Archives for January, 2010
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
I have been at this preaching business for over 25 years. I have been ordained only 23 of those years but if you count the many times I preached to my stuffed animals as a child who knows how long I’ve been at this task of preaching the Word?
You might think that after so many years I would have all the answers as well as have all the questions, but this is not true. I am a struggler on the way. I struggle with the big issues of faith and with the little issues of daily living. I struggle because I’m far from having all the answers. That is why I keep on preaching and keep on teaching. As I preach and teach I find that God speaks to me. So when ever you say that the sermon spoke to you … sorry I was speaking to myself, preaching to my own needs, because I’m struggling.
The good news for me is that I don’t think I’m struggling alone. I see so many people struggling with the easy and the hard issues of the faith. I see people with smiles on their faces but questions in their eyes. I feel the desire among so many to become the man or woman the God desires us to become but not knowing how to always get there.
So I preach to myself and to each of you with the love of God flowing in my heart.
Sometimes my sermons may seem sweet, sometimes harsh, sometimes my sermons are challenging and other time affirming. But know these are my words coming from my struggle with the scriptures and the great theologians and others. I give all these words to God and ask that I not waste your time with my own stuff but that I help God speak to you through me in the midst of my struggle. Sometimes we will disagree and I hope many times we will agree but … each time I hope we grow and move through the struggle even if just a little bit.
I thank you if you have ever listened to even one of my sermons. I thank you for being daring enough to sit and listen. I pray that my words covered by the power of the Holy Spirit might have helped you in your struggles. I know they have me at times as well as your words back to me.
Thanks for struggling and allowing this short United Methodist pastor to struggle with you.
Posted in Feelings, Random Thoughts | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010
Last week the poorest nation in the world experienced yet another kick in the teeth, an earthquake. This earthquake was reported to be 7 on the scale! The people of Haiti are facing not just days and months but years of hardship and trouble. Is your heart broken for them?
It is easy to forget about the needs of others as we sit here worrying about our own economy and hoping to get our 401K back up to its past glory. It is easy to close our eyes and ears to the media coverage of the needs of these homeless men and women and children when we have to find our own job or trying to sell our home without to much of a loss due to the economy. It is easy for our heart to focus on ourselves and our needs in a tough day.
But my friends, these are our brothers and sisters we are hearing about, seeing torn asunder, these are OUR children left without family or food or home or clothing. These people of Haiti are not the enemy but the broken and the poor in need of a loving heart. Is your heart broken yet?
My heart breaks not only for the lose of the people of Haiti but for the loss of many who were there to bring hope and love to them. I think of the president of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) who died while in a meeting to stop poverty in Haiti. I think of Courtney Hayes, a grandchild of my members Zack and Laura Hinton there to help as a medical personal who is still missing in the rubble of the Hotel Montana. You see it isn’t something far away and happening to others; it is happening to all we love and care about. Is your heart broken yet?
I invite you to a season of praying for the heart of the people of Haiti. I invite you to cry tears of love for our sisters and brothers and seek God’s face on their behalf. I invite you to send a donation to UMCOR (100% of your gift will go to the people of Haiti and to the rebuilding of their lives). These people that the UMCOR president and Courtney care so much about are who we will be helping.
Is your heart broken? Mine is and I hope you will join me in reaching out in love to our brothers and sisters with love.
Posted in Feelings, The Church | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
OK here we go!
Yes, another adventure in life. I am now going to try and do video blogging at the suggestion of my good friend and IT guru Jamie. Why you ask? Because we are trying to do anything that will allow us to celebrate and share the unconditional love of Jesus Christ with all who can hear; with all who are curious, with all who might stumble upon this medium as they are surfing the web.
It is our hope to catch people’s attention. Yes, to catch their attention and invite them to our church but more so to catch it and invite them to consider Jesus Christ as friend, as, helper, as Lord, and as Savior. Whatever it takes to get that up and running I am willing to do it.
I know I’m not much to look at (I’ve seen myself on our TV broadcast) but it isn’t about me, it is about Jesus and what I can do to help other people see Him and know just how powerful His love is toward them.
Hey, this is why we started going on TV, started an Internet Church by way of USTREAM, started Children’ Church and why we started the 942 Connector meeting in The Rodgers Center Gym at 9:42 each Sunday … to attract people to Christ. It has its fun moments and it has it frustrating moments. But again it is not about us … it is about Jesus and getting the word out there the He loves you unconditionally.
I hope you will pray for me as I attempt this weekly video blogging and keeping up this blog and all the new techno stuff I’m trying to learn. I hope you will pray for the new adventures our church is stepping into. I hope to see you on the adventure with me!
Grace and peace today to each of you.
Dana
