Could All This Beauty Be For Us?

During this week, we are all immersed in Art Camp.  Art Camp is part of the Abbeville Sacred Arts Initiative, which is a subset of the Music/Children/Youth Ministry of Abbeville Methodist Church.  Over 100 children, youth, and adults have gathered this week to pray, "May the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17)."  We quoted this verse every day as part of the devotional at 8:30 each morning of camp.  It asks God's beauty to guide us and lead us as we work with our hands to bring beauty into the world! In Exodus 31, we find a beautiful example of this as God calls (and equips) Bezalel to craft items that will be part of the worship God expects from His people.

In God's calling and consecration of Bezalel for this work, God seems both happy and excited to tell Moses, "I have filled him (Bezalel) with divine spirit, with ability, intelligence, and knowledge in every kind of craft."  Inspiration ... ability ... intelligence ... knowledge.  This sounds a little like heart, soul, mind, strength ... doesn't it?

Three points here:

1. Did you notice God started with "spirit?"  If we are planning to be guided by God in the work of our hands, we need to begin by opening ourselves to the spirit of God.  One of my favorite songs says it this way ... "O Spirit of the Living God, O light and fire divine ... descend upon your Church once more, and make it truly thine!"

2. Did you notice God cares deeply about this work being done skillfully?  God gives the ability and the opportunity to use our intelligence to gain knowledge.  Every child at Art Camp has/had each of these things.  God calls us to the work He has established, and then He gives us the abilities, intelligence, and skills to craft what God has designed.  What a calling!  And what a beautiful time to watch each of these children grow in something that imparts the grace of beauty upon them!  I believe God loves this!

3.  Did you notice that God is continuing to grow, expand, and express Himself in what He has called us to create, all so that we may worship Him?  

We start with God's Spirit leading ... we continue with God's gifting ... we apply skills that we invest in ... so that we may worship God.  And here is the kicker ... God is doing this FOR us!  Because when we are able to truly worship God, we can leave the bondage of culture, self, transactionism, and make a beautiful connection with a God that is beautiful, creative, and trustworthy!  Here are some words about that moment ... that thin place ... when God speaks life into us, our work, and our children ...

Into the peace of these wild things

Into the wild of this grace

Into the grace of this blessing

Speak in the peace of this place

Here in the magic hour, time and eternity

Mingle a moment in chorus

Here at the magic hour, bright is the mystery

Plain is the beauty before us,

Could all this beauty be for us?

(Andrew Peterson, Magic Hour)

You Want Us To Do What?

Scripture: Exodus 23:1–9 … "Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits... Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong... Do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit... Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt." (Exodus 23:6, 2, 3, 9)

You want us to do what? There are moments in Scripture that cause us to stop reading and start staring. Exodus 23:1-9 is one of those passages.

God tells His people not to spread false reports. Don't join the crowd in doing wrong. Don't show favoritism to the rich. Don't show prejudice toward the poor. Help your enemy's wandering animal. Refuse bribes. Protect the innocent. Don't oppress the foreigner. It almost sounds impossible.

Our culture has taught us that justice means standing with "our side" and mercy means helping "our people." None of this focuses on revenge, giving our foe some of what they have given us, or demeaning others to benefit our "side." God says something radically different. He tells His people to live according to His standards, not ours.

The Hebrew word most often translated justice is mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט). Mishpat is much more than simply deciding who wins and who loses. It means rendering a judgment that reflects the very character of God. It is justice as God sees it—not merely as people perceive it. That is why Exodus 23 repeatedly warns against partiality.

Do not favor the powerful. Do not favor or penalize the poor simply because they are poor. Do not follow public opinion. Do not let emotion replace truth.

Justice is not determined by popularity, politics, wealth, or sympathy. Justice belongs to God. His people are simply called to reflect it.

The Hebrew word hesed (חֶסֶד) is often translated as steadfast love, lovingkindness, or mercy. Yet none of those English words fully capture its depth. Hesed describes covenant love. It is the kind of loyalty, kindness, and sacrificial commitment normally reserved for family. It is treating someone as though they belong to you. As though they carry your own name. As though they are your brother or sister. That is shocking.

God is not merely asking us to be polite. He is asking us to love people—including those who have hurt us—with the devotion we naturally reserve for blood relatives. No wonder Jesus later tells us to love our enemies. He wasn't inventing a new idea. He was revealing what had been God's heart all along.

There is a story often told about a respected judge. One day a lifelong friend stood before his bench guilty of breaking the law. The courtroom became quiet. Everyone wondered what the judge would do. Would friendship outweigh justice? The judge looked at his friend and quietly pronounced him guilty. Then he imposed the maximum fine allowed by law.

Justice had been served. But then something unexpected happened. The judge stood up. He removed his robe. Walked down from the bench. Reached into his own pocket. And paid the entire fine himself.

Justice had not been ignored. Mercy had not been abandoned. Both had been perfectly fulfilled. That is exactly what God has done for us. At the cross, God never declared sin unimportant. Justice demanded payment. So God Himself, in Christ, stepped down from the Judge's seat, entered our humanity, and paid the penalty we could never pay. The cross is where mishpat and hesed meet.

Justice satisfied. Mercy overflowing. Go, thou and do likewise!

Freedom Clichés

Every July we hear them. "Give me liberty or give me death." "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." "Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life."

"Freedom isn't free." They appear on signs, social media posts, T-shirts, and speeches. Because they are so familiar, they can become little more than patriotic clichés. But behind every one of them lies a story of sacrifice, courage, and conviction. Long before the birth of America, God was teaching these same lessons in the opening chapters of Exodus.

Israel was a nation living without freedom. A Pharaoh who "did not know Joseph" (Exodus 1:8) reduced God's people to slaves. They were forced into hard labor, their sons were marked for death, and their future seemed hopeless. Slavery was not merely an economic system—it was an assault on the image of God in humanity. Then God began to move.

He preserved the life of Moses through unlikely people—a courageous mother, a compassionate sister, and even Pharaoh's own daughter. God called Moses from the burning bush and declared His covenant name: "I AM WHO I AM." He had heard His people's cries, remembered His promises, and had come down to deliver them.  And God used an unlikely 80-year-old to keep God’s promises.  A spiritual showdown unfolds. Again and again Moses delivers God's message: "Let My people go, so that they may worship Me." Freedom, in God's eyes, is never an end in itself. It is the opportunity to worship, obey, and live under His gracious rule.

Pharaoh refuses. His heart grows harder with every encounter. The plagues begin to fall—not only as judgments upon Egypt, but as declarations that the gods of Egypt are powerless before the living God. Freedom would come, but not without conflict, sacrifice, and loss of life. That is why the saying, "Freedom isn't free," rings so true.

For Israel, freedom required God's mighty hand, miraculous signs, courageous obedience, and eventually the sacrifice of the Passover lamb. For America, freedom has required generations willing to sacrifice comfort, wealth, and even life itself for the sake of others.

For Christians, our greatest freedom came at the highest possible cost. Jesus Christ took upon Himself the judgment our sin deserved so that we might be free from sin, death, and the power of Satan. The cross reminds us that eternal freedom was purchased, not cheaply, but with the precious blood of the Son of God.

Perhaps that is why Patrick Henry's cry, "Give me liberty or give me death," still stirs our hearts. There are truths worth living for—and some worth dying for.

The Declaration reminds us that "all men are created equal." Exodus reminds us why: every person bears the image of the Creator. No Pharaoh, government, employer, or culture can erase that God-given dignity.

And the words from “America the Beautiful” —"Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life"—point us beyond patriotism to the heart of Christ Himself. He loved not Himself first, but the world He came to save.

This Independence Day, don't let these phrases become empty slogans. Remember the Hebrews crying out beneath their burdens. Remember Moses standing before Pharaoh. Remember the God who hears, remembers, sees, and acts. Remember those who purchased earthly freedom with sacrifice. And above all, remember the Savior who declared, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)

Freedom has never been a cliché. It has always been a gift worth protecting, celebrating, and using to glorify God.

Unused Gift Cards

Beside my bed is a nightstand.  The nightstand and its two drawers are the resting place of things that, at a particular moment, are not at the top of the priority list.  They are things that I want to keep and maybe use later, but are not things that I will use in the immediate future.  Screen protectors that come in a 3-pack, but I only need one now.  My little case of tiny screws that I can use to repair glasses.  A COVID-era calendar that I threw there and forgot about.  And ... gift cards with usable value, but they are in that drawer.

What will happen to those gift cards?  I might retrieve them and use them.  They may stay in the drawer till they expire.  But the longer they stay in the drawer, the longer they become forgotten, unused, and potentially wasted.

Enter Moses from the 2nd and 3rd chapters of Exodus.  He was a Hebrew born in Egypt during the time the Hebrews were slaves.  Moses, at the age of 3 months, was placed in a basket, floated down the Nile River, and was a human Hail Mary prayer as his mother hoped and prayed for his survival (if Moses had been discovered, he would have been killed).  Moses was found by the Pharaoh's daughter, nursed to health in the palace, and became her son.  Moses, as an adult, saw how his people were mistreated and, in a fit of anger, killed an Egyptian who was beating one of the Hebrew slaves.  His act is discovered, and Moses flees justice, going to Midian, where he built a life, married, and tended sheep there for his father-in-law, Jethro.  Moses is in the 'nightstand' of life!  God opens the drawer, lifts Moses out, and calls him to the work for which Moses was created.

Three things about this story:

1. Even people born into dire circumstances are born with gifts.

2. The circumstances of life and culture will place your gifts in jeopardy, telling you that they are not urgent, important, or currently usable.

3. God doesn't miss or misplace you or your gifts ... He calls you to the Holy Ground of calling.

Moses is told by God (Exodus 3), "I am (the God that exists)," "You are standing on holy ground (a place of divine encounter), and "I have seen the misery of my people."  God is real, God can make even dirt holy, and God will use messed-up people and their gifts of obedience to bring people into His plan.  He is still doing that!  AMEN!

Two Words

Some of you know I have been involved in a year-long training "huddle" of six preachers from Global Methodist Churches in the southeast.  It has been a great time of sharing ministry, concerns, gifts, stories, work, and life.  I am the oldest, and my friend, Sam, from Freeport, is the youngest.  There has been a lot of work associated with this collaborative training, and all of us have learned from one another.  In one of the sessions, we had the chance to come up with two words that we felt described our calling as Christians and as ministers.  This was hard, though we were aided by 4 (yes, 4!) personality tests.  Later in the process, we were again asked to share two words (again, after several focusing exercises) that would describe how we would call our friends, colleagues, ministry partners, and connections to become disciples of Jesus that worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly.  This was hard ... very hard!

Words are important.  And they tell a story.  In the early 1900's, someone was asked to shorten a news story (several paragraphs) into six words that summarized the story.  They said, "FOR SALE, BABY SHOES, NEVER WORN").  This story, often attributed to Hemingway, amplifies that much can be said in a few words.

Sunday is Father's Day.  A Biblical father, Jacob (Genesis 46:28-34), travels to Egypt with all he has, so that his family can weather a famine.  His son, Joseph, tells him specific words to say when Pharaoh greets Jacob and Joseph's family.  "We, your servants, have raised livestock all our lives, as our ancestors have always done.’ When you tell him this, he will let you live here in the region of Goshen, for the Egyptians despise shepherds."  Joseph, always clever and calculating, knew the right words to say so that his (and also God's) purpose would be realized.  Words are important.

This Sunday, let's merge the themes "words are important," "Father's Day," and "Two Words."  What do you think your Two Words would be, if you were asked, "what are the Two Words that flow out of your life that would describe how God calls you to make disciples?"  Or, maybe, "What Two Words would God (our heavenly Father) us to describe how you are making disciples (I like that 2nd one)."

For Joseph, the words might be Providential Preservationist.  Joseph protects His family (the family that will ultimately become the great nation that saves/blesses the world), preserves God's promise, and perpetuates God's plan.  God's promise is preserved because Joseph is available, obedient, and accessible to God's perfect plan.

Ok ... now for some self-disclosure.  My Two Words (they seem to evolve a bit over time) might be, Discover and Become (I didn't count the 'and').  I want each of you to Discover who God is, His beauty, His promises, and His purpose.  I want each of you to Become the person God created you to be ... people who live out Jesus in your circles and create a place where blessing, beauty, and discipleship happen organically.

What are your Two Words?  And, for our fathers, do your Two Words fit with God's purpose to bring everyone to Himself?  Words are important, aren't they?

Fog and Opportunity

There is something beautiful about pushing a boat out into the fog on the Choctawhatchee Bay. The shoreline disappears, familiar landmarks vanish, and all you can see is a gray curtain hanging over the water. Yet there is peace in knowing the bay well enough to trust where you are headed, even when you cannot see the destination.

Life with God often feels the same way.

In Genesis 37, Joseph made what was probably a youthful mistake. God gave him dreams, but Joseph shared those self-exalting visions with his brothers, whose hearts were already growing jealous. Perhaps those dreams should have remained hidden in the fog a little longer. Instead, his brothers filled in the blanks, assuming Joseph desired to rule over them, and their jealousy set in motion years of hardship.

Dreams are funny things. Sometimes they appear through a foggy haze, much like looking through cataracts (something I understand better after recently having cataract surgery). When our vision is clouded, we often supply our own explanations, assumptions, and fears. We imagine what God must mean instead of patiently waiting for Him to reveal His purpose.

Yet some dreams are more than imagination. Some dreams are God-given visions—glimpses of a future reality that He is preparing. They are less about our own greatness and more about His unfolding plan. They become destinations toward which God gently steers us.

Several months ago, our church had such a dream: to invite children into an encounter with God through art and music. That vision formed around the beautiful prayer of Psalm 90:17:

"Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands."

Last week, our planning team gathered to discuss the overwhelming logistics for our July 13–17 Sacred Arts Camp. There were schedules, volunteers, supplies, classrooms, music, and countless details that could easily make the dream seem impossible.

But something wonderful happened. The fog began to lift. The cataracts are being removed.

What once seemed confusing is beginning to come into focus as a "thin place"—a place where the distractions of this world fade, and God's reality becomes beautifully clear.

Joseph's dreams led him through opposition, obstacles, and oppression before they led him to God's purpose. Our own dreams often travel the same road. Yet if they are truly born of God, they will eventually lead us exactly where He intends.

I love that the word opportunity may be traced to the Latin expression ob portu, referring to favorable conditions for bringing a ship safely into harbor. The tide comes in, the winds align, and the captain knows it is time to make port. There is work to be done!

Perhaps that is where we are today. By following God's leading and allowing His beauty to establish the work of our hands, He is guiding us into the harbor He has prepared—a place filled with art, music, drama, goodness, grace, and children discovering the beauty of Christ.

The fog is clearing. The cataracts are being removed. And the beauty of God's dream is finally coming into focus.

Wrestling With God

I believe we have all done it!  Wrestling with God.  And it IS Biblical.  Read Genesis 32.  

This part of the Bible is not just read ... it is navigated.  There are strange stories that would make a soap opera blush.  There are Hebrew customs, traditions, and symbols that are woven through the thread of the stories.  In this combination of poetic narrative and Hebrew narrative, we find the character Jacob.  Jacob (the name) means supplanter or heel-grabber.  Jacob struggles with life from birth, grabbing Esau's heel as he is born.  His life is filled with conflict, scheming, and a constant pursuit of something I don't think Jacob even knows ... until Peniel.  There, Jacob encounters God, and there is a wrestling match.  Jacob emerges from the encounter injured, changed, and renamed. What can we learn from all this?  I'll try to unpack this a bit.

First, Jacob sends his family and everything he owns ahead, across the Jabbok River.  I am guessing Jacob had some idea that fate had caught up with him, and he might be facing his brother Esau, whom Jacob had cheated out of his birthright.  God had other plans.  The old song, "You Gotta Walk That Lonesome Valley," comes to mind as Jacob awaits what is coming.  "We gotta walk that lonesome valley ... we gotta walk it by ourselves, nobody here gonna walk it for you, we gotta walk it by ourselves."  

Second, Jacob (I think) does what he normally does.  He doesn't let go.  I say this as I experience a modern-day world of people who rationalize their way into quitting things.  We are part of a team, but quit participating because someone hurts our feelings or doesn't value us as much as we would like.  This happens on sports teams, in workplaces, and in churches.  I want to tell people, "Put on your big boy/girl pants," and reflect on what would happen if God treated us this way!  I come from a generation that looked at quitting as unacceptable social behavior.  They learned to work with and through difficult people.  Jacob hangs on to God for dear life, and if he dies, his cold, dead corpse will still be hanging on!

Third, Jacob's encounter with God causes seismic changes in his life.  He is physically injured and changed (now with an out-of-joint hip).  He names the place where this happened Peniel, which means "face of God," I believe, to remember this encounter forever.  His name is changed to Israel, now a nation known for tenacity and unwavering commitment to a mission. But more than his name, things start happening that change Jacob's life.  In the next few verses, Jacob reconciles with his brother Esau.  He is no longer running away.  He honors God with an altar to El-Elohe (The Mighty God). He follows God's instructions to live in Bethel (meaning the house of God).  

How has your encounter with God changed you?  Are you a city on a hill, doing good so that your Father in heaven is glorified?  Or are you building a tower for yourself that will reach the stars?  Jacob finally started listening to God.  How goes it with you?

Today Was Payday!

I heard a story about a Navy ship that intercepted a boat from Southeast Asia.  The boat was overloaded with almost 100 people fleeing poverty, persecution, and plight in their home country.  The people were dehydrated, starving, and desperate.  In a few more days, they would have started dying, one by one.  The sailors took the people on board, fed them,  gave them medical assistance, and saved them from almost certain death.  After the work of intake and rescue, a tired sailor said, "Today was payday!"

I know this story is being read by people who see the world with varied eyes.  Some are happy that we were being what Ronald Reagan called "a city on a hill."  Some are upset that America used military money and assets for this purpose.  Some might think this is a "feel-good" story, and they don't like this kind of story.  How do you see it?

In Genesis 12:1-3, God speaks to Abraham.  “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you."  The Old Testament clearly calls God's people (a nation Abraham founded right here in Genesis) distinct, peculiar, and different from the surrounding nations.  This passage captures a foundational part of that distinctness.  

Here are a few thoughts:

1. There is a formula for becoming a "great" nation here.  God made the Hebrews a great nation.  His presence and hand are the touch that creates that greatness.  God is the foundation here.

2. There is a transitive way of blessing here.  God is the giver/creator of blessing.  That blessing passes to the people from God.  And THAT blessing passes from God's people to "all the families on the earth."  There it is!!! Another purpose passage.  Blessing is God's plan, and we are the conduit of that blessing.  It was Abraham's calling, and it is OUR calling.

How are we doing?  Are we Reagan's (and Matthew 5:14's) city on a hill?  Are we the nation that gives light to all the houses of the world?

Two of my members came to me to offer a gift of help to someone in our community.  They want no credit ... they just want to help.  I think they know Genesis 12:1-3.  I think they have read Matthew 5:14.  And when this gift is a done deal, I think they will say ... "Today was payday!"

The Rainbow is Most Beautiful When ...

When is a rainbow the most beautiful?  After a huge storm?  When you are journeying through difficult times?  When all the colors are clear?  When a subtle rainbow shows up out of nowhere?  When the rainbow appears while it is still raining?  Maybe all of these!

In Genesis 9:12-13, God says, "Then God said, 'I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth.'"  While we have made the rainbow the sign of political movements, Skittles, and that coconut rainbow candy that came out 'back in the day,' God meant the rainbow as something else.  From the song, My Deliverer, Rich Mullins said it this way ... "I will never doubt His promise, He has written it across the sky!"  For people of God, the rainbow should always remind us that God makes, and keeps, His promises!  Always!

For those of us who remember our fallen heroes this week, we can hang our hats on God's promise sent through the words of Paul ... "O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?  For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.  But thank God!  He gives victory over sin and death through our Lord, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)!"  God makes and keeps His promises!  Always!

For all who remember that Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, we are reminded of the promise Jesus gave the Church.  "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate who will never leave you (John 14:16)."  "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift He promised, as I told you before.  John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5)!"  God makes and keeps His promises!  Always!  

The rainbow, for Christians, is God's expression of His constant movement from what was and is to what will certainly be.  He is in the persistent, unstoppable, and beautiful business of bringing us "to Himself (Exodus 19:4).  God will do this through majestic acts (Acts 2, Pentecost) that birth new things.  God will do this through His presence, through and past our human losses.  God will do this as we, while dealing with life, come to the realization that our rainbow ... our promise ... is there, behind the mist, in the storm, even in the night, just waiting for a little light to shine and reveal that God will never break His promise, He has written it across the sky!  

A Different Butterfly Effect

You have probably heard of "The Butterfly Effect."  The law, also known as "the law of sensitive dependence on initial conditions," is part of what is known as "chaos theory."  To sum it up, the law basically holds that small, even minute, changes or happenings can have major effects on other things.  Let me say ... I believe in this principle ... because I have seen it happen!

In 2022, I was less than patient with the pace of our application to become a part of the Global Methodist Church.  There were only a few hundred churches formed at that time. Then, as is usually the case when I am impatient, I decided I needed to approach things differently.  So I asked a very dangerous question ... "If ya'll are having difficulty moving applications along, is there any way I can help?"  Eight other people and I said essentially the same thing, and we were tasked with processing applications from around the world ... yes, the entire world!  What happened has resulted in (in 2026) about 7500 churches (including many new church starts) on many continents, all over the world.  It was chaotic, exhausting, and one of the best things I have done for Jesus in my life.  A small group of people flapped their collective wings in America, and a whirlwind of churches, stories, testimonies, and new believers happened.  NOT because of us ... but because God's Spirit was in this movement!

A man named Norman Borlaug was involved in developing wheat varieties that could grow in arid climates.  You probably haven't heard of him, but his work is credited with saving 2 billion people from starvation ... you read that right, 2 billion!  One man working with a small group of scientists!  The Butterfly Effect!

Our staff here, working on the Abbeville Sacred Arts Initiative, started with 3 people, praying, dreaming, and "flapping our artistic wings."  Just a writer and two musicians.  Over the last three months, we have had Christian artists, performers, and community leaders come together in ways we could have never dreamed.  We seem to get phone calls, inquiries, and interested people every day.  We have received a CREO Arts Grant and are actively pursuing another grant.  The River Youth and Children's Center is well underway (help if you can!).  But I know that if anything good happens from all of this, it is due to the powerful movement of the Holy Spirit and the foundation of Jesus.  The Butterfly Effect!

It shouldn't surprise us.  2000 years ago (give or take) an uneducated fisherman preached a sermon before a hostile crowd.  All he had was a testimony, a relationship with Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit.  You can read his message in Acts 2.  When he finished, bewildered Jews "cut to the heart" asked, "Brothers, what shall we do?"  Peter answered, "Repent and be baptized!"  3000 people responded!  Small beginnings, a few disciples filled with God's Spirit, and a huge outpouring.  The Butterfly Effect!

Not chaos. Not turning the world upside down. But bringing things "round right" (Shaker Song).  Maybe the Lord of the butterflies knows a thing or two that we should grasp!  To God be the glory, great things He has done!  AMEN?  AMEN!

Shoot The Oxen

There is a strange story in 1 Kings 19 (actually, there are a number of strange stories in both 1st and 2nd Kings).  So ... here it is.  First,  there is the famous story of Elijah in the cave .. the one where God appears to him in a whisper.  Then, Elijah passes his mantle of prophecy to Elisha.  He just appears at the field where Elisha is plowing.  Elijah places his mantle on Elisha, and Elisha does 3 things ... he kisses his mom and dad ... he kills the oxen ... he cooks the oxen and feeds the town.  Let's unpack this:

1. Ok, it's Mother's Day.  Gotta take care of something obvious.  Never leave on an important mission without telling Mama and giving her your assurance that she is on your mind.  Share love, plans, and dreams with your mama.  Whether she agrees or not, this is important. Honor your father and mother ... not a suggestion, a commandment!

2. Shoot the oxen.  Did you ever wonder about the reason(s) Cain's offering was rejected and Abel's offering was accepted?  I wonder if the main reason was that Cain offered produce, which could be regrown by doing the same thing again.  Abel offered the whole and the first of his flock ... he had to start over with that particular sheep!  Why do our offerings, our worship, our words seem to not be accepted?  Maybe we are only offering what we can easily reproduce.  Maybe God wants us to kill the oxen ... start over ... get rid of the sacred cows ... stop going to church and start BEING the Church!  About 20 Abbeville people went to Annual Conference this week.  About 1/3 of these stayed to be trained in disciple-making (you know, that little MISSION thing we say ... Make Disciples of Jesus that worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly?).  We are jumping all in to this, and some oxen need to be killed.  Maybe we even need to name them ... time, resources, programs, empty things we do that aren't mission-focused?  What do you think? And, by the way, your little church might have had the most attendees at Annual Conference of every church except the host church!!!! Y'all truly rock!

3. Let's admit it.  We are Methodists.  And as good Methodists, we have something we really do well!  We eat!  After we kill those oxen, we celebrate our history and dream about our future.  Monday night we celebrated 10 ordinands that are either Deacons or Elders, going out to serve God.  I think they kissed mama.  I think they shot some oxen, or they wouldn't be there.  And after it all, we had a little party ... before we were all sent out!

Process this story.  What does it mean to you?  Are you ready to take on the mission?  Are you willing to do every necessary thing to become a disciple-making congregation?  This means YOU might need to shoot some oxen.  And YOU WILL need to both be and make disciples  ... all of you.  Why? Because it is what we have been told to do by Jesus!  That's good enough for me!

Not in OZ Anymore!

Last Sunday, Max read from the Book of Micah, and he graciously offered a bit of historical context before beginning. He reminded us that Micah, an 8th-century BC prophet, spoke boldly against the leaders of Israel—primarily in the Northern Kingdom. He condemned their corruption, their neglect of the poor, their willingness to follow false prophets, and their empty, performative worship.

They had created a false sense of righteousness—a curated spirituality that ignored real suffering. They lived in comfort, blindness, and denial. In many ways, it was like living in a spiritual version of The Wizard of Oz—bright, appealing, and completely disconnected from reality.

In 722 BC, that illusion shattered. The Assyrian Empire invaded and destroyed the Northern Kingdom, leaving behind only Samaria and those too poor or insignificant to be taken into exile. The leaders and the upper class—the very ones who had led the nation astray—were carried off into captivity and never returned.

There are at least two lessons for us here:

1. See the Reality Around Us

We often live in two realities at once.

I confess that I can escape into the world of sports. I can convince myself that scores, statistics, player rankings, and performance metrics truly matter. It becomes its own version of Oz—bright, exciting, and full of promise. If my team wins, it feels like I’ve arrived at the Emerald City.

But it isn’t real. And at the end of that road, there is often the same emptiness that Israel discovered in their illusion.

Meanwhile, another reality is unfolding—one that we often ignore. We tell ourselves that wealth, success, power, and competition will satisfy us. Yet God is saying—perhaps even shouting—that what truly matters is people: their stories, their struggles, and the beauty woven into creation.

There is also a deeper spiritual reality at work. Evil is not abstract—it is active. It seeks to keep us distracted, numb, and unaware. Scripture warns us in the Book of Hosea 8:7: “They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.” Small compromises—insincerity, neglect, indifference—can grow into forces that damage entire communities.

As the cartoon philosopher Pogo once said, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

The path forward is not denial—it is repentance. We must turn back to the Lord.

2. Change the World Around Us

When we hear all of this, a natural question arises: What can I do?

The answer begins with where we are. We invest our time, energy, and attention in what truly matters. God is already at work—right here, right now. As the Book of Isaiah 43:19 reminds us: “See, I am doing a new thing!” And the psalmist declares in Psalms 40:2: “He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.”  Open up to this beautiful activity by God!

We participate in this work by following God’s Word, seeking His presence, and trusting His promises. We learn to see and embrace the beauty God is unfolding. We love the people He places in our path. And we reject the illusion of Oz—which, in the end, is not powerful at all.

Remember the truth revealed at the end of The Wizard of Oz: the great and powerful wizard was not what he appeared to be. As he admits, “I am just a very bad wizard.”

And yet, Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Lion already possessed what they needed all along. So it is with us. God has already given us what we need. Let us hold fast to the beauty God is placing before us.

Let us follow Him—even when it is inconvenient—by making and becoming disciples, as commanded in the Great Commission. Let us help build the River described in the Book of Ezekiel—a river that is ever-growing, ever-flowing, ever-refreshing, and everlasting. And let us bring such beauty, grace, and truth into our community that people will recognize it can only come from God, of God, for God, and with God.  If this sounds like a prayer, it is!

Worship ... Do, Get, or Give?

The book of Micah (I have a friend who has his life verse here) is truly about worship.  Most of us think we know, or have a good idea of, what worship is all about.  While we may know what we like, I want us to explore a question.  Is worship about what WE like or about God?  I hope you think this is a valid question, because if you do, we have a good starting point.  And, I will add another question.  Do we DO worship, GET worship, or GIVE worship?

Micah's 5 parts of worship teach us something we might have missed in how worship has evolved in the Church (or might I suggest, devolved?).  Here goes:

1. Heart - In Micah's world, the church DID worship.  Sacrifices, rituals, and extravagance (Micah 6:6-7) were the earmarks of worship.  This carried through to Jesus' time as Jesus desired heart vs extravagance.  Our song, Heart of Worship, is all about focusing on entering the presence of God with an open heart, to be filled by God.  

2. Living Sacrifice - Micah railed against external worship exemplified in burnt offerings, thousands of rams, and rivers of oil.  The church and its leaders had become focused on worship as a revenue stream.  I wonder if the modern practice of "giving the people what they want" is any different?  I was advised (in a worship seminar) to ditch practices like prayer requests, reciting of creeds, and ritual, to allow more time for manipulative methods to "bring people into the feeling of worship."  True worship, just like love, is not a feeling.  It is giving up time, heart, and control to God ... not human manipulation.

3. Life Outside The Church - Worship doesn't just happen in Sunday morning services.  It is followed and preceded by God's requirements ... do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8).  These things happen while living life.

4. Humility - Humility toward God and other people is an outward acts of worship that proceed from an inward attitude.  Micah 7:7 defines this as the prophet says, "But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation."  Micah is led by God ... not leading God where he desires to go.

5. Response - In March, our congregation sponsored a music program called "A Lenten Response."  I loved this title, because it places worship in the proper place ... as a response to a holy, living, and loving God.  "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity ... He delights in steadfast love (Micah 7:18-19)!"  God is faithful ... God is all suffiucient ... God is the only one worthy of our worship.

In the song, Light of the World (We The Kingdom), one line describes worship this way ... "Fall down before Him, come and adore Him, sing hallelujah, to the light of the world."  Do we do this, or do we select what we like and do what is comfortable?  Or, do we enter His gates with praise and thanksgiving, giving worship to the only one worthy of our praise?  

Needing (and worth) Saving

You might get, from the current activities at Abbeville Methodist, that we are into this thing called beauty.  Not beauty as the world sees it, but beauty that God has and is creating.  I believe that this is one of the many ways God transforms, teaches, leads, awakens, and restores us.

Do you remember when God looked at his creation and said, "It is good?"  While I am pretty sure we have done much to mar, pollute, pervert, and re-purpose this world, I am even more sure of God's creative capacity to save it.  The world needs saving, and the world is worth saving.  After all ... "God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believeth in Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16)."  There it is, in the verse many of us know by heart.  God is in the active and persistent practice of saving the world.  He said it, and I believe it!

So ... how do we (just a faithful group of people who are in this journey together) get into where God is working, in this "saving the world" thing?  Just a few thoughts:

1. Goodness - Remember that Genesis 1 quote (above) "It is good!"  From where and whom is goodness measured?  I think it is God!  God defines good.  And how can we be, act, do good?  We can "be" God's people, we can "act" with goodness.  We can "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God."  You do remember, of course, that goodness is a fruit of the Spirit.  And we are only able to accomplish goodness by the work of the Spirit.  If we leave it up to our reactions, our controlling nature, our pridefulness, our goodness will look just like our righteousness ... filthy rags.  God wants to look at His Church and say, "It is good!"

2. Grace - Grace is an unwarranted, undeserved, and unbelievable gift from God.  We don't deserve forgiveness, but our faith/belief in Jesus (as Lord and Savior) allows us to receive this gift from God.  Grace is a byproduct of God's amazing love for us.  He loved people so much, He made a pathway for His work of salvation, and amazingly, He believes we are worth saving.  So give thanks, and pass grace along as you walk through life.

There is a song called "So Will I" that holds these words ... "As You speak, a hundred billion failures disappear, where you gave Your life so I could find it here, if You left the grave behind You, so will I.  I can see Your heart in everything you've done, every part designed in a work of art called love. If You gladly choose to surrender, so will I.  I can see your heart eight billion different ways, every precious one, a child You died to save.  If You gave Your life to love them, so will I."  Our response to God in us, in our Church, in our world, is to paint the beautiful picture of goodness and grace ... so that our Savior (who thinks we are worthy) can look out on His Church and say, "It is good!"  

Artemis and Bad Cats

When most people hear the word “Artemis,” they think of either NASA’s lunar mission or the Greek goddess of hunting, childbirth, and wild animals. I, however, think of an orange cat we owned over 20 years ago.

Now, it’s fitting that the goddess Artemis ruled over wild animals—because our Artemis was a wild animal. One minute she was sweet, purring, and curled up like a Hallmark card… and the next minute she was a full-blown, demon-possessed ninja. 

This cat sent two family members to the ER. Every single one of us was injured (by Artemis) at some point. We didn’t own Artemis—Artemis allowed us to live in her house under constant threat.

The final straw? She launched herself onto Christopher’s face and nearly removed his eyelid. That earned us a trip to the Children’s Eye Hospital in Birmingham—and Artemis a one-way ticket out of our lives. I’m fairly certain she is now curled up comfortably somewhere near the fireplace in Satan's den, feeling completely at home.

But as we think about Easter—and what comes next—the Artemis mission (the NASA one, not the feline terrorist) got me thinking about something deeper: the dreaming, the work, and the anticipation behind something truly monumental.

Here’s where that leads us:

1. Marvel at the Moment - We are living in a time where something like the Artemis mission is possible—and that’s amazing. But let’s be honest—it doesn’t even come close to Easter.

The Resurrection is not just impressive—it is unprecedented. Yes, people like Lazarus and Jairus’ daughter were raised… but they died again. Jesus didn’t just come back—He defeated death itself.

As Charles Wesley wrote in 1739, “Christ has opened paradise.”

The curtain was torn. The barrier of death was shattered. Jesus didn’t just walk out of the tomb—He stepped into our reality and made a way where there was no way.

And here’s the miracle: we don’t just admire it… we follow Him through it—all the way to the Father’s house.

2. Plan for the Promise - Every space mission begins with a vision. But between vision and launch, there’s a lot of work.  Calculations. Training. Design. Preparation. No one just “wings it” to the moon.

And neither do we.  As a church, we’re planning - VBS, choir and art camp, youth and children’s events. There’s excitement, anticipation, and yes… a lot of spreadsheets and meetings.

But behind all of that are two powerful reminders:

The Ascension (May 14): “You will be my witnesses.”

Pentecost (May 24): The Spirit comes, and the Church is ignited.

Those are our “launch moments.”

We are not just planners—we are witnesses.

We are not just organized—we are empowered.

We are not just busy—we are built to fly.

3. Take Out the Trash - Years ago, working with the Incline Railway in Chattanooga, we got new rail cars… and discovered they were too heavy to safely operate. So we did something unexpected—we stripped off every ounce of unnecessary weight.

Turns out, if you want something to move… you have to lighten the load. That’s not just engineering—that’s Scripture. Hebrews tells us: “Let us strip off every weight that slows us down.”

To escape Earth’s gravity, a rocket must reach 17,600 mph.

To live the life Christ calls us to—what weight do we need to remove?

Fear?

Bitterness?

Comfort?

Control?

On Sunday, we talked about “removing the grave clothes.” Lazarus needed help getting unwrapped.

Jesus left His behind in the tomb.

If we want to move forward—if we want to launch—we can’t keep dragging death with us. If we’re going to step into what God is calling us to:

We must marvel at the Resurrection

We must plan with purpose and expectation

We must let go of what weighs us down

And through it all, we never lose sight of our power source:

The same Jesus who walked out of the grave ... is the One who calls us to rise, move, and follow.

So let’s get ready. We’re not just sitting in the pews. We’re on the launchpad.

Loosed!

The story of Easter is a story of being loosed!  Jesus is released!  Jesus moves out of the tomb!  Jesus leaves the grave clothes behind!  He is unbound to do what God is calling Him to do!

This isn't a first.  Remember Jesus telling Lazarus to "come out" and his friends to "remove the grave clothes?"  Remember the disciples releasing (untying) the little donkey for service to Jesus.  And, there is the empty tomb on Easter morning, where disciples and women find the tomb unoccupied, because Jesus is already releasing His Church to teach, baptize, and release the Gospel message into the world. 

This brings to mind the things we hold inside, even though we, as Christians, have been born from the dead, had our grave clothes removed, we have been untied for service to our Lord, and we have been called to leave the tomb that held our death. I wonder why I encounter so many angry people every week?  Is it uncertainty over events?  Is it personal or family issues?  Is it the fact that we choose to judge our own lives based on our perception of how others see us?  Is too much social media leading us into a frenzy?  Or are all of these things summed up in the fact that we are trying to live in a tomb we have been released from?

People ... the stone has been rolled away!  The grave clothes have been removed and left behind!  The doorway is right there, ready for us to walk out!  All we need to do is leave! ... and maybe that is our post-Easter task!  Leave the tomb.  Maybe we need to leave our tombs one at a time.  So, a few preparatory questions ... what are MY tombs that Jesus has rolled the stone from?  

1) pride? Pride will cause us to fall (Proverbs 16:18)

2) fear? Perfect love (Jesus) can drive away fear (1 John 4:18)

3) worry? Jesus said, don't spend any life in a spirit of worry (He's got this), 

4) negative influences? I know I am meddling now, but you need to (especially those of us with addictive personalities) be willing to let Jesus roll away those stones and then you (we have a part in this) need to walk out of that dark place of death.  If your social media makes you angry, walk away!

Do you know what all of those things above will do?  They will kill relationships, they will stifle joy, they will impede the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, and they will cause the whole world to miss the beauty you bring into the world and into the Church!  The beauty of Easter is that disciples and women who came to the place where Jesus was buried didn't find any body!  The tomb was empty!  The grave clothes were left behind!  The glory of the Lord and the beauty of Christ walked out into a world that needs Him!  Share the song!  "Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o'er His foes!"

Remembering and Rejoicing

At 1st Service this coming Sunday, we will sing a song called "Christ Our Hope In Life and Death."  WOW, does that shout Easter morning!  And what a roller coaster for women and disciples that day!

Here are the words to that song (Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Papa)

What is our hope in life and death? Christ alone, Christ alone.

What is our only confidence? That our souls to Him belong.

Who holds our days within His hand? What comes, apart from His command.

And what will keep us to the end? The love of Christ in which we stand.

Oh, sing hallelujah, Our hope springs eternal, Oh, sing hallelujah.

Now and ever we confess ... Christ, our hope in life and death.

What truth can calm the troubled soul? God is good, God is good.

Where is His grace and goodness known? In our great Redeemer's blood.

Who holds our faith when fears arise? Who stands above the stormy trial?

Who sends the waves that bring us nigh, unto the shore? The rock of Christ.

Oh, sing hallelujah, Our hope springs eternal, Oh, sing hallelujah.

Now and ever we confess ... Christ, our hope in life and death.

Unto the grave, what will we sing? "Christ, He lives, Christ, He lives!"

And what reward will Heaven bring? Everlasting life with Him.

There we will rise to meet the Lord. Then sin and death will be destroyed.

And we will feast in endless joy. When Christ is ours forevermore.

Oh, sing hallelujah, Our hope springs eternal, Oh, sing hallelujah.

Now and ever we confess ... Christ, our hope in life and death.

Oh, sing hallelujah, Our hope springs eternal, Oh, sing hallelujah.

Now and ever we confess ... Christ, our hope in life and death.

Words to remember ... and words of rejoicing!  So, here is our question.  How, when, and why do you rejoice?  Does your pride keep your praises suppressed?  Walk humbly and sing!  Does your business cause you to be down?  Ciroe Ten Boom said, "If the devil can't make us bad, he'll make us busy."  Do other people impact your ability to praise?  Paul said to "work out YOUR salvation," which (I think) means you focus on Jesus, not other people.  Whatever is keeping you from praising, I have some beautiful homework ... Psalm 103:1-5.  We praise because God is worth praising ... it is not situational!  Remember ... rejoice!  He is risen!  He is risen, indeed!  AMEN

Calm Before the Storm

Last week I was out on the deck at the parsonage, talking to Lee on my cell phone.  When we ended the conversation, I looked to the west, and dark clouds were looming.  It was calm, but it was clear a storm was coming.  That is the context and attitude of Palm Sunday. 

Jesus has just made His final circuit around the Holy Land.  He had been to Samaria, across the Jordan to the East, up through Jericho, and to Bethany (home of Lazarus).  Now, He enters Jerusalem for a week that begins with "Hosanna ... blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."  A seeming triumph will be turned on its head, and betrayal, torture, mocking, denial, and death will follow.  Palm Sunday is the calm before the storm.

There are so many lessons of Holy Week.  Lessons about the person of Jesus.  Lessons about us and our nature.  Lessons about the amazing forgiveness of God.  Lessons about seeing the storm and seeing through the storm to God's good and holy plan.  Here are a few takes from a country preacher:

1. Shallow sense of false security - Some Jews thought they were about to be delivered from Roman occupation by Jesus.  Judas was one of these, and he was quick to sell Jesus out after Jesus didn't fit his political agenda.  As I look at our current political structure and parties, I don't see a lot of Jesus there.  I wonder how many are willing to sell Jesus out, following their ideology, and ditching the Jesus who is the source of their salvation?

2. Sitting in the seat of mockers - "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scoffers (Psalm 1:1)." Jesus was mocked by some (including the Pharisees) for entering the city on the back of a donkey.  Because people were looking for a mighty warrior on a charger, they missed the Savior who came to fight and win a battle they didn't even perceive.  They missed their blessing.  

3. Raising a hallelujah - Some looked past the donkey, past the meek itinerant preacher, and saw what the rocks, the earth, and all creation saw.  "Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:3-5)."  They saw the one who made them, and the God who was light itself.

These are 3 of the responses on Palm Sunday.  Which will you choose?

Reprise

In music, there is a term for a repeated passage.  That term is "reprise."  In Scripture (Bible study), there are several terms for repetition.  They include:

Refrain: One or more lines repeated at intervals, such as in Psalms.

Inclusio: A "bookend" structure where a passage begins and ends with the same phrase, highlighting the material between them.

Chiasm (or Chiasmus): A structure where ideas are repeated in reverse order (A-B-C-B-A), often focusing on a central, crucial point.

Anaphora: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or verses, commonly found in poetic sections and the Beatitudes.

Leitwortstijl (Key Word Style): The deliberate repetition of a key word or root throughout a narrative to emphasize a theme.

In life, there are things that warrant repetition.  We 'reprise' each Sunday as we live out the rhythm of life in the Church using liturgy (the Apostles Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Church year).  But there are some daily life-related 'reprise' moments I find myself both needing and applying.  And Lent is just the time for me to remind myself about these things.

This morning, I am reflecting on two 'reprise' moments I need to remember often.  The first of these is one that is posted in the church office.  It was coined by John Wesley, and it is as applicable today as when it was first penned by John Wesley.  Methodists are called (by Wesley's instruction) to follow 3 Methodist Rules.  They are 1) do no harm (don't hurt others in your words or actions), 2) do all the good you can (Galatians 6:9 says don't get tired of doing good), and 3) stay in love with God (I'll address this with the 2nd reprise moment).  Reflect on these active and positive things, and consider how YOU are doing.

The second reprise moment is caught up in what we will speak about in the Maundy Thursday service.  The word 'Maundy' comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning not discretionary.  John 13:34-35 says, "A new commandment I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another."  Not a suggestion for Christians ... a commandment.  We are not given an out for those we do not like.  We are not given permission to exclude those who annoy us or push our buttons.  Reflect on this good word, and consider how YOU are doing.

This is a hard word, and an uphill struggle for us these last few miles in our Lenten journey.  Let's unpack and apply this as we follow Jesus ... not our hearts, desires, feelings, and/or emotions.  Love as Jesus loved ... not my words, but those of the one we say we follow.  This is ESPECIALLY important to remember when we are stressed, struggling, and going through personal crises.

You are probably saying, "I've heard that before."  Yep ... you have! AMEN

A Word About Holes

Haggai 1 describes a society that has gone off the rails.  The society has forgotten what is important.  They fill themselves with emptiness, and they hope their stones will be turned into bread.  My Bible Study had a good discussion today about this.  We all remembered those times that we wanted God to bless our plans, our stuff, our choices, and our priorities, even when they are outside of God's plan.

The nation is Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel.  It was 520BC, and the people had returned from exile in Babylon.  God had delivered them out of exile, and He had given them some level of prosperity.  They had crops to plant, food to eat, plenty to drink, warm clothing, and wages to put into their pockets.  Still the people seemed to live hand-to-mouth.  "You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes (Haggai 1:6)!"

Here are some statistics.  A 2025 debt.com survey reported that 69% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.  Another report said that 41% of Americans couldn't cover a $1,000 emergency without borrowing.  This is in a country that ranks 2nd in affluence after accounting for cost of living.  It seems Haggai 1:6 describes us!  

The "Lord of Heaven's Armies" (our Lord) says, in Haggai, there is a reason for this.  It isn't more money, crops, stuff, and/or wealth.  God calls the people of Judah to account for neglecting the God who brought them out of exile, stood by them while they were strangers in a foreign land, and heard their cries of despair.  God's clear message is ... "get outside of self."  How do we do this?

Here are some ways we can respond to God's call in the days ahead:

1. We can invest in things that require time, energy, money, effort, and inconvenience.  God's house is built when we place His Church above our comfort.

2. At our Mission's Auction this week, we can give generously, and we might just get something we want in the process.  Bid online, and/or buy a ticket and be at the auction in person.  This auction thrives when we (as the Church) show up.

3. We can be alert for needs described by our Trustees, as they faithfully work to maintain the facilities of the Church.

In Haggai, the people placed their needs 1st, leaving God's house with the leftovers.  El Roi is the Hebrew name for "the God who sees."  God sees our hearts, and He certainly sees our priorities.  I have heard people say, "God understands my circumstances."  Yes, he does.  And He calls you, me, and all of us to do what John Wesley did all his life ... make all you can, so you can save all you can, so you can give all you can.  Lent and Missions week are great times to look outside of ourselves and give to what God is doing.  I hope God can count on you!  Maybe the holes in your pockets can become mended and whole!

Come To Jesus Meeting

In Matthew 5 we find an introduction to the Sermon on the Mount ... you know, that message where Jesus compares what the "Law" says to what He says.  So we begin the Chapter with these words ... "Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them (Matthew 5:1-2)."  Did you see it?  Can you imagine what that was like?  Would you have gone?

Many of you might be saying, "That is only an introduction ... let's get to the meat of the passage!"  And, there is a lot of 'meat.'  The Beatitudes ... Jesus fulfilling the Law ... Jesus' take on murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, revenge, and loving our enemies.  But (like Julie Andrews sang in The Sound of Music) "let's start at the very beginning, it's the very first place to start."

Four profound things happen at this very important Come To Jesus Meeting.  Let's unpack them.

1. "Jesus saw the crowds."  In Scripture, the crowds are often at a distance.  They are present, but they are doing the kinds of things crowds do.  Milling about ... chattering ... using a lot of words but not saying much ... idle chatter that fills time.  Crowds are seldom viewed positively.  Moses went up the mountain and returned with God's Law, but the crowds "stood at a distance."

2. "Jesus went up on a mountainside."  Jesus creates an obstacle ... a decision ... a distance that must be crossed.  The commercial series, "Jesus Gets Us" seems to be designed to create a view of Jesus that is attractional.  Do you see the subtle, but meaningful, action here?  Jesus might be saying, "If you are interested in what I am saying, you need to move away from the crowd ... away from the distraction ... away from idle chatter.  You need to climb (by the way, Jesus DOES get us)!

3. "His disciples came to Him."  Jesus said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily, and follow Me."  Do you want to be Jesus' disciple?  Make the climb.  Go where He goes.  Get close so you can hear His voice!

4. "He began to teach them."  They left the crowd.  They watched where Jesus went.  They followed Him.  They were taught by the Master.

There are so many directions I could take this blog.  But here is what I am hearing from God today.  We are choosing to live life in "the crowds."  It is chaotic.  Our community has been rocked by arrests that none of us can fathom. "How can these things happen here?"  We seek the source of the problem and point the finger elsewhere.  But while one is caught up in the crowd, it is difficult to see the big picture.  CS Lewis said that Satan desires to "bring people like livestock to the slaughter (by the way, the exact phrase used in Ezekiel 34)."  But I wonder if we mill, chatter, and say/do many meaningless things, while missing the things of the faith.  We immerse ourselves in a culture that does not wish us well.  We make decisions to spend life in that which means nothing, while the source of our salvation climbs up on the mountainside and waits.  He is NOT attractive.  But look, the culture is selling its wares, and they look and feel and taste good.  They are stones turned to bread by a cunning and vicious adversary.  Jesus waits ... up on the hillside.  He calls His disciples to see the crowds, decide where they want to live life, see Him on the mountain, choose to climb up, and listen.  Jesus is calling us to a "Come To Jesus Meeting."  What is your choice?

Another Word on Time

Lent is upon us.  It is a 40-day period before Holy Week (not counting Sundays) in which we, as Wesleyan Christians, reflect, remember, repent, re-center, and rethink how we live out our faith.  Many view Lent as a time for giving up or sacrificing something to grow stronger in our faith.  In my reflection on Lent, I am focusing this year on a better understanding of time.

Last week, I used the Greek words Chronos and Kairos in my sermon.  Generally, Chronos is the measurable time we use to structure seconds into minutes, minutes into hours, hours into days, days into weeks/months/years.  It is where we get the terms 'chronological' and 'chronology.'  It is the order/structure of time.

But this Lent, I am going to consider the more important word for time, Kairos.  Kairos is appointed, meaningful, or prophetic time.  In Mark 1;15 Jesus is beginning His ministry, and He uses the words, “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”  Jesus uses the word Kairos (in the Greek) here.  It is not a day, or week, or year.  It is a time fulfilled by God's perfect plan.  It is the coming of an event appointed and anointed by God.  So, here is the question for us.

First, has the Kingdom of God arrived in your life?  Whether you know it or not, you are either living in Chronos (in the South, we call this "the same old same old") or Kairos.  I spoke to a young man today.  He was stuck in the systems of law enforcement.  Jail, probation, times and dates he must be at a certain place, are his current reality.  He lives in the Chronos of the culture into which he has fallen.  He has learned that Chronos can, and will, enslave you in a cycle that, when viewed in reverse, seems like a repetitive pattern.  In fact, it is an unhealthy pattern that C.S. Lewis said makes people into "cattle for the slaughter."

Second, do you want to live in the freedom of Kairos?  Kairos is the time that is appointed by the one who made us, created us as His masterpiece, and gifted us for a beautiful purpose.  This time is freedom because it fulfills us, completes us, and brings us to life "on earth as it is in heaven."  Kairos allows us to live, love, and become what God has planned, and God's plans are ultimately beautiful.

This week we celebrated 2 big events in the life of the Church.  We saw our sister in Christ, Maegan Pinyan, become married, and we prayed for that marriage to be lived out in Kairos ... appointed, anointed, and prophetic time.  We want those 2 lives to bloom and grow in the light and purpose of the Living God.  We also celebrated the life of Myra Nell Brannon.  Myra Nell entered the glory of God on Sunday and we celebrated her life on Friday. What we know for sure is that Myra Nell was living in Kairos.  How do I know this?  Myra Nell was filled with God's grace, purpose, perseverance, kindness, joy, and love.  Even in her last days, she held the dignity and beauty of God's anointing and purpose.

Maegan is heading East to a life in ministry.  Myra Nell is off to a new beginning in God's house, which has plenty of room for her ... and for you, if you choose to live in Kairos, a place for God's appointed, anointed, and blessed.  How can you get there?  We said it on Ash Wednesday ... repent, and believe the Gospel!

Missionaries of Beauty

We have the saying that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."  While this is largely true, I prefer a more encompassing idea that is from Ecclesiastes 3:11, "God has made everything beautiful in its time."  I don't hold to the more Calvinist view that this implies that non-beautiful things are actually created/brought to us by God.  God didn't intend for Hitler, Stalin, and other dictators to kill millions of innocent people.  I do hold to the Wesleyan idea that God can make/turn negative and devastating things into something He can and will use for His good purposes.  But enough theological interpretation.  Here is the point of this blog.

First, God is into beauty.  God created beauty, and even creates our ability to see beyond the seen realm into the beauty of the unseen realm.  Isaiah 53 says, "There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance ...(Isaiah 53:2)."  If we are unwilling to look past appearances, we will fail to see the beauty of even the Son of God, our true and living Lord!  But, if we look closer, we see the beauty, the grace, and the true love of what Jesus said and did.  Jesus was a "missionary of beauty."

Second, from the above passage and many other passages, we can begin to understand that the source and author of beauty is God.

1. "And let the beauty of our Lord, our God, be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us.  Yes, establish the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17)."  God can make the work of our hands beautiful if He blesses that work.

2. "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News (Romans 10:15, Isaiah 52:7)."  God can make our feet beautiful when they bring the saving power, goodness, grace, and forgiveness of God.

Finally, we understand that the world around us is not often in the mode of creating ... it is more into tearing down.  We feed our minds on reality shows that insult and tear down for the amusement of our negative attitudes.  We feed our emotions on videos, rhetoric, and "news shows" (please DO note the quotations) that are selling us the poison pill of hate, violence, negativity, self-righteousness, and victimhood, all so that we will drift further and further under the impression that our opinion, our perspective, our party, our ideology, and our 'group' is somehow better that those "lesser" people.  While we do this, I think God looks down on us and says what He said outside of Jerusalem ... "if you, even you (Jerusalem) had only known on this day what would bring you peace, but now it is hidden from your eyes (Luke 19:42)."  

God DOES make everything beautiful in its time by revealing the things we need to see, hear, know, and perceive.  It is beautiful when we see past the hopelessness to the beautiful hope of the Gospel.  It is beautiful when we see past the beaten, bloody man on the cross to the beautiful Savior who brings us life from death.  It is beautiful when we see a spark of Christ in another person and choose to lift them up from the pit, because of the Christ in us.  And here is some REALLY Good News that is the Gospel truth ... we can, by following Jesus instead of our culture, see and hear the beauty God sends every day!  Don Moen writes it this way ... "Lord, Your mercy is so great, that you look beyond our weakness, and find purest gold from miry clay, turning sinners into saints." AMEN

Where Does Yours Shine?

The Bible talks a lot about light.  Jesus and His disciples are both called light in the world.  And prophecy about Christmas says that "to those walking in darkness, a light has come."  As I write this blog, I have a flashlight beside me, ready for use in an emergency.  But, as we approach Youth Sunday (this Sunday, the 15th), I want you to reflect on a question.  Where does your light shine?

We worship the Son of God, who was the manifestation of all the things in the first paragraph.  But Jesus has given those responsibilities to us, His Church.  You and I have been given a light.  Where does this light shine?

Might I make a few suggestions?

1. How about your workplace, where some of us spend most of every day?

2. What about social media, where people are sometimes excused from the collateral damage of "shooting from the hip"?

3. Maybe your home, where familiarity doesn't have to breed contempt?

Let's remember Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, took His calling of lighting a dark world seriously.  Maybe we, who proclaim His name and announce His kingdom, should follow our Master, Teacher, and Lord.

Sunday, we will sing "This Little Light of Mine."  It is not just a children's song.  It is for and about all who want to change their world ... one little light at a time.  

What Are You Taking?

Have you ever been on a journey, and realized the things you have with you become burdens, rather than assets?  Lee and I have moved over 20 times.  I hate to admit this, but we have carried some things with us that we haven't used in many (many) years.  Planks from an old train station, acquired in 1986.  A multifunctional sawhorse I haven't used once.  The list is long and sad.

As I was reflecting on Luke 10, I stopped on a passage that, at first, seemed out of place.  Here's what it says ... "Do not take a purse or bag or sandals, and do not greet anyone on the road (Luke 10:4)."  This didn't "tweak" me because of what it says ... it interests me because it speaks about the things not to take and the things not to do.  Distractions?

What distracts us from the work we are gifted and sent to do?  On February 18th we begin Lent with an Ash Wednesday service.  We will "remember we are dust," by the imposition of ashes.  We will sing and hear music that will prepare us for the journey of Lent.  We will try to leave behind distractions so that we can go from the ashes of Lent to the sacrifice (and beauty) of the Cross.  We will think, remember, reflect, and (hopefully) grow.  We will decide the things that cause us to focus, and we will decide the things we must leave behind to make the journey.

Maybe this is why Jesus' first instructions are not about the many things the disciples need to take, but the things that will distract and divert them from the work ahead.  Let's deconstruct Jesus' command:

1. Purse - Our money causes us to get focused on the cost, rather than the mission.  Remember ... we count the cost, but if God calls us to act, we act, in accordance with His will.

2. Bag - We have a tendency to fill bags with things that make us comfortable.  Maybe Jesus wants us to focus on the mission, and not our comfort.  Maybe comfort itself is a distraction.

3. Sandals - Most commentators take this to mean extra sandals.  If you remember the Hebrews of Exodus, Deuteronomy 8:4 reminds us that those sandals didn't wear out during the 40 years of wandering.  A few days of travel seem like a piece of cake for the God who provides.

4. Greetings Along The Road - I have a friend who strikes up conversations with everyone he meets along each day's travel.  He is an interesting person, but not such a good employee.  He spends most of each day in conversations, and little of each day working on his job.  Gramma said we have 2 ears and only one mouth.  Maybe Jesus wants His followers to get to the destination He has given them.

I hope you are ready and excited for our Lenten journey together.  Remember ... we have a mission and a destination.  Stay focused.  Keep on track.  And, stay in love with Jesus!

Blessed

Are you aware and excited that God has chosen to bless you?  I was reading in Luke 10 today, and these were the words of Jesus ... "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.  For I tell you that many kings and prophets wanted to see what you see and hear what you hear, but did not hear it (Luke 10:10:23-24)!"

Seeing and hearing are interesting things.  This Thursday, I will have outpatient surgery to remove cataracts in my right eye.  The condition comes with the "territory" of age.  The cataracts block and cloud vision, and keep some of the light from coming into my eye.  I am thankful for doctors and caregivers who allow me to have this procedure, and for the science and medicine that invented this possibility.  Better vision and more light seem to be things worth the recovery and discomfort this will probably bring.  But, as I prepare for this to happen, this verse reminds me that there are worse conditions.

What would it be like to walk through the world in the darkness of only seeing the created realm?  Maybe some are content with this because they don't know or believe there is another realm ... the spiritual realm.  Chapter 10 of Luke describes Jesus and the disciples (72 of them) as joyful over the ability to both see and impact the physical and spiritual realms.  I think these rookie disciples realize that this is what they were made for, and are seeing a world in a reality they have never experienced before!  Everyone lives in the natural world, but we were made for something greater and better.  Jesus brings the supernatural with Him, and he passes the ability to see the spiritual world on to those who are engaged believers.

Jesus reminds us that seeing and hearing through God's eyes and ears is a blessing for which we were created!  This amazing attribute is part of what God did when He made people in His image.  So ...

1. We can see beyond the black and white, into the full color of life.

2. We can hear God's voice.

3. We can see people through the eyes of Christ, who is IN us!

4. We can hear, see, and know what is both beautiful and sometimes uncomfortable.

5. We can look beyond the facade, into the real.

Across the street from the church is the River Youth and Children's Center.  Thanks to Jimmy Rane, the facade of the building is becoming beautiful and appropriate to the period in which the building was built.  But if you go inside, a lot of work needs to be done.  Those of us who have entered the building know how much remains to be accomplished.  Maybe we, as a people and a Church, are like that.  Many of us present a fairly acceptable facade.  But Jesus has entered the building.  He sees the vast work that needs to be done.  He knows that, like the River, the beautiful work, the community change, the lives of people, and the changes of attitude, will happen on the inside.  He is building a building not made with human hands but made with hands that are weaving us together, in the beauty of His vision.  And this, according to Scripture, is a blessing!  AMEN

3 Kingdom Things

So ... I am writing this blog at a very strange time.  Our services were cancelled this morning due to a snow event.  So while I would normally be "landing the plane" (finishing my sermon) I am at the house talking to any of you who might be listening.  Here are my thoughts on this very unusual Sunday morning.

Last week's Scripture (Luke 9) is still on my mind.  To summarize, a lot happens in Luke 9.  Jesus sends out the 12 to "cast out demons and heal all diseases."  Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy, feeds a multitude, announces His death, experiences the Transfiguration, and ends the chapter by reminding us of the cost of discipleship.  Or, is He telling us about the benefits of being Kingdom people?  Here's why I say this ...

1. Most of Luke 9 is about the excitement and rapid movement of God's Kingdom, and of the movement of the Church out into the world.  The Kingdom of God is filled with mighty works, major happenings, and the power of God in the world.

2. The end of Luke 9 seems to be a gut-check as Jesus challenges us, saying things like "let the dead bury their dead, but you go announce the Kingdom of God."  Jesus seems to be chastising a disciple who places family issues ahead of Kingdom issues.  And this IS part of the story.

3. Jesus also says, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God."  Again, Jesus seems pretty harsh about our tendency to think about what we have left behind.  This IS also part of the story.

But ... what if this entire chapter of God's word is about something bigger, better, and more exciting than we perceive?  What IF Jesus is saying things like:

1. I have chosen YOU for a reason.

2. I have gifted YOU for a purpose.

3. I am offering you the chance to be part of amazing, powerful, Kingdom work, and all I (Jesus) need is for you/me/us to become open vessels that will be filled with God-things?

What if you/me/us "get to" do God's work?

This is a get-to chapter.  We get to emulate the 12 out into the world, healing and confronting (with God's power) the opposing spiritual realm.  So ... having God as a lesser priority ... having Kingdom service as something optional ... will cause us to be unusable, unavailable, and unused by God.

God's desire is to send you out ... use you to proclaim the Kingdom ... and offer you the chance to serve Him in the kingdom.  What an honor and a blessing!  Yes ... we GET TO do this!  Praise the Lord!

The Most Important Ability

As we near the end of the College and Pro football seasons, we have seen injuries, life events, and other happenings take their toll on competing teams.  Teams are somewhere on the spectrum from "dinged-up" to (southernese) "tore-up."  Coaches are pulling our what little hair they have left to put a team on the field that can compete.  As I write this, I am battling a sinus issue, and as Lewis Grizzard once said, "Elvis is dead, and I'm not feeling too good myself."  But ... I am here.

A week ago, one of our new workers came in the back door, reporting for duty.  She was wearing a mask, not to protect herself, but to make sure her ailment wouldn't spread to those she would be working with.  But ... she was here.  Because the most important ability is availability.  I love that a young person would have that drive and work ethic, and my already-robust respect for her went up even more.

I think that Jesus was thinking about this when, at the beginning of Luke 9, Jesus reminds us of the most important ability.  In Luke 9, Jesus sends out the 12, giving them "power to drive out demons and cure diseases."  The chapter continues with Jesus feeding the 5000 (where Jesus says, "you feed them").  Peter declares Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus predicts His death, the Transfiguration happens, Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy, and, at the end of the chapter, Jesus speaks about the cost of discipleship.  Two people come up to Jesus, saying they desire to follow, after they take care of some personal business.  Jesus has a curt response for each of them:

1. To the man who wants to bury his father, Jesus says ... "Let the dead bury their dead ... you go and proclaim the Kingdom of God!"  You must be available to Jesus to make that happen.

2. To the man who wants to tell his family goodbye, Jesus says ... "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God." You must be available to Jesus is you want to follow and serve.

Jesus' words might seem harsh, but the story is a representation of how we, as people who make choices, decide priorities, and make statements about our so-called faith, really proclaim our faith by being available to Jesus.  It is a lot easier to sing the songs, make the statements, and talk the talk, than it is to 1) serve, and 2) proclaim.  Let's examine what "serve" and "proclaim" mean this week, as we begin the year giving God our most important ability ... our availability.  AMEN

Nothing Ordinary!

If you Google, Liturgical Calendar, you will find some brightly colored images with seasons, dates, and a description of the Christian liturgical year.  As we move into the 2nd week of January, some calendars call this the season of Epiphany, but Epiphany is really the 1st Sunday after January 1st.  This was last Sunday for us, and we celebrated the Magi encountering the Christ child (a toddler about 3 years old), and we remembered that this event marks Jesus being revealed as the savior to the Gentiles as well as the Messiah for the Jews.  But most folks call this season of the liturgical year something else.  The time between Epiphany and Lent is called "Ordinary Time."

For preachers, this time is not at all ordinary.  Here, January is filled with meetings, budgeting, and administrative work.  It (this year) will be a time we use for planning for our Sacred Arts Initiative, which includes Moonlighters (February 13th), Lenten Music Events (March), our Choir and Arts Camp (July), and many other events, especially our Children's and Youth Calendar.  We will be working on hiring a Student Ministry/Discipleship person (pray for your pastor and the SPRC Team).  We will also be planning for, and inviting you to, the GMC Alabama Emerald Coast Annual Conference in Dothan (1st week of May, 2026), where you will be able to receive hands-on training in becoming disciples who make disciples!  There will also be a trip (September) for our Sacred Arts Team to visit Asbury Seminary and get some needed recharging.  NOT ordinary at all!

Here's the point.  Christmas and New Year's are only beginnings.  Both are times when we choose to follow better/closer, or drift along being unchanged and untransformed.  Last week, we were reminded that the Magi "went back by a different way."  So, consider these questions:

1. Will 2026 be an epiphany or a continuance?

2. Will 2026 be a transformation or a season of lethargy and sameness?

3. Will 2026 be ordinary or extraordinary?

There is a story in Luke 2.  It tells of the prophetess, Anna.  At least 2 things from Anna's story are worth noting.  The first is that we find Anna doing the things that we should be doing as we are expectant for God's activity.  She was in God's house (the Temple), worshipping, fasting, and praying. And, when Jesus walks past, she reflects and speaks about the redemption story, and the child who will make a way for that redemption.  Second, we find that Jesus goes back to Galilee with Joseph and Mary, and enters His "ordinary time."  Luke 2 says, "the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him."  During "ordinary time" some extraordinary things happened.

1. The child grew.  The  Son of God grew, so maybe we should grow!

2. The child was filled with wisdom.  I wonder how that happened?  I will bet Jesus read, sat with wise and learned leaders, and watched how Mary and Joseph did life.  He learned, so maybe we should learn.

3. The grace of God was on Him.  John Wesley tells us there are ways we can (if we are true followers) receive God's grace.  Maybe Jesus did some of these things.  Prayer, service, attention to the sacraments, fellowship with other believers, fasting, worship ... these are just some of the ways God's grace comes to us.  Jesus was filled with the grace of God, so maybe we should be filled with grace too!

Jesus lived this out, so maybe we should too!  Jesus' quest for growth, newness, fullness, and abundance was evident. Epiphany, transformation, and abundance!  I am down with those things, and I hope you will invest time, energy, resources, and prayer into a year that will see all of these things happen, as God uses you to build His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven!  AMEN and AMEN!