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Why
the Name?
It started
about six years ago, when we were starting a similar ministry at a local church.
While we were discussing coming up with a name, one of the leaders, said that
the Lord spoke to her and gave her the name "Level Ground". After one event, the
ministry was aborted. The pastor didn't feel like it was the time for Level-Ground.
We were a little disappointed, but after some prayer we were convinced that the
Lord was not finished with the name Level Ground, or the
ministry.
About three years
ago, I was working on starting a web page business, and needed a name for the
business. As I was having to make a quick decision on a domain name, I thought
about the lg at the end of my name on my E-mail and what it represented to me,
and decided to name it Level-Ground. I never really did anything with the domain
name or the web space I bought for about 3 months. That is, until the Lord started
working on my heart about getting back into ministry. When the Lord started speaking
to my heart about the kind of ministry he wanted me to do, I knew then that the
Lord wanted to use the name Level-Ground for the ministry. An old friend started
calling me about the same time. He continued to confirm the ministry and the name.
Why the name Level-Ground? Apart from the prompting of my heart, there is special
significance to the concept in Scripture.
Here are a few scriptures that speak to me what the name and ministry represents:
1. Level Ground speaks about the Lord leading us to be righteous.
- Psalm 143:10 10. Teach
me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level
ground.
2. Level Ground speaks
about putting our faith in him, letting him direct out paths.
- Proverbs 4:25-27 25.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. 26. Make
level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. 27. Do not swerve
to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
- Hebrews 12:13 13.
"Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather
healed.
3. Level Ground symbolizes
the Lord preparing our hearts for him.
When a king would make a journey the road workers would go to work making the
ground level for the King. In scripture high places
(Jer. 49:16) are a symbol of pride, low places a symbol of false humility, and
worldly depression (2 Cor. 7:10), and feelings of unworthiness, and crooked roads
(Isaiah 59:7-8) a symbol sinful ways. All of which can be road blocks from God
doing his work in our lives. By God making your paths level, he can do the kind
of work he wants to do in us, including salvation.
- Luke 3:4-6 4. As is
written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling
in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 5.
Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked
roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. 6. And all mankind will see
God's salvation.'"
4. Level Ground means
no favoritism... So goes the slogan for Level-Ground is "At the foot of the
cross there is level-ground". We are all equally sinners who need a savior.
- Leviticus 19:15 15.
"`Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to
the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
- Acts 10:34-36 34. Then
Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
35. but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36. You
know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace
through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
- Romans 2:11 For God
does not show favoritism.
- James 2:1-10 1. My
brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.
2. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes,
and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3. If you show special attention
to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say
to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4. have you
not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5. Listen,
my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world
to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
6. But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you?
Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7. Are they not the ones
who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? 8. If you really
keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are
doing right. 9. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law
as lawbreakers. 10. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one
point is guilty of breaking all of it.
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