Pastor in Waiting, No More!

Whose Agenda is it Anyway?

2011-10-17T19:42:00.006-04:00

We, who are called Methodist, are called by God to do God’s work in the world.

Pastors in particular are called to lead God’s people, teaching and equipping them to do God’s work in the world. Pastors in the United Methodist Church are also called to follow the lead of their Bishops and their District Superintendents in achieving the will and direction of the General and Annual Conferences.

First on the agenda for any Pastor is leading people to Jesus and with God’s help, leading people to submit to God’s will with a confession of faith.

Second on the agenda is to disciple the Church, leading, equipping, nurturing, serving, and encouraging them to “Be all that they can be” in the lives of their families, the Church, and the world.

Third on the agenda is to obey the will of the Church, by adhering to the Discipline, submitting to those in authority, and leading the Church to do the same.

Implied in this pastoral agenda is for the pastor to do whatever it takes to see that the agenda is accomplished. If the pastor has to live in poverty to see the agenda accomplished, so be it. If the pastor has to work a second job to see God’s will is done, so be it. If the pastor must divorce an uncooperative spouse in order to follow the will of God, so be it. If the pastor must break the law in order to achieve God’s justice, so be it. If the pastor must ______________ to do the will of God, so be it.

How do we discern the will of God?

How do we discern the will of God in our lives? When is it right and good for the pastor to live in poverty? When is it right and good to divorce a rebellious spouse? When is it right and good to break the law? When is it right and good?

1. The way to discern the will of God is through the “Power of Three.”

First examine your own heart, wants, wishes and desires.
Second, ask for Godly wisdom from a few (3) trusted advisers, preferably outside the situation that warrants a decision.
Third, seek to hear God’s voice.

2. How does God speak to us?

First, through the Word.
Second, through wise and Godly friends.
Third, directly to our hearts and minds.

3. How can God speak to us directly to our hearts and minds?

First, through dreams and visions.
Second, through others (people, radio, TV).
Third, through circumstances (Stuff Happens!).

When we are aligned with God’s will, our will is His will, and His will is our will. When we are aligned with God’s agenda, God is aligned with our agenda.

What happens when the God/pastoral agenda is resisted by a church, when the church teaches heresy in its Sunday School, won’t support the pastor (passive aggressive behavior), and refuses to align with the Discipline of the Church or the mandates and emphasis of its Conference, Bishop and leaders?

In the Scripture and in John Wesley’s Notes we find the answer:
If anyone will not welcome (support) you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town (or church). Matthew 10:14

From John Wesley’s Notes: “Shake off the dust from your feet - The Jews thought the land of Israel so peculiarly holy, that when they came home from any heathen country, they stopped at the borders and shook or wiped off the dust of it from their feet, that the holy land might not be polluted with it. Therefore the action here enjoined was a lively intimation, that those Jews who had rejected the Gospel were holy no longer, but were on a level with heathens and idolaters.” Do NOT pollute your next church or charge with the dust of a carnal church! Leave them and do not look back. They are God’s children, let HIM deal with them.

There is a story, well known among Methodists, told of John Wesley . . . "John suddenly realized that three whole days had passed in which he had not suffered persecution. Not a brick or an egg had been thrown at him for three days! Believing himself to be backslidden he prayed for God to show him why he wasn't being persecuted. A rough man hearing his prayer tossed a brick at Wesley, whereupon the preacher leaped to his feet and exclaimed, "Thank God, it's all right. I still have His presence.""

God’s agenda has never been popular. If you are a pastor and NOT meeting resistance to God’s agenda, you must be doing something wrong! Even in the best of churches, the most heavenly of appointments, there is resistance to God’s Agenda. If you are leading, preaching and teaching from your heart, and your heart is aligned with God’s agenda, and bad report is made of you to your superiors, REJOICE!! You’re doing it right! Simply pray that your DS has the needed spiritual discernment to be able to tell the difference between God’s agenda and man’s agenda. Keep doing what you’re doing, and be at peace. We DO win in the end! And God will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! Well done!” That’s all that really matters. Amen.

A Question of Integrity

2010-02-11T17:56:00.002-05:00

Ah, integrity. One of my favorite subjects! One pastor I served with refused to meet me for lunch (church business) at a public restaurant because he was concerned what would be said if people saw us together. Another pastor regularly asked me to lunch meetings at restaurants without any concern. One of my author mentors, John Maxwell, won't even board an elevator alone with a woman (but what if it was a gay man?). What happened to assuming integrity in ministers? Never mind, don't answer that!

You well know, that we Christians (and ministers too!) are as much at risk as everyone else for falling into sin, and I do believe that we should have boundaries in place that fit us and our situations. But I also believe that trust should be a factor in all our relationships.

Pastor #1 (above) was an extraordinarily handsome, charismatic man near to my own age, with a very young and jealous wife, who knew that being "alone" with me in a restaurant (even for a business lunch) was a recipe for trouble. They moved on and I have had no more contact with him or his family despite having a very close leadership bond when I served on his team.

Pastor #2 was an older man (early 60's), also handsome, very secure in his marriage, and had no qualms at all about being alone with women or what others would think if he were. He routinely counseled women (and men) behind closed doors. He and his wife and I are still very close friends.

What I'm trying to say is that among ourselves (church leadership) we must assume integrity first, defend our peers in ministry when accusations and rumors begin to spread, but be prepared to hold each other accountable and stand with the fallen through the fire.

I, as a single woman, am very secure in my identity, and my ability to maintain integrity with the opposite sex. That said, I have boundaries in place that will hopefully prevent my being tempted by sexual attraction. Will I counsel a man alone in my office? Yes, but only if there is someone else close by. Church policy says that I have a window in my door that is unobstructed. Will I invite a man (Trustee!) into my parsonage to fix the furnace? Yes. Will I counsel a man in my home study? NO! Will I have a man sit in my living room to talk or watch the game? Depends. Is he married? Is my son at home? Will I invite others to join us? Is it a date? (There's a whole 'nother can of worms!! LOL).

It all boils down to trust. How much do you trust yourself, your leadership? How much do other people trust you? Your wife, your church? That level of trust will determine your boundaries, and your expectations of others.

If a friend or ministry leader is going to fall, counsel him (or her), warn them, then let them. If a person is determined to play with fire they will get burned, and they will learn (hopefully) not to play with fire. God is the restorer and redeemer. And that's all I have to say about that! (For now anyway! LOL)

Approval and Acceptance in the Church

2009-08-09T01:41:00.004-04:00

Acceptance\ n 1 : the act of accepting 2 : the state of being accepted or acceptable 3 : an accepted bill of exchange
(c) 1995 Zane Publishing, Inc. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary (c) 1994 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

Accept - verb
1 syn see APPROVE 1
rel fancy, like, relish; admire, esteem
con discountenance, disesteem, dislike, disrelish
ant reject
(c) 1996 Zane Publishing, Inc. and Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Gen 4:6,7

Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts [people] from every nation who fear him and do what is right. Acts 10:34,35

I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Rom 15:14-16

If we are Christians, we are accepted by God. God commands us to accept those whom He has accepted. We know that we are secure in God's acceptance of us, but it is equally important that we accept each other. We do not need to be approved or accepted by others in order to feel good about ourselves, but when we do not make others feel accepted we can cause them to stumble in the faith. When people admit to fighting sin, especially certain types of sin, we may become disgusted, "turned off," or even fearful. Then there are some who are non-conformists or of a different culture. They dress differently, speak differently, and perhaps have a different standard of living. Then there are the singles. We have more single women and men than ever in our churches today. Men and women alike are often treated as if there were a "scarlet letter" on their vest. This is a social stigma that has stuck with us since the days when divorce was less common. People have a bad habit of "turning their backs," even subconsciously. In the world, people that are different are often viewed as a threat. Christians are not immune to this and when it happens can cause a great deal of pain. But because we are no longer "of the world" we must be careful to guard against it. These people, that Satan would have us turn our backs on, are among the most desperate for companionship and acceptance. We know and believe that we and they are accepted by God unconditionally, but they may not. Since God accepts them unconditionally, we must accept them also.

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Rom 14:1- 4

As we read above in Webster's definition, giving acceptance is also to hold someone in esteem, to admire them. This gives a person a sense of worth. Withholding acceptance does the opposite and can cause a fear of rejection. Robert S. McGee in his book, The Search for Significance says:

Virtually all of us fear rejection. We can fall prey to it even when we’ve learned to harden our defenses in anticipation of someone's disapproval . . . Rejection is a type of communication. It conveys a message that someone else is unsatisfactory to us, that he or she doesn’t measure up to a standard we’ve created or adopted . . . Whatever the form of behavior, it communicates disrespect, low value, and lack of appreciation. Nothing hurts quite like the message of rejection . . . Thousands who have been broken by this rejection have left the church without understanding Christ's accepting, unconditional love, a love that never uses condemnation to correct behavior.

As Christians we must put a stop to this manipulative behavior. We must teach others that they have the unconditional acceptance and love of God. We are God's ambassadors on earth, ministers of reconciliation to God. If we reject others, and withhold the blessing they deserve, then we should be recalled for retraining! God can certainly do the work on His own, but He has chosen us to be His representatives. As a result, we must be aware and vigilant, as Satan would like nothing better than to divide the church along lines of "approval."

How? By giving each other not just friendship, but a relationship. First, show others that they are accepted by reaching out to them outside of the church. Call them when you notice them missing, invite them to your home or out to lunch after church. Show genuine interest in their everyday lives. Reach out, especially to those who “hit the altar” most frequently, or who show an abundance of sorrow or tears during a service. The Blessing by Gary Smalley and John Trent teaches that everyone needs The Blessing. In their book they teach:

The Basic Elements of The Blessing:

Meaningful Touch

The act of touch is a key to communicating warmth, personal acceptance, and affirmation.

A Spoken Message

Good intentions aside, good words are necessary to provide genuine acceptance.

Attaching High Value

The words of blessing should carry with them the recognition that this person is valuable, not just pretty or talented. In scripture, recognition is based on who people are not their performance.

Picturing a Special Future

We can convey to others the gifts and character traits that they have right now are attributes that God can and will use in the future.

An Active Commitment

The blessing comes with a responsibility. The responsibility to believe in that individual and stick with them, even though they are not perfect.

Remember, people will always let you down. Jesus never will. We must do our best to let Jesus live through us and help us to fulfill our responsibility to others. Our responsibility to others doesn’t end when the worship service ends.

We read again in The Blessing:

A Churchwide guideline for loving others:

Imagine what would happen if an entire church decided to bless those in their fellowship and were trained how to do it! We would have a church where relationship needs were actively being met by a welcoming handshake or hug (meaningful touch); where appreciation for a fine sermon, working in the children's department, or simply listening to a hurting brother or sister was verbally acknowledged (spoken message). We would have groups of believers who acknowledged every members true worth (attaching high value) and who gave them words of hope and encouragement to reach their God given potential (a special future). All these elements would be wrapped in the willingness to let people fail and not let them walk away unnoticed, because a decision had already been made that they were valuable (an active commitment).

There are people in our church right now, who feel loved but not accepted, left out and ignored. It doesn’t have to be, indeed it should never be.

Test me, O LORD, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;
for your love is ever before me,
and I walk continually in your truth. Ps 26:2,3

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1Jn 4:7-12

Father, you are my sovereign Lord, who has accepted me fully despite my many faults. Lord, I ask you today to bless me, to point out where I have failed you, to forgive me, and that you be with me and keep me from sin, so that I may show your unconditional love and acceptance to others. I make my request in Jesus' name, Amen

Sermon, 7/19/09, Hero of the Faith

2009-08-03T09:57:00.002-04:00

Here is my first sermon as Assistant Pastor at FaithBridge UMC!

Hero of the Faith

A Week in the Life

2009-07-10T18:06:00.003-04:00

For those that are curious . . .

Upon arising in the morning, it's up, dressed, and out to feed Cowboy (the horse) and check on the chickens. After about 45 minutes I'm in the car, going . . . somewhere!

Monday I drove my car to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina in Winston-Salem and brought back about 500 lbs of food, mostly frozen meats but some "salvage" groceries too. That's a big chunk of the day, taking about 5 1/2 hours total to complete. I leave from my home about 9:30 am in Happy Valley of Caldwell County, take NC 268 to Wilkesboro and US-421 and I-40 the rest of the way arriving in W-S about 11 or so. Then back on US-421 to Boone, paid some bills and arrive back at the FaithBridge offices in Blowing Rock usually by 2 pm. Then unload, stock shelves, prepare for Food Pantry opening on Tuesday, and somewhere in there, grab a bite to eat. Then meet with Marianne (Senior Pastor) for a few minutes, and on this particular Monday the Casting Bread Board met and discussed, what else?, money! we also talked about fundraisers, the coming webpage and put a cargo van on the wish list. Headed down the mountain about 6:30 to a world class meal prepared by my favorite son, Robert! Then it's vege time (and phone time with Carol) in front of the TV until bed time!

Tuesday, it was up to Blowing Rock at 9:30 for Casting Bread (Tues/Wed 11 to 4). It was a BUSY day! We served 25 families and distributed about 1000 lbs of food! volunteer and church member Johnny came in at 1:30 so I could attend staff meeting. We stayed fairly busy all day with the last client coming in at 3:50. Then straightened up the shelves, restocked as well as I could with what we had, and spent some "Holy Time" with friend Linda. Headed home about 6 or so, went to the feed store and Wal-mart in Lenoir, and then collapsed in front of the TV with 1/2 a watermelon! After another excellent meal, fed Cowboy and collected eggs, and again enjoyed my tv time.

Wednesday was a little easier client wise, but I spent an intense day in front of the computer catching up on data entry from Tuesday, doing my month end report for Second Harvest, meeting with Pastor about the memorial service on Saturday, and a few other sundry tasks. I managed to get home fairly early for a change, about 6! I think . . . it's hard for me to remember that far back!

Thursday, another trip to Second Harvest, but this time in Terry's "ginormous" truck!! I LOVE that truck! It's a big 2500 cc Duramax Diesel 3/4 ton pick-up with a crew cab, AC, cruise control, and really comfortable seats! Makes the trip MUCH better! My car's ac is out :-( This trip too a little longer as I was able to bring back 1600 lbs of food. Yes, I pick it up and load it myself. SH staff is not allowed to help . . . liability. Back in Blowing Rock had the help of the wonderful Alyson E. and it was unloaded in no time! Then I had the help of 7 yr old grand-monster Allie putting it all away! Well, most of it anyway. She was a BIG help!! Exhausted, headed home about 6:30, again collapsing in front of the TV!

Friday is my "sabbath," my day of rest. Some Fridays are more spiritual than others . . . today I did N*O*T*H*I*N*G!!! Well, except computing, watching news at noon, and napping. I do feed my horse too! He would come in the back door if I didn't! When I get through with this, I'll be off to the store.

Tomorrow, will be laundry, study and prep for Sunday (Pastor's going to the beach!!), and assisting with the memorial service at 4:00. There's also the homemade Ice Cream Social that the church men's group is doing . . . I won't be missing that!

Then Sunday, is of course Church (The Blowing Rock School auditorium on Sunset Drive) and I will be teaching two classes afterward. (Next Sunday I get to preach!) Then home about 6:30. Monday morning, I get to start all over again! (You have a question? When do I clean my house? You're kidding, right? LOL)

So, that's it . . . A week in the life. In between all of this stuff, I talk to God and consult with Him on most everything. At night before I go to sleep, I read a bit of the current book (now Spiritual Traditions of the Contemporary Church) and I do find some time for scripture outside of my regular study time.

Until next time, may God bless you and keep you!

Pastor Tracey

My First Week

2009-06-20T23:27:00.003-04:00

It was a busy week! Business as usual for most of it . . . Monday was a meeting of the Casting Bread Food Pantry board, working out lots of details. I also got my first "talking to" about money. Expected but still . . . I have to do better! Tuesday was a food pantry open day, with a church staff meeting, Wednesday was a food pantry day, Thursday an office work day, Friday morning had a Worship Design Team meeting and spent the rest of the day with my dear friend Carol. Saturday had a headache in the bed day. What did I get accomplished?

Not too much I'm afraid! Lots of small details attended to, but nothing major done.

Sunday is my dd's birthday, 27 years old! Hard to believe . . . that was a long day, 27 years ago. I am so very proud of what my daughter has become, and is becoming. I know that her Daddy would be proud, no IS proud of her too! You see, I believe that our loved ones who had passed on can see us, watch over us, and even pray for us. I base my belief on scripture but won't get into the theology right now. Every seven years, her birthday falls on Fathers Day, a bitter-sweet day for both of us. I hope that she has a great time at her party tonight, and that she gets home safely!

I also learned this evening of a death in the church family. Not a member, but a young daughter (15)is a member, and was severely traumatized by her mothers death. Mom died in her arms as she tried to assist her mother during the night. There is also a younger brother, who is also severely wounded. He lost his father less that a year ago. Pastor Marianne has asked me to assist with the funeral. *sigh* The negative aftermath of this death is going to be difficult. This was another MRSA death. She underwent surgery to make her life better, and ended up with an under-treated infection that too her life. I am SO angry! And helpless. I could go on and on . . . but I won't. I have personal experience with MRSA. MRSA took my husband's life fourteen years ago. Only 14 years? Seems like an eternity, a lifetime ago.

This coming week, I need to think about my sermon on July 19th, finish up my book-keeping, be available to Pastor (per the funeral), create a newsletter, distribute boxes for the food pantry, record a video clip for my sermon (on horseback no less!), follow-up on our website (Casting Bread), organize the altar Team for next Sunday, work on updating our online church directory, work in the food pantry every day, run to pick-up food at Second Harvest (a four hour commitment), and clean the church offices. And I have a date to the movies Sunday night! Oh boy. And I'm not even installed as Pastor until July 5th!

I'll keep you posted!

Blessings,
Tracey

Waiting No More

2009-06-14T20:21:00.003-04:00

Here I am, at the beginning. The first day of my new life. I feel like Moses, coming off the mountain with the word of God in his arms. My face is bright, and I am excited. Too excited for words. What will I find when I come down. I don’t want to come down, not yet.

I left the highway at Black Mountain, and find myself at Montreat,the Presbyterian Assembly Grounds. My husband and I were here, a lifetime ago. I feel close to him, though he is waiting on the other side of the river for me. I was so proud of him, when he became an Elder. I know he is proud of me, a Pastor now.

I only have a minute, I’m on battery, up in the forest above Montreat, a holy place, even if it is Presbyterian!! We’ll forgive them for that, lol! I will continue my journey back to the camp, and continue to post my thoughts (soon as I find an AC outlet!)

I’m back, at home, trying to find the thoughts that I had on the road. Leaving Montreat, I called my dear friend Monty. He being a Presbyterian minister, I naturally thought of him and his dear wife Wendy. He offered me congratulations and praise for making it thus far. He also reminded me that when Moses came off the mountain his face was covered to protect the waiting people below! I wonder if we should lock me away until the glow dies down! I am pretty excited . . .

Hitting the road once again, I took US-70 to Ridgecrest, where I again sought an alternate route. Unbeknownst to most, is a road, a backdoor really, to Ridgecrest. It is Mills Creek Rd or Old US-&70. I followed this to Mill Creek Rd (dropped the “s”), a BEAUTIFUL road that follows the Norfolk-Southern railroad line. I actually intercepted a train, and drove beside it while I also went over AND under the tracks! It wasn’t long before the pavement ended and I wondered where the road would lead me.

Well, I came out at Old Fort. Very pretty, a quaint little town. Also near I-40. But I hadn’t had enough. I still wasn’t ready to “come off the mountain.” So, up on 70, I turned left(north)once again. This road stayed paved for about 5 miles, then went to gravel. I got a sense of history as I drove. It seemed as if the calendar was peeling off backwards! After another 5 miles or so, I saw the sign . . . “State Maintenance Ends.” Easy decision, go on, or go back. Onward . . . and UPward!

I passed Old Schoolhouse Rd, Newberry Creek Rd, and Slick Falls Branch. I was in deep forest, with a lot of other people! As it turned out, I was on a forest service road, in the Pisgah. I was climbing the knee of Mt. Mitchell. What a restful place to camp. I passed about 20 tents set up on the roadside sites, about 1/4 mile apart. If you like primitive camping, this looks like an ideal place. Just a little past the last tent, I found a small secluded campground for tents, trailers and maybe a small RV. No electricity, but they did have bathrooms (primitive) which I was glad to make use of.

My suspicions were confirmed when a VERY nice (and GOOD LOOKING!) Ranger let me know that I had about 6 miles to go to the Parkway. So I continued my 20 mph trek up the one lane gravel road, winding along Curtis Creek. I passed Big Camp Rock Branch, Licking Branch, Bear Drive Branch, climbing my way through 2800’. The bottom where I started was at 1400’! The air was cool and damp, and there was a brief shower. I felt very close to God.

The road changed character as I left National Forest road for National Park rd. I was in Laurel Gap. The view was awesome. I was now on Mackey Creek Rd, climbing Big Laurel Mountain. I came out just where I thought I would. To my left was Mt. Mitchell, to my right, Trail Horse Gap and the road home. I was at 4000’ elevation, and there was only one way to go. I turned right.

As I enjoyed God and the Parkway, my thoughts turned towards home. I was coming off a mountain top, entrusted with the word of God. What would I find when I reached the bottom? God said,

"They have lost hope. They will be worshiping idols, they will be
lonely, broken, and hurting."

I set my face towards home, and asked him,
"How do I do this? I feel so alone, I need help!"

I was actually thinking of my own single situation, selfless that I am . . . not! But he responded globally. He does after all see more of the picture than we do!

"What did my Bishop tell you? I stand at the Church door and knock. You will
invite them to come out to where I am, to work in the world, and obey me. You will encourage them to come out from their "safe" place of refuge, their "sanctuary" and take me out into the world with them, binding up the broken-hearted,healing the lame and sick, feeding the poor, giving hope to the hopeless and love to the unloveable."

Oh great! *rolling eyes at God* This reminded me of the children’s game, Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar? Change the words and you have "Who did God call to lead the flock? Who me? Yeah you! Couldn’t be!" Well I’m not passing the buck this time . . . Yeah, it was me. Somehow, God in His infinite wisdom, chose me to be your encourager, your cheerleader, your comforter, your teacher and your equipper. You are called to ministry, and I am to help you do it! We will work together to Follow Jesus, Make Disciples, and Transform the World!

I pulled off the Parkway in Blowing Rock, called son Robert to let him know that I was safely back and that I would be home shortly. I will be needing a whole lot of help. I know you’re there for me, as I am there for you. And He is there for us. He told me so!

I love all of you!
Your newest Pastor, Tracey

Bad Things? What Bad Things??? A Study on Trials

2008-09-24T20:19:00.002-04:00

All scripture is in italics and comes from the New International Version of the Bible.

ROM 8:28-30 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."

For the Christian, in all things, God works for our good. Therefore, there are no "bad" things. When bad things happen to "good" people, the "good" people aren't saved! Hard things happen, sad things, happen, Satan tempts us, God tests us, but for the people depending on Jesus Christ, all things work together for our good. That said, how do we cope when we encounter hard, sad, tempting or testing trials?

Satan tries his best to push us down and beat us up. How do we recognize the difference between simple circumstance, God's testing, and Satan's attempts to interfere with the will of God in our lives? Regardless of the source of our trials, they all have one thing in common: They work for our good. As we work through the trial, the source will become more evident to us. Our attitude and our perspective towards the trial is what shapes the outcome, whether we are strengthened in our walk with God or pick ourselves up once again, battered, bruised and bleeding. According to John Maxwell in Developing the Leader Within You, it's what we believe about a situation that controls the outcome. What exactly is the definition of the word trial that God uses so strongly for Christians?

trial \ n 1 : the action or process of trying or putting to the proof : test 2 : the hearing and judgment of a matter in issue before a competent tribunal 3 : a source of vexation or annoyance 4 : an experiment to test quality, value, or usefulness 5 : effort, attempt syn cross, ordeal, tribulation, affliction C trial adj 8 1995 Zane Publishing, Inc. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary 8 1994 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

And from the Thesaurus:
Trial - noun
The state or fact of being tested (as by suffering)
syn affliction, calvary, cross, crucible, ordeal, tribulation, visitation
rel.: agony, distress, misery, suffering; anguish, grief, heartbreak, sorrow, woe; adversity, misfortune; difficulty, hardship, rigor, vicissitude
idiom: crown of thorns, fiery ordeal, trial and tribulation
2 source of vexation or annoyance
syn.: care, trouble, worry
rel.: complication, difficulty; annoyance, distress, misfortune; ordeal
3 syn see EXPERIMENT 4 syn see ATTEMPT 8 1996 Zane Publishing, Inc. and Merriam-Webster, Inc.

So, what does the Bible say about trials and how we should view them?

1THES 3:1-5 "So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless."

So, we are not to be unsettled . . . The word unsettled also means restless, changeable, doubtful, and pending. Merriam-Webster says: unsettled \ adj 1 : not settled : not fixed (as in position or character) 2 : not calm : disturbed 3 : not decided in mind : undetermined 4 : not paid <~ accounts> 5 : not occupied by settlers 8 1995 Zane Publishing, Inc. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 1994 by Merriam-Webster, Inc.

Accepting of the fact that trials will come regardless. Also that: I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless. So, trials that start out as circumstances could end up as an opportunity for Satan to tempt us. Let's go on . . .

2THES 1:3,4 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

Thank God! Paul tells us to thank God for each other as we endure each trial. Why? Because we grow ever stronger because of it. Not only that, but Paul boasts of those who endure such trials. Could it be that God boasts of us? We should boast of each other too!

JAMES 1:2-8 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

1PET 4:12-17 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

Ah . . . Now we're getting somewhere! Consider your trials pure joy. OK, what's joy? I know it's elementary but indulge me. 1. joy \ n [ME, fr. OF joie, fr. L gaudia] 1 : a feeling of happiness that comes from success, good fortune, or a sense of well-being 2 : a source of happiness syn: bliss, delight, enjoyment, pleasure 8 1995 Zane Publishing, Inc. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 1994 by Merriam-Webster, Inc.

Bliss? Delight? Enjoyment? PLEASURE!? Give me a break! In TRIALS??!! You mean, the thing I am going through that's got my face in the dirt? The thing that's got my life and is RUINING it? That THING that I can=t seem to find a solution for? The reason I'm in jail? In poverty? Getting a divorce? Putting me in a wheelchair? Hurting my children? Killing my loved one? (Yes, I know, you get the picture.) YES! Joy. But why (again)? "because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." But Lord, it's so hard . . .

JAMES 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

OK, so I'm trying to be joyful about all this . . . I accept it, I'm blessed! What next?

JAMES 1:13-15 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Wow. It doesn't say if we're tempted, it says when we're tempted. You mean we have to be tempted by Satan? How do we deal with this too?

MATT 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: . . . "

MATT 4:7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: . . . "

MATT 4:10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "

1PET 5:8,9 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

1PET 1:3-9 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Get into the Word of God! Praise Him! Be self-controlled and alert. Don't let yourself get into compromising situations. Be confident! Satan can't win, in fact, he's already defeated.

JER 1:17-19 "Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land‑‑against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

JER 15:20 I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you," declares the LORD.

He is the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He never changes. The word that He spoke to Jeremiah holds true for us today. OK, I'm humbled. What else can we do through our trial while we're rejoicing about it!?

2COR 8:1-7 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

To sum it all up, We shouldn't be surprised when it comes, 'cause it's gonna. When it does, we should be glad and have an attitude of joyfulness and confidence about it. We should also be on guard, alert for the temptation of Satan which is sure to come. Encourage others. Finally, instead of wallowing in self pity, we should give even more of ourselves while in the middle of our trials. For again, what is a trial? 1 : the action or process of trying or putting to the proof : test 2 : the hearing and judgment of a matter in issue before a competent tribunal 3 : a source of vexation or annoyance 4 : an experiment to test quality, value, or usefulness 5 : effort, attempt syn cross, ordeal, tribulation, affliction C trial adj 8 1995 Zane Publishing, Inc. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary 1994 by Merriam-Webster, Inc.

"Trying, or putting to the proof." Are we really who and what we say we are? Hearing and judgment of a matter before a competent tribunal. I don't know of any more competent tribunal that the Triune God. Besides, with Jesus as the lawyer, and God as the judge, and If we have a personal relationship with Jesus, we can't be convicted! An experiment . . . hmmm . . . Are we really going to stand firm, are we really as strong as we think we are . . . Satan just wants to find out. Not for his own purposes but to make us doubt ourselves and ultimately God. Isn't that what he's been doing since Eden?

GEN 3:4,5 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

And lastly, we are to encourage each other so that others won't be unsettled either. Cool. So tell me again . . . There are NO bad things, only hard and sad things that all work together for our good, because we love Jesus and are called according to God's purposes. As we go through our lives and successfully stand firm and overcome in the Lord, we grow stronger, more mature, and complete in Him. You GO girl! (Or boy!) You're doing great! Woo hoo!!

1JOHN 5:1-5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

(c) 2001-2008

Hold Fast

2008-09-12T00:24:00.001-04:00

In the movie Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Frodo nearly falls to his death when grappling with Gollum over the ring. Sam clutching Frodo’s wrist desperately says to Frodo, “Don’t you let go!” Frodo, is wavering between following the ring to his death, and allowing Sam to save him. The ring represents an addiction or a sin, a thing that has power over its victim. As long as the ring is whole, it has a hold on Frodo. Frodo is making a hard choice that he has no real control over. I believe that if the ring had not finally succumbed to the heat and melted, that Frodo would have let go, and followed the ring to his death. However, at the last possible moment, the ring sinks out of sight, destroyed, and Sam who never gives up on Frodo commands him, “REACH!” Frodo regains hope and reaches with all his might for Sam’s hand and relative safety.

What are the lessons for us here and now in Tolkien's writing? Sin and addiction lead to hopelessness and despair. The only way out is to destroy the hold of the addictive substance or sin over us. There is only one Power that can do this, the dunamis, the mighty resurrection power of God that resides in all who are called by His name. While the sinner is fighting the sin, his friends in Christ must remain firm and steadfast to the end, always offering support, love, and firmly grasping the hand of the one who would rather fall into despair than give up the thing that holds him captive.

Galadriel, the Elf queen told the Fellowship, “The quest stands on the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while all the Company is true." If we Christians are true to one another, the bondage of sin and addiction can be broken. Sam was willing to die rather than let go of the one he loved. Jesus did die, rather than let go of us. The Church must find the strength in Christ to love and befriend each other, so as to “stick closer than a brother” through times of sin, addiction, hopelessness and despair. This is the love that the apostle John spoke of in his epistle, “Beloved, let us love one another . . . he that doesn't love, doesn't know God.”

If the Church remains self-centered, isolated in their own little pew, more and more brothers and sisters will be lost, and the church will remain crippled, unable to save the world because of its inability to save itself. We MUST be there for each other, watching over, guiding, and protecting each other. We must all be willing to go the second and hundredth mile for our friends, and ultimately be willing to sacrifice everything for them. Without this open willingness to take up the cross of Jesus, the church will fail in its responsibility, and will be held responsible by God in its failure.

Hold Fast

Performed by Mercy Me

To everyone who's hurting
To those who've had enough
To all the undeserving
That should cover all of us
Please do not let go
I promise there is hope

Hold fast
Help is on the way
Hold fast
He's come to save the day
What I've learned in my life
One thing greater than my strife
Is His grasp
So hold fast

Will this season ever pass?
Can we stop this ride?
Will we see the sun at last?
Or could this be our lot in life?
Please do not let go
I promise you there's hope

You may think you're all alone
And there's no way that anyone could know
What you're going through
But if you only hear one thing
Just understand that we are all the same
Searching for the truth
The truth of what we're soon to face
Unless someone comes to take our place
Is there anyone?
All we want is to be free
Free from our captivity, Lord
Here He comes

Hold Fast . . .

A Bit About Me

2008-09-10T00:14:00.000-04:00

I am a simple country girl on a mission from God! If left to my own devices and preferences, I would live on a farm in the middle of nowhere and do as little as possible . . . raise my own food, some livestock, fish, hunt, and live in peace as an eccentric hermit with my computer and cable TV! Fortunately, God has other plans for me. In secular terms, I have an overwhelming compulsion to work in a church, serving the people of God. In church circles, we call it "being called," or "having a calling."

I began my journey to the pastorate on the day I was born, and it is not yet complete 48 years later! In the Methodist church, pastors are "appointed" by their District Superintendent and their Bishop. I am fully approved and qualified, but no available appointment in my district. So while I wait, I thought I'd write and share with you what it's like being a Pastor in Waiting (Thanks Joe for the moniker!).

Currently, I am a member of FaithBridge UMC in Blowing Rock, NC and very active. I am the coordinator of our growing emergency food pantry, and wear a few other hats as well. I hope that somebody, somewhere in Internetland will read my blog, and perhaps come along with me as I continue on my journey.