Merredin Uniting Church

Sermon: How do we know? by Kevin Tengvall

How do we know what God wants us as individuals to do in this world? The short answer to that is, I don’t know.  For some people it is easy there calling is obvious, but I would hazard to guess that for most of us our callings are not quite so easy.

For me I think it has taken 50 years for me to work out what it is God wants me to do with my life. I must be slow learner because it has taken that long for the penny to drop. But then again I’m a firm believer in that God uses all things in our lives to his glory if we just open the doors a little. I think Gods glory is shown not because of just what we do, but sometimes in spite of what we do.

This sermon is more in the shape of a testimony. As the start of Ride for life approaches I thought I’d take this opportunity to explain how I think God has worked in my life to get me to the point where we are now. Seeing as how this church, has given this project so much amazing support.

It was only a couple of years ago that I discovered that God had already moved in my life in huge ways before I was 4 months old, but that’s another story I’m not ready to tell yet. I will start with when I was 3 years old. Mum and Dad sent me to a riding school (2) near where we lived in the UK.  Between then and 15 I rode when I could until I was able to buy my own horse when we came to Merredin.

I will come back to that in a minute, we moved from the UK to Australia in 1967 when I was 9 (3) I had a pretty good time until I went to High school, where I was bullied quite badly it was then I started to learn Judo which I became fairly proficient at (4) in 1972 we moved to Merredin and as there wasn’t a Judo club here, I started one and started teaching (5) this was my first foray into teaching kids.

It was around this time that I started learning about Horses. Doing pony club in particular the prince Philip games, training and driving pacers, polocrosse, and about 20 something years as clerk of the course/catcher at the trots.(6)

Some where in amongst those years I taught swimming interm and vacation for a bit over 10 years. (7)

I also joined Rostrum later to become Speakers Forum where I learnt public speaking and chairmanship.(8)

As a Christian I have often wondered what it was that God wanted me to do? I have often felt that I should be doing something for God but had no idea what, I’m not a great singer(just ask those who sit in front of me) I am no theologian and therefore am quite fearful when preaching Gods word.

So what I have often asked myself does God want me to do, now this is where I’ll admit to being a bit of a slow learner. I did not take into account of how great God is and how much work he does in our lives without us realizing it.

It took quite a while for me to realize that all three of the jobs I have at the moment are working with kids or even that it was significant for what was to come.

A bit over a year ago Jeff Hughes joined us at DCP as the youth worker (9) and I was telling him some of the things I had done in the past working with kids. And he said why aren’t you doing anything now? That pulled me up quick smart because I didn’t know how to answer that. It was one of those times when you get an epiphany.

And so the first beginnings of Ride for Life were born. The more I thought about it the more convinced it was the answer I have unknowingly being looking forward to for 50+ years.

In the 12 months since the idea of RfL was first manifested I have been continuously amazed at how god has moved in people. Rarely have I heard a word against the idea. On the contrary people Christian and non Christian alike have been exceedingly generous with there time, money, equipment and horses. I won’t mention them all here but if you look up our website or Facebook page you will see who they are.

Around the same time Jeff came to Merredin and set me alight David also joined us as our minister,(10)who when I tentatively mentioned the idea was so encouraging which gave me the courage to string things together.

I gave myself 12 months to get it up and Running and then I called for people to help and join the committee  mainly to keep me on track and in line and not go off half cocked, because if I have learnt one thing in my life it is that I do tend to rush in where angels fear to tread.

But the way the committee has got behind RfL has been very humbling and I know that with out them RfL wouldn’t be starting in a week.

On searching the internet for similar programmes I came across one called Crystal peaks Ranch take a few minutes to see how God can work when his servants listen to him.

This is not to say how good I am but how great God is and if we open the doors to him a little, then great things can happen for his glory.

We are having our opening day this afternoon between 1-3 and you are invited to come and see for yourselves what it’s all about and why your prayers are needed.

AMEN