The Living Light

My friends,

This blog entry is for those of you, like myself, who are experiencing Christmas for the first time without a loved one. I finally broke down this morning, Christmas Eve, grieving the recent loss of my mother. Christmas was her most favorite time of the year with her family. We celebrated 54 Christmases together, whether or not I am able to recall them or they were in person or just a long distance phone call. Yet, I will always remember the times we went to the Candlelight service together when I was a little boy. and Mother passedthe Candlelight of Christ to me. What a warm, peaceful, and joyous time for both her and me.

But this Christmas, Mother, is celebrating in Heaven rather than on earth. When a friend of mine in Wylie UMC and I were consoling one another about the loss of our mothers, he gave me the below poem written by Wanda Bencke. I wanted to share it this evening at Candlelight but it would be too hard for most of us. So, I share it with you today (you can google the poem and it will direct you to the poeam and a link for Wanda's website...please thank her for the words of promise and encouragement). Wanda, I thank you also.

Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless CHRISTMAS TREES around the world below

with tiny lights like HEAVEN’S STARS reflecting on the snow.
The sight is so SPECTACULAR please wipe away that tear

for I am spending CHRISTMAS WITH JESUS CHRIST this year.
I hear the many CHRISTMAS SONGS that people hold so dear

but the SOUND OF MUSIC can't compare with the CHRISTMAS CHOIR up here.
I have no words to tell you of the JOY their voices bring

for it is beyond description to HEAR THE ANGELS SING.
I know HOW MUCH YOU MISS ME, I see the pain inside your heart

for I am spending CHRISTMAS WITH JESUS CHRIST this year.
I can't tell you of the SPLENDOR or the PEACE here in this place

Can you just imagine CHRISTMAS WITH OUR SAVIOR face to face
I'll ask him to LIFT YOUR SPIRIT as I tell him of your love

so then PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER as you lift your eyes above.
Please let your HEARTS BE JOYFUL and let your SPIRIT SING

for I am spending CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN and I’m walking WITH THE KING.

~ by Wanda Bencke© Copyright 1999

Merry Christmas to all of you and may God and your loved one be ever so present with you in this time of year.

Grace and peace,

Jack

Great Expectation and Wonder

I thank my colleague, Dr. Roy Spore, for most of the thoughts below. Please read on.

The time has come. In the tumult of the last few weeks we have strained to hear a voice of hope calling us to new life. We have heard the scriptures call us to that hope. We have prayed for the Holy Spirit to enter into our hearts and our lives. We have decorated our homes with the signs of the season and we have adorned our hearts with love for others. Our minds have focused on the glory about to break forth into the world. We feel that we are ready for God’s new gift of grace.

Monday night we will gather in the worship center to bring our waiting and watching to an end. We will greet one another with warm wishes for a Merry Christmas. We will think of those who cannot be with us and those who are no longer with us and we will offer up our love for them. As the darkness and cold fill the world around us, we will warm ourselves amid family and friends. We will remember with fondness and tears the times we have been together and we will anticipate new and exciting times before us. We will sing the old familiar carols that hold a special meaning on this night. We will hear that old familiar story read again, our minds saying the words in concert because it is so much a part of our faith. And in all this, we will find our hearts strangely warmed.
Then the lights will go down and we will, once again, hear the words from John’s gospel: “In the beginning was the Word ….” The light from a single candle will pass from hand to hand, candle to candle, as the worship center takes on a mystic, warm glow and we sing the haunting, yet comforting, phrase “Silent Night, Holy Night ….” Then we will sing “Joy to the World” as we look upon the lighted candles. At the singing of the last verse, we will raise our candles in celebration of glory to God in the Highest and peace on earth. Then we will remember the Word, “…and the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.” Somehow we will know that the light of Christ has come to us again and burns bright within us. And in all this, our celebration will be complete. Merry Christmas.

Pastor Jack

psalm from the Advent Devotional

Just as many of you, I have been encouraged and intrigued by our First Annual Advent Daily Devotional writer's witness. Reading the first week's devotionals was rich in God's grace. I am sure the words were of encouragement for all who read them, as they were for me.

I took the liberty to copy the "Thought for the Day" for each day below and it seems they could be similar to the Psalms. Read them together yourself and see if they are not a psalm of encouragment for you:

Where is God calling me to make and keep a promise today? - Jack Wallace

Even though we do not ask for it soon enough, help is always available for any situation - Jim Clark

Paul instructs us in 2 Corinthians 10:5, "Take every thought captive to obey
Christ" so that we may focus on the path ahead of us. Staying focused means
keeping in prayer, Bible study, and accountability in fellowship - Heather Haynes

We do not need to doubt God’s plan for our lives; God knows the plan for our lives and we need to put all our trust in him - Katie Haynes

Let God open your eyes - Kathryn Raebel

Turning what seems to be a difficult task into a letter of love will plant seeds for God’s kingdom - Larry Johnson

God will wrap His arms around us and gives us Peace and Hope when we
think we just can’t go one more step - Terri Chesser

May God continue to bless in the reading of the devotionals in the days ahead, and thank you to all made submissions for this year's devotional.

Respite care in Christ

Busy is the best way describe the month of November for the staff and leadership of Wylie UMC. The planning of the Advent Season, Church Conference, coupled with the many meetings necessary to accomplish the planning seemed never ending. Add all this to the normal daily routine and exhaustion was on the horizon. Pastor Donna and I were amazed the other day when we realized we had no evening meetings on the Monday before Thanksgiving.

Then the Thanksgiving Holiday came upon us, and it was exactly as needed for all of us on the staff and leadership. We took the opportunity to break away from church work and rest in the work of the Church, rest in the grace and presence of Christ. I believe I can speak for everyone on the staff and leadership of Wylie UMC, “We thank God for our time off from church work to be with our families and friends for respite care in Christ.”

Sure Thanksgiving is past and the staff is back in the office diligently working on the day-to-day routine and preparing for an exciting church conference on Sunday, December 2 at 12:15 p.m. The staff and leadership are wrapping their minds and hearts around the exciting ways that God’s presence and power worked through Wylie UMC in this past year. Yes, it is very busy, but as we continue to do the church work so that the work of Church can come to fruition – “Making disciples for Jesus Christ.”

Now I know that we at the church are not the only busy people and that each of you are entering one of the busiest seasons of life. May we all be encouraged with a scripture we recently studied as Eugene Peterson wrote in The Message:

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you
can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against
them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any
minute!

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:4-7

Take a deep breath of the Spirit and pray, receiving respite care in Christ Jesus.

Grace and peace,

Jack

All Saints Celebrations November 4th

Many times, I stated that this life is a journey to prepare us for our journey home to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we become followers of Christ Jesus we become a priesthood of believers whose residence is not this world.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of
darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are
the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received
mercy.

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 1 Peter 2:9-12 NIV

My friends, as we continue on this journey as strangers and aliens awaiting our call home, we will have a blessed opportunity to celebrate those who went home in this past year. On Sunday, November 4th at all the worship services we will celebrate those who finished the race, kept the faith and received their reward before Christ. We will celebrate the saints, the priesthood of believers who celebrate at the great banquet feast.

I know my mother is a stranger no more to this world and she finished her race. Marlane and I look forward to honoring her. May we take the opportunity to do the same for those loved who went home since November 1, 2006 (see an associated article concerning the celebration in this issue of The Witness).

Grace and peace,

Jack

the comfortable journey

My Friends on the journey:

I was encouraged to blog on a daily basis over the next several days about my thoughts and words of encouragement as I traveled this part of my journey after the loss of my mother.

So, I would like to share two experiences I recall from my previous week while I was with my mother on my "last" short visit.

As Mother sat in her wheel chair on Friday, September 28th, she had just been given the word from me and her new hospice nurse that she would not be going home to her house again. Mother stated that she understood and that she was unable to care for herself anymore. Besides, she was receiving wonderful care in Pine Run Nursing Home. The hospice nurse told her that she would be given a comfortable journey from this point and whatever she wanted to help her in this to just ask. Mother and I both had tears, again.

My mother then proceeded to talk about taking journeys with her husband, Bill, all over the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico. She then leaned back in her wheelchair and said, "I have one more journey to make!" She looked up to the sky and declared, "Do You [God] hear me?!"

She then told us that she would love to be able to paint again. She was an accomplished artist but due to macular degeneration she was unable to exercise her artistry. She described a scene of a beautiful snow-covered mountain peak with a stream and evergreen trees in the foreground that surrounded a meadow (she described with hand movements). She then quoted Psalm 121:1-2

I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

She showed that in spite of what was going on it life, in spite of her circumstances or physical health, she knew her Lord and Maker would help her. And her Lord and Maker did. She reached the apex of the mountain, her eternal home.

The amazing thing is mother lived this all her life and not just in the comfortable journey she experienced at age ninety-two. Oh, if only I could do the same now.

On the journey,

Jack

Don't quit, keep lifting!

It is quite interesting how ministry for Jesus Christ can be very challenging. When Christ says, “Take up your cross and follow me,” we have some difficulty doing such a thing. Each of us are called to be disciples of and for Christ and there are times we want to give up, or abandon the call. Yet, I found in my own life, inspiration and encouragement through Christ came just at the right time. God gives a word of support and motivation through people close to us and on the same journey when we need it most as a disciple.

So it was for me this past week. A colleague of mine, Rev. Sam Caldwell, Pastor, Lakeway UMC, Pottsboro, TX, shared his previously published article as inspiration for me and several other colleagues in ministry. Pastor Sam gave me permission to share these words of encouragement with each of you as disciples of Jesus Christ. I pray it will bless you as much as it blessed Marlane and me.

On Saturday, at the Memorial Service for Bishop Rhymes
H. Moncure, Jr., our worship was inspired with the grand new pipe organ at First
UMC Richardson and the singing of the hymn “Lift High the Cross!” The cross led
the processional and was carried by a layperson from First UMC Commerce. What an honor to lead such a processional and carry the cross of Jesus Christ. Following the cross were the acolytes, also in bright robes, carrying three large altar
candles which represent the three persons of God, a sister deacon carrying the
Bible, worship leaders from all across the United Methodist connection, and then
a succession of Bishops and other Presiding Elders.

It was a joy to me to get to sit in the congregation and worship with Cathy, Cammy, and Aubrey. As a pastor, I seldom get to just be a part of the congregation and worship with my family. But at this point in my story, I have to admit that it is a challenge for me to sit in worship without analyzing and evaluating what is going on. The focus was on the cross as we stood singing ,

“Lift high the cross,
the love of Christ proclaim,
‘til all the world adore
His sacred Name”.

As the cross-bearer approached the stand on which the cross was to be placed, it became apparent that the cross pole did not fit into the base. A few awkward smiles ensued and a little struggling and turning. The shiny brass cross at the top of the pole reflected and flashed light all around as they tried to figure out how to connect it with the base. The processional continued and few noticed… or maybe everyone noticed.

Before long it appeared they had given up and that our brother Wyman would need to stand there for the entire service and hold up the cross. I saw him gaze into the congregation toward his pastor Lisa, who no doubt was the one who had nominated him for this honor and gotten him into this mess. “Well imagine that!”, he might have been thinking, “In front of all these people, and the whole world on live webcast, here I am--stuck with this cross!”

A cross can be a dangerous thing. People have made great sacrifices because of a cross. People have been killed with crosses. Martyrs have given their lives because of a cross, thieves have been redeemed on crosses, and in one life-changing case, a
mother gave her son on a cross. Jesus Christ, the savior of the world and me,
suffered at the hands of an rough-hewn crowd and a unruly cross.

A cross can be a dangerous thing. The cruel history of this kind of capital punishment says that the person’s hands and feet were nailed to the cross while on the ground and then the cross was erected and placed into a base—a hole—fashioned in the hard ground. Fitting that cross into its base must have been even more awkward.

A cross can be a dangerous thing. Yet we are stuck with it. We can’t put it down. We are not sure we want to hold it constantly, every day, every moment. But once we carry it for a little while, we find that there is not a way to gracefully put it down. We may try to lay it aside. We may try to trade it for a smaller cross or a more comfortable one or one that is easier to carry. But in the continuing journey of faith and ministry, we are stuck with the cross. With Jesus we know that the
cross is where we are headed, again and again. That’s one reason it’s hard to
make disciples of Jesus Christ. And be one.

Yet Jesus has shown us a way beyond the cross. We are disciples of a risen Lord! Every dying corner on our good Fridays is illumined by the Light of the World on Easter Sunday. The empty cross is the symbol of the risen, living Christ for whom we live and die. It is this Christ for whom our Bishop and brother Rhymes lived, died, and now lives again. He calls us to live this resurrection life--even
now!

Lift high the cross! It is an honor to carry it. And to hold on to it. We are disciples of the Living Christ! But a cross can be a dangerous thing.

Yes, the cross can be a dangerous thing. May we keep the courage to lift high the cross at Wylie UMC and in our community anyway!

Grace and peace,

Jack

Where there is no vision...

What a wonderful visioning weekend experienced by all who participated in “On the Road to Glory” mission and vision event that culminated on August 12 after worship. The week’s discussions in our small groups and Sunday Schools were affirmations of God working through his people at Wylie UMC. The sharing of thoughts, ideas, and dreams by people in not only these small groups but especially during the group sessions on Sunday afternoon, are valuable to the development of God’s vision for Wylie UMC and the fulfillment of her God-given mission “we are called to make disciples of Jesus Christ.”

Our leadership is collating the information and consolidating the insights over the next few weeks into a working plan for mission and vision. Our leadership hopes to provide initial feedback to the congregation in a handout. Our ushers will distribute the handout at worship on Bring ‘em Back Sunday (Back- to-School), August 26.

May we remember, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” Proverbs 29:18 and the visioning process is always morphing. Therefore, the work of vision is a never-ending process. God asks us to take the visioning process seriously, a process that requires time and energy. May we also remember, this visioning is a process that helps us answer the question Rev. Pat Beghtel-Mahle shared with us, “What does Wylie UMC want to be known for in the community.”

The mission and vision event the past week may have ended, but our visioning process never ends. My friends, we are always On the Road to Glory, so may we encourage one another as we travel on the road together. Remember, Jeremiah 29:11 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’.”

Letting down the nets

I re-read the story of Jesus calling Peter and his fellow fisherman to let down their nets after an all night fishing venture in Luke 5:1-11. I can really relate to Peter in his moment with Jesus concerning fishing skills.

When Marlane and I traveled to Pagosa Springs, Colorado last summer our intent was to fish for at least three of five days. The three days we trout fished comprise the waters of the Piedra River, San Juan River, East Fork of the San Juan River, and the best fishing hole, the headwaters of the South Fork of the Rio Grande River on the east side of Wolf Creek Pass. What a glorious time whether or not catching any fish.

However, it was until I did some investigation of the proper fly patterns and techniques and the best times to fish that I was successful in the catch. Matching the hatch and fly presentation were the most important parts of this type of fishing for brown, rainbow, and native cutthroat trout. After the instruction and insights from various area experts and observation of the different stretchs of water, I became more successful in catching fish (of course there were times they weren't feeding or I spooked the fish). Listening to the indigent fisherman though was very beneficial to catching some beautiful fish (yes, I released them all back to the waters).

It is the same for us as Christians. We must listen to Jesus on where to fish and on what to use for bait and how to present the bait to attract and make the catch. Jesus called Peter and his fishin' buddies to be fishers of people...the same call for each of us as disciples. May we listen to Jesus the master fisherman, learn from him, and go fishin' his way with determination, passion, presentation, and patience. Oh, and by the way, may we catch and release the "fish" for fishing for others and not catch and consume the fish.

Fishin' together,

Pastor Jack

As I was preaching Sunday

My friends:

As I was preaching on Sunday morning at the early service, I declaring how God calls us to be a means of God's grace to those who are ill or imprisoned. I also suggested that Jesus was not only thinking of the physically ill or actual prisoners for crimes, but also those who are ill and imprisoned in their spiritual lives. That we would have empowered living and be set. I reminded each of us that Jesus declared that he is the truth and the truth will set us free (John 8).

Then as the sermon was coming to a close, the story of Lazarus rising from the tomb, came to my mind (and it was not written in my notes). I shared how after Jesus called Lazarus out of the grave, Jesus commanded the people to unbind him from his grave clothes...we should do the same for the people who are resurrected by the grace of Jesus Christ, help unbind them.

Well, I had a few details mixed up about the number of days in the grave and I couldn't remember where the story was located yesterday...forgive me. Here it is now in NIV. Enjoy, learn and be transformed by Jesus who called you out of your grave and had people help unbind you and me.

John 11
The Death of Lazarus

1Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."

4When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." 5Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed
where he was two more days.

7Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go
back to Judea." 8"But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews
tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"
9Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. 10It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."
11After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."
12His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 13Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."
16Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

Jesus Comforts the Sisters

17On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18Bethany was less than two miles[a] from Jerusalem, 19and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

21"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."
23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
24Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
27"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

28And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." 29When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.
30Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where
Martha had met him. 31When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house,
comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her,
supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34"Where have you laid him?" he asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied.
35Jesus wept.
36Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"
37But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead
38Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a
stone laid across the entrance. 39"Take away the stone," he said.
"But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."
40Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would
see the glory of God?"
41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."
43When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

The Devil Made Me Do It!

Just before being ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church I had the opportunity to spend and seventy-two-hour retreat with Bishop Bruce Blake, our bishop for the North Texas Conference at that time. In one of our discussions our expressed how when good things were happening for the Kingdom of God here on this earth, in our communities, in our churches, that Satan works overtime to destroy and sabotage the plans for the growth of the Kingdom. Bishop Blake confronted me on that position and stated that even though Satan was a real, he did not want to give him top billing or lots of press time, or credit. He stated that it was people’s actions that were contrary to God’s will and commandments that was more the problem to emphasize.

Now I did take Bishop Blake’s wisdom to heart and understand his position. However, sometimes we need to some tangible blame on why we have acted a certain way; some of us have said in the past, “the devil made me do it.” Well, I don’t believe that either. I do believe, that Satan does work overtime to seek and destroy and to sabotage, yet, it is our actions or inaction, giving in to temptation and sinning against God that is the real problem.

I have said and observed in the past that Jesus gives us a blueprint for life within God’s will and commandments...whether it is the Greatest Commandment in Matthew 22: 37-39, or Matthew 25:34-40 “done it unto the least of these,” or the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, especially the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. These are just some of the viable components of God’s blueprint of behavior for us all as disciples of Jesus Christ.

However, the other day I received a very provocative email that cut to my heart approaching the Beatitudes from not God’s blueprint but from Satan’s blueprint (not to give Satan top billing). These statements challenge all of us and verify what Bishop Blake declared, “people’s action contrary to God’s will and commandments. Please read these statements with an open heart to God’s transforming Spirit in each of our lives:

If Satan were to write his beatitudes, they would probably go something like this:

Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend an hour once a week with their fellow Believers -- they are my best workers.

Blessed are those Believers who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked -- I can use them.

Blessed are the touchy who stop going to church -- they are my missionaries.

Blessed are the trouble makers -- they shall be called my children.

Blessed are the complainers -- I'm all ears to them.

Blessed are those who are bored with the minister's mannerisms and mistakes -- for they get nothing out of his sermons --ALRIGHT!!!!

Blessed is the congregation member who expects to be invited to his own congregation -- for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.

Blessed are those who gossip -- for they shall cause strife and divisions that
please me.

Blessed are those who are easily offended -- for they will soon get angry and quit.

Blessed are those who do not give their offering to carry on God's work -- for they are my helpers.

Blessed is he who professes to love God but hates his brother and sister -- for he
shall be with me forever.

Blessed are you who, when you read this think it is about other people and not self -- I've got you too! YES!!!

Now this is not pointing fingers at you who read this, but rather a challenge for each of us. I do know that I am able to point at myself in these statements. May God give each of us the strength to not give Satan a foothold and become part of the saboteur’s plan to shrink the Kingdom of God. God please help us to live up to Your blueprint as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace,


Pastor Jack

who is your idol

My friends in Christ:

Each of us have our favorite TV shows. The list may be long...Oprah, Dancing with the Stars, anything CSI, Survivor, Heroes, Law and Order, and the like. However, one show I have never watch full length was American Idol. As far as I'm concerned American Idol represents a false meaning of what should be an idol. In fact, American Idol is just what it sounds to me, false placement of dedication and devotion.

I though it important to share with permission, an article from a brother in Christ, Bob Ess wrote on this issue during a time of reflection that challenged me and will challenge all of us concerning idols. Read on.

Who is your ‘American Idol’?

The most popular show on television today is ‘American Idol’. I’m sure you’re familiar with it. Singing auditions are held, some go to Hollywood, then there is the final 24, then the final 12 and all the while we vote for our favorite singer until there is just one left standing. The winner receives a recording contract and finds the doors of the music world swung wide open for them.

The winner from season four, Carrie Underwood, has won dozens of awards since winning in 2005, including three Grammys in 2007. Say what you will about the show, but it’s ability to skyrocket an unknown’s career is without question. It can take a shy, unknown 19 year old girl from Oklahoma and make her a star of the highest caliber in just months.

One aspect I find interesting about ‘American Idol’ is the lengths people will go just to get their face on television. You’ve seen them; the kid who roller skates in the audition room in a clown suit who can’t carry a tune in a bucket, the angry young lady, usually dressed in next to nothing, who is convinced she is the next Idol and then is shocked to learn that the judges don’t agree. And then the heartwarming stories of those who have had rough upbringings or are suffering under tough circumstances – these are the underdogs we pull for, although they likely have little chance as well.

But what I find most fascinating is that the word ‘Idol’ is right there in our face, and we likely don’t even give it a second thought. ‘American Idol’. Hmmm. Let’s look at that from a little bit different perspective.

I can think of dozens of American Idols, and none of them are singers. There’s the pursuit of money, a job with more power, the Mercedes, Lexus or Infiniti, the bigger home, the brighter jewelry, the sexier mate, pornography. Even church. Church? How can church be an idol?

Church can become an idol when we let what WE think is best or right for the church overtake our priority (and the commandment!) to be a Christ follower. Too often our concern is what the preacher is preaching on, the number of services, the time slot for the services, when Sunday School will be held, how we spend our finances, how the pastors spend their time among their flock. Are those things really and truly the end goal of following Christ?

Shouldn’t we, instead, use our time to find and feed the poor instead of complaining about who said what in Sunday School this morning? Shouldn’t we, instead, use our time to house the homeless instead of complaining about what the pastor did or did not wear in service this morning? And shouldn’t we, instead, do all that we can to discover God’s will for our lives, instead of bickering and fighting over those things that are of this world and are temporary? Five years from now, is it really going to matter what you thought about what should be the correct size of a church committee? Five years from now, and for eternity, it is truly going to matter if we helped ‘the least of these’.

Let us not idolize those things which are of this world. That does not honor God. Let’s honor God by making Him our number one priority.

Matthew 25:34-40 is a good read for us at this point. Thanks, Bob, for your thoughts and for helping remember the importance of honoring God our number one.

Grace and peace,

Jack

Praise You in the Storm

My friends in Christ,

I am sitting in Zale Lipshy Hospital with Marlane, my wife (so far three days during this stay), awaiting a healing of her neck pain and arm numbness that she has suffered for the past five weeks. It’s been a tough ordeal for her especially since she has a high threshold of pain. I know that I would be curled up in the fetal position, whimpering, and wanting to be sedated to the maximum possible, but not the case for Marlane.

As we await the new procedure – injection of steroid into her spine, and the known associated risks of internal bleeding, infection, and paralysis – I am reminded of Psalm 46:1-5 in The Message:

God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in sea storm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, GOD of angel armies protects us.
River fountains splash joy, cooling God's city, this sacred haunt of the Most High.
God lives here, the streets are safe, God at your service from crack of dawn.

Oh how important it is to know and remember and proclaim that God is ever present within our storms. As the song “Praise You in the Storm” recorded by Casting Crowns states:

Praise You in This Storm
words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

I was sure by now, God,
You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain, "I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God
who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Marlane and I have shed many tears in this storm and we are saying our Amens. It is my hope that you can do the same. Also, even in the moments when we seem to not be able to praise Him in the storm, we know we have the rest of the Body of Christ to do the praising for us. Lord, thanks for catching our tears and being a safe place to hide. Amen…again, again, and again!!!!

what do we make of it

My friends:

It's been some time since I wrote in this blog. And here it is the week of the masaccre at Virginia Tech. Listening to the testimony of Mr. Ryan Clark of his giving heart and smile that could make everyone smile. Ryan was a senior with a 4.0 GPA, three majors, and pursuing a PhD. He gave his life to his fellow students and gave to children at Camp Big Heart, reaching out to those special needs campers. Ryan gave his life when he encountered the gunman in his dorm. He gave his life but it is so raw and so hard to deal with such a tragedy.

I know that many of us are affected by such an incident and we all want to go into lockdown. I am especially aware of those of you who have you children away at college, hoping it is a safe environment, wanting to bring them home, and yet, know they need to remain at school. I am keenly aware of those of you from my generation who are having flashbacks concerning similar incidents on our college campuses. It just doesn't make sense and we are all crying out in some way, "WHY?"

I believe it appropriate to share some encouraging thoughts from Timothy Merrill, executive editor of Homiletics.

GOD LEFT THIS PLACE A LONG TIME AGO
What happened at Virginia Tech was very technical, methodical, very precise.
But the aftermath was anything but. It was very human, very non-technical, very passionate.
Henry Brinton, Senior Minister at Fairfax Presbyterian Church in Fairfax, Virginia, and past Senior Writer for Homiletics and still a regular contributor, says that his congregation has seven VT students-all unharmed-and a number of VT grads among their members. They are shocked.
And so are we.
T.S. Eliot said in The Wasteland that "April is the cruelest month, breeding/ lilacs out of the dead land."
It would appear he's right. This incident occurs within days of the 8th anniversary of Columbine. We couldn't have imagined that after Columbine we'd be pulling dead bodies out of the dead Blacksburg ground yet again and in such awful numbers.
There's a scene from the Oscar-nominated film of last year, Blood Diamond that's provocative. The movie is set in 1999 Sierra Leone while a civil war rages fueled by conflict diamonds which are sold to pay for weapons. Leonardo DeCaprio plays Danny Archer, the anti-hero, a mercenary with something of a conscience, who-along with good guys and bad guys-is hunting for this huge pink diamond. The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) meanwhile, is leveling entire villages, chopping off the hands of some so they can't vote in elections, and snatching young boys to become soldiers in the rebel army.
In a quiet moment of reflection while mayhem explodes around them, Danny Archer chats with a journalist, Maddy Bowen, and reveals that his "Mum was raped and shot and . Dad was decapitated and hung from a hook in the barn. Sometimes I wonder . will God ever forgive us for what we've done to each other? Then I look around and I realize. God left this place a long time ago."
When events like the carnage at VT happen, it shatters our peace, it intrudes upon our consciousness, it interrupts and irritates and saddens and shocks, and we wonder if indeed God hasn't left this place a long time ago.
To get at this question, let's go over a few things:

1. WHY ARE WE SURPRISED?
One online media resource splashed the word WHY? over the web page pictures of the horror. The bigger question is "Why not?" Why wouldn't this sort of thing happen from time to time in our culture?
It's happened before: Columbine, which was followed by other schoolyard shootings in subsequent years around the country. Amish country last fall, postal shootings, workplace violence, the McDonalds massacre a number of years ago, the Texas clock tower murders of 16 passersby by Charles Whitman, the Manson murders, and more.
Judy Muller on NPR's "Morning Edition" (it will be on their web site later today once they have cycled through their West Coast broadcasts) recalled a remark made to her following the Columbine shootings. A woman at the 'makeshift memorial' of flowers and teddy bears that appeared almost immediately said, "The really sad thing is that we already know what to do." Muller went on to talk about all the public rituals and so forth that we now know must follow such events. We've done it before. We've buried our children.
2. IN THE AFTERMATH OF THIS VIOLENCE, WE CAN EMPATHIZE WITH OTHERS WHO LIVE WITH VIOLENCE EVERY DAY.
Not to minimize, but to place in perspective, consider those who live with violence that even exceeds what happened in Blacksburg, Virginia, on Monday. In Baghdad, the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem, the West Bank, Darfur, the Sudan, and elsewhere, children of God suffer and die on a daily basis in human-generated violence.
3. WE CAN'T SHIELD OURSELVES IN ANY ABSOLUTE SENSE FROM RISK.
Americans, perhaps more than any other people in the world, are a risk-adverse people. We try to protect ourselves from EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING. You can review the examples-some ridiculous-here. This impulse tends to overlook the luxury of being able to protect ourselves from what are sometimes innocuous dangers-compared to the real horrors we too frequently ignore or to which we turn a blind eye-that our fellow human beings endure incessantly.
4. PARENTS ARE THE POWER.
We must remind our parents that they HAVE THE POWER. We must ask fathers to be men and develop a spine and backbone. We ask parents to love each other and to love their children, even if that means saying NO to them-and believe me, it does.
Granted, some psychos and cold-blooded killers come from good homes and loving parents. Some people are born without a conscience, and others, for reasons we don't really understand, manage to bury it, despite loving homes.
Yet nurture IS an important component. This is an opportunity, not to blame parents, but to empower parents to be: PARENTS. The Virginia Tech shooter was a student from Centreville, Virginia, just a few miles from Brinton's church. "It appears that he was the classic loner-a mystery to everyone," says Brinton. "Parents are not doing their jobs when they allow their children to withdraw from a community of support and accountability."
5. WHAT WOULD JESUS HAVE US DO NOW?
The answer to this question is in the Gospel [John 21:1-19] text for this Sunday.
It's Eastertide. If you're feeling like "God left this place a long time ago," you're right. It's Eastertide. The tomb is empty. He left THAT place, only to visit us in a NEW PLACE.
The opening verse of the Gospel reading says that "Jesus showed himself again to his disciples."
THAT'S what Jesus wants to do this Sunday morning with your congregation: To show himself again to his disciples. The text goes on to say, "And he showed himself in this way."
So WHAT WAY is Jesus going to show himself to us?
Peter's response in verse three is to say, "I'm going fishing."
That's often what we do in situations like this. We simply want to get back to what we were doing before: fishing or shopping.
Jesus says, "Feed my sheep."
That's all we can do right now. But is there anything else?
But we're called to be feeders. Henry Brinton is working with his staff to gather Virginia Tech students, along with their families and friends, for an evening of conversation and prayer. It's so important to respond to these events as a community and to look for where God is at work and to look for where God is at work in the aftermath of violence and death. "We need to affirm that God always gives the gift of new life," he says, "and that God can reclaim Virginia Tech as a place for kids to grow in knowledge and faith."
God has left the tomb already, and God is with us now. Amen.

There will be a special time of remembrance this Sunday for the victims of Virginia Tech and for our lives and society at all three worship services. Jesus is Resurrected!

Grace and peace,

Jack

Call to Produce

Dear Friends in Christ,

As we continue through the calendar year at Wylie UMC, I want to encourage you to give of your time and energy to pray and work for healing and reconciliation within our community. Healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation are the characteristics of the Church, the Body of Christ, and Christ calls us to practice these virtues with one another.

Over the next year, we must work towards healthy change and new and deeper levels of strength, moving towards unity in Christ. This requires all of us to go to our knees before the throne of God. We should go to His throne as members of the family, the family of Wylie UMC and the family of God.

As our family journeys forward to make disciples of Jesus Christ, let me encourage each of us to search for the grace to forgive and to receive forgiveness where needed. I am aware that we have some differences of opinion among us, but if we work “to keep the main thing, the main thing (Jesus Christ and His mission),” those differences will be resolved. I am also aware that God calls all of us to become producers of the Gospel rather than just consumers. I recall the famous words of JFK as a template for our call as Christians in the Church, “…ask not what your (God’s) [Church] can do for you—ask what you can do for your (God’s) [Church].”

In order to be better producers and begin fulfilling God’s call to repentance and reconciliation, we must start with prayer. Prayer is foundational and prayer is crucial to the ministry and mission of Wylie UMC. So as one of the pastors of Wylie UMC, I encourage all of us to…

1. Pray for a spirit of kindness with honesty, truth and love (Ephesians 4:15-16).
   
2. Pray for the courage to ask the hard questions and to resist the easy answers.
   
3. Pray for a discerning spirit among the bodies and for the gift of Wisdom and Love to permeate each gathering (1 Corinthians 13).
   
4. Pray for the reconciliation of conflicts and broken relationships.
   
5. Pray that all of us will be "encouraged in heart and united in love" (Colossians 2:2-3).
   

As the Holy Spirit leads us in particular directions of prayer, may we covenant to pray the words of the following scripture over our meetings, small groups, Sunday School classes, worship, meals, choir practices, band practices, and our own lives in the days, weeks, and months to come:

Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


O God, may we be true to your Word. Amen.

Grace and peace,



Pastor Jack

Note: I am indebted to Dr. Ellsworth Kalas, Interim President, Asbury Theological Seminary for his wise words and inspiration of this challenge for Wylie UMC.

thought provoking article from a colleague

My Friends in Christ:

The current issue of our local edition of the United Methodist Reporter contained an article in the Faith Forum section from a colleague, Rev. Andrew Thompson. The article sturred my soul to evaluate our commitment to Christ and His Church, and I hope the Spirit challenges each of our souls. Rev. Thompson's article is included in its entirety by his permission and permission of UMR. Thank you, Andrew Thompson.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jack

GEN-X RISING: Growing out of a 'country-club commitment'

Andrew C. Thompson, Feb 20, 2007

Ever heard of a "country-club commitment"? It's the kind of commitment people make when they join a country club. First, they shop around looking for the club that has all the right amenities: a nice golf course, a fancy restaurant, indoor tennis courts and a swimming pool for the kids. When they find the country club that suits them best, they join. They show up to play golf and eat at the restaurant when it suits them. And they give money to keep themselves in good standing with the club. Of course, if anything ever happens that really irritates them -- say, a new manager in the Pro Shop that they don't like or another club member who makes a callous remark -- they just withdraw their membership and find another nice club down the road. That's the country-club commitment. But of course, the country-club commitment doesn't just apply to actual country clubs. You can substitute "country club" with the word "church." Change out all the images, too, so that "restaurant" becomes "worship service," "swimming pool" becomes "youth group," and so on. Sound familiar? It should. American Protestants treat their churches like they were made for their entertainment. We approach life in the church as if it existed solely to meet our "needs." We live in the world of the Almighty Individual, where personal prerogative is supreme. And so, we are willing to change churches the way we might decide one day to shop at Macy's instead of JCPenney. It is also an attitude that comes from an almost non-existent understanding of discipleship. For those of you who have joined a church before, do you remember what you pledged? If you joined a United Methodist Church, you made a vow to be loyal to the church and to support it with your prayers, your presence, your gifts and your service. It is a promise that should be considered as serious as our marriage vows. And once we have made it, the only proper reason for a transfer of membership is a permanent move to a city too far to commute on Sundays. In a way, the prevalence of the country-club commitment represents a supreme form of cynicism about the church-a cynicism that says that the church is not about Jesus Christ, rather, it's about me. As I was reminded by a fellow pastor recently, such cynicism is "both easy and empty." It's easy because it only requires a commitment that imitates the standards of the surrounding culture. The cynical Christian is the one whose discipleship hinges on the fragility of his ego. At the slightest instance of discomfort or unhappiness, he pulls up stakes and moves on. And it's empty because those who fall into such cynicism become spiritual nomads. They convince themselves they will be happy and fulfilled when they find the "right" congregation. So they wander from church to church, never realizing that the real problem is with themselves. Such carefully constructed consumer egos do not need to be stroked and coddled; they need to be obliterated. We should remember that the church is the same institution the New Testament calls the Bride of Christ (Rev 21:2). With such a high pedigree, it is unbecoming for us to treat her as a prostitute, to be used and discarded as we see fit. We should also remember that we are a fundamental part of that Bride. Our membership in her does not call for a country-club commitment. It calls for a covenantal commitment, where the pledge made is understood to be lifelong. Only with a covenantal commitment can we begin growing into real Christian maturity. Only then can we resist the temptation to act like petulant children, gathering up our paper dolls and going home when we grow tired or cranky. And only then can we enter into a relationship of true love, forgiveness and reconciliation with our brothers and sisters in the household of faith. Our reward for such maturity will be great indeed: a deeper relationship with the Bridegroom who beckons to us.

The Rev. Thompson is working on a doctoral program at Duke Divinity School. He blogs at www.genxrising.com.

Copyright 2007 UMR Communications. Reprinted with permission."

for me and for you

My fellow walk across the room journiers:

As I recall mentioning several weeks ago, I read one Proverb chapter per day for that associated day's date. Well, reading Chapters 15-17 challenged me. These chapters were a wonderful plumbline, measuring tool, and instrument of correction and encouragement. There was almost a sense of getting back to the basics of faith in action.

However, I confess, I fell into a trap while reading several of the verses. In my mind I began to comment or judge the verses. You may have done something similar as this: "This verse applies to me, but this next verse or phrase applies to (name or group)," and you fill in the blank.

For instance, look at Proverb 15:1-5 from Peterson's paraphrase The Message, and see if you don't have the propensity for the same:

1 A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.
2 Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense. 3 God doesn't miss a thing—he's alert to good and evil alike.
4 Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.
5 Moral dropouts won't listen to their elders; welcoming correction is a mark of good sense.

Yes, this is terribly wrong. If scripture is for transformation of the reader, then scripture is to judge, challenge, convict, encourage, uplift, etc., the reader. When we read scripture it is not to build a case against another, but to primarily build a case of correction and encouragement for self.

Lord God, forgive us for those times when we read your transforming Word and see how it can transform others, rather than transform our own heart, mind, and soul. Fill us with your grace-filled Word today, being transformed as you deem necessary. In the transforming name of Christ. Amen.

Grace and peace in the journey,

Pastor Jack

investment

My "walking" brothers and sisters:

For the first time in about six to eight weeks, at least before Christmas, I attended True Grit Men's Bible Study at Starbucks Murphy this morning. It was hard to get up and go, but I was glad to be there with the other six brothers around the table. They asked me to introduce myself to them since they had forgotten my name and what I did for a living...this was all in jest of course (at least I hope). What a wonderful reunion, for sure.

During my absence, the group traveled through Luke to Chapter 19 and verse 13. We read through the rest of the chapter, taking turns reading, as usual. We returned for discussion to verses 13-27 pertaining Jesus sharing that the kingdom of heaven is like ten servants who were given a king's funds and charged by the king to be good stewards of the funds while he was gone. A lesson on responsibility was about to ensue.

The facilitator posed the first question, "In what areas of your life do you best exhibit responsibility?" We sat their in silence, each of us wondering in our minds (especially my own mind), "what areas of my life do I best exhibit irresponsibility?" It was funny how everyone readily identified with the negative side of the question rather than the positive. Several of us began to think how we are more responsible in some areas and less responsible in others. Jobs for which we are paid show more responsibility than tasks at home or with family.

But it was agreed that the scripture related to how we as disciples are stewards of the life-saving, transforming faith of Jesus Christ. We are given the Single Greatest Gift to share and invest in the lives of others. So then, are we investing the Gift or holding on to it for ourselves? Are we responsible in investing the Gift expecting a return on the investment, ten-fold, five-fold, etc? Or are we receiving the Gift and burying it, hiding it from others, or squandering it for self-preservation? Good questions that were answered at the table, making us think about our investment for the kingdom.

However, when I had my devotional/quiet time later that morning, I read Eugene Peterson's introduction to Proverbs and Proverb 1 in The Message. The investment theme continued. As Peterson pointed out, we are called not only for the saving faith of Christ, to give us heaven as our eternal home, but we are called to be obedient, seek wisdom, share that wisdom, have Christ become Lord. We are responsible to have our lives transformed and in turn fulfill Christ's call in the Lord's Prayer to bring God's "kingdom on earth as it is in heaven."

O God, may we not only receive your Single Greatest Gift of Jesus as Savior but also as Lord. May we not only receive your Single Greatest Gift, but share the same with others, investing it in the live of others, being obedient, seeking wisdom. In the name of the One who walked across the room to us. Amen.

Walking Across the Room together with the Spirit and each other,

Pastor Jack

Just Walk Across the Room

Christ-followers who walk:

As I ventured through the first few days after sharing with you our journey from Bill Hybels' Just Walk Across the Room, I discovered many folks that God place along my path in my Zone of the Unknown, that is, outside my Circle of Comfort. During these times I had a heightened sensitivity to the prompting of the Holy Spirit asking me to be natural in my reaching out...that is, befriending folks, and meeting them where they are.

I wish I could tell you that I ventured into the Zone of the Unknown each of those times. Lord forgive me, when I disregarded your whisper and made excuses.

However, I hope you would agree, isn't it amazing when we tune in to the Holy Spirit and hear the whisper promptings? Isn't it amazing how God uses these simple communications to reach out beyond our Circle of Comfort, to those hurting, lost, in chaos, depressed, have no meaning in life, and for some, very far from the God who loves them?

Some of you may have said to yourself, "I am not worthy to reachout to someone in that Zone of the Unknown." You are right, not one of us is worthy, but rather, it is through the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ we are able to reachout; I am reminded that those who reached out to me weren't worthy either.

Some of you may have said, "People who stand outside my Circle of Comfort (Sunday School class, or new visitor in worship, a co-worker, etc.) don't want me to talk to them, or reachout to them; they want to be anonymous." Maybe this seems correct in your mind, but didn't someone reach out to you and you were thankful he or she did? Especially when you visit another church for worship, don't you feel rejected when no one steps out of their Circle of Comfort and welcome you?

Just a thought for you and for me. Jesus took the walk toward us in the form of someone else...thank you, Jesus...we are called to do the same, one step at a time.

By the way, did you mail your "God Used You to Help Point the Way" postcard to thank the one who walked toward you and helped point you to faith in Jesus Christ? I hope so...it's not too late.

Walking together in Christ's walk,

Pastor Jack

it's about time

"It's about time" is a phrase that many of us use or hear each day of our lives. I believe that right now, when you see this blog, some of you might say, "It's about time, Jack. Blogs are for regular entries of thoughts for the day or week." Yes, it's about time that I write in this blog and I'll try to be more "regular" with entries in the future.

Yet, this phrase, "it's about time," is one that we mull over time and again. Think with me on this:

It's about time...

• you put gas in the car
• you got your car inspection updated
• you completed that report
• you made that important phone call
• you cleaned up you room
• you washed the dishes
• you got home from work
• you got home from the church meeting
• you began to eat more nutritiously
• you started to exercise
• you spent time in God's word
• you spent time each day in prayer and meditation

and on and on.

The interesting thing that strikes me today, that no matter what we do, we will always be able to say to others or to our selves, "It's about time."

I believe God feels the same way, but God conveys this phrase's feeling in a different manner. God conveys the phrase not in a judgmental way, but rather in a gracious way. This is how I hear God say, "It's about time:"

"Jack, I am so glad that you are spending time with me, spending time reading My Word, communicating with me in prayer and meditation. I have longed for this time to hear you, and in spite of your absence, I have not been absent from you. Please remember I always love you."

Yes, Lord, it's about time, I've spent time with you. Thank you for your time and patience with me and for giving me your grace. Please be as gracious with each of us today, especially those who have not spent time with you.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Jack

P.S. I began re-reading the Book of Proverbs again in my devotion time--a devotional process I learned when I first became a Christian. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs, one for each day of the month, and I read one chapter for each corresponding date of the month. If the month has 30 days or less, then I read the remaining chapters on the last day of the month, i.e., 30th day I read chapters 30 & 31. I encourage you to do the same and receive the richness of God's instruction for abundant living in God's grace. Furthermore, I read Proverbs for the first time in Peterson's paraphrase, The Message. Peterson's words are very powerful. Proverbs 23 touch my heart this morning, this Proverb touches you, also. Yes, it's about time.

Well my friends in Christ, I hope all is well in Wylie. I am on the internet checking the weather info for the DFW while I'm waiting in the concourse at Lexington Blue Grass Airport for my noon flight home. I was up at 3:30 a.m. to be driven to the airport to try to get on an earlier flight to DFW to beat the "forcasted" ice storm. When I arrived at the ticket counter I discovered the early flight was cancelled. The ticket agent wouldn't tell me why, but I imagine it was weather related and the same will happen with my flight at noon.

So the possibility of spending another night or two in Kentucky is very real. Oh well, Holiday Inn Express here I come. At least safety of flight, and landing, is paramount for me.

This is another good example of an unexpected event in life. Life is so filled with unexpected events, yet, our omniscient God sees our unexpected life, always. Our omniscient God is waiting to see how we react to the unexpected...as a mentor at school reminded me again this week, attitude is everything on my part. Even when the unexpected poses questions that may be unanswered God is still with us and watching our response.

Of course I am the first to say that I do not always practice this truth. However, when the unexpected comes, may I, and may we, be faithful to ask the questions, and know God is faithful to embrace us and celebrate with us when the answers to come. It boils down to our attitude in Him, that is, an attitude of gratitude is what God awaits from each of us.

Lord Jesus, thank you for being with me in the unexpected of life. May I see you and listen to you in the unexpected of the day and have an attitude of gratitude. May I also share this attitude with those around me, especially the frustrated and stressed. May my attitude of gratitude encourage the ticket agents who will be working with those passengers who are on the receiving end of the unexpected events of traveling today. Amen.

Make a great day and week in the Lord,

Pastor Jack

God is good all the time

While I am Kentucky attending school Asbury Theological Seminary I received word that we were blessed by God again in our stewardship. I heard that we paid out all our apportionments, paid our bills, and had cash in bank at start of the first year. God is good all the time; all the time God is good.

Even though this data is great for year end celebration, cost of ministry continues on each month. I hope and pray we continue to support the cost of ministry, making an investment in transforming lives as disciples of Jesus Christ and spur us on in the mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

May God again bless each of you in your part of the ministry.

Grace and peace,

Jack

PS. I saw snow for the first time in a year.