A Week in the Life (July 24, 2008)

Skeet Shooting:

Lamar Peterson was the man of the week. Shooting an amazing 23 out of 25 targets he tops our list this week of shooters. Pastor Tim shot a pathetic 12 and 14 out of 25 (respectively). Pastor Tim did a little better during an impromptu shoot on Wednesday when Terry Brammer called and wanted to shoot a new shotgun he had purchased this week. Tim shot 17 and Lamar shot 20 that afternoon. Terry had some trouble with the new gun but switched to Lamar's Remington and shot very well. We are shooting Sporting Clays this Saturday. This is a bit different and consists of shooting 100 targets rather than 25. If you are interested in joing us give Lamar or Tim a call. There is room for everyone. We are planning a competition between the Methodist, Baptist, Free Methodist and Popcorn Christian Churches during the month of September.

Bible Study

We had a great Study this tuesday. It was not recorded for the internet but it was well attended. We discussed the genealogy of Abraham in relation to his son Ishmael. There is a keen interest in these aspects of history as we try and understand the relationships of the Middle Eastern countries.

Church Matters

Bible School is beginning next week. Judy Clifton and Karen Bruhn have worked very hard to make this a success. We need lots of children to make it the best VBS possible. Shake the bushes and get the children. The search for a new secretary began this week. The ad has been posted in the newspaper and the applicants are contacting the church. Council on Ministries met and had good discussion about mission work and church finances. The task force to evaluate the churches investment priorities is beginning their work and will report soon to the Admin. Council. Joe is beginning work on our internet video ministry and we discussed the Mission week the church is planning this fall. Rather than a mission trip to a remote location we have discussed getting the church together and doing work in our community. Perhaps we will help some of the people in our own congregation who could use some help on home repairs. Missions and Service to others will be working this out in the next few weeks. If you have suggestions call Mike Berry, Karen Ivanson or the Pastor.

Youth Mission Trip to Georgia

The youth from First Church and Harrodsburg Church were tremendous. They worked at a School for the Deaf. They painted, moved dirt, dug holes, built a boardwalk, cleaned out garages, carried/hauled/and sweated. There was great interaction with the students from the school as many worked and played with our youth during the week. Each day began and ended with devotions and chapel. We concluded the week with a trip to the Ocoee River in Tennesee. The youth made their way in rafts through 2 hours of category three and 4 whitewater. Category five is the highest recomended whitewater for experienced rafters. They were "tossed and driven on the reckless waves" of the Ocoee. Everyone was safe and excited by the end of the trip. Great trip guys. Thanks!

African Easter: Good Friday

Abioseh Nicol
Sierra Leone, 1924 –

I am not your God
If you have not denied me once, twice,
If I have not heard you complaining,
Or doubting my existence.

I am not your Love,
If you have not rejected me often.
For what then am I worth to you
If you are always sinless.

I believe the words of this poem speak the truth many of us bury deep within our spirits. An honest reflection within our souls reveal doubt, weakness, anger, depression, fear and a host of other “realities” that we live with every day. Like Thomas we have not “seen”. Like Peter we have been “afraid”. Like Judas we have been “angry”. Like John we have been “weak” as we followed from a distance. Much like all of the disciples who gathered in “despair” within the walls of the closed upper room we have been depressed.

What benefit this process of “reflection” during the season of Lent if it only shows the broken and fallen realities of our human condition?

The words of God ring loud throughout the countless generations of human existence. “I will be your God and you will be My people! We are the people of God who live with the promise of God. To realize that we are weak is to invite the strength of Christ live within us. Likewise, to surrender fear, doubt, anger, and depression to the power of God is to be filled with courage, assurance, love and hope.

If we are the answer we need not the Savior. If we are not the answer then we are at the mercy of the Savior.

I will choose the mercy and grace God over human endeavor and ability every time.

The Risk

You take a risk when you invite the Lord
Whether you dine or talk the afternoon
Away, for always the unexpected soon
Turns up: a woman breaks her precious nard,
A sinner does the task you should assume,
A leper who is cleansed must show his proof:
Suddenly you see your very roof removed
And a cripple clutters up your living room.

There's no telling what to expect when Christ
Walks in your door. The table set for four
Must often be enlarged and decorum
Thrown to the wind. It's His voice that calls them
And it's no use to bolt and bar the door:
His kingdom knows no bounds of roof, or wall, or floor.

Marcell Marie Holloway - U.S. 1913 - Prizewinning playwright and poet, Holloway did her doctoral thesis on Gerald Manley Hopkins. Professor of English at various collegs, she has been a Roman Catholic nun of the Sisters of St. Joseph since 1932.


I have been intrigued by the many conversations in the media and in the church regarding "security." Most of these were spawned by the tragedies that hit churches during the Holiday season. In many ways it was reminiscent of the conversations I heard following the events at Columbine High School. There is in my estimation no "wrong" view of security in relation to these events. There is, however, a fixed reality of ministry in relation to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christ came into this world to save people. His ministry was relational in every sense of the word. Dr. Holloway does a good job of reminding us that to be in relationship with Christ is to also be in relationship with those whom Christ "entertains." There is a very real risk associated with this type of ministry. The church was founded upon this reality and has through the centuries paid a rather high price for its willingness to be faithful. I pray that our dialogue about these issues respects both a very real need for reasonable "security" and the essential reality of "relational" ministry.

Humanity and God

BEGINNING CONVERSATION

This will be a series of conversations discussing the relationship of Humanity and God. It is to be understood that God is represented here as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and presented to us by the Nation of Israel. I begin from a Christian perspective, in which I accept Jesus Christ as the only Son of God and a part of the trinitarian concept of God. My reference as I begin this discussion is a book written by Samule Chadwick entitled "Humanity and God". It was last published in 1982 by Schmul Publishing in Salem, Ohio.

WE BEGIN

"Ye shall be as God" (Gen. 3:5)

"Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect" (Matt 5:48)

The first statement is made by Satan and the Second by Christ. It is interesting to note that in both cases they seem to be speaking to that part of humanity that is wrapped in divinity. By this, I mean to say they both assume as a starting point that humanity can in fact access within their own being that which is divine. God does not contradict this reality as He speaks within the trinity in verse 22 of the third chapter. "Behold, the man has become as one of us". I certainly believe that Christ's statement in Matthew is a central teaching in evangelical Christianity, and most assuredly is a foundational belief in the Wesleyan heritage of our United Methodist Church. With this as a beginning, I place before us the question.

In what sense may man be as God?

I have found it enlightening to examine the two places in scripture where Satan actually engages humanity in conversation. The first takes place in the Garden of Eden as Satan "tempts" Eve with the knowledge of good and evil. The second takes place in the Garden of Gethsemene where Satan "tempts" Jesus with power. Allow me to begin this addition to my blog by considering first the encounter between Satan and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This first temptation takes form as Satan speaks with Eve about her ability to "possess" knowledge. I believe Scripture teaches that all which was created by God was good. It was created literally from the "being" of God and so must spring from the righteous nature of God. Therefore, it stands to reason, if knowledge is from God then it is inherently good. The possession of that which is good is not evil and so to possess knowledge is not evil. This leads me to the conclusion that there must be something involved with the means by which we acquire knowledge that can be troubling. Adam and Eve acquired knowledge through disobedience and suffered. They did not suffer as a result of having the knowledge, but rather as a result of how they acquired the knowledge. It is possible for humanity to have the knowledge of God but it must be acquired through obedience. In this form knowledge is good and bendficial. It will lead us into righteousness and justice.

Welcome to the new Pastor's Blog

Thank you for visiting my new blog. The plan is for me to post some of my thoughts and reflections about various topics that I might have on my mind from time to time. I hope you will enjoy this new medium and check back often for updates. And, if you're set up, subscribe to the RSS feed to receive new posts automatically.