Today we begin reading in Acts --- the only history book in the New Testament. In today's reading, we discover the power behind the church. Acts:1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth." But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. You will be my witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Sometimes we attempt to be the church under our own power but that never works. The job of the church is just too big to be accomplished with human power alone. It's the Holy Spirit that creates and empowers the church. Notice that the power comes before the witnessing. We are not asked to be the Church under our own power. BUT ... we do have to step out and act, trusting the power to be there when we need it. Seems to me that with the very valid goal of good planning, we often want every detail worked out before we are willing to act. There's nothing wrong with planning, of course but sometimes we have to trust more in the power we have been promised and take a chance. My prayer for CUMC is that we will attempt things so grand, they are only possible with God's power, not our own. Keep reading. February bookmarks will be available at church this Sunday, Jan. 31.