GOD IS FAITHFUL

Jesus assured His disciples that He would always be present with them as they went out into the world in His name. What an empowering comfort that was for them to know that He was not leaving them orphaned and alone. Across the centuries since, Jesus has continued to provide this same assurance in the hearts of those He calls to go in His name. He still speaks His assurance to those He calls into fields of service. From the time I heard my name called and subsequent events began nudging me toward a new commitment of service, (see the last two blog messages) I began seeking an assurance from the Lord.

Without a doubt, the events that led to my going to Mt. Vernon UMC were spiritually exciting in their own right; however, given the responsibilities of a very busy ministry I already had, as the Executive Director of the Conference’s Disaster Recovery Ministry (DRM), there were major concerns over taking on the additional duties of a pastor of a church.

Among all the things such a job would entail, I was most concerned about the precious little to no time at all, for adequate sermon preparation. If I was to preach every Sunday then I needed time to prepare. Of course I had the proverbial “preacher’s barrel” full of SAP (Sermons Already Preached); but they were sermons I had preached to my Air Force congregations years ago. There weren't many recent sermons from my ten-year tenure as the Associate at Dauphin Way UMC. Even the sermons I did have were from four to fourteen years old. So as I began feeling a tug in my heart toward taking this job, following my first visit to the church, the preaching issue loomed as one big “show-stopper” for me. I feel very strongly that preaching is the single most critical function of a pastor’s role in the church.

If going to Mt. Vernon to preach every Sunday was in God’s will for me, I wanted to understand how sermon preparation was going to work. The focus of my prayers over this matter was for clear guidance as to how God wanted me to proceed. When it seemed that the Lord clearly was guiding me toward accepting the task, I was insistent on understanding how I could do both jobs and be faithful to the task of preaching. My concern was not all selfless, there was personal pride involved too. I simply did not relish the idea of standing before a congregation each Sunday ill prepared. Turns out Christ shared my concern. He honored my request by giving me an absolute assurance that He has remained faithful to for almost a year now.

It happened one morning as I was praying and asking God how I could do what He was asking of me with such limited time to prepare. His answer was so clear I had no doubt that what I heard in my heart was from the Lord. His message was simple and to the point; “Go preach in my name, and I’ll give you what to say.”

Well, that was enough for me. I took Him at His word and agreed that same day to serve Mt. Vernon UMC. Of course I was thinking just until Annual Conference in June 2008. What I learned later was that the Lord had much more in mind. I did serve from October 2007 until Annual Conference in June 2008, at which time I was assigned as the pastor for the next year. At this writing I have had the joy of preaching at Mt Vernon UMC for almost a year now, and the best part of all is that the Lord has never failed to make good His promise. He has not only given me what to say, but has shown up to bless its delivery.

Every week the Holy Spirit has kept His promise. This partnership with the Lord in the preaching experience this past year has proven to be one of the most rewarding periods in my entire preaching ministry. With His help I not only have found time to prepare, but have thoroughly enjoyed the exercise. The true joy for me though, and the power in this preaching experience, has been the wonder and glory of His Presence with us as He continues to show up Sunday after Sunday. Praise God!

LIGHT UPON THE WAY

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) What an amazing fellowship we enjoy as we follow Jesus wherever He leads us. As we follow Him we “walk in the light as He is in the light;” and as His word promises, “we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, (God’s) Son cleanses us from all our sin.” (I John 1:7)

The Psalmist spoke of God’s word as light. But his words become all the more poignant when we see God’s Word become flesh in Jesus as that “lamp to our feet and light for our pathway.” (Psalm 119:105) How blessed we are when we realize that even though we may not be able to see or perceive the distant destination, we nevertheless follow in faith and have fellowship with our Lord as He leads us to places of service He chooses.

In the previous message I told about the day I heard my name called and a door that was opened before me, and how events quickly began to take shape that I could never have anticipated. Although I began to recognize God’s presence in the unfolding events of that day, I still felt surrounded by too many unknowns. Instinctively I yearned for more light; however, the illumination I sought was for the destination to light up and come into clear and focused view. That was never going to happen and I knew it, but I wanted it and asked for it anyway. Instead what the Lord provided was all that I needed; “a lamp to my feet and a light for my pathway” and a blessed and sweet fellowship every step of the way that is still with me to this very moment as I write about it.

The next morning, as promised, the District Superintendant of the Mobile District, Reverend Tonya Elmore, and I met and talked about the matter. I expressed my concerns and my need for “more light” on what I was looking at especially given what I was already committed to. At that point light fell on the first step and came into clear view. Tonya said, “You don’t have to say “yes” or “no” right now. How about if you just go out and preach at Mt. Vernon this coming Sunday. That way you can meet the people and they can meet you, and then you can let me know what you think on Monday.” I liked that approach and thus agreed to go and preach there the next Sunday.

It was a beautiful bright sunny October Sunday morning as my wife, Cindy, and I set out on a pleasant drive out into the countryside north of Mobile to join the people of the Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church for worship. It was a very special moment for me when I realized that for the first time in many years my wife and I were actually driving to church together. For too many years I would dash out the door alone early on Sunday mornings to go help conduct the early service and my wife would come along later. I experienced a new ray of light on my path that morning as we drove to church together.

When we arrived at Mt. Vernon we turned off the main highway and entered the community on a road named, get this, “Military Road.” As an old military guy, I already loved the name of the road we were on. It was just a little thing; or was it? But as we drove down Military Road to the church I saw a light on that particular part of my pathway that I didn’t expect to see. Too sentimental? Maybe. But in some odd way, I felt at home on that “Military Road.”

Anyone who has ever driven down a country road anywhere in Alabama has at one time or another encountered a similar beautiful sight such as my wife and I saw next. As we rounded the bend in the road what came into our view was a beautiful little white church, with the typical cemetery out back, sitting there on the corner literally glowing in the sunlight. Was I imagining things, or was that glow really falling on my pathway. I can only speak to what my heart was saying. It whispered, “Yes.” Then we spied the sign across the street that greeted us by name and welcomed us to their community and church. I couldn’t wait to park and go inside.

What was inside captivated my heart as we entered the holy space of this small sanctuary. Was it the beauty of its simplicity? Was it the rounded mahogany stained chancel rail enclosing the altar, cross and candelabra; or maybe it was the pulpit and paraments and choir loft with the lighted cross on the back wall; or was it the shape of the cross formed by the nave and transepts on each side? Was it just me, or did anyone else notice the luminescence of the room that was more than just the sunlight pouring through the large cathedral-shaped windows? It had to be the people of that small congregation that turned to greet us with broad smiles and open arms as we walked through the double doors and entered the church. It was love at first sight. The experience we had that first day we now sing about each Sunday morning at the beginning of our worship service; “There’s A Sweet, Sweet Spirit In This Place.”

With all the light that fell on my pathway that morning I was beginning to get the picture more clearly. I knew for certain that the Lord was definitely leading me and was providing all the light I needed. I even began to sense a direction to His leading. But I wanted to be absolutely sure. I felt I needed more light. My Lord honored my need and provided me with a burst of light that would cinch the deal. But that’s another story of its own. To this day, the joy of walking with Jesus my Lord in that light has not subsided. I look forward to sharing that story with you too.