In Awe of God

Awe is a powerful concept we have cheapened through overuse. In today's slang, awesome describes anything from a basketball player's slam dunk to a new style of pizza. If you feel awful, you're not filled with awe; you are sick or depressed.

In a deeper sense, though, awe means profound respect for the Creator—holy amazement about God and his deeds. In an age of increasing irreverence, we need to be awe-full Christians overflowing with reverent wonder.

I was awestruck on my wedding day when my bride, Candy, strode down the church aisle on her father's arm. I smiled until my face hurt that afternoon. Twenty-one years later I'm still awed by this godly woman God provided to share my life.

I was awed in the hospital delivery rooms where our first two children were born. Equal delight filled my heart at New York's Kennedy Airport when we first met our adopted daughter from Korea. Matt, Michelle, and Melinda are teenagers now, but I still marvel at the privilege of being their dad.

Pine-covered mountains, sandy beaches, and thunderstorms display God's awesome power to me. As I grew up on an Ohio farm, I learned to appreciate the growth cycle of spring planting and autumn harvest. Even more, I'm awed by Jesus' reminder, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few" (Matthew 9:37). That's why I've helped plant churches in New York and Cincinnati, and visited missionaries in Mexico, Haiti, Japan, Korea, and Venezuela. My heart burns with compassion for lost people—young and old, single and married, rich and poor—who are like sheep without a shepherd, longing for acceptance and hope.

I'm awed by the potential of Christ's church, and, I confess, I feel impatient when believers are content to take a business-as-usual approach to kingdom work. To me, the Bible is refreshingly practical, remarkably relevant, never dull. I enjoy discovering fresh ways to communicate the timeless message of Jesus' love.

This is no time for complacency. As we approach the twenty-first century, I'm glad to be part of a movement dedicated to the same truth, unity, and mission that motivated Jesus' first-century disciples. Like them, we must be a high-impact church devoted to biblical teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Like them, we can be "filled with awe" as we share in God's work (Acts 2:42, 43).

Frankly, I'm a bit awed as I become editor of The Lookout. It's humbling to hold the reins of a 102-year-old magazine edited in the past by people like James DeForest Murch and Guy Leavitt. I'm grateful for the effective work of my predecessor, Jim Dahlman, and for today's dedicated staff and capable columnists. We all share common goals: to deepen faith, strengthen families, challenge ungodly cultural trends, and encourage healthy growth in Christ.

Please pray for us and offer your suggestions so we can do our jobs with increasing excellence.

I can't promise to be a flawless editor. I pledge, however, to do an "awe-full" job.

Father, thank you for the opportunity to serve you through this magazine. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight. Give me wisdom, strength, and insight to encourage your people through the written word.

You are awesome, God. May every edition of this magazine bring you honor through Christ our Lord. Amen.