Pastor's message from November 2009 Tidings: 

What’s Your Battery Type?

Isn’t one of Murphy’s Laws that everything happens at once? This morning baby Hutson woke up well before my alarm clock, and only a few hours after I fell asleep. Then as I attempted to sooth him, I heard a chirping sound coming from downstairs. It was the low battery indicator on a CO2 detector. What timing!
 
With Hutson on my arm, I stood under each unit to see which one was beeping. Then I went to the basement for a 9-volt battery, set up the step ladder, and detached the CO2 detector from the wall. When I opened the battery door, guess what? Double A! Smoke detectors take a 9-volt battery; CO2 detectors, AA.
 
My point in sharing this story with you is that it reminded me of an important principle. Our true vocations are motivated from within. Just as we can’t put a 9-volt battery where a AA is required, so we can’t truly delight in God’s will with the wrong motivation.
 
This is one reason we’ve changed our approach to ministry. We’re inviting you to listen to your life, to search within, and to determine where God is calling you. We’ve configured 7 ministry teams in alignment with our mission and vision. Imagine these are like rooms in God’s household. And we need all kinds of battery operated units in each of these rooms. You are one of those units. And what kind of unit you are is determined, in part, by what kind of battery charges you up.
 
For example, do you enjoy working with details? Do you like to work with your hands? Are you a natural trouble-shooter? Do you like to organize? Does comforting people energize you? Finding your calling at Faith Presbyterian starts with you determining what kind of battery you need. This is part of God’s gift to you, and God’s gift through you to Christ’s ministry.
 
So review the 7 ministry teams outlined last month and on my blog: http://tomtrinidad.wordpress.com/. Pray that God would lead you through your passion (another name for your battery) to your purpose in life. “Seek and you shall find,” Jesus said. I found God teaching me through a weak battery in a CO2 detector. May you find God leading you through the strong battery of your life’s calling.