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BRAINERD — Grace Valley Baptist church has been losing a dozen members per year. But according to a recent measure, the church is expanding 7 percent annually.

The reason: They now measure attendance by weight rather than per person. "We may be shrinking numerically, but in sheer mass we're growing fast," says pastor Sam Winter.

The church meets in a former manufacturing facility with tonnage scales beneath the sanctuary floor. The staff turned on the scale "for kicks" one Sunday and measured the tonnage of the morning crowd. They were gratified to find that the weight was growing every week, especially during the holidays.

They divide the number by the weight of the average American. "It sounds cheesy, but it actually feels good to be growing, at least by one measure," says the youth pastor.

Source: LarkNews

Long ago, the psalmist David declared that some people trusted in horses while others trusted in chariots. In our time, many people trust in doubleminded politicians and an unstable economy.

Some trust in Republicans and some in Democrats. Personally, I am wary and weary of the whole lot of them. To be sure, politicians will come and go and the economy will rise and fall. We would do well to learn from the psalmist, who wisely said, "...but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God" (Psalm 20:7).

May these perilous times find us trusting in the Sovereign of nations. In the midst of changing, uncertain times, God alone is our immovable rock. Of this I am convinced: all trust is misplaced, if it is not ultimately in the name of the Lord our God.

In Numbers 14:24 we find this remarkable assessment of a man of God from long ago: "But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it."

Caleb was of a different spirit.

I have heard it said that each person is born original, but most people die as copies of someone else!

The world seeks to conform us to its image, but the people of God are not to be conformed to this world; rather, we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Christians are indwelt by the Spirit of God and should be different--much different--from the world around us. In other words, followers of Christ should be people of a different spirit.

Scripture also says that Caleb followed the Lord wholeheartedly. And because of that, he (and Joshua) entered the promised land. Tragically, more than 600,000 men of Caleb's generation perished in the wilderness. The Israelites had been brought out of Egypt to be brought into the promised land. They were so close to fulfilling their destiny, but fell short because of unbelief.

But not Caleb. He had a different spirit, and he followed His Lord completely. Consequently, he entered into Canaan.

The promised land of eternal and abundant life--both now and in the world to come--awaits those who trust in Christ as Savior and Lord.

Therefore, let us learn from Caleb and be people of a different spirit, trusting and following the Triune God wholeheartedly!