Water Jars

I just read in John, chapter 2, about Jesus attending a wedding in Cana. I have heard this story told as the first miracle that Jesus did; how he turned the water into wine, and how the master of the banquet was shocked that the groom had saved the best wine for the end of the feast. That was not the norm of that time; for after the good wine had been served to the guest, and they had become "happily filled", the cheaper stuff would be served; no one would actually know the difference. However, this time was different. What many people had become accustomed to, changed. What was suppose to be just another cup of cheap wine, caught guests by surprise. What had Jesus done? Did he fill the jars with water? Did he pray over the jars of water? Was he the one who served the wine? Did the master of the banquet address him as to where this wine came from?.......no. Jesus remained in the background during all of this. All he did was to tell the servants to fill 6 jars with water, and they did. Jesus then told them to draw some of the water out and to serve it to the master of the banquet. That's all that is recorded......"that's all He did? Where's the miracle?" I would be the one that would tell you that Jesus turned the water into wine, but recently I was in a conversation that mentioned this event, and that the "miracle" was in the servants listening to Jesus. When the servants did as Jesus instructed, the water was turned to wine. They had no idea what was going to happen. They probably were afraid as to what might happen to them if people tasted water instead of wine. We read that the master of the banquet was surprised at the excellence of the wine, but how surprised do you think the servants must have been, for they knew that they had just filled those jars with water. Who was this that had instructed them? Who had they listened to? Last Sunday I was at the new HRCC campus in Kannapolis, and what I saw were servants that had been instructed by Jesus to take a middle school gymnasium (jars), and fill it with HRCC (water); the same HRCC that we see each week when we attend at the Bringle Ferry campus, and the Denton campus. As these servants unloaded a trailer, and poured into the gym, a miracle began. What appeared to be sound equipment, musical instruments, coffee maker, hospitality supplies, nursery supplies, tables, chairs, and a tarp, was actually a church; High Rock Community Church. And, when all the preparation was done, at 10:00, the Master of this banquet was presented with a "wine" that I know pleased Him. His servants had listened to Him. There was music, there was singing, there was HRCC in Kannapolis.

Blank Canvas

"Ronnie, you have to blog!?!" That's what she said. I was just standing there, minding my own business after a large meal with some Small Group leaders, and out of the blue comes this statement; "you have to blog". I know that for some people it is like second nature to blog. They seem to write about any, and everything under the sun; sometimes it has substance, and sometimes it's a lot of letters and spaces. But, when I sit down in front of the computer, and look at this blank area of white next to a picture of me looking back at me, I freeze. It is the same as when I look at a blank canvas before I paint, a sheet of sketch paper before I draw, and the silence just before I pray; I really don't know what will happen. I could tell about all the ways that God moved in the hearts of the people at HRCC this past week-end as they heard of, and met "real" needs within the church family, and how they met the "real" needs of people outside of the church family. I could tell of how gutters will be repaired for a man who had no idea that he was about to be ministered to; or about the amazing support for the lady who needed help with her gas bill; or the car maintenance; or the home repairs; or the new well estimate. How do I explain this to someone who wasn't there to see it? It was like watching God's hand as He moved across a blank heart canvas to reveal a masterpiece that I needed to see. I didn't know what would happen when the needs were presented. But, I now realize that that was not my canvas to paint. I have been praying and planning for the new Kannapolis Campus, and the Praise Team that will be leading worship there. Wednesday night was set aside as a rehearsal time for the musicians. They were going to have just enough participants to have, what I thought would be, a good Team. However, it would be better if there was one more guitar player. Maybe by the first couple of services, someone would step up and want to be a part of the Team. I mean, that's how it worked here at HRCC......Just as we are getting ready to rehearse, a guy walks in with his family in tow, and asked if we were having a Wednesday night service. I politely said that we were actually starting a rehearsal for the Praise Team that will be in Kannapolis........Watch this........He plays guitar.....But, he didn't have it with him..........Mine is on the guitar stand because I am helping out by playing the bass tonight.....He asks to play mine......and for the next 90 minutes God continued painting on a canvas that I thought He had finished on Sunday. Ask any artist, and they will tell you that their work is not done until it is signed. I'm the same way. If I'm painting, or drawing, or writing; it's not done until I sign it. I feel that God is just starting His masterpiece, and it is a long way from being signed. I am enjoying the work in progress.