Archives for September, 2009
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
We have just finished 3 days of the best revival I have ever been a part of in my many years. We were blessed here at McDonough First to hear Dr. Tommy Willingham deliver the Word of God from his heart during our times of worship and celebration. Tommy held back no punches and he beat no one over the head. His preaching truly inspired and renewed and revived us … well at least me!
In the olden days revivals had a history of being done to get people “saved”; to drag in the sinners and convert them. We United Methodist look at it a bit different today. Sure, if the lost person joins the service and finds the grace of Jesus Christ we celebrate big time. But, for us (ok me) revival is more of a time to take stock of my spiritual life and to renew me that long journey. Revival is to revive my fainting spirit and to refresh my ordinary life. The sad thing is we don’t reach large crowds with this any longer. We were blessed to average 90 folks throughout the 3 evenings. Why didn’t more come like in the old days?
Like a lot of things we offer perhaps revival is not for everyone. We live in a very busy society and very weary one at the end of a long day. There are tons of options to help people in their Christian walk that don’t require nightly worship. There are small groups that meet many needs there are Bible Studies that transforms lives. The list is endless and the church is providing all it can to keep the disciple on top. Revival can be one of many spiritual growth times.
What does all this mean? It means for me that revival was awesome and I grew again but I hope others are growing too in their “revival” groups. Each day should be a day of revival in our lives because the enemy of God is at us all the time and to be renewed, refreshed, revived is what we need 24/7
No revival isn’t over … it is just beginning!
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Wednesday, September 16th, 2009
Ok, Ok … I’m slow and I admit it! There, are you happy? Yes, I just finished reading William Young’s best seller, The Shack. I know it came out a while ago and that everyone has been talking about it but I have had so many other books I wanted to read first. But having picked it up I could not put it down.
The Shack (in my humble opinion) is a great book! No it is not real, it is a great work of fiction but it is great because it causes the reader to think. Oh my Christians are called to think? Yes, we have been given a mind by our Creator and are called to use it. The Shack really makes the mind run till the very last sentence. It challenges the old Sunday school faith and really calls for the reader to think with heart and mind.
This book challenges the views of God, of Christ, of the Holy Spirit (making them human like us and even as a female God WOW!) and it brings into discussion the age old question of why bad things happen to good people. Theology and the understanding of the nature of God is at every paragraph. Some of the things are funny while others are very sad and still some very depressing. Sometimes there is even and indightment on the church.
The Shack reminded me to stop taking God for granted. We Christians do that so easily and so well. We assume God’s love for us means God likes us just as we are. God’s love is eternal for all God’s children but God does have a plan, a dream, a hope for us to be more than we are at this moment. And when we sin God is always ready to embrace in the arms of love; to warm us inside and out. When (not if but when) we get mad at God … God is big enough to handle it and love us through our anger and fear.
I’m hoping to discuss this book with others over the next several weeks. The Generations Sunday School Class at McDonough First United Methodist might be looking at it as well and how we see God in our daily life and as always through the lenses of our Wesleyan Heritage. Come join us if your are in the neighborhood.
God uses all things to get our attention and to draw us closer … ever a fiction book. Thanks be to God for caring enough to do what ever it takes to bring us home!
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Thursday, September 10th, 2009
Do you remember playing the old flower game where you pick a pedal off one at a time saying “she loves,” and then another, “she loves me not,” until the flower pedals were all gone and you “knew” the answer whether your true loved loved you or not? Well I admit I played it a lot as a kid especially before I screwed up the courage to ask a girl to be my girl friend. I needed some guidance before I stuck my neck out there.
Twenty three years ago on September 13, 1986 I married the girl of my dreams. For the last 23 years we have been living together, playing togethering, raising children together, and moving to many places together. We have also cried tears of fear and worry as well as fussed at each other from time to time. We have held each other and we have yelled at each other, and I’ve said “I’m sorry” more times than I can count! For 23 years we have been husband and wife, friends sharing life together.
The 23 years have not been perfect, they have had their ups and downs. But these 23 years I would not change for anything. I am married to a woman who understands me and loves me anyway. I’m married to a woman who loves me in-spite of my forgetfulness. I’m married to a woman who stands by me even as she shakes her head at my actions. I’m blessed. I’m blessed because I don’t have to pick a flower anymore to see if she loves me. 23 years is the proof.
The one constant stay in our lives has been Jesus Christ and His Church. We have found solice and support in all the times of our marriage from both Jesus and the Church. I encourage all couples getting married to find a church home to be a part of so as to find help and enouragement when they are just beginning and for when they are celebrating 50 years of marriage. We need Jesus and His church to make it in this day and time. There is so much out there trying to tear the bonds of marriage apart, so much attempting to weaken the vows of faithfullness that we need a foundation. I am thankful that Jesus never fails the husband and wife, the He has never failed Sally and me!
Yep, she loves me and I love her with all my heart and soul. There is a clear assurance as we keep adding the years.
Happy Anniversary I LOVE YOU!
I’m getting to be very old! I know this because I know so many “old” church songs that the “younger” generation has never heard. I think that is ok because I’ve been blessed with these nuggets of gold that speak to me as I still try to manage to be found in God’s perfect will each day.
The line above is from one of those “old” hymns “… and he walks with me and talks with me…” I don’t know about you but if it weren’t for the fact that this old hymn promises me that God does that, walks and talks with me, I would not believe it! Yep, there are days and even weeks when I don’t see God or hear God near me. Oh, I’m looking half heartily but to no avail. And then I get discouraged and down because I know that God is tired of me. You see I’m the biggest mess God ever created or called. I fail in my walk and talk daily. I don’t blame God for turning away and throwing His hands up.
But the truth is I took the other turn, away from where God wanted me to walk and I opened my ears to the things sounded nice and pleasant. I wanted the easy and pleasing life. I wanted thing my way. My way blocks out all sight and sound of God. My way has no place for another or their voice of help, encouragement, or love. My way is my way.
How do I ever make it back? Can I ever make it back? The good news is that “… he walks with me and talks with me …” regardless of where I turn and go. God through His Holy Spirit never leaves me or forsakes me, even if I try to leave or forsake Him. God is present with me because God loves this messed up preacher! I will never understand why God loves me so, I surely don’t deserve it. But God loves me and God’s presences is always with me.
I was comforted in my reading the other day in the best seller “The Shack” where the author say that when Jesus took on the sins of world (my sin) it was the power of that sin that made Jesus feel like God deserted him but in reality God never left instead he walked with him and talked with him all the way to the tomb and beyond. God will do the same with you with me … there is no sin that is so great that will drive God away.
I’m glad He is God and I’m not. I’m glad He walks with me and talks with along life’s narrow way.” I need all the help I can get. Now to open my eyes and my ears once again and see God with me.
Oh, there you are … thanks God … yes I love you Lord!
We have just finished 3 days of the best revival I have ever been a part of in my many years. We were blessed here at McDonough First to hear Dr. Tommy Willingham deliver the Word of God from his heart during our times of worship and celebration. Tommy held back no punches and he beat no one over the head. His preaching truly inspired and renewed and revived us … well at least me!
