So, have I mentioned?

I am getting married in May. That means Steve and I are in the midst of wedding planning. I thought I would share some pictures of inspiration! This is so much fun!

Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16

The Psalms, you see, are songs that expressed the emotions of the Hebrew people. The hard, burdened, and often-difficult life of God’s chosen people. These were songs often joyfully and occasionally woefully sung during worship. And like our ancestors in the faith, these are words that Christans have been sung for 2,000 years to praise the Almighty God. So we join with this great tradition this morning and remember the words of Psalm 91 that have brought comfort and peace to generation after generation. “Those who dwell in the shelter of the most high” are words that bring us assurance.

Imagine a dark room, full of men who have dedicated their lives to the Lord. Their one mission in life is to serve the church and the world. This group of Trapist monks in central Kentucky serves the world through prayer. They pray and worship eight times a day. Other than their vocal prayer and worship, they live a lift of silence, meditating on the Lords interaction with the world. In their monastery, there are a few rooms dedicated to talking, rarely are these used unless an outsiders comes with questions about their life of faith. When asked they share openly. . One even remarks, “we pray for those who do not know how to pray for themselves.” They pray for us. They pray for the world. Eight times a day they pray for you and for me.

I, personally, find it comforting that there is a group of individuals who have dedicated their lives to praying for me, even when I often forget to pray for myself. It find it comforting that in the unsure world in which we live, where war is a constant threat, financial markets are unsure, and faith in governments is wavering, there are people who pray. There are people who pray for the “arrow that flies by night,” be it a real arrow or an emptiness and loneliness that some feel in the dark and dim hours of the night. The prayers of these men comfort me like this Psalm comforts many of us.

This Psalm 91 reminds us of God’s constant presence. God will not leave us nor forsake us and the words to this ancient prayer remind us of God’s existence in our lives. We are people who “dwell in the shelter of the Most High.” All too often we have forgotten about God’s shelter and have relied on our own wit and strength for protection. Many of you have heard stories about my experience living in the Bahamas and serving five churches on Eleuthrea Island. A few summers ago I was granted the opportunity to live in a very rural part of the Bahamas through a program at Emory. I packed my bags, boarded a plane to Nassau, then boarded a six passenger plane to Eleuthera. I did not know what to expect. I arrived at my one room cinder block home. The doors to my home did not lock, coming from Atlanta this was quite unusual and a bit scary. As I learned more and more about the community, I realized that a 20 something female minister with no spouse was not the norm…imagine that. On my arrival, no one knew who I was or what I was there to do. I would frequently get “cat calls,” from men in the area making me even more uncomfortable and nervous. After my first Sunday of leading worship, the whistles and remarks ceased. I began to feel more comfortable. That was, until, one specific day. It was a normal day when I woke up. I visited some of the homebound individuals in the community. I worked on my sermon around lunch. I met some of the children in the playground and visited with them in the afternoon. Around 4:00 I decided to go for a run. I had to drive to the neighboring town to lead a bible study that evening and thought this would be a great way to clear my head. I started my run down the frequently traveled road. When I got to my turn around point, I turned and continued on my way. As a approached a few houses I noticed a group of men sitting in the yard. Lets just say they had started their evening activities a bit early and as I ran in front of the house they began to yell at me. Then follow me. I kept running occasionally looking back just to see them still behind me, following me to my home. I went to a friend’s house and her husband told them to leave, or he would call the police. Eventually I went back to my home, placing all the furniture in front of the doors I found myself in scared, alone, and in a foreign country.

As evening fell, the arrow that flies by night started to terrify me. “What if they know where I live,” I thought. “What if the come to find me.” I panicked, called my mother, e-mailed my friends, made plans to have actual locks placed on the doors and then when none of that gave me peace, I finally began to pray. Why is it that during time of unrest, God is often a last resort? One in every four U.S. homes has a home security alarm. Each and every evening the news tells us how unsafe our world is becoming. Even our local news is covered with stories of homicides, burglaries, and car wrecks… here in the River Region. A few weeks ago I was visiting a member of our church at her retirement home and she was remarking about how much the world has changed during her 90 years of life. It seems that fear is all around us. But even though, we still try to find peace and rest on our own. We install more locks, more security systems, and we talk about the way that life is changing. Often prayer is our last resort. We fail to remember that we live in the shelter of the Most High. We forget that our refuge is God the Almighty. We do not recall the manner that God covers us, protects us, and shields us. But even when we forget the manner that God protects us, when we fail to remember the manner that God loves us, God continues to comfort us and give us peace.

During the times in our life when we feel most alone, we can be assured that God is with us. The arrow is not so troublesome, and that we do live in the shelter of the Most High. God is our refuge. God is our fortress. God is our strength. God does not leave us.

God says to us, the children of the Almighty, “Those who love me, I will deliver.” Our Lord’s promises are sure and we are reminded of them when our God says, “When they call to me, I will answer them.”
 We are assured of God’s continual presence with us, and our Lord says “I will be with them in trouble.”
 We can be assured that we are loved when our Lord proclaims, “I will rescue them and honor them. 
With long life I will satisfy them, and show , my salvation.” Psalms 91 is a song written to remind the Hebrew people of God’s steadfast love. It was written to remind the Hebrew people that in places where there seems to be no peace, no safety, no security…God is a refuge. God is a fountain of strength.

God is WITH all of us. Even in times when the arrow seems to be pressing, God is with us. Even in places where there is darkness, God is with us. In even the deepest night, even the most frightening time, even the most terrifying moments, God is with us. God is always with all of us. We do not need to fear because God has covered us. God is with us.

At 3:15 in the morning in a small monastery in central Kentucky a bell tolls, awakening the brothers to a time of prayer. Sleepily they meander to the small sanctuary in the modest building that they call home. They begin to pray. They pray for the world while we sleep. One monk remarks that this is the time when people are most vulnerable. Deep in the middle of the night while the world sleeps they pray for the resting world. They pray that the arrow will not fly, they pray that the pestilence will remain far away. Deep in the night’s cool dark air almost anything can happen, so they pray. They recite the words to Psalm 91.

You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,^* 
will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.’ 
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, 
and under his wings you will find refuge; 
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, 
or the arrow that flies by day, 
or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
or the destruction that wastes at noonday. Those who love me, I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name. 
When they call to me, I will answer them;
 I will be with them in trouble,
 I will rescue them and honour them. 
With long life I will satisfy them,
 and show them my salvation.

This is their calling, they pray for the world. The worlds to this Psalm remind them, they remind all of us that God protects us; that God is with us. They pray for safety, they pray for God’s presence. They pray. This is their calling. This is our calling.

Prayer for Our Country

Under your law we live, great God,
and by your will we govern ourselves.
Help us as good citizens
to respect neighbors whose views differ from ours,
so that without partisan anger,
we may work out issues that divide us,
and elect candidates to serve the common welfare;
through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

From the Book of Common Prayer

The Importance of One: Luke 15:1-10

So, here you have it…two distinct groups, two very different groups. They are vastly different and both in search of the same man.

On one hand you have the Pharisees and the Scribes. These are the religious leaders, upstanding men who are respected by the entire community. Their name comes from the Hebrew word parush meaning “set apart.” These men adhered to religious law and ritual purity. They were the leaders of the temple, good men. Men who did what they were supposed to do, they were above reproach. In today’s world these would have been the leaders of the community; business people, elected officials, teachers, individuals in the healthcare profession, and maybe even ministers.

On the other hand you have the tax collectors and with them are what Luke calls “other sinners.” It is safe to say that in this group among the tax collectors are some of the days most vile. Thieves, dishonest men, perhaps a prostitute, maybe even someone like that woman Jesus met at the well who had five husbands. Barbra Brown Taylor, an Episcopal priest in North Georgia, says this group might today include “an abortion doctor, a child abuser, an arms dealer, a garbage collector, a young man with AIDS, a drug addict, and an unmarried woman on welfare with five children by three different fathers.[1]” This is indeed the lowest of the low. People with whom Jesus, this well-known teacher and rabbi should have very little if none contact. But amongst them all is this man… this man who calls himself the Son of God.

Both of these groups gathered to hear Jesus’s message. They came to listen, to learn, and to be transformed. I have often heard that the mark of a great preacher is one who speaks one sermon but there are multiple lesions for various people… and that is exactly what Jesus does in this passage. He tells the same story to different groups but they leave with two different messages. The first group leaves knowing it is their job to seek the lost, the other group leaves knowing that the Almighty cares for the lost. They leave knowing that they are loved.

As the Pharasees gather they expect to be challenged by this rabbi. Each time they gather around him to listen to the words that he will utter they leave with a new perspective and this time is no different. They gather to listen. They gather to learn. So Christ begins to tell his parables, first the lost sheep, then the lost coin. So what is the big deal about things that are lost they wonder.

This past weekend I went to Atlanta for the first time in quite a few months. For those of you who know me well, I cannot stay away from the city for too long. There is something about the excitement, busyness, fast paced life, and I suppose the traffic that I occasionally crave. This weekend I was venturing to the northern part of this city on the GA 400. For those of you unfamiliar with the GA 400 this is the toll road that links the northern suburbs to the heart of Buckhead and the rest of the city. Not being an individual who frequents the 400, as I approached the lanes to pay, I chose the one that did not require the monthly pass. I gathered my coins from my car (this is typically my diet coke money for Sunday mornings), and drove up to the pass way. At the GA400 there are electronic basket like devices that you throw your money into allowing the arm of the gate to be raised so that you can continue on your journey. On the not so rare occasion that your aim is off and you miss the basket your change simply drops to the ground. Thinking about the story of the woman with the coin, I looked at the ground. A variety of dimes, quarters, and nickels lay around the basket. Had I been a brave woman I might have attempted to gather the change, surely there would be enough for quite a few Diet Cokes on a Sunday morning. Not being a daredevil I decided to continue on my journey as the arm raised, allowing the somewhat already impatient driver behind me to toss their coins into the basket.

It is rare that we place a great deal of emphasis on small items that are lost. I mean it is just one sheep, it is just one coin. But Christ tells the Pharisees…. You see it is not JUST one sheep and it is not JUST one coin. But that sheep and that coin are of great value. They are priceless. Christ tells the Pharisees that is their job, their obligation, even their calling to seek out that which is lost. The other 99 are fine, they have been redeemed but the one that is lost is of great great great value to the kingdom of God. In this parable Christ reminds them WHY they are the religious leaders. Christ reminds them of their calling. They leave not only challenged but with am obligation to seek and save that which is lost. The responsibility is on them. And what a great responsibility it is, to care for God’s kingdom. They are respected, they have great honors but their job is intense and can be as messy as sweeping an entire home in search of a small piece of metal. They are not just individuals part of an elite group of religious snobs, no they are to seek and save the lost. The responsibility is great but so are the rewards…the heavenly rewards.

Christ message is very different though to the other group who are listening intently on the stories that he tells. This group of misfits, outcasts…. this group of sinners has approached the Son of Man for a different reason. They have come seeking a message of grace, love, hope, and forgiveness. They have messed up. They are the ones who are lost. They are the sheep that have wondered from the herd. They need the message that Christ will bring to mend their broken lives, to restore their shattered hearts. With kindness the Messiah looks upon these “tax collectors and sinner,” with love he looks into their eyes. He sees their brokenness and pain. Their road of life has been taxing full of potholes, turns, and detours. Through this process they have become lost.

The same message that he spoke to the religious elite he speaks to these men and women. The same words come out of his mouth but they have vastly different meanings to the two groups. To this group, the “sinners,” hear the message of love, forgiveness, and redemption. They hear that this man, this person who calls himself the Son of God, this Messiah will seek them out. He will love them. He will care for them. Christ arms will reach out to them seeking them out, healing the pain, hurt, and anguish that the journey of life has inflicted upon them and loving them. They do not need to worry about being lost because they WILL NOT be forsaken.

I am not sure if you have ever lost something or perhaps someone. I am not talking about loosing your keys, purse, or wallet. I do that on a daily basis. I am talking about loosing something of great value and the feeling that you get in the pit of your stomach until you find that which is lost. One summer I worked at a camp. There were a few families who lived at the camp, the directors and permanent staff all had homes on the outside of campus. For just a few moments the director gave me the charge of watching his youngest son. This wonderful five-year-old boy had autism. We had grown close to one another, as I would occasionally watch him in their home. This time did not seem much different than the others except this time we were outside, on the camp ground, not in his home. One minuet went by and I watched as he mingled with the counselors. Another minuet went by and I watched him walk over to the gazebo…a place he often called his office. A third minuet went by and one of the counselors asked me a question. In the time it took me to look her in the face to answer her question, the young boy was gone. My heart jump and I frantically began to search. I asked the others if they had seen the young guy but no one had. I knew he could not have gone far so I quickly began to walk and out of the small buildings surrounding the common area. When I walked in the library, there he was “reading” a book out loud. I rushed to him giving him a huge hug. He looked at me like I was a bit crazy and hugged me back continuing to read.

When we wander, Christ seeks us out…frantically until we are found and he can wrap his arms around us and rejoice that we have been returned to our rightful place. That is the message he wanted to convey to that second group listening intently that afternoon. Although they had wandered, although they were lost, Christ would seek them out. Christ would save them. They did not need to fear.

One of my favorite hymns is “Come Thou Fount.” This hymn, composed by a Methodist minister Robert Robinson, has continued to be influential at various stages of my life. As a student at the Auburn Wesley Foundation I loved when I received the order of worship bulletin as I walked in the doors of the chapel at Auburn United Methodist and realized we would be singing this hymn. One of the phrases that resounded with me at that time and continues to today is “Prone to Wander Lord I feel it, Prone to Leave the God I love, Here is my heart Lord, take and seal it Seal it for Thy courts above.” There have been many times in my life when I have felt like the lost sheep, when I have wandered and when God has sought me out and restored me to the flock. It seems like every time I sing that hymn I sing that phrase with a bit more gusto than the rest of the song. At times with tears in my eyes and at times with a thankful heart because I have been sought out by my Redeemer. We are all prone to wander.

This parable was spoken to two very different groups and perhaps this morning we find ourselves in one of these positions. Maybe we are being called to seek the lost, or perhaps we, ourselves, are the lost. Regardless, Christ message is clear. Christ redeems us, restores us, loves us, and forgives us AND we are called to share that message of grace with others. We are called to be Christ light to the world in all places where we find our self. We are called to be the salt of the earth in every corner of God’s creation. We are called to be the sheppard to seeks the marginalized, the lost, and the neglected. We are called to be the woman who tares her house apart looking for that one small piece of metal, that one small coin. We are called to be God’s people in a broken and hurt world that desperately needs the message of Christ’s grace. This is our calling as people of faith, as members of the United Methodist Church, and as members of this local community. It is my prayer that we will all go forth from here receiving the forgiveness and grace that Christ offers to all and sharing with those that we encounter.

---

[1] Barbara Brown Taylor, "Table Manners," article appearing in The Christian Century, March 11, 1998, page 257, paraphrased

What does your life contain?

Luke 12:13-21

In a world of piling credit, the have more want more mentality, and the bigger the better idea, this passage is often hard for us to hear. This passage not only beckons us to examine our physical resources, the things that we have or own but also encourages us to look at what is really important in our lives.

According to globalissues.org, at least 80% of people in the world live on less than $10 dollars a day or a yearly salary of $3,600. The richest 20% of the world’s population account for three quarters of the world’s income and 24,000 children die each day due to lack of nutrition, health care, or safety concerns that are the result of poverty. Nearly a billion people entered the 21^st century without being able to read, write, or even sign their own name. This week someone told me that if you have running water, an indoor bathroom, electricity, a means of employment, a roof over your head, and a means of transportation (even if it is public transportation) you are in the top 60% of the world’s population.

I do not share these statistics this morning to make us feel guilty for the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, the homes in which we live, or the jobs that employ us but rather to make us think about where we place our focus, our priorities.

This is a question I often have to ask myself. Where is my priority? Where is my focus? What is important in my own life. Is a fabulous pair of shoes important or, rather, is the ministry I do in this place, with you, of great importance. Where do we place our value? What does our life consist of?

The man that we meet in Jesus’ parable placed very little value on relationships. He placed little value on helping others, sharing with others, and loving his neighbor. He built larger barns to store all that he had grown. He hoarded his wealth, in order to make his life the easiest, the best, and the most relaxed. To top that Jesus shares this parable with those who are listening in the crowed because someone has demanded that Jesus, the Messiah, make his family give him the inheritance that he feels he is due. The overarching connection between these two individuals is greed. Self-centered, self-seeking, and self-interested, greed.

The past few weeks we have been journeying with Joseph. Unlike the man in the parable, Joseph built storehouses for the excess grain so that when others needed it he gave it away with a generous heart. Because of his foresight an entire country was saved during a time of feminine. Joseph shows us the difference in planning verses greed. With the man from this morning’s parable we do not encounter planning, but rather we encounter the essence of greed. He did not build larger barns in hopes of being a service to those around him. He did not take his great wealth and offer it to those who needed help, but rather he wanted to “relax, eat, drink, and be merry.” Greed became the essence of this man. He life enveloped around it. Do you think that when he built a larger barn it was enough? Doubtful. More than likely he built another, and then another. Greed is what takes us from the simply wanting to the never having enough.

We have seen this in our news haven’t we? We have heard about companies for whom a billion does not seem to be enough revenue. We have watched as BP needed to build a bigger barn without placing a safety valve on their equipment. We have also all watched as this greed impacted our brothers and sisters on our gulf coast. Many of us have personally felt the impacts of the crisis in the gulf. Some of us may know a fisherman who is in desperate need of the open waters to survive. The impacts of Greed can be far reaching. It not only destroys the heart of those on whom it has a grasp but it can also destroy the lives of many other people.

Recently, I sat and listened to a former minister tell about the generosity of one of the members of this congregation. I was moved by the story and amazed at how it reminded me of the lesson that Christ teaches us this morning. At her memorial service, he told a story about the interaction his family had with her kindness. As a young child his daughter became ill. As the family visited doctors they soon realized that affording the procedure would be a financial hardship to their family, and perhaps even impossible for them to afford. A generous member from this congregation gave them, anonymously, the exact amount of money necessary to afford the medical procedure for their child. They later came to learn of this generous giver and remain grateful to this day. On hearing this story a few weeks ago I was amazed at the giving spirit this wonderful woman. She stands in great contrast to the man who built larger barns to hoard his wealth of crops so that he could “relax, eat, drink, and be merry.” She stands in great contrast to those who have their lives enveloped with greed.

We must ask our self this morning where do our priorities lay? Are we like Joseph and the woman who helped a family in need or are we like the man who could not get enough. Are they found in bigger barns or in a giving spirit? Are our priorities found in begging Jesus to give us what we are due or are they found relationships with our family, friends, and individuals in this community of faith? Where are our priorities?

It is through Christ sacrifice on the cross that he gave of himself. This was the most selfless act that the world has ever seen. Our messiah did this so that we could have a relationship with our Lord. On the night before Christ gave up his own life for us he invited us to remember the love, the actions, and the relationship through the bread and the wine. He told his disciples to “do this in remembrance of me.” And so, that is what we will do this morning. We will remember Christ selfless act. We will remember how our Lord placed priority on relationships rather than bigger barns. And we will remember the love that was demonstrated on the Cross.

Can we find anyone else like this?

Genesis 41:37-45

“Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?” This is a question that is asked in the Genesis passage we read earlier this morning. This passage was asked about a young man, Joseph form Canaan….. an Egyptian prisoner. This week, however, I found myself asking a similar question. “Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?”

You see, this past week I had the joy of traveling in the church van to North Carolina for a week of service with some of our wonderful youth. When Nick invited me to chaperone the trip I was ecstatic about the opportunity to go to the Hinton Rural Life center. As a youth, I had taken a few trips to Hinton and had the opportunity of serving individuals in rural North Carolina so I was excited about sharing this experience with some of our youth. We left the church about 9:00 last Sunday, arriving at Hinton about 3:00 in the afternoon.

It was during our orientation meeting that I realized I would not be working with any of our youth at the work site during the week. At first I was a little bummed about our group splitting up, but I soon realized the wonderful opportunity each of us had been given. Following dinner that evening I met my group for the first time. This was an eclectic group of teenagers ranging in age from 12 to 17. One 14 year old guy name Wesley automatically stuck out. He was what I assumed to be your typical run of the mill 14 year old boy. As we sat in our meeting to plan our goals for the upcoming week he had the typical “I am way too cool to be here” expression on his face. He crossed his arms as the rested on his chest and informed all of us that he was only reason he was here was that his mom made him come.

As we sat in our meeting the only thought that went through my head was “oh great, this young guy is going to be really fun.” If only I had known then that he would be such a joy. At this meeting we learned that we woluld be working for the Farmer family. Both the husband and the wife have been physically disabled for quite awhile. Often they have their granddaughter, Emma, who stays with them while her mother works. Our Hinton staff leader told us that Emma would quickly become one of our best friends so we all looked forward to meeting the whole family but especially this little girl.

The next morning we all loaded up the van. Wesley was very quite, sitting near the back of the van. For the entire 20 minuet ride from the camp to home where we would be working he did not say much. The day progressed and Wesley did the work that was asked of him. He painted a large portion of the porch and started to open up a bit to some of his teammates.

Around about 11:00 am, the family arrived at the house. Mrs. Farmer had been visiting the doctor and on their way back to their home they decided to pick up… guess who…that precious little girl Emma.

For whatever reason Emma became fascinated with Wesley. She kept calling him her best friend and asking her best friend to push her in the swing. When he would go back to painting the porch, she would yell, “Hey Best friend, Where are you going? Come push me some more!” This phrase would often be followed by a “plllllllleeeeeaaaasssseee…” At one point I looked at Wesley and said, “hey just go play with her, we are ok painting without you.” Wesley and Emma became close friends.

I quickly realized that Wesley was very gifted in working with children. He entertained Emma for four days. When she would ask him questions, he would work with her to figure out the answer. She continued to refer to Wesley as her best friend. The residents of the home on which we were working noticed Wesley’s ease with playing with their granddaughter. They asked him if he had siblings, he responded that he did have younger siblings. Wesley took pride in his ministry with little girl in North Carolina. He knew that by serving her, he was serving the Lord. When we looked at our team, looked at our project, and got to know the family to whom we were called to serve. It was obvious that when we asked “Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?” Wesley was the young man filled with the spirit of God to serve a precious child of God.

The Genesis text we read earlier continues our journey with a similar young man who had gifts and talents that were quite surprising. It was almost unheard of for a young boy from Canaan, an Egyptian prisoner, to have the amount of power that we see Joseph hold. But he had a special ability, the power to dream dreams and see visions. These dreams had the ability to for see a famine that would have the potential to devastate Egyptian society. When pharaoh asked “Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?” Joseph was his guy. Joseph’s talent, inspired by the Almighty, Given by the Lord, lead an entire society through a time of turmoil, tragedy, and devastation.

But the talents that god gives us do not always lead to our own personal success. Lets step back a few chapters and remember the first dream that Joseph had. His first dream in Genesis 37 made is brothers angry with him. They were “filled with jealousy.” I am sure the conversations between his siblings went something like this. “Who does he think he is?” He thinks we will bow to him? Well, Joseph another thing coming if he thinks we will bow down before him! We will show him!” And show him they did. They sold their brother, their own flesh and blood into slavery. They lied to their father about Joseph’s fate. They did away with him so that they would no longer have to hear about the power that Joseph would one day hold.

But God had a different plan for Joseph….A plan that would reveal the Lord to the Egyptians people. God planed for Joseph to be an representative… a person that would help out the Egyptians and give glory to the Lord God. And so pharaoh asked, “Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?” When the pharaoh asked this question, God allowed Joseph to be available to respond “Here I am, Send me!”

All of us have unique gifts that are given to us by our Lord. Paul articulates this well when he writes to those in Corinth saying, “There are varieties of Gifts but the same spirit, and there are varieties of services but the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.” And it is true each of us have our own unique gift to offer in service to God’ people and this community of faith.

Some of us are gifted in praising our Lord through song, that is not one of my gifts. “Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?” Some of us are gifted with the ability to care for others… calling those who are ill, visiting those who are homebound. “Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?” Some of us are gifted with hospitality by welcoming new individuals and families into this community of faith. By calling those who visit us for worship and following up with them. “Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?” Some of us are gifted in caring for the poor in our community… dedicating hours and hours on end to Habitat for Humanity or Rebuilding Together. “Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?” Some of us volunteer hours on end cooking meals for times of fellowship, planning Vacation Bible School, leading Habits groups, or sewing clothes for the United Methodist Children’s homes. “Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?” And some of us, like my new friend Wesley, are gifted with the passion, desire and ability to teach the children and youth among us. And once again we ask, “Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?”

Each of us has been given a unique gift or ability with which to serve God’s kingdom, but we have to be willing to serve God and our neighbor. We have to be willing to respond to God’s call on our own lives. We have to be willing to care for our neighbor, spread the good news with our friend, and worship the living God as a people dedicated to serve the “Lord our God will all of our heart, with all of our soul, and with all of our mind.” Our final hymn this morning asks us all if we are “able” to use the gifts that our Creator has given us. The answer is yes, we are all able. Joseph was able, Wesley was able, we are all able but the question is are we willing. Are we willing to sacrifice our own success, are we willing to sacrifice our time, and are we willing to serve God? Are we willing? Are we willing to do what it takes to make this community of faith as strong as it can be. Are we willing to use our gifts for the betterment of Prattville? Are we willing to allow the Lord God Almighty to work in and through us as we seek to be a people that serve God and our neighbor? Are we willing?

Spring, Pollen, and Jesus

Christ is risen, Christ is risen indeed!

For all of my life, Easter as marked the unofficial beginning of spring and signs of the changing seasons are everywhere you look! The weather is finally warm, children are getting excited about swimming, flowers are in full bloom, and the tomb is empty! Yes, spring is everywhere! The other day I decided to enjoy the spring weather and go on a run with my dog. As Liza and I were making our way down Jasmine Trail, I noticed the number of people who, despite the pollen, were outside working in their yard. I also observed the park, near my house, was full of families playing on the playground, eating a picnic lunch, or watching little league practice.

Coming out of a cold winter and long Lenten season, the signs of spring are a welcome visitor. We are grateful for the sunshine and the opportunity to emerge from our homes to enjoy God’s creation. It seems like everywhere we look people are excited for the newness this time of year brings.

But, let us not forget that in the midst of all this “spring fever” we continue to celebrate the empty tomb. John 20:19-31 tells the story of Christ first appearances to his disciples. They did not notice their Messiah at first, but had to see the scar-ridden hands and side of their Lord to believe. The ministry of Christ does not end with the Resurrection, rather it continues far past the Easter celebration. It is my hope that you will look for Christ in all aspects of your life this week. Where do you expect to see the Risen Lord? Where do you not expect our Messiah to be present? Look for Christ in all places; the ball field, the park, your child’s school, your home, and all other places that you find yourself this week.

Christ is Risen, Our Lord is Risen Indeed!