UPDATE: We have since moved from this building. We are now located just a block west at 2596 E SR 60 in Valrico.
Gotta admit, I'm like, really liking the steeple on our new building. No kidding. Never thought I'd be so "all about the steeple" yet here I am.
I've wondered why, seeing that church steeples in general really don't do anything for me. But this one does. I LOVE IT!!!!
A few reasons I think:
1) Our steeple is a symbol of 'good 'ole fashioned church'.
This is utterly cool.
In her book, "The Next Move of God" (Creation House, 1994), the late Fuschia Pickett writes:
I've wondered why, seeing that church steeples in general really don't do anything for me. But this one does. I LOVE IT!!!!
A few reasons I think:
1) Our steeple is a symbol of 'good 'ole fashioned church'.
This is utterly cool.
In her book, "The Next Move of God" (Creation House, 1994), the late Fuschia Pickett writes:
"When God releases His dunamis power in this next move of God, rivers of living water will flow out of our innermost beings. Habakkuk's prophecy will become a reality: "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Hab. 2:14). When those gates of truth are finally opened we are going to see an "old fashioned, heaven sent, sky-blue, sin-killing, gully-washing revival."
You see that? Way back in 1994, Pickett wrote about an "OLD FASHIONED, HEAVEN SENT" revival!
I believe this is what is upon the modern day church now.
You see that? Way back in 1994, Pickett wrote about an "OLD FASHIONED, HEAVEN SENT" revival!
I believe this is what is upon the modern day church now.
Many of us are leaving the post-modern, watered-down Jesus of the past 20 or so years and are committing to the full, unpretentious message of the gospel.
Now that's OLD-FASHIONED!
Yep. A return to the message which the Apostle Paul called the wisdom and power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 1:18). The same message which, by the way, is 'foolishness' to the world.
So I see the steeple as an 'old-fashioned' symbol to the 'old-fashioned' message of the gospel of Christ.
'Old-fashioned' in a good sense. Not old and dead, but CLASSIC and invaluable. Sure it seems out-dated in today's 'I'm so smart' post-modern times, but it just happens to be THE ONLY MESSAGE that IS the power of GOD to CHANGE PEOPLES LIVES FOREVER!
2) Our steeple is a sign of sanctuary and refuge to the community.
It screams "we are a church! See, hear and learn about God! Find the answers your looking for and the comfort you need!" Of course a building and a steeple don't provide these Christian realities...it's what we say and do within and without those walls that matters to peoples lives.
3) Our steeple sends a message of hope.
Yes, we are a church. Yes, we teach and proclaim the gospel of Christ. Yes, we will strive by God's grace to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and yes we will by God's grace strive to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Now of course this doesn't mean every church out there needs to get a steeple! Not at all!
It just means this is what our steeple means to me. That's it.
That's why I like our steeple.
Now that's OLD-FASHIONED!
Yep. A return to the message which the Apostle Paul called the wisdom and power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 1:18). The same message which, by the way, is 'foolishness' to the world.
So I see the steeple as an 'old-fashioned' symbol to the 'old-fashioned' message of the gospel of Christ.
'Old-fashioned' in a good sense. Not old and dead, but CLASSIC and invaluable. Sure it seems out-dated in today's 'I'm so smart' post-modern times, but it just happens to be THE ONLY MESSAGE that IS the power of GOD to CHANGE PEOPLES LIVES FOREVER!
2) Our steeple is a sign of sanctuary and refuge to the community.
It screams "we are a church! See, hear and learn about God! Find the answers your looking for and the comfort you need!" Of course a building and a steeple don't provide these Christian realities...it's what we say and do within and without those walls that matters to peoples lives.
3) Our steeple sends a message of hope.
Yes, we are a church. Yes, we teach and proclaim the gospel of Christ. Yes, we will strive by God's grace to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and yes we will by God's grace strive to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Now of course this doesn't mean every church out there needs to get a steeple! Not at all!
It just means this is what our steeple means to me. That's it.
That's why I like our steeple.