Mission Trip to Rwanda Africa

I will be heading out on a Mission Trip to Rwanda this year, July 7th 10 17th.  We will be going with ZOE ministries, a group led by Greg Jinks, we have had a long term relationship with.  A few years ago I went to Zimbabwe with this exciting United Methodist Mission Organization.  While there we will connect with the Giving Hope Empowerment program which we support as well as be a part of the dedication of an entire Secondary School a family in our Church helped make happen.  The core focus of the Giving Hope program is to empower orphans and child led families to become self sufficient and the purpose of the school is to create teachers who can educate the people of Rwanda, both nation changing ministries.  Prayer, faith, and walking with Christ will undergird the whole trip as we connect our very real faith with very real needs as Jesus has taught us.  Pray for us as we get ready and pray and see if God is leading you into something as wonderful as this.  Teresa Sherwood, our mission director is also going, as will many others including a United Methodist Church in Florida that has partnered with us and ZOE ministries to “Make Disciples of Jesus Christ who will love God, love others, and serve the World!”  If you are thinking about going or would like more information then email Teresa at teresas@firstmethodistmansfield, or email me at miker@firstmethodistmansfield.org.  For me my trip to Africa 3 years ago was life changing, and I pray that journey impacted the lives of others as well.

Monday is a holiday celebrating the life, work, and mission of Martin Luther King Jr.  I worry sometimes that this celebration is considered a time only for African Americans.  And yet Reverend King is a most American of Heroes who simply fought for justice, equality, and the rights of those who had few rights, very much the same thing that was fought for in the American Revolution and America has fought for around the world.  Within the culture he stood for those who could not stand for themselves and died for that stance.  America would not be what it is without George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, or Martin Luther King.  When America moved toward the rights of the individual in 1776  a race of people was left behind, one of the travesties in American history set in a history of so many other great and wonderful ideas and ideals.  Reverend King stood not only for those people who were in bondage, but for those who did not realize that they too were outside the sphere of what American stands for.  When we find ourselves realizing that Martin Luther King Jr is a hero for all Americans, then the dream of this Baptist Preacher will have been realized.  I hope you find time ,whatever your own personal story, to celebrate this most American of Holidays.

2010

           I am writing this as we all prepare for a new year, 2010.  I am hoping Navy beats Missouri though at this point the jury is still out.  We hear a great deal about new year’s resolutions;  some believe in them, some don’t.   But believing in positive change is a core belief for followers of  Jesus Christ.  In my life as a believer in Christ, and many years as a Pastor, I have discovered, personally, 4 things that keep my life in place, on track, and open a door to a positive future, even in those days I might find myself in a difficult season.  What are these 4 things; Prayer, Bible study and reflection, giving, and worshiping with a Church family.  There are many other things as well, but everything else rises from these four corners of how I live out my faith.  My marraige, family, ministry, hobbies, service, everything is balanced in a healthy way when I balance these 4 corners of my basic commitment as a Christian.

I have discovered, typically, that when people get in trouble, ususally one or more of these basic disciplines of following Christ has been neglected and opened the door for that trouble.  We don’t pray and therefore let our relationship with God slip,  we don’t study the Bible and find we are more shaped by a selfcentered culture than a Christ centered Bible, we don’t give and our priorities all get out of whack, we let Church attendance slip and no longer find ourselves accountable to the loving voice of pastors, Christian friends, and Church family.

In the new year, pray every day (try the psalms and the Lord’s prayer), study and reflect on the Bible (Join us in the new GPS at the beginning of lent),  give (Tithe or begin to step up to the tithe) join me in Church this weekend and every weekend and see  (Our new message series  “IT”  what is IT?).

Navy just scored!

a God blessed and Happy new year

Christmas Eve Family

This is my family, complete with our son in law just home for Iraq, a rare occurrence when all 13 of us are together.  We are excited about their surprising us for our Sunday 35th anniversary and are equally happy they will be with us at one of our Christmas Eve Candlelight services.  I hope you will join us as well as we mark the Birth of Jesus Christ with Carols, candlelight, the reading of the Christmas story, and the sharing of an important Christmas message, “Simple Christmas”.  We know the  December season is what is should be when January is better because of it.  I sometimes worry we box up the great Christmas news in the attic on January 1st like we box up our Christmas decorations.  Few things end as quickly and completely as a secular Christmas; and few things create a more wonderful new beginning than the Sacred Christmas.  “Born for you this day in the city of  David is a Savior, Christ the Lord!”.

35 years

This photo was taken of Rhonda and I while in Israel in February, right on the Sea of Galilee.  This Sunday, December 20th, we will have been married for 35 years.  I would like to give you a special invitation(This is a secret, please don’t tell Rhonda).  After the 11:00 service there will be a reception on the 20th celebrating our Anniversary that everyone is invited to, (again, Rhonda, so far is unaware). I would love to have you come and share this with us.  Almost 32 years of our life have been shared while I have been a pastor and I will say she has made the most sacrifices.  We were married at Glad Tidings Tabernacle when I was 21 and she was 18 and on her Christmas break from her senior year in High School (I don’t recommend it for your kids).  We met in Church, have shared faith, love, and family, have 3 great children and 6 beautiful grandchildren.   Celebration will be the theme.

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