If you are not a Christian yet God may be calling you to salvation so that you can build a life on the foundation of Christ.  If you are out of fellowship with Christ, God never gives up.  He wants you to respond with faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Guide.  If you are already a Christian as we look at this autumn when Sunday School and our regular schedule is begun again.  Will you respond to what God wants you to do in this church?  Maybe it may be a personal response to be a new Sunday School teacher or a volunteer with a willingness to take a leadership role in the church.  God continues to call.  God may even have called you!  Imagine that!

This spring many of our loved ones graduated from High School, some from college, some are being promoted into High School.  We tend to look at these points as transition points in life, when we have arrived at one point and begin another portion of our journey.   We tend to think of it as if we were journeying by stages.

According to the biblical study of Genesis Abram and Sarah continued their journey even after they have arrived in the Promised Land.  It’s a journey that never ends.  The life of faith does not stop growing once you have arrived at a certain place.  During summer we tend to let go; we need to keep the faith, keep our witness and attend church and keep active in serving the Lord whereever we go this summer. 

Every Sunday we have been worshipping in a Methodist Church.  The Father of the Methodist Church, John Wesley’s understanding is that we are going on to perfection.  He hoped to reach it in his own life, but he still felt that life was a journey toward that point.  It was never an arrival.

May God bless all of our journeys.

Let us Pray:  Dear God, each day help us to come to you Lord and Savior of our lives.  In life, in faith, we are all on a journey.  We recognize that we have not yet arrived.  Today is just one stopping point along the way; help us always to be open to your call and your leading.  The journey continues wilth your help.  For this we thank you.  In Christ name we pray.  Amen.

© Copyright 2006 Anchorage Moravian Church
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