Pastor Rob's Weekly Message
From: Rob Roy [robroy@davesworld.net]
Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 1999 8:08 AM
Hello Good People,
May the grace of God be with you today.
All this begins with doing what I can. I don't have the strength to preach a sermon yet, but I do have the power to pray, think and write. Yesterday I tired to do a 'girls pushup' ( knees on the floor) I barely got 1 in, but today I hope to have done a couple and perhaps by next week, by doing what I can, I will be able to do a few with my knees off the floor.The Park U.M.C. has changed since myself and my family arrived on the scene. People here were in a 'minor state of crisis' worried about that we had not paid Conference Askings last year and were already behind some 10,000.
We came and said that we are not about crisis, but about the Joy of Jesus Christ. We finished last year in the Black, and even raised extra money to purchase the Bells.
This year we have continued to preach that Jesus Christ is alive, and that is good news of Great Joy! And because our hearts will follow where our treasures are, we are well on our way to again arriving in the black, plus remember we raised extra money, over 10,000 to keep the roof on the church.
We have some exciting plans to go into our neighborhood and bring them in to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
Now all of that may scare some people, going from a church of crisis to a church of JOY. You might not realize this but some folk don't know how to have Joy and are afraid of what it may mean. There lives are so use to going from one crisis to another, that to do things any other way is foreign and they don't know how to act. It is not that they are not Christians, but they have missed out on the blessing of Joy. Others do know how to act. They give and not count the cost, they know in giving we receive! Joy will cost you more, but you receive more. Those in crisis always hold back some in 'reserve' preparing for the next crisis, and don't have much time to spare. Those in Joy, give freely, and will give more, they give of their time, and have great amounts to give and share in servant giving.
Some are afraid of change,
But as your Pastor I have good news for you! I am not afraid of the future, and you don't have to be either. The reason we do not have to be afraid is because
GOD IS THERE TOO!
So I need not worry about what I may eat or drink for my heavenly Father knows those and cares for them.As you look at your Stewardship this Sunday, as you bring your pledge cards forward and dedicate them to God, may you do what you can, and bring those gifts forward with Joy and Hope.
We are going to do great things this year with God. Maybe not just what
you or I thought, but still great things.
May God bless you this Thanksgiving
May God bless you with Joy as we bring our pledges before our God this Sunday, and dedicate our Church to Joy!
Pastor Rob and all.
