Churches respond to storm damage - UMC.org

Churches respond to storm damage - UMC.org

The hands and feet of Jesus Christ in action. I wanted to tell you that if you want to be sure that what you give to a ministry reaches those who are in need, then the United Methodist Church is for you as my friend Marty Cauley said recently on facebook. Check out the UMC website and become informed.

Sharing with you

One of our speakers at the Academy of Christian Witness this week was the Rev. Dr. Marty Cauley, pastor of St. Paul UMC in Rocky Mount. He blogs and has alot of experience in this and provides a lot of informative information.

I believe that it is our responsibility as servants of the Lord to share the gifts, information, experiences and blessings that our Father in Heaven has giving us. And Marty is gifted in sharing all his knowledge. You can view his blog at www.martycauley.org .

Later,

Pastor Bobby

Answer the phone

I am participating in the Academy for Christian Witnesses at Camp Rockfish. This is a seminar/retreat for pastors focused on evangelism. I have been a part of this academy once before a few years ago. At the time, no one including myself knew how or why I had been invited because it was for pastors. I had just received a letter from our District Committee on Ministry (The District overseers of those who are coming up for appointment). This was an official letter which advised me to remain in the church I was a member of and continue to bear fruit. In other words, I would not be allow to go before the Committee to be interviewed for candidacy. Everyone finally said, "God must have meant for you to come. Of course, I agreed.

The greatest blessings that comes from these gatherings of pastors is the opportunity to hear God stories. Listening to other pastors share their call to ministry re-ignite that fire that we all seem to lose at times. Our God is so good. Why he takes us unworthy subjects of his creation and places us into his service, we'll never know other than to say "He has a plan."

And this call that the Lord makes isn't just for those he places in the holy desk. He places a fire in the hearts of many. And this fire is for all sorts of ministry. I will not begin to list them, but you know what God has placed in your heart. Answer the call. God never hangs up the phone.

A friend and member of one of the churches I serve shared with me a fire that had been place on her heart years earlier, but she wanted someone else to take it and run with it. After one of my sermons she realized that God meant for her to run with it. I told her to go for it and I would be there for her. It is a ministry for a group of young people who needs guidance. She said if they don't receive spiritual guidance, they would be lost.

This group has been meeting for about six weeks now and I asked for a wish list. Number one on their list were t-shirts. T-shirts? Yes, t-shirts with their logo which they designed on them.

I shared this during my message this past Sunday. One of our members came up to me after church and said, "Put me down for 20 shirts and I'll give a donation each month for hot dogs or something." How wonderful. I had no plan to mention this during my sermon. It didn't go along with my message. Didn't relate at all. But God knows what he's doing, his timing is perfect and his provisions is always enough.

I shared the story of this ministry with a participant here at the seminar and was told to e-mail the info to his office and a check would be on its way. Once again let me say; "God knows what he's doing, God's timing is perfect and God's provisions is always enough."

Have you prayed lately?

God is good

Isn't it amazing when you don't believe anything ever goes right, God has a way to show you that everything he does is right. I have been reminded so often since our "Crossing the River" series that God's timing is perfect and God's provisions is always enough. I love it when my people listens. It makes those countless hours of sermon preparations worthwhile. My God is so good.

I am also blessed to have so many who are willing to show their love for God and for God's people. Through their words, actions, giving or by their quiteness, I receive inspiration for the days ahead knowing that just around the corner the evil one awaits. But through the empowernment that our Father has blessed me with, BOOM! No way will you hinder me! No way will you oppose me! No way will I be detered because I've seen hell and I got as close as I'll ever get. I am now Heaven bound!

Hey

I can't believe I haven't written since March 25. What have I been doing? Oh yeah, that's right. Preparing for Holy Week. I hope everyone had a good Easter and also succeeded in accomplishing your goals during Lent. Back to you soon.

Pastor Bobby

Sometimes There Has To Be An Oops

I wanted to take this time to explain something. I read my post and I believe I left myself open to interpretation beyond what I like to express. I've always enjoyed the business of politics and have always had opinions that I didn't mind sharing. But I really can't do that on this health care issue. I see positive and negative parts to it. The included in the middle deals, such as the so called "Louisiana Purchase" gets a little under the skin. I mean, what was the amount paid for the original purchase. Ha ha. But certain things that I heard that I considered positive were the "pre-existing condition" and the child staying on parent insurance to a later age.

Why do I consider these as positive is that we have dealt with that in the past because our oldest daughter had cancer as an infant and even employer insurance gave us a hard time. Also, I believe that having insurance on our families until they can establish themselves in the workforce is necessary.

I said come election time, voices can be heard. Shout your voice, toot your own horn. Don't matter to me because I ain't running.

But its my responsibility as a servant of our Lord to express that no matter where we stand, we should reflect Jesus Christ. Hold back on the negative talk, name calling, threats and the likes. Politics is politics. Every other year we get to hear the same mess over and over. But praise God, he is the same today as he was yesterday. And we as Christians are his representative.

P.S. Can't help it but I still love politics but I have learned to stay further out of public view.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Bobby

Political Woes

I don't know what to say. There was a time when I would be so out-spoken about politics. Especially situations that are going on right now in our federal government. But to be honest with you, all the discussions, comments on the computers, casual conversations I'm hearing, and other avenues of releasing one's opinion is really discouraging me. Those who knows me on a more personal level knows my political views and know that I can be very critical of activities carried out by our elected officials, whether federal, state, or local. But I believe that most of those I hear ranting and raving are less informed that I am and are just going along with the crowd.

I admit that I know little of all the fine print involved in the recent health thingy, but it was obvious that the public was not for it and that elected officials went against those who voted them in to represent them. Come election time they will be out there with all kind of reasoning why. And that is when the voices can be heard. But beyond that subject, how can we as American Christians confront this?

My suggection is this. Be a representive of Christ. Allow Christ to shine through you. Refrain from hate talk, speaking of things we don't know as facts, and be encouraging to one another. Negative talk brings about negative response. I don't know about you but I believe that there is enough negativity in this world. Why add to it.

Be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Jesus said so. Do yourself a favor. Take a kid fishing.

In His Service,
Pastor Bobby