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Our mission is
to share the gift of
Jesus Christ,
to move hearts and employ hands for the kingdom of God.
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The Rev's ReflectionsWelcome to the Minister's Blog!  The Sign Says....Monday, September 21, 2009
I was traveling down a road in another state recently and saw something that was most amusing to me. It was a sign pointing to another sign! They were only a few yards from each other and the first sign was bigger than the sign it pointed to. The second sign was a historical marker. I passed on down the road having seen both signs, amused by them even remembering them, but having no clue what the historical marker said or indicated.
A sobering thought is that we resemble those two signs. As Christians, our lives are to point others to Christ. Unfortunately, all too often, people see only our sign and not that of Christ because in our zeal, our confusing arrows or in our inability or failure to point to him; the world fails to see the cross, the sign of God and his love and redemption for the world. Others see us, maybe even remember us but are they able to look beyond us to that which we say we want to point to, our Lord and Savior?
PowerThursday, August 06, 2009
We were on vacation in Acadia National Park in Maine and hiked up a trail to the top of one of the “Bubble Mountains.” The hiker is rewarded with a beautiful vista and a natural wonder. Perched on the crest of the sheer cliff of the mountain top is a 14 ton boulder that due to its composition has been determined to have come from 20 miles away. It was moved and deposited in this precarious position thousands of years ago by a glacier. It is astonishing to stand in the shadow of such a huge rock and realize that it was moved by the power of a simple thing – ice. Ice is a common material, nothing more than frozen water. In abundance it exerts great pressure, enough to recast and redistribute the landscape.
Likewise, it can be astonishing what can be accomplished by the forces of faith, hope and love. In abundance in a human life, in the midst of a congregation, or throughout a denomination literally mountains could be moved. Standing on Bubble Mountain I couldn’t help but try to envision what it looked like when the glacier was present. Now, I’m trying to imagine what things would look like in the presence of true faith, hope and love.
The Unknown?Monday, February 02, 2009
I received an email from a person who was a member of another unnamed church and had questions about the faith. This inquiring person wanted to know, “Why believe in the unknown” – i.e. God?
This was my response: First, questions are a healthy and honest part of growing as a person and as a Christian, so I’m glad you asked! Why believe in the unknown? I am guessing that you drive a car. Do you know all there is to know about how a car operates? Do you know what transpires the moment you turn the key in the ignition to the moment you turn it off what all went into making the engine, transmission and brakes to operate? Do you have understanding of the electrical system that even makes the turn signals operate at a consistent rate? Yet, without understanding all the many systems that go into making one automobile move down the street, you believe every time you turn the key that the car will function. Even though most of what happens in a car is unknown to you, you believe in them, trust and rely upon them to be at work and even get upset with they fail! Just because you don’t understand it, are unable to explain it, you believe in it and trust it. You trust something that was made by humans. The truth is, you already believe in the unknown! It is unavoidable as a mortal human being.
But God unknown? While it is true we cannot fathom the fullness of God, the very heart of Christianity is that God is knowable. In and through Jesus Christ, we do know God! In fact, he is God. You are not called to believe in the unknown, but the known. By the means of prayer, reading the bible, worship (corporately and privately) God becomes known.
So you are not called to believe in the unknown, but the known – a gracious and loving God who has provided a variety of means by which we come to know him.
The ElectionsWednesday, October 22, 2008
As we approach the National Election on November 4th, there are a number of pastors who feel the need to “biblically” endorse a candidate from their pulpit. I disagree with those colleagues. There are biblical passages about selecting political leadership. In 1 Samuel there is the recounting of the Lord choosing the king of Israel (Saul and David) because the people campaign for one (8:7). God uses the Prophet Samuel as his selection process; not an election, caucus or family succession. There are other instances of political selections in the bible. Yet, it appears from what little research I’ve done, that my colleagues are using a checklist of the positions of the candidates against biblical principles to draw their conclusions. Admirable but it seems to run counter to God’s method of selection that “sees not as man sees; …but looks on the heart” (16:7).
I lay no claims to being the prophet of America with God’s word on who to vote for. I have my political views but I don’t profess to know the heart of those running for office. That being said, I do believe it is important that as individuals we exercise our right, privilege and duty as citizens of this country to vote. As citizens who enjoy the freedoms and blessings of our country, we should participate in this fundamental act of participation in the process of selecting our leaders and representatives.
The bible really draws our attention to another kingdom, the kingdom of God. The Samuel passage hinges on the people not wanting God to be their king and their desire for a human king. My calling as a minister of the gospel is to lift up kingdom of God that exists in and beyond this world. It certainly should and does impact this world but it is not defined, contained nor restrained by it.
Therefore, our choices in the voting booth should be made after a time of genuine prayer. How does my faith, my citizenship in God’s kingdom lead me to bring about God’s will in this world? Who does “the one who sees the heart” lead me to support and vote for? Our country and its leadership, current and future should be held up in our daily prayers.
Thus, I urge you to pray, vote, and pray in that order.
It's What We Do!Thursday, July 03, 2008
Decatur First over the years has helped other United Methodist Churches get started. Our church aided in the erection of Glen Haven UMC, purchased the land lot for North Decatur UMC and one of our members gave the land lot for the Skyland UMC. Support was given to Allgood Road UMC, Asbury UMC, Belvedere UMC, Glenco UMC (now Columbia Drive UMC) and Northwoods UMC.
Now, the Navo United Methodist Church is forming in the Oakhurst area. We are providing them with office space in the Bassett House (Niranjan and Sunita Noronha still live upstairs. Niranjan is now the pastor of the Snapping Shoals UMC, a small church in our district that does not have a parsonage.). The Navo Church hopes to begin regular worship services early in 2009. We have an opportunity to continue our history and tradition by helping this new church get started.
The worship space they’ve identified to use in Oakhurst will be expensive. With the approval of our Administrative Board, I am challenging our church to raise $50,000 by December 31st over and above our regular giving to be applied toward the rent for Navo’s worship space. Together with funds set aside by our Board of Trustees and contributions from other area United Methodist Churches, we will cover the expenses for their worship space for the first year. This is something I am confident we can do.
Our mission as the church is to reach others for Jesus Christ. We strive to do that each day here at Decatur First. Helping the Navo Church is a way for us to reach some folks that we probably wouldn’t reach otherwise, even with our best efforts and intentions.
Make your checks out to Decatur First UMC but mark them “New Church” or “Navo.” Keep Bryan Fowler, the pastor of Navo and the Navo Church in your prayers. We can rejoice in what God is doing among us, with us, through us and beyond us here at Decatur and now in Oakhurst!
Helping with a New BeginningWednesday, March 26, 2008
It was a remarkable experience to go to the Gulf Coast a few weeks ago to help in the rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. After 2 ½ years there is still so much to be done. Everyday on the way to and from our work site, we passed trucks pulling modular homes to be placed on empty lots where families have waited all this time for some sort of housing.
For as much as remains to be built and replaced, there are incredible signs of resilience and restoration. There is hope and promise. The above photograph I took with my cell phone (a remarkable bit of technology). It is of a sunrise over the Gulf in front of the Assembly, the Methodist center of Katrina relief efforts and former youth retreat center for the Mississippi Annual Conference.
Like Easter and the Sun rising on a new day, so our work as Christians and Methodists are bringing a new day, a new life and a new hope to many. It is a nice reminder of what we do collectively as Methodists around the world. I was just lucky enough to see it first hand in one place.
World Thinking DayWednesday, February 20, 2008
This Friday, February 22nd is World Thinking Day. What should we think about? When I learned about this day recently, I couldn’t help but recall a Saturday Night Live skit entitled “Deep Thoughts.” Interestingly, I don’t remember a single “deep thought,” from any of those skits, just the title!
World Thinking Day actually began in 1926 with the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts who give thanks and appreciation to their “sister” girl guides and scouts around the world. They think about them.
In a world in which we all too often think only of ourselves, it is a good thing to be called upon to think about someone else. Things change as we contemplate our “sisters and brothers” around the block or around world as people with hopes, dreams, hurts, pains, joys, and aspirations. How healthy to think about someone else.
On World Thinking Day, it’s not a bad idea to think about the world itself, this marvelous gift that God has entrusted to us. Are we only taking from it and abusing it or are we doing anything that protects, nurtures, or restores it for our sisters and brothers who will come after us? Have we thought of them lately?
While it is certainly important to at least one day to think about these things, it is just a sentimental exercise unless we do something about what we think. Will I do anything different on February 23rd having had a world thought? Will I contact a sister or brother? Will I make a charitable contribution that gives them a chance? Will I recycle or clean up a corner of the world? God thought about the world and then did something (John 3:16). Will we just think Deep Thoughts that we won’t remember tomorrow?
CostumesWednesday, October 31, 2007 Today is Halloween. This morning, the children in our church’s pre-school program came over to the church offices to sing for the staff and to trick or treat from the staff. The staff of the church really enjoys this wonderful interaction and time together. For the rest of the day, we find ourselves recalling having seen a miniature nurse and doctor, Batman, Zorro, Harry Potter, Princesses, Power Rangers, pumpkins, Spiderman, Astronauts, ghosts and more. What is fascinating is the unbridled ability of children to pretend that they are the people they are dressed up to be.
In recent years, adults have rediscovered the fun and joy of dressing up during Halloween. We are given permission to unleash an alter ego or at least assume the persona of someone or something else. There may be great psychological benefit to this occasional exercise which I have personally enjoyed myself.
Unfortunately the other 364 days of the year, all too often, there are people who dress up as Christians. They may look the part and even play the part with uncanny ability. There may be some benefit to the exercise but missing is the genuineness and integrity of self. Missing is the heart that finds its comfort, assurance and peace in surrender to God. Missing is the energy to continue to wear the uniform of Christian living.
Are we Christians or do we just play one on the stage of life? Frozen in PlaceWednesday, August 22, 2007 We have been experiencing record breaking heat this summer and the rain deficit is over 16 inches. It is dry and hot. I don’t live anywhere near a body of water except for a small stream that meanders the boundaries of the neighborhood where I live. So it struck me as humorous and ironic that I am building a boat. Actually, my son is building it in my workshop and relying on my memory. Thirty years ago, I built a kayak. Recovering from memory how it went together has been fun and frustrating at times. When it is completed, my son hopes to take this kayak to his home where the Chattahoochee River runs behind his condo.
For now however, the frame of a boat is in my basement, far from water, far from even moisture, and far from being ready to launch. However, there is this vision that both father and son have of a boat one day plowing through the water.
It is easy to forget at times, that we are all a project in progress. We may even feel as out of place as a boat landlocked and far from navigable waters. Yet, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have a vision for us. It we are patient, pliable, and open to their master hands to shape and mold us, we will take on a new form and ultimately be transported to a place where we were designed to be. Who knows where that will take us?
Methodists have long held the important notion that we should be growing in grace and going on to perfection. Are you making progress or has the dust settled in? HealthyThursday, July 12, 2007
Generally on Sunday nights, we don’t eat big meals. In fact it is often that we eat popcorn! Last Sunday night was great. I had potato chips and a DQ Blizzard! I can only imagine what my children might have said after all the lectures about eating right they have gotten from their father and mother. Obviously, I don’t always eat this way, but it is fun sometimes to feast on junk food.
While I loved the deviation and indulgence, I also paid a price for it. I really didn’t feel all that well later in the evening. I know that my body was telling me that while it was delicious going down, the substance and nutrition that my body needed was lacking and in fact some contributions were detrimental to my health.
We know that already, but why is it we do it anyway? We are interesting creatures, doing what we know not to do and failing to do that which we know we should. The Apostle Paul lamented the same (Romans 7) and even asked: “who will deliver me from this?” He proceeded to answer his own question: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
I know I need God’s help. I’m writing this with a cookies and cream milk shake from Chick-fli-A beside me! |
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