AC's a coming

Hello:

Today I set out for our denominations Annual Conference (AC).  We do this once a year with the intent of increasing our ability to do ministry, and to make disciples for Jesus Christ.  This year promises to be a very contentious year.  We will be deciding on delegates to our General (or World Wide) conference and our Jurisdictional (or regional) conference.  In the middle of all the politicking and general mayhem, we will also be deciding the fates of 4 properties we have for the usage of campers in our denomination.

Now, I won't bore you with the details, just suffice it to say that there are many angry peoples on both sides of this issue.

The fear I have is this;  Will God even be in attendance at this meeting that is supposed to be about one of His churches?  Yes we will pray, and yes we will invoke the name of God, but I can't help but wonder if all those involved are wanting to do God's will, or just want God to endorse their will.

All I know is this; When the smoke clears and the dust settles, I will be coming back to the church God has sent me to serve.  I will care for the sheep, seek out the lost, invite the forgotten and overlooked.  I will do all in my power to alleviate pain and suffering, and work as hard as I can to keep the doors open on both churches so that all, and I mean ALL people will have a place to worship.  For you see I know this...

God is in control, and no matter what decision we make, good or bad, God will bring it to His glory.  I trust that I will be used by God to do what needs to be done.

Any way, I will try to update with my take on what happens at AC.  Meanwhile, those of you that live in Doniphan, MO, there is a great preacher filling the pulpit at the Methodist Church this week.  Come and support her and hear what she has to say. 

So until next time

OMNIA CHRISTUS  (All for Christ)

Kent

Who is this?

Luke 2:11 "For unto is born this day in the City of David, A Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord."

It was dark, the announcement told

To people standing in the cold

Wondering why the light and shout

What could be so great for angels to come out?

 

A child is born, a savior give

Sent to die so we could live

But where is this child of fuss?

Why come yelling to folks like us?

 

In Bethlehem, Oh little town

In a Stable cold and brown

Find the babe, yes babe I said

Lying in a manger bed.

 

This makes no sense,

To send us thence

For a king in no manger should lie

With cattle giving the lullaby

 

This boy will indeed grow

And as a man will show

How sins need not kill

For death is not God’s will.

 

In all this time of mess and fuss

The child still comes to us

Calling us to believe and obey

For God was in that manger hay.

 

From Susan, Gavin, Lexi, Abby and Me, Merry Christmas everyone.  May God shower you with blessings in this season and all the year through. 

The Mount

PK’s Corner                                                

October 2014

Mark 9:2 …”Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves”...

I consider Oswald Chambers one of the greatest devotional writers ever.  I regularly go to “My Utmost for His Highest” for guidance and support.  On this 1st day of October he expresses an issue near to my heart.

It is the mountain top.  Jesus led his disciples to the top of the mountain to take time to be apart from the world.  He didn’t take them all, only a small portion of the group.   It was there that they encountered God, on God’s term.  It was there they saw the truth of eternity.   Though Peter wanted to stay, Jesus told them they needed to go back into the valley.

Chambers tells us that we are not made for the mountain; we are made for the valley.  “We are built for the ordinary stuff we are in and it is there we prove our mettle.”  We go to the mountain not to be taught, but to be made. 

There are 4 campgrounds in Missouri owned by the Missouri Annual Conference.  We have been informed that those campgrounds will be shut down.  I won’t get into particulars or such, but suffice it to say that many are upset and hurt.  We who support camping on those campgrounds are being told we should not worship property.  But, it is not about property worship, it is about Holy Places.

Jesus took the disciples up the mountain because although God is in the world, they needed a far off place to encounter God a Holy Place.  A Holy Place is somewhere set aside to encounter God.  We need Holy Places, we need set apart areas, and we need mountains with campgrounds on them.  We need to encounter God on God’s terms.

Places set aside for God are places where we can be made.  It is there that we are prepared for the valley. 

I ask you to pray for our Camp Program, our Camp committee and our Bishop as they all try to navigate this tumultuous sea.  Maybe the decision can be reversed and we can continue encountering God in these Holy Places.  If not, then pray that we listen to God for his will.  God will make a way to encounter Him.

Amen

 

A Portion Meant for Mission

September 2014

Matthew 25:37

Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?

 

I am a United Methodist Minister, and I am glad, and maybe a little bit proud, to be part of such a wonderful organization.  As of right now, there are over 13 million members worldwide.  The UMC is in North and South America, Asia, Russia, Europe, England, Australia, the Philippines, Africa and other parts of the world.  The exciting thing is while we are worldwide; each church supports every other church in ministry and mission.

While I serve this church in Doniphan, I share in serving churches all around the world.  Many decisions of ministry that are made here will affect members thousands of miles away.  This denomination supersedes race and color while focusing on sharing the Word of God and meeting the needs of our brothers and sisters.

The UMC is often one of the first to arrive at a place of disaster.  We are usually the last to leave as we support those in need.  Right now we have representatives in harm’s way in areas where there is war and Ebola.  Currently there are members of the UMC preparing to go to earthquake stricken areas around the world.   We also minister in areas of unrest in our own neighborhoods.  In Ferguson we have ministers and counselors behind the scenes trying to bring about peace and reconciliation. 

We are a connectional church.  As part of that connection, we are our brothers and sisters keepers.  We are called to love our neighbors and that means supporting them in any way we can.  We have a program called Apportionments.  It is through this giving that we can do all the ministries we are called to do.  Apportionment is a way that each church can share in these overwhelming ministries to the world.  With the apportionment program, we can end hunger, quench thirst and bring better living conditions to people around the world.  We can offer education and reconstruction.  We can help people be the people God has called them to be.

Whether you are a part of Doniphan UMC or another church, please take time to learn and support the missional giving opportunities.  We live in a time where even a drink of water in God’s name will bring people to Christ.  Let’s offer that water and bring Christ to everyone.

Amen

Fox in the Henhouse

PK’s Corner                                                  Fox in the Hen House

August 2014

II Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.”

Foxes are clever creatures.  They find ingenious ways to secure food for themselves and their litters.  Sometimes they have been known to hide in the hen house of an unsuspecting farmer, only to kill a chicken or take off with eggs.  Having a fox in the hen house is a formula for disaster.

So it is with the church.  Today most of our leaders are truly sincere in their faith.  They preach the Gospel and show us the way to live in Christ.  They encourage dialogue and gathering in Christian settings.  They acknowledge the Cross and realize that we are all sinners, without one plea.  They teach and preach a God of love and hope.  They show how to change in Christ and how to have a deeper relationship with Christ.  They teach dependence on Christ and love for one another.  These are the ones who focus on becoming more like Christ,   but… 

There are a few foxes that have taken or have been given leadership roles.  They are in it, not for the glory of God, but to justify their own sins and wants.  These are the ones who try to tell us that what is said in the Bible doesn't really apply to us, it was for another time.  They try to convince us that the Bible is an archaic collection of stories and myths.  They ignore or even deny the cross and what was done there. They try to teach a “new” understanding that turns out to be the same old rhetoric used to justify their particular cause.  These are the ones who focus on making Christ more like them.

This is nothing new.  In fact in Paul’s day he felt he needed to encourage Timothy to stick to what he knew, even when others wanted something else.  There is hope.  We as a church can say “Enough”.  As a congregation, we can demand the Gospel be preached in the pulpits.  We can say we want Orthodoxy (right teaching) not Pop Psychology.  We can say no to the world and yes to the Risen Christ.

Only by focusing on God in all things, joining together in worship and study, can we even hope to keep the fox out of the hen house.  But although the fox is in the henhouse, Christ is at work redeeming the world.  And that is GOOD NEWS.

Amen

 

vacation

PK’s Corner                                                  

June 2014

Hebrews 10:25   ^“Don’t stop meeting together with other believers, which some people have gotten into the habit of doing. Instead, encourage each other, especially as you see the day drawing near.”  (CEB)

“School’s out, School’s out, teacher let the mules out.  One jumped in, one jumped out and one jumped in the sour kraut”.  Thus went a rhyme my grandmother taught me to celebrate the last day of school.  The longing for freedom from teachers, books and forced activities seemed to come to fruition.   Even today, as adults, we look forward to the “vacation” season.  We plan trips for the family, outings on the rivers and lakes in our area.  We plan as much leisure time as we can fit into the 104 days of summer vacation.  But soon we are back in the fall schedule of school, and work and indoor activities.

While we may take a vacation from work and school, and look forward to separate ourselves from the ordinary life, we need to remember that God is not taking a vacation from us.   I realize for many, attending church is not even on their radar as they make the vacation plans, but it should be.

You see, we should never take a vacation away from the ones we love, and if we love God, then God should be part of our vacation plans.  If we claim Christ as our savior, then Christ should be considered in our planning.  Vacation time is a perfect time to see other congregations, to see different ways of worship and explore new ways to get closer to God.  Even as a minister, I make it a point to attend church when we travel, and I find it refreshing and enlightening. 

I encourage you to make Worship and going to Church part of your vacation plans.  I know you will find it refreshing, invigorating and restful, because when we can be where God is, we are refreshed.

Enjoy your summer, but keep God in it.

Amen. 

 

For whom the promise is…

PK’s Corner                                          

May 2014

 

Acts 2:39 “³⁹For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’

Resurrection day has past.  It was a day of celebration and of hope.  Many churches were full to overflowing.  Vatican City saw record crowds as people waited to hear the words of the Pope.  In Jerusalem, Christians celebrated with prayer and praise from sun up to sun down.  Around the world people celebrated the resurrected Lord.

Have you ever really thought about who Christ died for?  Have you ever considered the ramifications of eternal life?  Have you really thought about who God wants in heaven?

Noted scholar and teacher, David Lowes Watson, once stated that God is at work saving the universe.  The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that, for the resurrection is meant to give EVERYONE hope in life eternal.  Hope is universal, but it will not be received universally.  There are many who will refuse the hope and salvation that comes from Jesus Christ.  To hope for universal redemption is to hope that everyone will have a relationship with Christ.  The reality is, many will never desire to know Christ, nor will they want to serve him. For us, who are believers, this is not an excuse, but a call to action to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with everyone we encounter.

As followers of Christ, we are called to offer Christ to all people, everywhere we go.  We are called to share the Good News of a Risen Savior, and the promise of eternal life.  We are to tell the world that God is a God of mercy and love, not a god of retribution and punishment.  Easter is meant for all people, not just the few, but for everyone.

Now is the time to join with the saints of the ages both past and present and proclaim the empty tomb, the risen Christ, and life everlasting.  Do not be silent, but shout it out; Christ lives so we may have life.  This promise is for you, for your children and for all who are far away…

Amen