Half Full or Half Empty?

As I was preparing for worship this weekend, I came across a great Bible story about attitude.  It is found in Numbers 13.  In this passage, God tells Moses to send 12 spies into the land He has promised to give His people.  When they get there, they discover that the land is rich and fertile beyond their imaginations: it produces clusters of grapes so large, two men have to carry each cluster.  That would have been outstanding news to people who were living off manna morning, noon, and night.
However, there was a problem.  The fruit was gigantic and so were the people who occupied the land. Exaggerating the problem as people are wont to do, one of the spies remarked that they looked like grasshoppers compared to the people of the land.  Big opportunities, but big problems.
Ten of the spies could not see the opportunities for the problems, while only two could not see the problems because of the opportunities.  They knew God had given them the land and would handle their problems accordingly.
What kind of person do you tend to be?  Someone who can't the opportunities for the problems, or one who looks through the problems for the opportunities?  All great plans face potential problems.  It's whether we can look through the problems that determines our success.
I just finished reading Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, which chronicles the first transatlantic flight.  It is s story of looking through problems, some of them gigantic, to discover the opportunity of reaching Paris.  When he finally reached Paris, he even toyed with the idea of moving onto Rome. Lindbergh never quit looking ahead and he let that vision draw him through tough times.
So do you look at the glass as being half empty or half full?  When it is half empty, there never seems to be enough to satisfy. When it is half full there is always room for more.  Is there room for more in your life?

New Beginnings

Hey there, everyone.  As part of Aloma's new, revamped website, I am establishing a blog to keep in touch.  Hopefully I can renew it by Thursday of each week.  Depending on what's happening in the world, I may get to it more quickly.

What I'd like to do in the blog is spend some time reflecting with you about what's happening around us, or new experiences I've been experiencing.

 I want to begin by telling you a bit about YWAM Orlando and what God is unfolding in their midst.  YWAM is short for Youth With a Mission.  It was founded by Loren Cunningham in 1960.  Since then it has spread all over the world, training youth and adults in discipleship and evangelism.  You will see YWAMers all over the world, witnessing at Olympic Games or helping plant churches in North Africa.

 YWAM Orlando was established in 1993 by Walden and Beverly Owen, who are in the process of becoming members at Aloma United Methodist Church.  YWAM currently houses its operations at an Assembly of God near the airport.  However, they are about to make a big move to the former Woodlands Lutheran Camp near Clermont.

 Last Thursday, Andy and I had the privilege of meeting Michael Berg, the current base director, to hear the story of the new base and see it in its formative stages.  The whole story of how YWAM got the Woodlands property is a major miracle, with evidence of God's hand unfolding events in His way all along the way.  Michael's vision for the property is equally huge, with great plans to resurrect the property and use it for growing disciples from around the world.

 As Andy and I reflected upon our meeting, we were struck by two important things: Michael is where he is today because Walden and Beverly believed in him (the older helped the younger), and God's work done in God's way (married to a godly vision) never lacks God's provision.

If your're interested in finding out more about the YWAM Orlando story and vision, visit them at: http://www.ywamorlando.org/.