For most Americans, Memorial Day is about family gatherings, swimming at the beach or pool, and a vacation day. These are all wonderful things, but we should never forget the real reason for this celebratory weekend-the men and women of the armed forces who sacrifice their time, energy, and sometimes lives so that we can have the freedoms we enjoy!
Thank you to all the military past and present!
And to their families!
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And now to have a good time, I suggest you watch this video. It combines the best of Memorial Day-our military and senseless fun!
May we appreciate the ultimate sacrifice of our brave men and women this Memorial Day weekend!
As many of you know the past several months have been a time of uncertainty for me. I have been seeking new opportunties and waiting, a lot of waiting. As a result, I have developed more patience, more compassion, more peace than I have ever known…once I got past the frustration, anger, and bitterness. And all the while I have been seeking God’s will.
My prayers resulted in no’s, silence, and not yet’s. My prayers changed. My heart opened. My study intensified. And I waited.
There are people who have seen and known all along. There are people who have touched my life and watched me struggle and grow. There are people who have only recently entered my life and for them it’s a no brainer. Well, it took me a while folks. I’m stubborn!
The long and the short of it is that I am answering God’s call and pursuing ordination in the United Methodist Church as a Deacon in Christian Education.
I’m excited! I know the gifts the Spirit has given me. I know the desire God has placed in my heart. And I’m ready to say, “Here, I Am Lord. Use me!”
This will not be a simple journey. It will be one that will forever change my life. Initially, it will require my time, a few more graduate classes, and deep personal introspection. It will also mean changes for my family. But that doesn’t bother me too much because I know it is what I’m being called to do and Coach is as always amazingly supportive.
I ask for your prayers and support for myself and my family as I begin this amazing journey to serve God more faithfully.
FAQ
What the heck is a deacon? A deacon is a person who has been called to a particular ministry. They do not run a church. However they often times work for a church. Deacons in Christian Education can also be teachers, chaplains, writers, and more. They can marry and bury people. They generally cannot baptize or bless the elements of communion.
Where will you go to school? Asbury Theological Seminary in KY. They offer online classes and at this point I only need two more, hopefully this fall and next spring.
When will you start? The process has already begun with the church. Believe it or not, I’m in another waiting period.
When will you be done? It’s a long process. Best case scenario, I will be ordained at Annual Conference 2018. (And as Coach so graciously reminded me tonight, I’ll be a few days short of 39. And as I discussed with a friend, he may be ordained an Elder at the same time. That would be awesome!)
If you have other questions, please ask. I’ll be happy to share because I’m really excited about this!
When tragedies like the Oklahoma tornadoes, the Boston Marathon bombing, and Newtown shooting occur, we are shocked and saddened at the senseless suffering in life. As it would happen, I am currently working on a sermon for Sunday based on Romans 5:1-5.
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
While we don’t understand this suffering, while we would rather develop our perseverance, character, and hope through other means, we know that God uses even this to teach us, grow us, and offer us opportunities to share His love with others. When we endure such trials, our words of encouragement gain power and authenticity for others who are searching, struggling, and suffering.
We must never think that God is dead or absent from these trials. This David Crowder Band cover (the version we sing at church) of the Newsboys’ song offers me hope.
Our faith gets shaken from time to time, but God is always there. We may be questioning and hiding our faith on the inside, but it will reveal itself again, roaring like a lion, when God is ready, when the Spirit moves, when we are open and faithful.
May we remember that God is at work in all things!
For most Americans, Memorial Day is about family gatherings, swimming at the beach or pool, and a vacation day. These are all wonderful things, but we should never forget the real reason for this celebratory weekend-the men and women of the armed forces who sacrifice their time, energy, and sometimes lives so that we can have the freedoms we enjoy!
