Archives for June, 2009

Vacation

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

It will soon be time for me to take my vacation. Let me tell you my body and spirit are ready. It has been a long time since we got to travel away as a family and I’m looking forward to it. I’m taking two weeks of vacation this year (I’ve never done that before); the first week will be at Lake Junaluska while the second will be at home doing “honey do” chores. I’m really looking forward to this time.

Everyone needs some time away from the regular to make them appreciate it more. I love the church and I love preaching and I love the people but I know to love the church more and the preaching more and the people more I need some renewal time. I will worship while I’m away and I will walk and I will swim and I will look at beautiful lake homes and dream. My mind and my heart as well as my body will be refreshed.

I hope you will take time away but we should never ever take time away from God. There is no vacation from the need of God’s mercy and grace. God longs to always be with you and me. In that is renewal and rest.

Well I will share the pictures when I return. I hope you will share with me your pictures and your dreams of a new tomorrow as we look toward God’s future.

Posted in Random Thoughts | No Comments »

Conference

Friday, June 19th, 2009

I have just returned from the North Georgia Annual Conference and had a blast. Who would have thought that the annual “business” meeting of the United Methodist Church could lift the spirits of the preacher? It did. I was reminded of my call of why God has faith in me and of the support of my many sisters and brothers in the clergy.

I have come away from Athens with a renewed and refreshed sense of service and of call. I’m excited to be a UMC pastor and preach grace and love and peace to ALL of God’s children. I’m excited to about serving year number 4 at McDonough First UMC the greatest church in our Annual Conference. I’m totally pumped and ready to do all I can to empower the church through radical hospitality, passionate worship, risk taking missions, generous giving and faith development. I want everyone to be as excited and pumped as me.

All this because of an old business meeting where God just happened to be. No it was by chance it was by the power of the Holy Spirit that God was there in the worship, the ordination, the communion, the memorial service, the voting and debating and even in the reading of the appointments.

So what do you think we should do in this new year??? I love to hear from you and as you write please pray that God will use me in a great way for God’s kingdom and for McDonough First.

Posted in New Beginnings | No Comments »

Rain, Rain ….

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

I don’t know about you but I love rainy days. I find them to be so relaxing and so peaceful. On a rainy day I can accomplish a lot. I can find a good book and read and I can catch up on my computer work (like this blog). Rainy days are just peaceful days for me.

I’m also thankful for them. I know we have had a lot of them over the last few months and many think instead of Atlanta we are in Seattle. But I remember last year when we were begging for rain. We had prayer services for rain. The State of Georgia called for a water ban and my poor yard almost died. Well God has blessed us with rain and abundance of it. So you won’t find me complaining but thanking God for all of the rain.

We tend to do that, beg, whine and complain and God answers and we are happy for a bit and then after to much of the blessing we beg, whine and complain some more. It is to me a wonder why God puts up with us. The good news is God loves us regardless of how much we beg, whine, or complain. God hears us and I believe trys to give us the best. We need to remember God sees the bigger fuller picture.

I hope we can trust God more and do so in the falling rain! God is good all the time … all the time, God is good!

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