Midweek Moment

Greetings. As some of you may know, we have a summer intern this year. He is splitting his time between our church and Belleview for the next couple of months. As a way of helping you all get to know this young man, I offered him this space, this week, to write to you all. As the summer progresses you will see him in on the campus as well as in worship, leading, reading, and even preaching. Please welcome him as you can and I hope you are moved by his experience his first Sunday with us, as he describes it in this week's Midweek Moment.

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Taking a Moment to Pause and Reflect

Good morning, afternoon, or evening to you! For those of you that I have not had an opportunity to meet yet I would like to say, “Hello!” If I have had the privilege to meet you then I would like to say, “Hello! Nice to see you again!” My name is Robert Bledsoe and I have been given the opportunity to intern at First UMC Belleview and Druid Hills UMC in Ocala this summer with Pastor Debbie and Pastor Daryl. My first day was Sunday the 20th of May. It was quite the day to say the least! The title of this midweek moment may cause a few of you to think, “Heavens, this kid has only been working for a few days and already wants a break!” On the contraire, it is actually the exact opposite. On my first Sunday I was at Belleview for both worship services and then had to quickly (but safely) drive back to Druid Hills in Ocala to meet Pastor Daryl for a new member class.

Directly following the new member class Pastor Daryl grabbed song books, looked at me and said, “Ready?!” At this point in time I panicked because I thought I was going to have to sing in front of a group of people. Singing (at least well) was not a gift God bestowed upon me. To my surprise we went to the Ocala Health and Rehab Center. Upon arrival we went to a room with an organ and about thirty elderly folks that were a part of the memory care unit. We began singing some old favorite hymns, Pastor Daryl gave a brief message, and we sang a few more hymns. When the last song was over, a man in the front row who would be slouched over during the message, but would perk right up when we sang, began singing the third verse of the hymn by himself. He sang the entire verse aloud with no organ to accompany him or without even looking at the song book. When Watson found a good place to come back in and join, the man began to weep. The spirit was truly present and alive in that room. All of the people in the room were smiling and had a look of joy on their faces. It was quite the first day to say the least!

Have you ever had a day like this? When so many great things are happening to and around you that you don’t even know what to do? Or maybe you have experienced a day that is exactly opposite to this? Maybe it was an awful day where everything just seemed to be going wrong. I know we have all had good days and bad days, and a lot of them I’m sure. Something that I try to do when I am having a good or bad day or maybe just a normal day is to constantly be in communication with God. Asking him what I should do next, who should I talk to, or what is best for not only me but those surrounding me and that I will come into contact with that day. This week, I hope that you will take some time everyday to just pause, and reflect. Look forward, look backward, look into the present and reflect on your daily life. I hope that this time will bring you peace and joy.

Feel free to email me with any questions or comments at robsbledsoe@yahoo.com. Have a wonderful week! See you all soon!

CHRISTIANITY 101: I Believe in the Holy Spirit Acts 2:1-21 (The Pouring out of the Holy Spirit) and John 15:26-27, 16:5-15 (Jesus’ Promises about the Counselor)

Introduction
Today we are going to continue our preaching series entitled Christianity 101, as we explore our faith using the Apostles' Creed as our guide. Thus far we have looked at an overview of the importance of this creed, and the first eight affirmations. Today we are going to look at the next affirmation, “I believe in the Holy Spirit” as we seek to understand the nature of the third person of the Trinity and the Spirit’s role in our lives today.

John Wesley and the Holy Spirit
As United Methodists, I think it’s important for us to understand a little bit about the man who is considered to be the Father of Methodism - John Wesley. Especially with today being Pentecost, and how it was because of an encounter with the Holy Spirit that changed Wesley’s life was changed and how that led him to try and bring revival to the Anglican church.

Wesley was born in England in the early 1700’s, the son of an Anglican pastor. Education was highly prized in his family and his parents saw to it that he and his nine brothers and sisters were well educated. In fact his mother Susanna, taught each of them at the kitchen table in their home in Epworth. Later, John Wesley attended the very prestigious Oxford College in London. While in college, at his mother’s suggestion, John began the process to become a pastor in the Anglican Church. After graduation, he went home to help his father with the church at Epworth, but was not very successful in his ministry.

So, back to London he went and he started teaching. His brother Charles was also in London and together with some friends they formed a sort of club for people who were seriously devoted to religion. They were so methodical in their practices of fasting, praying, and Scripture reading that others began to make fun of them, calling them “the Holy Club” and “Method-ists.” Even though he was a pastor, John Wesley felt there was still something missing in his spiritual life and he went to great lengths to find it. He even traveled to the colony of Georgia in America and served for a time as a missionary.

But, he wasn’t successful at that either and came home after a brief period of time. On his way home, he wrote in his journal, “I went to America to convert the Indians; but Oh! Who shall convert me? Who, what is he that will deliver me from this evil heart of unbelief? I have a fair summer religion. I can talk well.”

Four months later, at the age of 35, Wesley went with a friend to a religious meeting on Aldersgate Street that would finally give him the meaning and purpose he sought. Here’s what Wesley wrote in his journal about his experience that night: “In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s Preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”

The assurance that Wesley spoke of, the warming of his heart, we know and understand as the witness of the Holy Spirit. We can thank the Lord that Wesley had his “heart strangely warmed,” for not only was the result new birth and power for John Wesley, but a newfound passion and zeal that would lead him to try and reform the Anglican church, eventually ending up in the creation of what we now call the United Methodist Church.

Scriptural Examples of Wesley's Struggle
Now, John Wesley was certainly not alone in his predicament. Scripture recounts for us a couple of notable people that Jesus encountered during his ministry that had the same problem. One was the rich young ruler we read about in Matthew. He tried to get to heaven by his works, following all of the commandments to the very letter of the law, but failed to understand that the purpose for following the law was a relationship with God that transformed him not just on the outside, but also on the inside (Matthew 19:16-22).

Then there was Nicodemus, a Pharisee. Jesus meets personally with him one evening and tells him that he needs to be “born again.” At first Nicodemus misunderstands; he’s an old man and it’s simply not possible for him to return to the womb and be born a second time. But Jesus replies that a person must be born both “of water and the Spirit.” Here the water symbolizes a physical birth and one’s spiritual birth is symbolized by the coming of the Holy Spirit (John 3:1-8). Both of these situations mired in confusion and uncertainty. Both of these situations in desperate need for the intervention of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost – The Holy Spirit in the Early Church
That brings us to today and our celebration of Pentecost. Pentecost always comes 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection at Easter and symbolizes the coming of the Holy Spirit to the early church as recorded in our Scripture lesson from Acts. While Pentecost is often ignored or brushed aside because people have a hard time understanding the Holy Spirit, Pentecost should be just as important to Christians as Christmas and Easter. It marks the birthday of the church; the time when those who believed in Jesus received the power promised to them that enabled them to go out and witness in the world.

That promise that came right before Jesus ascended into heaven to be with God the Father. He told them that they would “receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” And so they waited expectantly for Jesus’ word to come to pass.

Then as about a 120 believers, men and women, were gathered together in Jerusalem praying and waiting, it happened. The Holy Spirit, coming as a rush of wind and appearing as tongues of fire, descended upon them. That’s where we get the red flames in our United Methodist logo and why I asked you all to wear red this morning. But coming as wind and fire was not the only thing that the Holy Spirit did. Each of the 120 believers present that day received a gift, the Holy Spirit enabled them to speak in tongues. Not a gibberish language, but real languages and dialects so that the diverse crowd of people in Jerusalem that day could clearly hear and understand the message of the Good News of Jesus in their own language.

The result was 120 lukewarm believers ignited with the flame and zeal of the Holy Spirit. On that day the disciple Peter, who had lacked confidence and boldness and had even betrayed Jesus, stood up and preached the sermon of his life and before the day ended over 3,000 people committed themselves to the Christian way. These courageous and committed souls went out and “turned the world upside down” (Luke), spreading the Good News of the Gospel throughout Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, to the ends of the earth.

Holy Spirit Today
The Holy Spirit, changing lives, bringing assurance, the blessing of spiritual gifts from God, and new birth. And the great thing is that we can experience that same kind of new birth and power in our lives today. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we also receive the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Often Christians have a lot of questions and misconceptions about the Holy Spirit, and consequently some churches do not even mention this part of the Trinity much at all. But we want to try and take care of that this morning and help give a better understanding of what role the Holy Spirit plays in our lives today.

The Holy Spirit is called by many names in Scripture; the Helper, the Advocate, the Counselor, and the Comforter, just to name a few.

The Counselor
Our second Scripture lesson today from John was an explanation that Jesus gave to his disciples before he died. Jesus promised that he would not leave the believers alone, but that he would send someone else to help them and he went on to some specific details of the things that the Counselor, or the Holy Spirit, would do in their lives.

1) The Holy Spirit will be a Spirit of Truth for us

• Testify to us about Jesus – (verse 15:26) 
• Speak on the authority of God the Father and God the Son (verse 16:13) 

2) The Holy Spirit will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin, righteousness and judgment (verse 16:8) – a conscience about right and wrong

3) The Holy Spirit will serve as a guide for us, telling us what is to come, revealing God’s will to us (verse 16:13)

4) The Holy Spirit will bring glory to God by making Jesus known to us (verse 16:14)

Spiritual Gifts
And there are other things that the Holy Spirit does in our lives. We hear about spiritual gifts or “gifts of the Spirit.” There’s four different places in Scripture where these gifts are talked about and listed: twice in I Corinthians, once in Romans and once in the book of Ephesians. Those Scriptures help teach us that every believer is given at least one spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit. The purpose of that gift is not for selfish gain, but rather to help build up the entire body of Christ. So people in this congregation have been given various and different gifts to help this body of Christ, this congregation, reach its full potential for the kingdom of God. Such a big important job for this last part of the Trinity, described in only two words.

Fruit of the Spirit
That is a lot to ask and understand of the Holy Spirit. So how can we know that the Spirit is active and alive inside of us? The Apostle Paul provides a clue in the book of Galatians, chapter 5, verses 22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” These Christ-like characteristics begin to develop more and more in our lives as we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us toward other people. Just like choosing to believe in Jesus, it’s a choice as to whether or not we will listen to and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Some believers are more attuned than others, and if we are attuned to the Holy Spirit as it speaks truth to our hearts, witnesses to us about Jesus, helps us understand the Scriptures, guides us as to God’s will, than these fruits will naturally begin to overflow in our lives.

Conclusion
I think you would agree that today more than ever, churches need to remember the power of Pentecost and experience the new birth and new power through the Holy Spirit, so that we might be transformed.

And that transformation can happen right here at the rail. This day is special, this day is important. So I invite you, do not let the sun set on this day without beginning, renewing, or strengthening your bond with God through the Holy Spirit. Come here and pray, go home and pray, just pray. Just ask. And be transformed.

My prayer is that because of Pentecost, we will no longer be merely followers of religion, people who carry knowledge of God around in our heads. May we each experience God in our hearts and lives as well, finding the assurance and purpose and meaning that John Wesley did, and be forever transformed by the new birth and new power of Pentecost.

Bible Challenge 05/27 - 06/02

Greetings All!

This week we continue with II Kings. As an overview, in chapters 11-12, the focus shifts to a young boy king in Judah named Joash who spends a significant amount of time trying to restore the temple. Elisha dies in chapter 13 and here you also have a rather interesting account of what happens when someone is thrown into his grave months after his death. Talk about the power of the Lord! The downward spiral continues though in the kingdom of Israel as king after king fails to follow the Lord and by chapter 17 we see that the northern kingdom of Israel has fallen to the Assyrians, with many of the people being carried away into exile. We finish up with the narrative of the king's lives from Judah. A few more wicked kings are described before we get to the interesting story of the boy king Josiah and all of his reforms (chapters 22-23). But even he isn't enough to turn the tide of sin and false idol worship. After him, three more evil kings follow before Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians (chapters 24-25).

Then our attention turns to another of the history books, I Chronicles, and we will make our way through 22 of its 29 chapters this week. In many ways it should sound familiar because it is largely a retelling of the material found in I and II Samuel as well as I and II Kings. The book of I Chronicles really falls into two broad segments. The first, in chapters 1-10, contains mostly genealogical lists, concluding with the house of Saul and Saul's rejection by God. This sets the stage for the rise of David. The second segment then, in chapters 11-29, contains a history of the reign of King David.

Why so many books telling the same stories? Well in the Jewish canon of Scripture, Chronicles appears last making it then a summary of everything that has gone before and most likely the reason why the genealogy goes all the way back to Adam. But one of the calls of the Old Testament is to remember. God asks the people to remember constantly in their rituals, offerings, and festivals the great work that he has done on their behalf. Certainly we can see what happens in the books of history when Israel (and Judah) do not keep this knowledge of God close at hand and forget! As they stray away from God, they wander into dangerous ground spiritually, as individuals as well as a nation. We would do well to remind ourselves continuously, to remember what God has done and what happens when we try to do things in our lives on our own without Him!

Here is the schedule:

27, Sunday: II Kings 12-15

28, Monday: II Kings 16-19

29, Tuesday: II Kings 20-23

30, Wednesday: II Kings 24 - I Chronicles 2

31, Thursday: I Chronicles 3-6

01, Friday: I Chronicles 7-10

02, Saturday: I Chronicles 11-14

May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.

Friday Fives

1. Preaching Series - Do you know the Apostles' Creed? Can you say the Apostles' Creed from memory? More importantly, do you know what each phrase of the Apostles' Creed means? This week we are continuing our preaching series based upon the Apostles' Creed, entitled Christianity 101. This creed is full of meaning, steeped in theology, and foundational for who we are not only as Protestants, but as United Methodists. During this nine week series, we will take this creed, piece by piece, and examine what it is we are truly saying when we recite it. This week we will look at the affirmation, "I believe in the Holy Spirit". My prayer is that this will not only deepen your knowledge, but strengthen your faith as well. Bring a friend and come join us, as we all learn together!




2. Ken LaVine Memorial - This week we lost a dear member of our congregation, Ken LaVine. Tomorrow, Saturday, May 26th at 11:00 A.M., at Robert's Funeral Home, Downtown Chapel, 606 SW 2nd Ave, there will be a Service of Memorial and Celebration for Ken. One of the best ways to celebrate and remember is among friends. Therefore, I encourage everyone that is able, to come and show your care, love and support to Flo and the rest of the family as we remember and celebrate the wonderful legacy of Ken.




3. 2012 Annual Conference Offering - Each year the Bishop takes up an offering at Annual Conference that highlights the mission of The United Methodist Church in its local & global connections. This year we want to give you the opportunity to contribute to this offering as you feel led. Seventy percent of the offering will strengthen the ministries of the East Angola Conference and the partnership between East Angola and Florida, and thirty percent will be given to Alfalit, which serves the United States and 21 other countries eliminating the human suffering caused by illiteracy. On Sunday, June 3, we will take a special offering to be presented to Bishop Whitaker during Annual Conference. If you feel lead to make a donation to this offering, make your check payable to DHUMC and mark, “Annual Conference Offering” in the memo field. If you prefer to give cash, place it in a pew envelope and mark, “Annual Conference Offering” on the outside of the envelope. As our Lord Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the good measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 (NIV)




4. Pentecost Sunday - This Sunday, May 27th, is Pentecost Sunday and a very important day in the life of the church. In fact, it is so important, that it is a reason our United Methodist Logo uses the image of a flame with the cross. This is the day we will celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the believers. Therefore, in order to make this celebration special, we are asking everyone to wear red this Sunday to worship. With everyone's participation this will truly be a wonderful sight!




5. Librarian and Historian Needed - If you are interested in helping us maintain the fantastic library here at Druid Hills or you are passionate about recording the important events in the life our church, we have an opportunity for you! We are in need of a church librarian to help keep our library organized and a church historian to help chronicle the important events in our history. Neither one requires significant time, just a passion for the job. If you are interested in either position please see me and we will talk.


Have a great weekend and see you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

Like most of you, right now I have many things on my mind. Some exciting, some not so much. My emotions range the spectrum right now depending on the situation I am involved with or the prayers that I am praying. Lately, it seems no matter how intentional I am to plan my day, it never follows that path. Again, depending on the path, sometimes those tangents are blessed and other times they are draining.

Last night, after I got home, I went in the back of the house. As I was coming back out to join the family, I was reminded of something. In the parsonage, when you come from the back of the house to the living area, you walk directly towards the back of the fireplace, a brick wall. Debbie and I have hung pictures on this wall from our trip to the Holy Land. Incredible reminders of a life changing event. But this day it was not the pictures that spoke to me. You see, above the pictures we have stenciled the Scripture passage from Psalm 46:10, “Be Still, and know I am the Lord.”

Right then and there I stopped. I stood in the hallway of the house and just let that truth wash over me. Be still and know I am the Lord. Be still. Quiet your mind, more importantly quiet your soul. Release the anxiety and worry weighing you down. Do not let the fears of this day or of the future pull you away from God. And know I am the Lord. There is nothing your God cannot see you through. There is no situation where your God will not guide you, if you allow it. There is no situation or outcome that God cannot redeem for good.

Each of us, all of us, have trials and temptations that we face on a daily basis. Each of us, all of us, can find ourselves weary and weak at the end of the day. Therefore, let me encourage you with the truth of Psalm 46:10, “Be Still, and know I am the Lord.” I know it is hard to still ourselves, especially when we find ourselves in the midst of an event or situation. Last night, I was tempted to continue my journey back into the living room. However, I was very grateful I stopped. Encouraged by the moment I stole at the end of the day. I invite you to find a time each day, to be still. To simply just exist in the presence of God the Father Almighty. Be open, be quiet, be still. Allow God to speak to you, move within you, reveal himself to you. You see, it is in those quiet moments, those special moments, those intimate moments that God can be with you. Maybe the answer to a question becomes clear, maybe a fear you have been wrestling with dissipates, even if for a moment. Maybe you get to encounter that special occasion when you experience a wonderfully serendipitous moment. Anything is possible when you spend time with God.

Therefore my brothers and sisters, be still. Turn to our Father in Heaven. Trust in God in all things. And as the days of your journey pass, may the bonds between you and our Triune God grow deeper.

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!

CHRISTIANITY 101: I Believe in Jesus Christ:Humanity and Divinity Isaiah 53:1-12 and John 11:17-27

Introduction
Today we are going to continue our preaching series entitled Christianity 101, as we explore our faith using the Apostles' Creed as our guide. Thus far we have looked at an overview of the importance of this creed, and the first three affirmations. Today we are going to look at the next fives affirmation, “I believe in Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was cruicified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead” as we seek to understand the depth of what it truly means to refer to Jesus as both human and divine.

Duality
How many of you have ever wanted to be a super hero? Come on now, admit it. How many of you have ever imagined that you could fly, had the strength of a thousand people, or could move things with your mind? I think we all, at one point or another, have had the fantasy. Right now the big draw at the movie box office is The Avengers. My boys love the Avengers. In fact, this past Halloween I dressed as Green Lantern, yes I know he is not an Avenger, but I like him anyway, Debbie dressed up as Captain America, Parker as Iron Man, and Wesley as The Mighty Thor. We were quite a collection. Each of those movies that have come out over the last several years, we have seen. So it was a given that we would see this latest one as well. Finally, a movie that brought all of these heroes together. But one thing that strikes me about these heroes is that most have another identity. Iron Man is really Tony Stark, Captain America is really Steve Rogers, and the Hulk is really Bruce Banner. They each live within a dual nature.

I tell you this not as means of comparison but as one of a progression. This morning we are talking about another hero that lived within a dual nature. However, his was not based on secret identities or super powers. His was based on love, done out of love, given out of love.

This morning we are looking at the dual nature of Jesus, the understanding that he was both fully human and fully divine

Incarnation
So let's talk about those natures as expressed in the Apostles' Creed. When we read the first affirmation we are looking at this morning, we read, “who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.” So how do we understand this dichotomy?

Now, Jesus has always been. John 1 tells us, “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” So Jesus could have come into this earth, as an adult, as a heavenly being, all powerful, all mighty, and simply exerted his will upon humanity. He could have made everything quick and tidy. But there would have been something lacking had he done it that way. That something would have been the connection.

By being born that connection was made. But it was how he was born that is significant. First he was conceived by the Holy Spirit. As humans we are all born with the burden of original sin, Adam's sin in the garden. We are all born prone to be sinful. With Jesus being born not of another man, but of the Spirit, Jesus is considered to be the second Adam, the example of how humanity was intended to be. Here can choose obedience where the first Adam chose rebellion. Being born of the power of the Holy Spirit is where the divinity of Jesus Christ is established. But also being born of the Virgin Mary is where his humanity is established. The key word in this line is not so much virgin as it is born. The fact he was born and did not just appear or manifest himself. Born, just like you and me. This affirmation is where the great mystery of the incarnation is revealed. That is your theological word for the day, incarnation. It literally means, in the flesh. It is in this affirmation that we see God come down from on high, enter into this world in the same manner we do, and make himself known to us. He met us where we are in order to reveal himself to us.

This perfect balance of humanity and divinity was established in the baby Jesus. A dual nature that Jesus would never abuse, but instead used to establish relationship. A dual nature that could have saved him from incredible pain and humiliation, he lived and experienced for our benefit. A sign of solidarity that continues with the next affirmation.

Perfect Priest
Next we affirm that Jesus Christ, “suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.” This affirmation centers on the cross. “For the Christian, the cross symbolizes the great intersection of God's holiness and God's grace at Christ's crucifixion. God's holiness demanded that sine be pain for; God's grace provided that payment for us!”¹

For me this statement of belief is very important, and very comforting. As disciples of Jesus Christ we have all committed to one thing. That is to devote all that we are and all that we have to sovereign rule of Jesus Christ. Now, if I am going to devote myself to another person I need to feel a connection to that person. I need to feel like that person can understand the experiences I have had. Jesus giving his life for you and for me upon that cross, making himself the perfect priest, solidified that bond between God and humanity. We now have that perfect priest, that perfect intercessor, to draw us closer to God. By the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, we have seen God, felt God's grace, and experienced God's mercy. There is nothing we have experienced that Jesus did not as well. Jesus was born, we were born. Jesus suffered through life, we have suffered through life. We have felt anger, betrayal, hatred, injustice, fear, compassion, sorrow, and the list goes on and on. Jesus has felt those same emotions. There is not a situation, an emotion, a temptation, that we have felt, that Jesus has not endured as well. And just as we will all die, so did Jesus. In one of the most humiliating, painful, and horrible ways possible. Jesus was born, Jesus lived, and Jesus died, so that a solidarity between God and the human race could be established, making us all one family.

Today is Ascension Sunday
But Jesus was not done. Here is where his divinity is seen once again. After being born like us, living like us, and dying for us, “he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.”

It is appropriate that we look at his ascension today, because it is Ascension Sunday. Jesus, after doing all he was asked to do, was rewarded. He ascended to take his place at God's right hand. Now this is not referring solely to location but more of role. As the incarnation, Jesus was limited by his human body, but now Jesus reigns in every place and rules in all places, living as the second person of the Trinity. Jesus has taken his rightful place as ruler and king, working in us and through us to establish the Kingdom of God here on earth.

The Season Finale
And one of those aspects of his rule is that, “thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.” This affirmation expresses our belief that Jesus will return to us, the second coming, and after that return, will judge us. But for those that believe, when asked what is it that you have done to deserve eternity?; and our only answer is to hang our head and reply, 'nothing'. Jesus will answer, welcome home.

Conclusion
This creed does a spectacular job at touching on many of the capstones of our faith, and this middle section speaking about Jesus is filled with incredible truths. Truths about the nature of Jesus, the sacrifice of Jesus, and the rule of Jesus. All of this aimed at helping us understand the nature and depth of Jesus the Christ.

I pray that this portion of the Apostles' Creed brings you comfort. Comfort in knowing Jesus, your King, understands what it is you are going through. That Jesus came down from his throne to bridge the divide between God and humanity. That Jesus willingly gave of his own life, so that we could all enjoy an eternity in paradise.

If you have never understood that truth, I invite you to come to this altar rail and experience it for the first time in prayer. If you know it but it has been a long time since you experienced it, come to this rail and pray. If you simply just want to bask in the glory of Jesus Christ himself, come to this rail and pray. Jesus is here and he is eager to be with you.

______________________
1. Tennet, Timothy. This We Believe!. Published by Seedbed, 2012.

Bible Challenge 05/20 - 05/26

Greetings All!

This week we finish up the book of I Kings and make it halfway through II Kings. After Solomon's reign, the story starts to turn as the history of Israel moves from being one united country into two divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. 


The northern kingdom is Israel, capital in the city of Samaria and is made up of the ten northern tribes. The southern kingdom is Judah, capital in the city of Jerusalem, and is made up of the two southern tribes (Benjamin and Judah). The Scripture becomes a narrative of the lives and reigns of the many different kings in the two kingdoms.

There are a few prominent people and stories. For example we get an extended look at evil King Ahab of Israel and his interactions with the prophet Elijah in I Kings chapters 17-22. By the 2nd chapter of II Kings, Elijah is taken up to heaven to be with God and the story continues through his successor Elisha as he ministers to the northern kingdom of Israel. Chapter 5 includes the fascinating story of Naaman's healing and chapter 9 marks the death of Ahab's widow Jezebel.

Here is the schedule:

20, Sunday: I Kings 6-9

21, Monday: I Kings 10-13

22, Tuesday: I Kings 14-17

23, Wednesday: I Kings 18-21

24, Thursday: I Kings 22 - II Kings 3

25, Friday: II Kings 4-7

26, Saturday: II Kings 8-11

May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and the living out of His Holy Word. Amen. 
 

Friday Fives

1. Preaching Series - Do you know the Apostles' Creed? Can you say the Apostles' Creed from memory? More importantly, do you know what each phrase of the Apostles' Creed means? This week we are continuing our preaching series based upon the Apostles' Creed, entitled Christianity 101. This creed is full of meaning, steeped in theology, and foundational for who we are not only as Protestants, but as United Methodists. During this nine week series, we will take this creed, piece by piece, and examine what it is we are truly saying when we recite it. This week we will look at the affirmation, "I believe in Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was cruicified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead". My prayer is that this will not only deepen your knowledge, but strengthen your faith as well. Bring a friend and come join us, as we all learn together!




2. New Member Class - On Sunday, May 20th at 12:45 P.M., I will host a new member class in my office. If you have been attending Druid Hills for at least three months and would like to take that next step in becoming a member of this church this class is for you! It is not too late to register. All you have to do to register for this class, either call the church office at 629-5688, or email me at daryl.allen@flumc.org. This is a one session get together where we will discuss what it means to be a United Methodist, what it means to be a member of Druid Hills, and offer you a little background on the history of this church. If this is of interest to you I hope you will make plans to attend.




3. 2012 Annual Conference Offering - This offering highlights the mission of The United Methodist Church in its local & global connections. Seventy percent of the offering will strengthen the ministries of the East Angola Conference and the partnership between East Angola and Florida, and thirty percent will be given to Alfalit, which serves the United States and 21 other countries eliminating the human suffering caused by illiteracy. On Sunday, June 3, we will take a special offering to be presented to Bishop Whitaker during Annual Conference. If you feel lead to make a donation to this offering, make your check payable to DHUMC and mark, “Annual Conference Offering” in the memo field. If you prefer to give cash, place it in a pew envelope and mark, “Annual Conference Offering” on the outside of the envelope. As our Lord Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the good measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 (NIV)




4. Pentecost Sunday - May 27th is Pentecost Sunday and a very important day in the life of the church. In fact, it is so important, that is a reason our United Methodist Logo uses the image of a flame with the cross. This is the day we will celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the believers. Therefore, in order to make this celebration special, we are asking everyone to wear red that Sunday to worship. With everyone's participation this will truly be a wonderful sight!




5. Librarian and Historian Needed - If you are interested in helping us maintain the fantastic library here at Druid Hills or you are passionate about recording the important events in the life our church, we have an opportunity for you! We are in need of a church librarian to help keep our library organized and a church historian to help chronicle the important events in our history. Neither one requires significant time, just a passion for the job. If you are interested in either position please see me and we will talk.


Have a great weekend and see you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

As a pastor one of my primary duties is to constantly cast vision for our church. Vision is that goal we all share that guides our ministries, our efforts, and how we interact with each other. Therefore, I am always on the look out for things we can incorporate into the life of our church that will fulfill not only the mission of the United Methodist Church, which is to "make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world", but to also our mission, which is that we will all strive to "serve Christ by learning, leading and loving."

For us to be successful in either of these mission statements, one thing is clear. We have to understand what it means for us to be the church. We have to understand how we should carry ourselves, how we should interact with others, and the reason we gather together.

This week I heard a quote from C.S. Lewis that describes the nature and mission of the church very clearly and very succinctly, "The church is the only organization that is built for the benefit of non-members".

Read it again...I had to after I wrote it down. The whole reason for our existence is for the benefit of those that are not a member of our congregation. I invite you to think about that. What does that mean for us here at Druid Hills UMC? Is this the mindset we live by? Could we do better living out this truth? In the community, with each other?

I was so moved sitting there listening to the gentleman delivering this quote, so moved by this truth that is so profound. This means our ministry programs, our community functions, our style of worship, is not about us. It is not about our personal preferences or desires. It is about reaching those that do not know the joy we have. It is about reaching those people that do not understand who God is, or the love Jesus has for them. It is about sacrificing our personal preferences and egos to reach out to those that have lost their way or never been introduced to The Way.

We have a truth to share with the nations. A truth of God's love, the sacrificial gift of Jesus Christ, and the always present companionship of the Holy Spirit. A truth we dare not lose in ourselves, a truth we dare not water down in tussles over personal wishes, a truth that is better than anything else we know.

I encourage you to join me in praying for the Holy Spirit to transform this church into the beacon of love and hope we are called to be. I ask you to pray that we can be faithful to the calling of God and that we absolutely be about the business of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. And one of the best ways I know to do that is by learning what God has to to teach us, leading others into a true relationship with Christ, and loving those we meet and those we already know, regardless of our differences.

As this gentleman was finishing up his presentation, he ended it with a assertion that I want to share with you now. He said, “Do you know what you call a organization that caters to the needs and desires of it's members? A Country Club.”

My dear friends, I love this church and I love you. And because I care so much about you, I want us to be the best church we can and never a country club. I want this community to know God is here because we are here. Here, reaching out to others, laying our own desires aside in order to truly be vessels of God. Living in joy because we know God and we are sharing it with everyone. And the best part is, I know all of you love this church as well. So together we can do this and I am very excited to see how it turns out!

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday.

Bible Challenge 05/13 - 05/19

Greetings All!

This week we turn our attention to reading the book of II Samuel. Chapter 2 finds David being anointed king over Judah and the next few chapters show the problems between the house of David and Saul before David is anointed king over Israel in chapter 5. Chapters 6-8 detail some of the early victories and establishment of David's kingdom. But chapter 9 is my favorite. It's the story of David and Mephibosheth - one of Jonathan's descendants - and it is a rare story of amazing grace. Read it. Put yourself in the place of Mephibosheth. Read it again and put yourself in the place of David. It's remarkable.

The focus of this latter half of the book deals with the weaknesses and failures of David's reign as king. Specifically we find here the account of David's adultery with Bathsheba and complicity in the murder of her husband (chapters 10-12) as well as David's difficulties with his children and the loss of Amnon and Absalom (chapter 13-20). The book wraps up with some final reflections on David's reign (chapters 21-24).

Next up on the agenda is I Kings. Just as with the books of I and II Samuel, the books of I and II Kings were originally one long, unbroken, narrative. I Kings begins with the succession of Solomon as king after David (chapters 1-2), then begins detailing the reign of Solomon.

Sometimes the best way to learn by example is to learn what not to do. I invite you to dive into the rich and multi-faceted history of Israel this week and be strengthened in your spiritual resolve by the Word.

Here is the schedule:

13, Sunday: II Samuel 2-5

14, Monday: II Samuel 6-9

15, Tuesday: II Samuel 10-13

16, Wednesday: II Samuel 14-17

17, Thursday: II Samuel 18-21

18, Friday: II Samuel 22 - I Kings 1

19, Saturday: I Kings 2-5

May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His Holy Word. Amen. 

Friday Fives

1. Preaching Series - Do you know the Apostles' Creed? Can you say the Apostles' Creed from memory? More importantly, do you know what each phrase of the Apostles' Creed means? This week we are continuing our preaching series based upon the Apostles' Creed,entitled Christianity 101. This creed is full of meaning, steeped in theology, and foundational for who we are not only as Protestants, but as United Methodists. During this nine week series, we will take this creed, piece by piece, and examine what it is we are truly saying when we recite it. This week we will look at the affirmation, "I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord". My prayer is that this will not only deepen your knowledge, but strengthen your faith as well. Bring a friend and come join us, as we all learn together!




2. New Member Class - On Sunday, May 20th at 12:45 P.M., I will host a new member class in my office. If you have been attending Druid Hills for at least three months and would like to take that next step in becoming a member of this church this class is for you! To register for this class, either call the church office at 629-5688, or email me at daryl.allen@flumc.org. This is a one session get together where we will discuss what it means to be a United Methodist, what it means to be a member of Druid Hills, and offer you a little background on the history of this church. If this is of interest to you I hope you will make plans to attend.




3. Spaghetti Dinner - Saturday, May 12th from 11 A.M. - 6 P.M. our Boy Scout Troop is having their Spaghetti Dinner here at the church. The cost is $5 a person and tickets are available in advance or at the door. The dinner will include spaghetti, salad, roll, and dessert. You can either come and dine in the Fellowship Hall or you can come and get it to go. Either way I am sure it will be delicious! Please make plans to come out and support our troop and get some good food to boot!




4. Usher Training - If you are interested in participating in the ministry of ushering during Sunday morning worship, please make plans to attend our next training session this Sunday, May 13th, immediately after worship. We will go over the mission of an usher and the various responsibilities required of a person involved. It will last about 15 minutes and I will be available to answer any questions you may have. If you feel lead to be an usher, there is no need to sign up, just stay after worship and come participate.




5. Librarian and Historian Needed - If you are interested in helping us maintain the fantastic library here at Druid Hills or you are passionate about recording the important events in the life our church, we have an opportunity for you! We are in need of a church librarian to help keep our library organized and a church historian to help chronicle the important events in our history. Neither one requires significant time, just a passion for the job. If you are interested in either position please see me and we will talk.




Have a great weekend and see you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

This past Sunday, it was announced I had been re-appointed to Druid Hills for another year. I thank you for the warm response and want you to know that I am honored to be able to continue working with this congregation as we strive to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Over the last several months I have spent time thinking about that would look like for us. How can we effectively make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world? What ministries can we develop? What ministries do we already have that we can highlight? Are all our actions, as a body of faith, working toward the goal of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world? Are each of us as individuals, doing all we can to make this body healthy and effective? Are we focused on the proper things, or have other details gotten in our way and shifted our focus?

This past Monday I was standing outside our Education Building waiting for Cub Scouts to begin. It was raining, and raining hard. The sky was dark and their was a general gloomy appearance throughout the entire landscape. I was standing there pondering those questions I mentioned above and I could feel myself beginning to take on that gloomy feeling. I began thinking about the illnesses people in our congregation are facing. I began to recall some of the very difficult situations some others of us have had to deal with in their personal lives. I began to feel the hurt some of us are experiencing in the midst of the various transitions we are facing as a church body. Then I began to experience sadness at some of the reactions we have had to each other as a response to all of those situations we are facing.

Just then, in the midst of that driving rain, the sun came out. It lit up the entire landscape and even though the rain was still there, the gloom was not. There was a sense of peace, a sense of hope that washed over me as I watched the landscape transform. As hurt as we may feel over any issue, as scared as we may be for what the future holds, as dark and as desperate as any situation may be, we can rest assured God is always there. Hebrews 13:5 tells us of God's declaration, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Jesus tells his disciples as he is ascending into Heaven, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b).

So my encouragement for you this midweek, is to trust in God. Always look for God in every situation. Always treat each other with love, looking for the kind word and not the divisive one. Always look for the hope rather than dwell on negative. And always, always remember, that we are not a body of believers created so that God and humanity can serve us and satisfy our desires. Rather, we are a body of believers created so that we can humble ourselves and serve God and humanity. Love each other always. Speak kindly to each others always. Serve God always. That is why we are disciples. That is why we have each devoted our lives to a cause bigger than ourselves. It is not easy, in fact it is very hard. But, it is necessary and God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit will help us each step of the way.

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!

CHRISTIANITY 101: I Believe in God, Creator of Heaven and Earth Psalm 33:1-9 and Revelation 4:8-11

Introduction
Today we are going to continue our preaching series entitled Christianity 101, as we explore our faith using the Apostles' Creed as our guide. Thus far we have looked at an overview of the importance of this creed, and the first affirmation, “I Believe in God the Father Almighty”. Today we are going to look at the next affirmation, “Creator of Heaven and Earth” as we seek to understand the depth of God as creator and what that means for our lives of faith.

God's Fingerprints on the Earth
I love mysteries. Mystery movies, mystery books, mysteries caused by my children like the curious case of the always open refrigerator, or the mysterious case of the never closed back door. They are fun to try and solve. But the only way to solve them is to look for clues. Those sometimes infinitesimal traces of what happened when no one was looking. For us, our God is a mystery. A wonderful mystery.

So for us to proclaim, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth”, what does that mean? Well, let us look at the clues. I believe that God has left his fingerprints all over the universe for us to discover. Think about it this way. Suppose you were to visit my house while I was not there. How much could you learn about my family just from looking around? You might suspect that we had lots of children from examining all the toys in one of the rooms, but from counting the kids’ beds you would discover we only have two sons. You would know that one person is a huge fan of Tampa Bay sports like the Lightning the Rays, and most especially the Buccaneers, from seeing all of the memorabilia that graces the walls of one room. You see pictures on the walls from places like Egypt, London, and Jerusalem, so would see we like to travel. And you would find lots of books and CD’s, indicating our love of reading and music. There’s a lot more a careful observer could discover about the Allen family just by rummaging around through our drawers and bookshelves. The clues are everywhere for those who care to look.

So for us to go out into the world, God's creation, He’s left clues everywhere about what kind of God he is. When you stand at the Grand Canyon, you can’t help but be overwhelmed at the mighty power of God to create such magnificence. When you look to the oceans, He is as infinite as the dark recesses of the mighty Atlantic. Each snowflake testifies to his uniqueness, each color in the Aurora Borealis points to his creativity. God has left his fingerprints all over this world.

While the wonders created by the hand of God are timeless and ageless, it does not stop there. We go back to Scripture and we read in the beginning of Genesis, “God created the heavens and the earth.” We read about there was nothing and out of that nothing God created something. We read about how there was nothing but darkness and it was in response to that darkness that God created light, simply because he spoke it into existence. The sky, the water, the land, the animals, all created because God spoke them into being. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1).

I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of Heaven and Earth.

Not Done Yet!
But our Creator is not done yet! There is more, something better. Humanity. From the dust of the earth humanity is formed. And just formed but formed in the image of God. Created out of a love and desire for relationship. Just looking at what is around us, being thankful we are a part of it, these are the fingerprints of God beckoning to us, come to me, live with me, let me live through you!

The Psalms are full of this type of sentiment. From our lesson today, Psalm 33:1-9: “Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.”

The work of God to create is what prompted not only this passage of praise but the the affirmation in the Apostles' Creed that we are looking at today. I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. “The Apostles' Creed is not just a doctrine to be believed; it is a truth to be celebrated.”¹

So What?!?
As I often ask myself when I put my messages together, I will ask you now...so what? So what that God made the heavens and the earth. So what that God made everything within the earth. So what that God made humanity.

The so what is this. When we affirm that God is the creator of heaven and earth we are attributing to God the enormity of this creation. We are placing our faith in God and giving God credit for this entire created order. We are saying that God created all of this and wonder it sparks in us. We are saying that we do not believe God to be some cosmic bell boy that caters to our whims and will. We are saying that the one who loved us first, the one that created us out of nothing, the one that calls us into relationship, is the ruler of our lives. We are saying that we will place all of our faith, trust, and devotion in him. We are saying God is in control. That God sits on the throne and he is our eternal King. “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”

Conclusion
Our God has left his fingerprints all over this earth and I encourage you to look for them and be reminded of his vastness. Be reminded that God is to be the focus of our worship, the leader of our body, the sovereign Lord of our lives.

It is awe inspiring to look around this creation and see that which God created. It is even greater still to know that the one that created all of it, call to us to be his followers. Psalm 100:3 says it best, “Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

My prayer for each and every one of you is that you will see and recognize God’s fingerprints throughout the world and be drawn into a closer relationship with the Almighty Father who created you, that loves you, and that calls out to you.



______________________________________
1. Tennet, Timothy. This We Believe!. Published by Seedbed, 2012.

Bible Challenge 05/06 - 05/12

Greetings All!

This week we finish up our study of the history of Israel in the book of I Samuel. There is a lot of action and familiar Sunday school stories contained in this book of the Bible! By chapter 15, King Saul has been rejected by God because of his behavior. Young David is chosen by God and anointed by Samuel as king in chapter 16, then fights the famous Philistine giant in chapter 17. King Saul grows more and more suspicious and paranoid about David in chapters 18 and 19. Then we read about the friendship between David and Jonathan in chapter 20. The remainder of the book continues detailing the difficulties between Saul and David and ends with the death of King Saul in chapter 31. While this particular book is done, the story is not.

That story continues in II Samuel. In chapter 1, David hears of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan and lifts up a beautiful song of lament over their lives. If you want to find out what happens next, then I will see you next week!

Here is the schedule:

6, Sunday: I Samuel 5-8

7, Monday: I Samuel 9-12

8, Tuesday: I Samuel 13-16

9, Wednesday: I Samuel 17-20

10, Thursday: I Samuel 21-24

11, Friday: I Samuel 25-28

12, Saturday: I Samuel 29 - II Samuel 1


May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding, and the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.

Friday Fives

1. Preaching Series - Do you know the Apostles' Creed? Can you say the Apostles' Creed from memory? More importantly, do you know what each phrase of the Apostles' Creed means? This week we are continuing our preaching series based upon the Apostles' Creed,entitled Christianity 101. This creed is full of meaning, steeped in theology, and foundational for who we are not only as Protestants, but as United Methodists. During this nine week series, we will take this creed, piece by piece, and examine what it is we are truly saying when we recite it. This week we will look at the affirmation, "I believe in God, Creator of Heaven and Earth". My prayer is that this will not only deepen your knowledge, but strengthen your faith as well. Bring a friend and come join us, as we all learn together!




2. New Member Class - On Sunday, May 20th at 12:45 P.M., I will host a new member class in my office. If you have been attending Druid Hills for at least three months and would like to take that next step in becoming a member of this church this class is for you! To register for this class, either call the church office at 629-5688, or email me at daryl.allen@flumc.org. This is a one session get together where we will discuss what it means to be a United Methodist, what it means to be a member of Druid Hills, and offer you a little background on the history of this church. If this is of interest to you I hope you will make plans to attend.




3. Spaghetti Dinner - Saturday, May 12th from 11 A.M. - 6 P.M. our Boy Scout Troop is having their Spaghetti Dinner here at the church. The cost is $5 a person and tickets are available in advance or at the door. The dinner will include spaghetti, salad, roll, and dessert. You can either come and dine in the Fellowship Hall or you can come and get it to go. Either way I am sure it will be delicious! Please make plans to come out and support our troop and get some good food to boot!




4. Usher Training - If you are interested in participating in the ministry of ushering during Sunday morning worship, please make plans to attend our next training session on Sunday, May 8th, immediately after worship. We will go over the mission of an usher and the various responsibilities required of a person involved. It will last about 15 minutes and I will be available to answer any questions you may have. If you feel lead to be an usher, there is no need to sign up, just stay after worship and come participate.




5. Librarian and Historian Needed - If you are interested in helping us maintain the fantastic library here at Druid Hills or you are passionate about recording the important events in the life our church, we have an opportunity for you! We are in need of a church librarian to help keep our library organized and a church historian to help chronicle the important events in our history. Neither one requires significant time, just a passion for the job. If you are interested in either position please see me and we will talk.




Have a great weekend and see you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

Prayer. I love prayer. The feeling I get when I am engaged in this practice. The closeness I feel to God, to Jesus, and the Holy Spirit when I am lost in it. The bond that is developed between me and our Triune God because I do it. Prayer. We all do it. At some point or another, I would say that every human that has ever lived, has prayed for something or to someone, at least once in their lives.

There is just something about prayer that draws us in, that creates in us a desire to participate in this practice. And this tendency is not specific to our era either. If you go to the New Revised Standard translation of the Bible, the word pray, in some form, is used 474 times. These manuscripts written centuries ago, show humanity's desire to engage in prayer.

Prayer is that bond by which we commune with God. It is the vessel we use to speak with God, cry with God, shout at God. It is the the way we allow God to become an intimate part of our lives. John Wesley, our denominational founder, woke very morning, went into his reading closet, and prayed for an hour. Every day he did this. There is so much power and strength to be had from the practice of prayer.

But the best part is, there is no singular way it must be done. Prayers can long or short. Prayer can be done kneeling to standing. We can bow our head or look up towards the heavens. We can pray with our eyes closed or open. In fact, one of the most powerful times of prayer I have ever been involved with, was looking into the eyes of a dying man and praying for him. Prayer is so dynamic that it can use all of our senses and infiltrate all aspects of our lives.

Scripture tells us to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17), take all things to God in prayer (Philippians 4:6), whatever we ask for in prayer, with faith, we will receive (Matthew 21:22), that we are to rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, and persevere in prayer (Romans 12:12), and the list could go on and on. I have books on my shelf about prayer; Too Busy Not to Pray and Paths to Prayer. There have been books written about prayers found in Scripture that have created national phenomenons like the Prayer of Jabez. It is everywhere...as it should be.

So you might be asking yourself why I found it necessary to share all that with you this week in this Midweek Moment. It is because tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer. Starting back in 1952, when President Harry S. Truman declared a National Day of prayer, this day has been set aside to pray for guidance and our national leadership. Therefore, I encourage you to find a way to mark this day with intentional prayer for our leaders and for each other. And to help you mark this day, we will open the Sanctuary from 10 A.M. till 1 P.M. tomorrow, May 3rd, for you to come and pray. I invite you to come and spend some quiet, dedicated time with God. You can sit in the pews, kneel at the rail, or stand in the isle. Pour out your concerns, celebrate your joys, talk about your fears. Just come and spend personal time with God.

If you cannot make it here tomorrow, again, I encourage you to find some way to mark this day. When we as believers band together in prayer and call on the name of God, we are teaching a new generation the importance of prayer, and making room in our lives for God to do what only God can.

Have a GREAT week and I will see you Sunday!