From the Pastor’s Heart

Several years ago I was in my office preparing an All Saints sermon when two women and a baby came to the door. I had never seen them before or since that early Thursday morning in 2003. The moment they stepped into my office, we had a problem, a language problem—they spoke Spanish, and I do not speak it or understand it.

With much difficulty we began communicating. Maria asked if I was the “Father” of the church. I explained to them that I was the pastor. She began to pour out her heart, a heart broken with grief. She asked me if I would remember her son Alberto in prayer for one whole year. She explained that her son had died and that he had been found hanging in a closet. I offered my condolences and said I was sorry that her son had taken his own life. She corrected me and said it was not suicide, but murder. She said, “He was only twenty-three, he was my baby.”

As we talked, I learned that what she wanted more than anything was for her son to be remembered. It was important to her that the church would remember him. She could not find the English words to ask the church’s tradition. She was trying to ask of the church’s holy days for the dead. I don’t think it was a coincidence that this stranger came to my office three days before the church was to celebrate All Saints Sunday.

She said, “I know I will have to pay so you can remember him.” I reassured her it would not cost her anything for us to remember her son, Alberto, and in fact, we would add his name to our All Saints list.

I think she left my office with a tiny bit of comfort knowing her son would be remembered by the church on the church’s holy day for the dead, ‘All Saints Sunday’.

Remembering is so vitally important. The most common lament I hear from folks who have recently lost a loved one is: “No one will talk about (my husband, my wife, my mother, my father, or whomever it may be), because they think it will make me sad. In remembering, there is healing.

Sunday, November 6, at both the 9:00 am contemporary service and the 11:00 am traditional service, we will remember. We will remember those who have died since last All Saints Sunday. We will remember and give thanks for those who have touched our lives and left their imprints of love. We will lift up their names and cherish our memories, because they mattered and made a difference.

Maria told me that early Thursday morning as she was leaving my office: “It is a year later, and I still have so much pain.” Grief is a process that does not go away quickly or easily. On all Saints, we will also gather to share our grief and pain. Death is such a hard word, because it brings an end to what we have known and loved. Death turns our world upside down, and we discover we are left to carve out a new kind of normal for our lives. There is also healing in our ability to grieve together.

We will also gather on All Saints Sunday to celebrate. Even though death is a hard word, we can celebrate, because death does not have the last word. God has the last words, and those words are: “I am the resurrection and I am life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, yet shall they live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I hold the keys of hell and death. Because I live, you shall live also.”

This All Saints we will remember:
Carol Cooper
Ben Crimbly
Lydia M. Gibb
Bertha Latshaw
Phyllis Leahey
Lucinda Nicholson
Busola Ramos
Linda Seagren
Margaret Schwogel
Hui Yuan

When it comes to death, the world speaks a common language.
I pray you will join me as we remember, as we grieve together, and as we celebrate.

Blessings,
Pastor Russel

Recently I’ve noticed a new ice blue Chevy Cruze parked in front of the parsonage. I have commented to Nancy and a few others how ‘sharp’ I think the car looks. This morning as I was returning from walking Louie, the Chevy Cruze pulled up and took its usual parking space. The owner was about to walk across the street when I said to him: “I like your car. It is very nice looking.” He glanced at me and then turned his head without saying a word and started across the street. And then I heard the sound of the car’s horn. Suddenly I was insulted as I realized the sound of the horn meant he pressed the automatic lock on his key chain ensuring the car was locked. All I was doing was offering a sincere compliment. Did I some how give the impression I was up to no good? Did he think I was going to steal his car? Did I look like a thief?

This made me wonder, how many times have I jumped to conclusions not giving time or opportunity to get to know someone? The verdict was mine to make and my judgment was harsh and final without gathering any of the facts. This judgment thrust others to the class of “Outsiders.”

Over and over again we read in the Bible how people quickly and harshly judged others. Judgment was rendered without getting to know one’s heart and soul. They were judged as worthless and an outsider to be ignored and feared. This snap judgment meant many were excluded from the “inner circle.” However, this was not Jesus’ way. Jesus often got himself into trouble over his “open arms” approach to all people. In Jesus’ eyes, there were and are no misfits or outsiders.

This experience reinforced my thankfulness to God for God’s grace and mercy. I am so thankful that God does not judge me as worthless, someone to be excluded and feared. I am so thankful God does not exclude anyone from his gifts of love, mercy and salvation.

We as United Methodist celebrate Open hearts, Open Minds and Open Doors. This does not mean, “open” for a chosen few, it means all are welcome here that seek to be in relationship with God and with one another. I invite you to check out the welcome letter on our Web Site that the Administrative Council endorsed, which enthusiastically and adamantly welcomes all of God’s children to worship, fellowship, and ministry at the Sewickley United Methodist Church.

God claims each of us as His own. May we claim and embrace one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

May it be so…. may it always be so!

There isn’t much on TV these days that capture my attention. Nancy of course channel surfs from the Pirates game (if they are winning) to the Steelers game and soon it will be the Penguins. Sprinkle in any other sports event that might grab her attention.

We enjoy watching House Hunters, My First Place, Property Virgins, Property Brothers and Holmes on Homes. I love seeing how folks have a vision for a house, turning it from a run down dwelling to a home of luxury. It is also an opportunity to daydream about the kind of home we will some day purchase.

Interestingly enough, we also find ourselves tuning in to watch “Pawn Stars.” The Gold and Silver Pawn Shop is located in Las Vegas and operated by three generations of the Harrison family. Richard Harrison (known as “Old Man” and “the Appraiser”) moved to Las Vegas in pursuit of a fresh start after serving in the U.S. Navy and losing a million dollars in the real estate market. Rick (The Spotter”) Richard’s son has been in the business for twenty-eight years and is an expert when it comes to spotting anything fake or stolen. Rick hasn’t had it easy. He was a math whiz at an early age, but developed a similarly uncanny ability to find ever-deepening trouble that nearly ruined his life. With the birth of his son, he sobered up, reconnected with his dad, and they started their booming business together. Corey “Big Hoss” Harrison (Rick’s son) began working at the pawnshop when he was nine. Expertly trained in the art of appraisal, Corey not only has the brains to spot a cheat but the brawn to back it up. The crew is completed by Corey’s devoted childhood friend, Austin “Chumlee” Russell. Chumlee is just like a son to Rick and he’s been around the shop since he was a kid. Everybody loves Chum, but he is often the butt of the boy’s jokes.

It is interesting to watch the treasures and family heirlooms brought into the shop. Then we get to watch the owner’s expression on his or her face when the item is identified as a worthless fake or whether it is the real thing and of substantial value. When it is genuine and of value Rick always asks: “Well, what do you want to do with it? Do you want to pawn it or sell it?” The answer is always, “I want to sell it!”

The viewing audience is given the opportunity to see the “seller” prior to going into the shop. A little history is given on the item to be sold and the owner will state I would like to get X number of dollars but will definitely not take anything less than X amount of dollars.

The bargaining and hassling over the selling price is intriguing. Obviously the Harrison’s wish to get it for as little as possible and the seller wants top dollar. What I find amazing is that 99% of the sellers will settle for far less than they stated as their absolute bottom line.

Sometimes I think people treat their relationship with God like they are in a Pawn Shop situation. Sometimes they are wearing the shoes of the Harrison’s. They will take all that God is willing to give and in exchange they want to bargain and hassle with God giving in return as little as possible.

Many years ago, a friend of mine had a cap that read ‘How much can I get away with and still get into Heaven?” Often, people are minimalists. They glory in a good deal… a bargain… a steel.

God has given us God’s best, and God expects our best.

I am blessed to serve a church family that is willing to give their all… their best. Countless hours of volunteering, of giving, of practicing, of serving is evidenced daily in the life of the Sewickley Untied Methodist Church. I thank God for you and for the opportunity of being in ministry with you.

God is not a minimalist. God does not settle. God gives His all. Thanks be to God for a church that does likewise.

Blessings,

Pastor Russel

This past weekend, we had the blessing of watching our youngest granddaughter, Emmelia Joyce, for the weekend. June 29 will mark her 1st birthday. It is such fun to watch her grow and learn. She is now walking. She can say “Zeus,” her dog’s name, but “Pappy,” she hasn’t mastered yet! I put Emme in the stroller, and off we go for our long walks. They mostly consist of me saying over and over again…. “Say Pappy, say Pappy, Pappy….Pappy…Pappy…Pappy!” Her response is usually clapping her hands. YEA PAPPY!

I love being a father and grandfather. No titles are more meaningful or dearer to my heart than Daddy and Pappy. July 3 marks the day it all began. Let me explain.

Every 4th of July, the little town of Bessemer celebrated the holiday by bringing a carnival to town. It really wasn’t very big, but for the small surrounding towns of Hillsville and Mt. Jackson, it was a big deal, especially for the teenagers who walked the fair grounds numerous times and thought it to be the great social event of the year. It was the summer of 1971. I was going to be a senior in high school. I was one of the teenagers walking around when I spotted a couple of young girls. The one, I knew from high school. The other, I had never met. I stopped to chat. We talked and talked and talked. My interest was piqued, and I thought I would take a chance and asked the one girl if she needed a ride home. She flatly turned me down! But we made plans to meet at the carnival the next night. We walked around and around and around. As the evening was drawing to a close, I thought I would ask again, “Do you need a ride home?” (I am persistent, if nothing else.) She accepted the invitation. And as they say, “THE REST IS HISTORY!” Of course, the young 17 year-old was Nancy. July 3 will mark 40 years since that fateful night at the Bessemer carnival. Neither she nor I anticipated what that night might hold.

Nancy later told me she really didn’t want to go to the carnival that night. In fact, she said, “My mother had to push me out of the car!” Three daughters and four grandchildren… all because her mother pushed her out of the car.

It has been an amazing journey and continues to be so. Nancy did not marry a minister. That did not come until eight years after we were married. She has always been supportive, an amazing wife, mother and grandmother. We are all blessed because of her.

We are all on a journey. And along the way, we enter into relationships. The most important relationship any of us will ever encounter is our relationship with our Creator. Do you remember when your relationship with God began? Was it because your parents pushed you out of the car and made you go to Sunday school and church? Or maybe they pushed you out of the car and made you go to church camp, MYF, or VBS, and there, you met our God and for the first time experienced God’s unconditional love and grace.

If you are a parent/grandparent, don’t be afraid to push your children in the direction of God. Don’t be afraid to push them to have a relationship with the Almighty. It will be the beginning of an amazing journey. As in any relationship, it may have its ups and downs. But in the end, it will be the most precious and meaningful relationship you will ever experience.

Each of us has our own journey and story to tell. How is it with your soul? How is it with your relationship with God?

Blessings,

Pastor Russel

Some of you are familiar with the Gospel song written many years ago by Bill and Gloria Gaither. The refrain goes, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives.” The story behind that song is inspiring.

In the lat 1960’s, while expecting their third child, the Gaithers were going through a traumatic time. Their firstborn child, Suzanne, was four, and her sister Amy was three months old. The timing for another baby wasn’t ideal. On top of that, Bill was recovering from a bout with mononucleosis.

The breakup of the marriage of Bill’s sister, Mary Ann, had left his family devastated. What’s more, a close friend had accused Bill and Gloria of using their ministry just to make a few bucks. All this plunged Bill into a deep depression.

Gloria remembers this also as a time of fear and sadness in society. This was the time of the “God is dead” movement. Drug abuse and racial tension were increasing. The thought of bringing another child into such a world was taking its toll.

But after a simple prayer by one of Bill’s close friends the strength of the Holy Spirit seemed to come to their aid. Christ’s resurrection, in all its power, was reaffirmed in their hearts. They were assured that the future, left in God’s hands, would be just fine.

In July 1970, a healthy baby, Benjamin, was born. Inspired by the miracle of their son’s birth, “Because He Lives” poured out of the Gaither’s grateful hearts. The song clearly affirms the hope believers have in Christ. We can face tomorrow, with all its uncertainty, as we realize that God holds the future and makes life worth living.

“Because I live, you also will live….” Said Jesus to his disciples. What does that say to you and me about our lives? I believe this is the heart of the Christian faith. Christ is alive and because he is alive, we can live lives that overcome every obstacle.

God’s message to each of us is a message of hope; life is worth the living just because he lives.

In His Service,

Pastor Russel

We can’t turn on the television or pick up a newspaper or magazine without hearing or reading about it. For several weeks, reports have been pouring into our living rooms concerning this much-anticipated event. The world seems to have a great allure and fascination of what is already deemed the biggest travel event of the year. I speak of course about the royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine (Kate) Middleton. I would be curious to know how many of us will actually get up at 4:00 am and watch history in the making as Kate walks down that grand aisle of Westminster Abbey as she becomes the bride of Prince William.

It seems that everyone wants to know every detail of the wedding:
What will her wedding dress look like, and who designed it? “When the entire world will be watching your wedding ceremony, choosing the perfect wedding dress is essential,” claims one reporter.
What kind of flowers will she carry?
What will be on the menu?
What will their wedding cake look like?
And what about her wedding ring? (We already know that Prince William has chosen not to have a wedding ring.)
What will they promise one another in the way of their vows? It is also reported that Kate will promise to “love, comfort, honor and keep” her husband. She refuses to “obey.”
Will the weather cooperate?
Do the royals approve of the match?
Who is on the guest list? It has been reported that the guest list for the party of the year is out. And there are some snubs and some surprises for the royal wedding.

There are so many details and so many questions. In a few short hours we will have the answers to all of our questions. I am absolutely amazed at the amount of media attention given to this wedding.

I am equally amazed at the lack of interest and attention that our society gives to another bridegroom. We read in Revelation 21:2, “and I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband…” Throughout the scriptures we are given the image of Jesus as the bridegroom and we, his people, as the bride. We see this wonderful imagery in Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine at a wedding banquet in John’s gospel.

Why such little attention to the bridegroom that saves the world? Can you imagine the life changing possibilities if Jesus got the media attention and our attention that Prince William is currently receiving?

Do we care about the details of our bridegroom? Jesus, the bridegroom, wore a crown of thorns and a cross as God’s saving love was conveyed to all humanity. Jesus, the bridegroom, vows to never leave us unto the end of the age.

It has been reported that the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton is a marriage that will transform a ‘commoner’ into a queen. The covenant that Jesus offers us is one that transforms broken and lost sinners into transformed children of God saved by grace through faith. In my way of thinking, this marriage is far more news worthy.

I don’t know about you, but my invitation to the royal wedding must have gotten lost in the mail. But the good news for me and for you is that another invitation is extended: “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” No one is excluded. All are invited. To be sure, this invitation is the most important invitation any of us will ever receive. Have you sent in your RSVP?

Blessings,

Pastor Russel

When we read the Bible or think about some of the stories in it, there is a great temptation to think, “Oh, all that is very interesting, and it is wonderful to think that God could do this for people long ago; yet it does not have much to do with me.”

What we really must do if we want to be open to hear God’s word in Scriptures is to be prepared to locate ourselves in the stories. In so doing, we come to learn a little bit about who we are by identifying ourselves with these people.

As we approach Easter, we will once again hear the resurrection story. That first Easter many emotions were experienced and expressed:

Fear…. “So they (Mary Magdalene and the other Mary) departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great Joy.” (Matthew 28:8)
“And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.” (Mark 16:8). “…But when they went in they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, behold two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘why do you seek the living among the dead.’ (Mark 24: 3-4).

Doubt and Disbelief…. “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted.” (Matthew 28:16). “But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her (Mary Magdalene), they would not believe it. (Mark 16: 11). “After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.” (Mark16: 12-13). “Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.” (Luke 24:12). “Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the twin was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘we have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:24).

Grief and Sorrow…. “Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.” (Mark 16:9-10). “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.” (John 20: 11).

With whom do you identify? Are you like one of the many who experienced fear that first Easter? Are you one of those who struggled with doubt? Or are you more like Mary, broken with sorrow and grief?

You might say we do not associate with any of those emotions. We are Easter people and we proclaim with great joy and gusto that Christ defeated death and is raised from the dead.

Yes, that is true. Perhaps a better way to approach these Easter Emotions is to ask: What does Easter mean to me?

One of my favorite hymns is the Gaither hymn: ‘Because He Lives’. The first verse states: “God sent his Son, they called him Jesus; he came to love, heal and forgive; he lived and died to buy my pardon, an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. Because he lives, I can face tomorrow; because he lives, all fear is gone; because I know he holds the future, and life is worth the living just because he lives.” We often lift our hearts and voices in celebration over these words, especially on Easter.

But, what about standing at the grave of a loved one? It is here where it is most important to ask: What does Easter mean to me? What Easter emotions are experienced at the grave: SORROW… FEAR… DOUBT…. BELIEF?

The other night I had a dream about my brother, Tommy. Tommy died ten years ago. I woke up with overwhelming grief and sorrow.

I discovered there are times when I am most like Mary as I find myself broken with grief. And it is then that I especially need to ask myself once again: What does Easter mean to me? I need to hear again how death is defeated. I need to hear again: “In my Father’s house there are many rooms.” I need to hear again the voice of the master: “Do not be afraid.”
I need to be like the Koontz family. The Koontz family lost three children to diphtheria in the same week in the early 20th century. Only a 3-year-old girl escaped the disease.

On the following Easter morning, the father, mother and child attended their church in rural Nebraska. Because Conrad, the father, was the Sunday School Superintendent, he led the session when all the classes met together. As he read the Easter message from the Bible, many were weeping, but the father and mother remained calm and serene.

When Sunday School was over, young Harry Lassiter, a local 15-year-old boy, was walking home with his father. “The Koontzes must really believe the Easter story,” said the boy.

His father answered, “All Christians do, Harry.”
“Not the way they do!” he said.

Do you believe in Easter?

Easter Blessings,

Pastor Russel

The Rev. Michael D. Powell, a United Methodist pastor tells of an experience he had while serving his first church, which was located in the tiny logging town of New Meadows, in the mountains of Idaho.

The local airport was a dirt landing strip at one end of town where for years his church held their annual Easter Sunrise Service. It was also one of Powell’s favorite places to walk their dog, Jesse.

A little girl, who was mentally challenged lived in a house below the airport, and she used to see Powell walking the dog and run out to join him. She would walk all the way to the end and back with him, but she never said a word.

After preaching at the United Methodist Church in the mornings, Powell would go over to the Assembly of God church for the more informal services in the evening. One of the songs he learned there was the old gospel tune, ‘He’s the Lily of the Valley.’

So for a while, the song became a kind of mantra for him, and he would sing it on his dog walks:

‘I have found a friend in Jesus. He’s everything to me.
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay;
He tells Every care on Him to roll.
He’s the Lily of the valley, the Bright and morning star.
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.’

He used to belt that out when he was really happy. But one day he wasn’t all that happy. When the little girl came running up the hill to walk on the dirt runway with Powell and his dog, Powell said, “Hi.” The little girl never talked anyway, so he just kept walking along in his moody, self-absorbed way.

And then it happened. After walking along in silence for 20 minutes or so; suddenly he heard the little voice say: “Bright and Morning Star.” She wanted him to sing!

It was the only time in all the time he knew her he ever heard her speak, and he said it was like the voice of God piercing the cloud; offering him just a glimpse of glory.

Just when he needed it most, the Rev. Michael Powell received a word from God through a small mentally challenged child.

Have you ever received a word from God just when you needed it? As we enter the season of Lent and begin this forty day journey, I invite you to listen for the voice of God and hear just how much we each are loved as we once again experience the walk to the cross. The suffering Christ speaks volumes of God’s love for us.

I pray you will journey with me to Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, and hear loud and clear of God’s loving and saving act.

Blessings,

Pastor Russel

Several years ago, when I was substitute teaching, I found myself teaching an art class. Now I am far from an artist but, admittedly, it was better than teaching wood shop or auto mechanics.

I had lunch and recess duty that day. While out on the playground, I noticed a little girl sitting alone on the cold blacktop. I walked over to her and she immediately jumped up and smiled at me from ear to ear. Her pretty blond hair was done in a makeshift French braid. The red sauce that covered her face told me that she had pizza for lunch. Her nose was in desperate need of attention. And her features immediately told me she was a little girl with Down’s syndrome. She did not hesitate to introduce herself. “Hi I am Mary, who are you?” she asked. I told her my name and we talked for a few minutes. As we talked, I noticed her hat was on backwards. The fur was around her neck instead of around her pretty little face. I said: “Mary, your hat is on backwards.” Again, she gave me one of her beautiful, infectious smiles and simply said, “I know.” “Well, why don’t you turn it around?” I retorted. Mary’s response was quick and to the point: “I can’t. Will you fix it?” I untied the fur hat, turned it around and retied the strings in a little bow. She politely said thank you, which was followed by a very serious request: “Now, do you want to chase me?” I quickly, but kindly, said: “No Mary, I don’t want to chase you.” I could see the disappointment in her eyes as she asked: “Why not?”

My first thought was to tell her I was too old to run, but that would not have been the truth. This was back in the day when I was running, and that very morning I had run five miles and was planning on running five miles when I returned home. I simply told her I didn’t think it was a good idea.

I reminded her of all the fun things she could do on the playground and suggested she go and play. Her response was heart-breaking: “No one wants to play with me, but that’s okay.” Grinning, she ran off by herself. I watched her during the rest of the recess. She spent it alone with no interaction with any of the other children.

I couldn’t get Mary out of my mind the rest of the afternoon. A simple task as turning her hat around and tying it and her response was, “I can’t.” I am sure Mary had many limitations and had to say “I can’t” to many tasks.

If we are honest with ourselves, there are those things in which we too must say, “I can’t. “ I find it far more important to focus on the things I can do rather than the things I can’t. And for some, it is not a case of “I can’t but I won’t.” God calls each of us to be about his work. We are called to be faithful disciples. What does Jesus expect of us?
Jesus expects wholehearted obedience from his followers. (Hebrews 5:9)
Jesus expects us to deny ourselves in following him. (Luke 9:23)
Jesus expects us to grow in knowledge. (2 Peter 3:18)
Jesus expects the investment of our lives in his service. (Ephesians 4: 15-16)
Jesus expects us to confess our sin. (1 John 1: 8-9)
Jesus expects us to repent of our sins. (Acts 8:22)
Jesus expects us to act upon the knowledge we have. (Ephesians 4: 11-12)
Jesus expects us to be witnesses. (Matthew 28: 19-20.

There are some things we can’t do, but there is much that we can do. Jesus calls each of us to be his disciples. Will we give of ourselves completely? Or will we say “I can’t” or maybe if we are honest we must confess that “we won’t.” I wonder if God sometimes feels like Mary; very much wanting to be involved in our lives, but we just won’t let him in?

In His Service,

Pastor Russel

We once again find ourselves stepping over into a New Year. As we stand at the threshold of this New Year time may be on our minds. We find ourselves looking in two directions.

We look back over the past year. As we look over our shoulders at 2010 we try to set the past behind us, forgetting the regrets, the mistakes, the missed opportunities and the failures.

At the same time we also find ourselves looking forward to 2011. To walk through this New Year invites one onto new stages of life. Every January there is a sense of freshness. We tell ourselves, “Things will be different this year!” Of course, once over the threshold, it does not take long to realize that the year gets old rather quickly. Much of what we thought we left behind in the old year is still packed in the baggage we carry into the new one.

The New Year is a wonderful opportunity to embrace a deeper understanding of God’s gift of time—how to receive it, how to value it, how to handle it, how to use it.

Imagine, for example, you have a bank account with a balance of $86,400.00. Nice thought isn’t it! Only that $86,400.00 is only available to you for one day. At the end of that day, it’s “use it or lose it.” What would you do with the money? Draw it out and put it in an account that’s more secure? What if that wasn’t possible?

How would we spend the $86,400.00? We’d want to spend the whole $86,400.00, hopefully wisely.

Well, we all have an account like that. It is called TIME. Every morning we are credited with 86,400 seconds. By the end of the day every one of them is spent. We will never get them back.
Time is precious. We need to spend it wisely, on things that matter, before it is too late. The beginning of a New Year is a good time for a resolution to strive to use our time well.

In his poem, “In Memoriam M.K.H. 1911-1984,” Irish poet Seamus Heany writes of peeling potatoes alongside his mother on a Sunday morning when he was a child. He vividly recalls the gleaming bucket of water, the little pleasant splashes as the potatoes dropped, her head bent toward his, their breathing in unison. Henry never felt closer to his mother than in that moment, peeling potatoes with her on a Sunday morning. It was something he remembered while his mother lay dying.

We never know when we might be making a memory. In the 86,400 seconds we have each day are we intentionally making good memories for our loved ones and those around us? Or are we wasting the seconds away? Are we grumbling and complaining? Or are we thriving and rejoicing?

Each and every one of those 86,400 seconds is a gift from God. And it is always the right time to love our God by loving all of our brothers and sisters. The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”
It is about time for us to take time seriously. God created time and gave a measure of it to each of us to use to His glory. The clock is ticking. So let’s not “kill time” in the year ahead. If there is one resolution that we make this year may we resolve to use our time for the glorification of our benevolent God.

My prayers for a happy, healthy and a time well spent New Year.

Blessings,

Pastor Russel

A HEART FULL OF THANKSGIVING

It is with a grateful heart that I offer these sincere words of appreciation for the Christmas gift from my church family. You are a blessing to Nancy and me in so many ways.
Nancy and I also wish to offer our appreciation for the many expressions of love extended to us over the Advent and Christmas Seasons.
And to all who helped make the Advent and Christmas services so meaningful and memorable I offer my deepest appreciation. God was experienced in mighty ways because of your dedication and service.

With love and appreciation,
Pastor Russel