A new journey for Central UMC in Decatur began yesterday out at Delano City Park. We are now going to be focusing on life as a community. We will be using a Rick Warren edited book called Better Together: A Churchwide Spiritual Growth Campaign.

Today he encourages us to think about what it means to really learn how to love. He suggests that love that is easy might not really be love at all but rather infatuation or lust. I don't argue the differences but would question the statement he makes when he says, "Love is unatural for us." There are always exceptions to any rule regarding human behavior, but I think when a mother gives birth to a child, the natural order is to love that child. She doesn't have to learn how and it isn't unnatural. She might have to learn appropriate ways of expressing that love and she might have to learn how to best guide and instruct that child, but it starts with love.

Henri Nouwen reminds us of the difference between learning about love and living it.

"O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a sinner. I am impressed by my own spiritual insights. I probably know more about prayer, meditation, and contemplation than most Christians do. I have read many books about the Christian life, and have even written a few myself. Still, as impressed as I am, I am more impressed by the enormous abyss between my insights and my life." - From A Cry for Mercy by Henri J.M. Nouwen

Grace and Peace,

One Month to Live leaves us with the question, "Are you where you want to be spiritually, eternally?"

And now take a look at this:

"When a man gives up self, his past sins will no longer oppress him."

Where we want to be is most closely tied to where God ultimately needs us to be.

Sunday in the Park on Sunday, September 12! Come join us at Delano Park in Decatur, Alabama on Sunday at 10:00 for meaningful worship and a picnic lunch afterwards.

See you on Sunday!

We have been reading One Month to Live. What might we do differently? What kind of priorities should we have?

This week we learn about learning to live that kind of purpose filled life BEFORE learning that we only have one month to live.

Kerry and Chris Shook write, "If you only had one month to live, you could make some changes that would improve what you left behind. But how much better to know that you're contributing to your legacy every day over many months and years and that all you're working for will last for eternity. ... Our relationships are the only investment that can't be destroyed by a fire or national disaster or be lost in the stock market."

For what would you like to be remembered? How are you contributing to this goal right now?

Bring a friend to worship next week as we travel to Delano Park and Sunday in the Park! We gather at 10:00 and worship at 10:30. Bring a friend in blue jeans and don't forget a side dish for a picnic lunch afterwards!

Grace and Peace,

Came across an interesting passage in today's reading of One Month to Live.

"God never intended for us to be well rounded. He has gifted each of us uniquely, and no one has all the talent, no matter how it might appear. We're to focus on what we're good at and let go of what we're not good at. I am not a good singer - just ask anyone who knows me! I could spend all my time taking voice lessons and auditioning for American Idol, but I would only go from bad to lousy. Instead I've focused on the key areas in which God has gifted me, and I've tried to develop them. I'm always working at being a better writer and communicator. It's an insult to God when we focus on the gifts and passions we don't have and try to develop only our weak areas. Our greatest potential lies in the areas of our greatest strengths."

Wow. What do you think?

Grace and Peace,

Today's reading in One Month to Live suggests that some kinds of conflict are good because of how our character is shaped for the better because of them!

We can sometimes look back at people and situations that have been rough on us and see benefits that have resulted. Can we look ahead and do the same thing? As we start to really get depressed or angry or frustrated with someone or something, how might we look for the lesson to be learned? How might we see the eternal benefit that is present in the current situation?

Thomas à Kempis (ca. 1380 – 25 July 1471) was a late Medieval Catholic monk and probable author of The Imitation of Christ, one of the best known Christian books on devotion. Much of this famous book is all about how to have exactly that right frame of mind that sees what should be seen rather than from just a human point of view. "The life of a good religious person should shine in all virtue and be inwardly as it appears outwardly. And it should be the much more inward, for Almighty God beholds the heart and we should always honor and reverence him as if we were always in his bodily presence, and appear before him as angels, clean and pure, shining with all virtue.
We ought every day to renew our purpose in God, and to stir our hearts to fervor and devotion, as though it were the first day of our conversion. And we ought daily to pray and say: help me, my Lord Jesus, that I may persevere in good purpose and in your holy service unto my death, and that I may now today perfectly begin, for I have done nothing in time past."

See you on Sunday!

How satisfied are you with the state of your most important relationships right now? In One Month to Live we are encouraged to really evaluate our relationships so as to better concentrate on making them the best they can be.

"Our Father, we take our loved ones and all those who need us deeply into our hearts and there we give them completely to thee. May thy peace, the peace which passeth all understanding, rest with them, bringing thy perfect fulfillment to all their needs. Amen. - From I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes by Glenn Clark

Grace and Peace,

When have you been disappointed by God? How did He not come through for you the way you wanted Him to?

We have been prayerfully considering how to best live our lives as though each day really was of utmost importance. Obviously, an important part of that journey involves how we can best relate to our Creator as we seek His will.

The tricky part of this needed trust revolves around an idea in a devotion I read years ago. Above an old stone door of a church in New England are carved the words, "Remember, No is an answer."

God answers prayers. God wants us to prioritize our lives meaningfully.

God doesn't always answer prayers in an expected fashion.

So...... Continue seeking His guidance and leadership, but be ready for anything!

Have a great weekend!

Grace and Peace,

In today's daily reading of One Month to Live, we are invited to rate ourselves on a scale from 1-10 in four categories. How would you rate yourself Spiritually? Physically? Emotionally? or even Relationally?

And ifthere is a recognizable need in one or more of these areas, how can we go about strengthening ourselves? Obviously prayer, but this is where a small group becomes invaluable. Simply ask others for help in becoming better. Nobody does it alone.

I'm off to lunch with Kiwanis. Let's connect again tomorrow!

Grace and Peace,

The premise of our church study series for the new Fall involves thinking about how you would answer the question, "If you had only thirty days to live, how would you live your life?"

Today's reading looks at how to actually make some of those life changes.

"People who know their lives will soon be over tend to feel a desperate urge to change. But a desperation to change is not enough. In order to sustain the changes, we have to be connected to a power source beyond ourselves." - From One Month to Live by Kerry and Chris Shook

What kind of changes do you need to make? Do you trust God to help you?

"One thing we owe to Our Lord is never to be afraid. To be afraid is doubly an injury to him. Firstly, it means that we forget him; we forget he is with us and is all powerful; secondly, it means that we are not conformed to his will; for since all that happens is willed or permitted by him, we ought to rejoice in all that happens to us and feel neither anxiety nor fear. Let us then have the faith that banishes fear. Our Lord is at our side, with us, upholding us." - From Meditations of a Hermit by Charles de Foucauld

Our pastor begins a study of One Month to Live tonight at the church at 6:00. Come join him and explore this fascinating book.

Grace and Peace,

Today we are invited to look at each day and really evaluate how we spend each moment. Where did you find your most meaningful moment? What was the biggest time waster you did today?

I have learned that to really take dieting seriously, you have to pay attention to the calories of each foodyou might be eating. Eat foods with lower calorie counts and it becomes easier to lose weight! In a similar fashion, this month's study encourages us to pay attention to the spiritual content of each moment and then use one's time accordingly.

And how does one best use the time given them?

"The hour in our life in which we are best employed is the hour in which we best love Jesus." - From Meditations of a Hermit by Charles de Foucauld

"Put yourself completely under the influence of Jesus, so that he may think his thoughts in your mind, do his work through your hands, for you will be all-powerful with him to strengthen you." - From A Gift for God by Mother Teresa

Grace and Peace,

Your time on earth is limited. Those are the words that kick off our new church study. The clarifying question of the series is, "What would I do if I knew I had one month to live?"

Last night we gained a partial answer when we read Isaiah 5:1-7 in our Sunday evening chapel service. We learned that although one possible answer is to simply give up and draw away from humanity while waiting for an end, God says that we are eternal and therefore called to respond eternally to God's call.

Day Two begins with the question, "If you were certain your life as you know it would end in a few weeks, what would be your biggest regret?" We are encouraged to not be afraid to live life fully and do some things we might otherwise put off. The second daily reading closes with, "Make a decision today never again to use the phrase 'someday, when things settle down.' Realize that today is your someday!"

Grace and Peace,

In tonight's Judaism study we explore the idea of a special relationship with God. On the one hand, Jews were constantly told to refrain from marrying outsiders and were told to have nothing to do with foreign ways and idols. On the other hand, they were also told that they were chosen to be a light to the world. So..... don't have anything to do with anyone else...AND lead them all to God....

Isaiah 5:1-7
Having a special relationship brings with it some obligations!

Grace and Peace,

Whew! I hadn't realized how long it had been since I last posted. My apologies to those who are still reading.

Busy transition time as we prepare for a new Fall, a new pastor, and a new menu for Wednesday night supper!

I will be posting a bit more regularly after we start a new church wide series based on the book by Kerry & Chris Shook, One Month to Live. That will begin next Monday, August 16.

Tonight, however, our Disciple group will be discussing the plight of the Israelites as they struggled for survival in the desert after fleeing from Egypt. What does it mean to really trust God for daily sustenance? When we say that God provides, do we mean it?

Creaturely comforts enslave us and demand our immediate attention. More important things like education, sound relationships, deep faith, require time and considerable discipline. Why must we learn the hard way? Why can't we have freedom and spiritual maturity quickly and easily?

Grace and Peace,

Is there a difference between God "knowing" a thing will happen and God "causing" a thing to happen? Are Christians more closely aligned with the views of the sadducees, Essenes, or Pharisees?

As we continue with our summer study of Judaism, tonight we will be exploring Jewish thought over the years regarding the relationship between God and humankind. We will also learn a bit more about early Jewish messianic expectations.

Join us tonight in our church library at 5:45!

God's blessings be upon you!

Tonight in our Disciple Bible study we will be exploring the idea that God works for good even when bad things happen. We will be looking at the story of Joseph being sold into slavery only to end up in a position where he is able to save his people.

The apostle Paul meditates on providence in Romans 8 which we will also read. In the King James Version, Romans 8:28 reads, "All things work together for good to them that love God." We will consider this passage in light of the Jospeh story. We will be discussing what we really believe about God's providence and our own destiny as children of God.

I hope you are having a great summer!

Celebrating the New Year in the Jewish tradition is not just a celebration of new beginnings. The New Year (Rosh ha-Shana) is considered the yearly day of judgment. The main theme projects God as king and judge of all mankind.

Our two most celebrated days recognize God's presence here on earth at Christmas and his sacrifice overcome at Easter. How does the theme of judgment impact how the Jewish people see their relationship with God? We recognize the theme of judgment but do not give it the same emphasis. What do we, as Christians, lose by not spending as much time thinking about God's judgment upon us all?

Tonight in the library we will be taking a look at the entire Jewish calendar and the way it defines jewish identity.

God's blessings be upon you,

We do not want to accept responsibility or blame for discord. We find it painful to acknowledge our own guilt. We postpone, wait for someone else to make the first move, or pray the discord will go away.

Jesus says in Matthew 5:21-24, "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift."

Tonight in our Disciple Bible study we will be reading accounts of Jacob reconciling with his father-in-law, Laban. We will also look at his reconciliation with his brother, Esau.

Be at Peace!

Turning to God in moments of need - praying - has definite biblical roots and was performed by both private individuals and public figures. Prayer, however, was not the standard means of worshipping God in the Hebrew Bible. Worship was primarily centered around the act of sacrifice. What major act or procedure does our worship revolve around today? What brings revelation or meaning to you in a typical time of worship?

Tonight's small group study will discuss Jewish Worship - Prayer and the Synagogue. I hope you'll be able to join us!

Blessings,

Tonight in our Disciple Bible study we will be talking about family conflicts and the presence of God. We will be reading about Jacob's journey from problems with his brother growing up to new problems finding a wife as an adult.

Genesis 28:16 - Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the Lord is in this place; and I did not know it."

When have you missed a message from God because you were unaware of his presence? When has conflict revealed something of God to you?

Learn from that experience and then don't forget to share it with someone else!

Blessings,

Writing from the North Alabama conference this week means many United Methodist pastors are preparing for their last sermons in one church and their first sermon in a new church the following week.

Some will leave feeling quite pleased with the job they have done and others will leave feeling disappointed. I came across this quote and thought of the second group.

"God will know how to draw glory even from our faults. Not to be downcast after committing a fault is one of the marks of true sanctity." - Dom Augustin Guillerand

In all we do, let us do it for God.

Have a blessed summer!

What does it mean to say that we are an Easter People?

One way to explore identity is to explore heritage. Tonight we begin a 12 week course examining Judaism.

Christianity and Islam are faiths, or "systems of beliefs," that embrace diverse communities and ethnic groups throughout the world. Although Judaism also adheres to particular beliefs and practices, many Jews would nevertheless consider the designation of Judaism as a "religion" (or only a religion) as far too narrow or confining categorization.

So... religion or ethnic identity? What is Judaism? Join us at 6:00 in the library on Wednesdays this summer to explore answers!

Grace and Peace,

Pentecost Sunday is approaching. What does it mean to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit?

Here is an interesting idea from Howard Snyder:

"So the Church is not to be understood primarily as a means to the end of transforming society. This would be to trample over the uniqueness and infinite worth to God of the Christian community. Besides, the amazing and profound fact is that the Church most transforms society when it is itself growing and being perfected in the love of Christ." - From The Community of the King by Howard A. Snyder

As a community, we best serve God by sincerely pursuing our own spiritual perfection. Go figure...

We are an Easter People! Which of course is a bit different than simply being an Easter person....

"Let him who is not in community beware of being alone. Into the community you were called, the call was not meant for you alone; in the community of the called you bear your cross, you struggle, you pray. You are not alone, even in death, and on the Last Day you will be only one mamber of the great congregation of Jesus Christ. If you scorn the fellowship of the brethren, you reject the call of Jesus Christ, and thus your solitude can only be hurtful to you." - From Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Watch out for one another out there!

The Easter Task Before Us

"Only eternal life can feed one who is destined for eternal life." - From The God Who Comes by Carlo Carretto

It isn't enough to simply do good deeds in society, although these are certainly often blessed by God. We are part of something much bigger. We are part of eternity now. Are we participating in the creation of God's kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven, or are we simply doing nice things?

We are an Easter people!

Grace and Peace,

John Wesley said, "There is scarce any possible way of doing good, for which here is not daily occasion.... Here are poor families to be relieved: Here are children to be educated: Here are workhouses, wherein both young and old gladly receive the word of exhortation: Here are the prisons, and therein a complication of all human wants." From his journal dated August 12, 1738 - November 1, 1739.

270 years ago there was work to be found no matter where one looked. How different is it today? Why is it so easy to get comfortable with our own understanding of our salvation without realizing how connected we are to the world around us?

Things are slow here in Decatur as the city celebrates Spring Break. Drive safely out there!

Grace and Peace,

We are now approaching the fourth Sunday of Easter. Let us not be too content with our life situations that we fail to respond fully to God's call to action following the Easter event.

Hear this prayer from Lancelot Andrews, bishop of the new Anglican church at the beginning of the Protestant reform:

"O Lord of the harvest, send forth laborers into the field. Grant unto our clergy the ability to proclaim your word of truth and to live their lives according to those truths. Grant that these ministers who love you would obey and submit to your word of truth." From Private Devotions by Lancelot Andrews

Just as our flesh is covered by clothing, and our blood is covered by our flesh, so are we, soul and body, covered and enclosed by the goodness of God. Yet, the clothing and the flesh will pass away, but the goodness of God will always remain and will remain closer to us than our own flesh. - From Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich

He is risen indeed!

In considering a response to Easter and the impact it has on our world, Thomas Merton reminds us not to simply make the response an inward one.

"Under the pretext that what is "within" is in fact real, spiritual, supernatural, etc., one cultivates neglect and contempt for the "external" as worldly, sensual, material, and opposed to grace. This is bad theology and bad asceticism. In fact, it is bad in every respect because instead of accepting reality as it is, we reject it in order to explore some perfect realm of abstract ideals which in fact has no reality at all." - From Contemplative Prayer by Thomas Merton

This is the danger of regularly attending multiple Bible studies without putting that faith into practice. What did James tell us? "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? ... Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead."

NOW WHAT?

He is risen! Now what?

"O Lord, who else or what else can I desire but you? You are my Lord, Lord of my heart, mind, and soul. You know me through and through. In and through you everything that is finds its origin and goal. You embrace all that exists and care for it with divine love and compassion. Why, then, do I keep expecting happiness and satisfaction outside of you? Why do I keep relating to you as one of my many relationships, instead of my only relationship, in which all other ones are grounded? Why do I keep looking for popularity, respect from others, success, acclaim, and sensual pleasures? Why, Lord, is it so hard for me to make you the only one? Why do I keep hesitating to surrender myself totally to you?

Help me, O Lord, to let my old self die, to let die the thousand big and small ways in which I am still building up my false self and trying to cling to my false desires. Let me be reborn in you and see through you the world in the right way, so that all my actions, words, and thought can become a hymn of praise to you." - From A Cry for Mercy by Henri J.M. Nouwen

Easter has changed us. Embrace the new possibilities!

He is risen, indeed!

Palm/Passion Sunday

Palm/Passion Sunday is coming. The triumphant arrival of Jesus to Jerusalem and the short term success of his enemies of his death on Good Friday.

I don't have children but I am well aware of the kind of sacrifice it takes to be one. I know that being a good parent is more than simply "doing" the right things. There is a difference between the concept of giving up one's life for your child and really wanting to do so on their behalf.

How do you take that very real attitude of self sacrifice for another and expand it to cover all of humanity? How do we achieve that same level of real love of neighbor? How do we achieve that level of love of enemy?

Triumph followed by tragedy followed by triumph. Part of our Lenten journey is about learning how not to use our own value system when looking at ourselves and our situations and our neighbors, and instead learning how to look at the world through God's eyes. Then and only then do our temporal earthly sorrows truly become stepping stones to a glory greater than anything we can imagine.

Read and worship and meditate deeply this next week so that Easter can truly be the great joy that God has intended for us!

Grace and Peace,

How much preparation is needed to effectively evangelize? to effectively teach? Here is an interesting perspective from Henri J.M. Nouwen.

Often we're not as pressed for time as much as we feel we're pressed for time. I remember several years ago becoming so pressed by the demands of teaching at Yale that I took a prayer sabbatical to the Trappist monastery at Geneseo, New York. No teaching, lecturing, or counseling - just solitude and prayer.

The second day there, a group of students from Geneseo College walked in and asked, "Henri, can you give us a retreat?"

Of course at the monastery that was not my decision, but I said to the abbot, "I came here from the university to get away from that type of thing. These students have asked for five meditations, an enormous amount of work and preparation. I don't want to do it."

The abbot said, "You're going to do it."

"What do you mean? Why should I spend my sabbatical time preparing for all those things?"

"Prepare?" he replied. "You've been a Christian for forty years and a priest for twenty, and a few high school students want to have a retreat. Why do you have to prepare? What those boys and girls want is to be a part of your life in God for a few days. If you pray half an hour in the morning, sing in the choir for an hour, and do your spiritual reading, you will have so much to say you could give ten retreats."

The question, you see, is not to prepare but to live in a state of ongoing preparedness so that, when someone who is drowning in the world comes into your world, you are ready to reach out and help. It may be at four o'clock, six o'clock, or nine o'clock. One time you call it preaching, the next time teaching, then counseling, or later administration. But let them be part of your life in God - that's ministering. From "Time Enough to Minister" by Henri J. M. Nouwen in Leadership (Spring, 1982)

Life is a constant set of questions that need to be addressed. Lent is about the seriousness of how we answer those questions! As Moses and the Israelites approached the promised land, God addresses them with this exhortation to choose life.

"See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall perish." - Deuteronomy 30:15-18

We will soon be setting aside a day to remember the sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf. How does that affect the choices you make? We will also be setting aside a day to celebrate his victory over death. How does that affect your choices?

We are moving towards the Fourth Sunday of this Lenten season. Good Friday is on April 2 this year and Easter Sunday is on April 4.

Just how close can we get to God?

"Listen, O Lord, to my prayers. Listen to my desire to be with you, to dwell in your house, and to let my whole being be filled with your presence. But none of this is possible without you. When you are not the one who fills me, I am soon filled with endless thoughts and concerns that divide me and tear me away from you. Even thoughts about you, good spiritual thoughts, can be little more than distractions when you are not the author." - From A Cry for Mercy by Henri J. M. Nouwen

We are approaching the third Sunday in Lent. Let us continue to spend time seeking understanding through a closer relationship with God through Christ.

Nikos Kazantzakis is probably best known for writing the book upon which the movie Zorba the Greek is based. After obtaining a law degree, he studied philosophy in Paris and then traveled extensively. He showed a keen interest in finding ways to transition his spiritual, philosophical learnings into practical life experiences. The following excerpt is a poetic look at the relationship between God and human.

"My prayer is not the whimpering of a beggar nor a confession of love. Nor is it the trivial reckoning of a small tradesman: Give me and I shall give you.

My prayer is the report of a soldier to his general: This is what I did today, this is how I fought to save the entire battle in my own sector, these are the obstacles I found, this is how I plan to fight tomorrow.

My God and I are horsemen galloping in the burning sun or under drizzling rain. Pale, starving, but unsubdued, we ride and converse.

"Leader!" I cry. He turns his face towards me, and I shudder to confront his anguish.

Our love for each other is rough and ready, we sit at the same table, we drink the same wine in this low tavern of life." - From The Saviors of God: Spiritual Exercises by Nikos Kazantzakis


Lent is an opportunity to better define your own relationship with God through Christ. What does your journey look like? If your relationship with God were a movie, what kind of movie would it be? Join us for lunch tomorrow and a guest speaker as we learn about the seven deadly sins and our struggles with them during this season of meditation.

Lent Preparation

This coming Wednesday is also known as Ash Wednesday in Western Christin traditions. It is the first day of Lent, a season of meditation and preparation for what will ultimately be Jesus Christ's greatest sacrifice and triumph.

Henri Nouwen is a Roman Catholic priest and psychologist who came to the United States in 1964 from Holland. He has written numerous books and is primarily known for his exploration of the spiritual journey. The following excerpts about true integrity in ministry come from The Living Reminder.

"Ministry is service in the name of the Lord. It is bringing the good news to the poor, proclaiming liberty to captives and new sight to the blind, setting the downtrodden free and announcing the Lord's year of favor (Luke 4:18). Spirituality is attention to the life of the spirit in us; it is going out to the desert or up to the mountain to pray; it is standing before the Lord with open heart and open mind; it is crying out, "Abba, Father"; it is contemplating the unspeakable beauty of our loving God."

"We have fallen into the temptation of separating ministry from spirituality, service from prayer. Our demon says: "We are too busy to pray; we have too many needs to attend to, too many people to respond to, too many wounds to heal. Prayer is a luxury, something to do during a free hour, a day away from work or on a retreat."

Lent is one answer to these temptations. Starting something positive, like a morning devotion, or ending something negative, like eating poorly, can be a first step towards getting your priorities back on track.

Join us on Wednesday at 6:00 for an Ash Wednesday service at central UMC in Decatur, Alabama. Let us help you center your thoughts and prayers on God and His Will for this new lenten season.

Grace and Peace,

Community

Learning how to best share what we have learned at Christmas means also learning how to do so as a community. We are going to be spending eternity with a lot of people and we need to really learn how to get along in the best AND in the worst of times. Our bishop here in the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church, Will Willimon, says that, "What passes for community is, 'You stay out of my life, and in exchange for that I'll stay out of your life, and we'll call that community.'"

That's not going to cut it.

"You start building a good neighborhood when you yourself decide that you will be a good neighbor." - Robert Waldrop

"You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." - Leviticus 19:18

Dallas Willard is a distinguished philosopher with many books to his credit. One of his books, The Spirit of the Disciplines, speaks of the process involved in the changes that take place in our journey towards a more Christ-like existence.

"For at least several decades the churches of the Western world have not made discipleship a condition of being a Christian. One is not required to be, or to intend to be, a disciple in order to become a Christian, and one may remain a Christian without any signs of progress toward or in discipleship." - From The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard.

We are two weeks away from the beginning of the Lenten season. How are we responding to God's call to share the Christmas story with all the world? How important is our own spiritual journey for sharing Christ with others? Are we simply observers of the Christian way of life or are we striving for real discipleship?

Fried chicken for Wednesday night supper tomorrow night at Central UMC in Decatur! Hope to see you there!

We are still in the midst of the season of the Epiphany. There are two high holy days, Easter and Christmas, and we spend the rest of the year deciding what our response will be! Epiphany means to be revealed or made known. How are we making known to the world the miracle of God's presence in our midst in the form of Jesus?

However and whatever our own call to ministry might be, James Finley has some advice on how to proceed. "Merton once told me to quit trying so hard in prayer. He siad: "How does an apple ripen? It just sits in the sun." A small green apple cannot ripen in one night by tightening all its muscles, squinting its eyes and tightening its jaw in order to find itself the next morning miraculously large, red, ripe, and juicy beside its small green counterparts. Like the birth of a baby or the opening of a rose, the birth of the true self takes place in God's time. We must trust in his hidden action within us." - From Merton's Palace of Nowhere by James Finley.

Wow. Three days of 101 pus fever followed by another few days of chest coughing.... yuck! But feeling much better, thanks for asking!

Lent begins in three weeks but we are still in the season of Epiphany for now. When Christ is revealed to the world.

How do we respond to this revelation? One way is suggested by Roman Catholic priest and psychologist, Henri J. M. Nouwen. "Faith in the value and meaning of life, even in the face of despair and death, is the second principle of Christian leadership. This seems so obvious that it is often taken for granted and overlooked.
But for a man with a deep-rooted faith in the value and meaning of life, every experience holds a new promise, every encounter carries a new insight, and every event brings a new message." - From The Wounded Healer by Henri J. M. Nouwen

What does Epiphany mean in a new year? It means that every sight and sound and touch and smell carries with it a potential message from God on how to best serve and participate in bringing the kingdom of God into full actualization.

Marinated pork loin tonight at our Wednesday night supper here in Decatur, Alabama!

More on New year's resolutions -

C.S. Lewis makes a strong point in his classic Mere Christianity - "The Christian way is different: harder, and easier. Christ says, "Give me All. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want you... No half-measures are any good."

Think very carefully about what you intend to do next year as you explore ways in which you can better BE CHURCH instead of simply attending services somewhere.

God's blessings upon you!

Is the New Year Really New?

Have changes really been made as we start the new year? Are we locked into a true source of guidance and support?

Luke 9:23,24
"Then he said to them all, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it."

Jesus knows that life is eternal and to truly be prepared for it, we have to learn how to focus on something much bigger than ourself. He is here in our midst so that we can learn to focus on God and God's Will for creation. Every new beginning to our calendar is also another opportunity to again align ourselves with the One who really does matter most.

Wednesday night supper starts up again here at Central United Methodist Church in Decatur, and first time visitors eat free!! Happy New Year!

"Everyone, at some time and in some areas, is a follower, and it is just as important to be discriminating in chossing whom to follow as it is to prepare to lead."
From Servant Leadership by Robert K. Greenleaf

As for me and my house....

Is there anything more important at the beginning of a new year when establishing new resolutions and priorities than picking the standard one will use for making those decisions? Where will your resolutions and priorities come from if not a mentor or leader who can show the way? Choose wisely!

The Lenten season begins in 37 days.

What will the new year look like? There are, of course, some aspects that will be beyond our control. But there will also be many things about the new year that will be affected by our choices. How might we appear to others as we dedicate ourselves anew to the service of Christ?

Born in York, England, Richard Rolle was one of the great spiritual leaders of early 14th century England.

"Yet as some may well remind us, there are people on fire with love for Christ, for we can see how utterly they despise the world and how wholly they are given over to the service of God. If we put our finger near a fire, we feel the heat; in much the same way a soul on fire with love feels, I say, a genuine warmth. Sometimes it is more, sometimes it is less: it depends on our particular capacity."

And now this warning from the Book of Revelation. Revelation 3:15,16 I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

Set us on fire Lord in this new year! Amen.

Happy New Year!

Francois Fenelon was a prominent member of the court of Louis XIV. Fenelon was appointed archbishop of Cambrai in 1695. During this time he became acquainted with Madame Guyon and was greatly influenced by her and others of the Quietist movement in France. (Quietism stressed the importance of complete detachment from the things of this world.)

As we again prepare for new resolutions and reestablishing priorities, let us reflect on this prayer of Francois Fenelon:

Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of thee; thou only knowest what I need....I simply present myself before thee, I open my heart to thee. Behold my needs which I know not myself. Smite, or heal; depress me, or raise me up; I adore all thy purposes without knowing them; I am silent; I offer myself in sacrifice; I yield myself to thee; I would have no other desire than to accomplish thy Will. Teach me to pray. Pray thyself in me. Amen - Francois Fenelon