Dear Reader,
I was struck by Jesus’ talk about building a Tower in this Gospel reading, because we have such a prominent Tower separate from our main church!
Our Vision is of a Tower of living stones:
To be a Tower of living stones; chosen, mended and built by Jesus our Cornerstone - to make followers for Him, to be a sanctuary of prayer and a community of love.
It could be said that we can’t properly embrace this vision and put it into action unless we work out the cost - both personally and to us as a church.
Is there anything in your life right now that Jesus is asking you to count for the cost of building and living this vision? Something to give up or consider soberly as you take on another step of discipleship?
Pause to ponder, and pray…
Let me share with you a prayer and you might like to pray it. (adapted from the Patrick Compline in Celtic Daily Prayer by the Northumbria Community):
I love you, O Lord my strength
The Lord is my Rock,
My strong Tower of refuge
My fortress and my deliverer.
My God is my rock
in whom I take refuge.
Blessings,
Andrew+
PS I’m curious. What do you think of the podcast cutting straight to the reading without the usual ‘Welcome to Towerpod’ messsage from me?
Luke 14:25–33 NIV
Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
