Ron’s Reflections

Here at Faith UMC we had a wonderful Easter worship and celebration.   At the start of Lent I asked the question, What if Easter was the end of the story.  (See prior blog.)   On Easter Sunday we came back to that question.

Of course, Easter was the beginning of a new story.  A story where God desired to come close to us, redeem us, and be in close and constant relationship with us.

We spoke how that was of significant benefit for us in two ways.  First, and the one many Christians point to first, is eternal salvation.    Being with God in eternity.

But we too often in modern times forget the second.  Christ wants to help us today!   In this life!   Accepting Christ is not just ticket to heaven, God desires to help us in real ways in this life.

If we will include God in our lives God will give us the strength and courage to face anything that comes up in our life.   And if we but look around our lives and the lives of those around us, we can see God still at work in today’s world.   Miracles big and small.    Coincidents that are really Godincidents.    We often don’t notice God’s activity in this world because we do not look, with eyes to see.

Watch!   Look around!   Notice what God is doing in the lives of ordinary Christians, and also seekers, and even atheists.    Lives are saved from illness or death.   Relationships are healed or at least improved.  The hungry are fed.   The unemployed find opportunities.    The weak are strengthed.   Those in grief or emotional pain are comforted.   The list goes on.  God still acts!

Those seeking, find.   Take some time.   Time to look.  Time to pray (communicate with God.)   Time to listen for that still small voice.   Time for Christ and Christ’s Spirit to work in you.

The graces, gifts, of God are all around.   Will you accept the gift?

Ron

What if Good Friday was the end of the story?  

I saw that question in an advertisement this morning pointing to some resources for Lenten studies.   That question has been coming back to me all day.   Would that not change everything?   If that were the case there would be no hope, no faith in a resurrection, no belief in a God who is active in today’s world.  If that were the case it would be a very dark world in many ways.  Those of us in the church may find it hard to imagine such a world.

 But of course, for many in our world and community Good Friday WAS the end of the story - the day God was put to death - if they even acknowledge there is a story of God in the first place.    So think about the darkness, the hopelessness, the meaninglessness that would result.   What a dark place to live!  

But understand that is precisely the world many in our community live in every day.    What are we doing to bring light to those who live in the darkness?    Who will you bring to church this season to learn about the rest of the story of God.   

 There was a Friday, when all seemed lost, but that is not the end of the story!     “For very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.”    And an angel told them, “He has been raised, he is not here.”  “Go and tell the disciples.”  (See Mark 16)

End of the story?  Clearly not!   Rather, the beginning of the story.  Go and tell!

Ron

To the people of Faith

Just a note to let you that all links should now be functional.  You should also be able to leave prayer requests and comment on my blog.   So explore and see what you can find!

 This website is a new way to inform and communicate.  We communicate within the church with up to date calendars and articles, etc.   We communicate to the public by making our church information available on the web.   

Now communicate with me.  What are your impressions and your suggestions?

Ron

Well this is my first blog for the launch of the Faith UMC website.  A blog is just a chance to talk about anything of interest to the writer.   So in the future this may be about an event in the church, some current event that relates to our Christian values, or whatever I am reflecting on at the time.    

My intent would be to update this about weekly, but I don’t want to say it will always be updated a particular day.  It could be twice a week at times if I have the time and am thinking about something, or twice a month if I am busy.  Of course that means if you don’t check often you will miss what I said.    

Today I will just talk about the website – especially talking to members of Faith UMC.   What do you think?   I hope you find this to be a good starting point.   We have capabilities to do a lot of different things and we will talk about other capabilities at Administrative Council sometime.    I have talked about a website for the time I have been here, now approaching three years.   I thought I would have one done in the first six months.   (Dreams are good!)  But I never quite had the time or expertise to get it done.  And when I spoke to some professional designers I was hearing costs starting at about $2000.  Ouch!   Recently I stumbled across a price I thought we could afford.   Lee Keele, pastor at Crossroads Christian church just enjoys designing sites on his days off.   Drop him a note of thanks.   lee@ccchutch.com     He and I have been working on this some for about the last month.  This will cost us around  $260 to initiate, plus an on-going cost of $10/month for the web host site.  I think it is worth it to reach new audiences and to improve communication among us.   (This was not in our budget so special gifts to cover the costs would be great!) 

My goal was to have a site that was easy to read, easy to find what you needed, uncluttered, etc.  But I also wanted a platform to build upon.  How did we do?   What is missing that you want to see?   What typos got past me?   

We have one link not yet active, the newsletter link labeled Faith Connection.  Check back soon for we are working on the March newsletter now.  We have a page of links to other sites.    I put a few out there and have more I intend to add.  What links would be helpful to you for your ministry in the church and for your spiritual development?  We have the ability to include photo albums of some of our events.  Check back soon!   Send me digital pictures of church events.   Give me your reactions and feedback at hutchfaithumc@sbcglobal.net 

And may you experience God’s Grace in someway today.   Maybe even on a website! 

Ron