On Jan 21" of 2009, a woman walked upon stage and completely stunned the audience. The woman's name is Susan Boyle. I am sure by now that all of us know who Susan Boyle is, but at the moment she was an unknown 47 year old unemployed charity worker. She sang the song "I dreamed a dream from Les Miserables". When she first walked on stage wearing a plain dress with a disheveled look about her, both the audience and the judges sneered at her to the point that some were laughing. If have seen her first audition tape then you know exactly what I am talking about, but when she opened her mouth to sing everybody stood in shock and the judges were clamoring with apologies.

The story of Susan Boyle is being hailed by many as one of real inspiration, and if you take the time to listen to her story you can't help but be inspired. She had trouble with social issues she was shy with few friends. She had to deal with people making fun of her and was lonely. She suppressed ambitions, goals and. dreams because of fear and doubt and a lack of courage. I believe that is what makes her story so inspirational. For years and years she took no action because of fear and doubt, they were crippling her. I think in our own way we can all relate. Well Susan summoned all her courage and overcame years of doubt and fear and took action!! Her story is remarkable and there is a lesson that I believe when can draw on.

I am sure you can recall the parable of the talents. Jesus say's that the Master disperses talents to everyone according to their own abilities. After some time the Master returns to settle accounts and His expectations are growth. The one who had one talent was afraid and hid that talent all those years and never took action. The Master was very displeased and rebuked him. I am sure by now you can see the application that I am trying to make. As disciples of Jesus our Master expects growth from the talents that each of us has been given. One of the things holding us back is fear and doubt. I think it is something we all have to struggle with and overcome. The longer we take no action, the more courage it will take to overcome that crippling fear. As God's children, He is expecting us to cast aside fear and doubt to do works of love and good deeds.

I guess in a way this bulletin is a challenge to each one of us. I would like for all of us to grow and to overcome our fear. For this year I encourage each of us to do something for the Lord that we have been afraid of doing before. For example maybe its talking to that neighbor or coworker about the Gospel, maybe its inviting someone to Worship. How about hosting a Bible study? For the women maybe teaching one of the children classes or organizing a woman's Bible study? For the men how about leading a part of the Worship that to this point your not comfortable trying? Also leading a Bible study, perhaps for the younger men or growing to become deacons and elders. This is just a few examples, but there are a whole lot of things that we can do. We each know our own fears and doubts that we need to overcome. I have my own list that I am working on. One of those doubts I had I can scratch off the list because I am doing it right now. Yup! I was afraid to write bulletins because English is not my strong suit and I am not a good writer. Besides that I was afraid to write something dumb or worse something not Scripturally accurate. After watching Susan Boyle's story I decided that there is no time for being afraid. The sooner we overcome our fears and take action, the sooner great things will happen for us and for the Lord's Church!

Eric