Tuesday on the Run 01/26/2010
Good morning! I hope you’re having a great Tuesday. I’m still rejoicing over a great Sunday. We had a great problem on Sunday morning. A couple of late-comers couldn’t find a parking spot and had to park in the front circle. (Several of us may need to start parking in the grass to make sure we have spots available for guests). The bell choir did a wonderful job as usual and the Praise Team inspired us to truly worship. (Plus, they sang one of my favorite hymns—”My Jesus I Love Thee.”) The video, 99 balloons, and the scripture reading reminded us of how precious life is as we celebrated Sanctity of LIife Sunday. God’s presence was truly present. I hope you are enjoying the “Growing Closer to God” Class on spiritual disciplines as much as I am enjoying teaching it. (Sunday School and Wednesday evening). Remember if you miss the Sunday morning class, you can catch it on Wednesday night. Also, we are taping it if you want to pick up a CD. Anyone fasting this week? [Oh, that’s right! You’re not supposed to talk about it even if you are.] Aren’t you glad God gives us opportunities to come together each week to worship, and pray and encourage one another? But yet, it’s in the day to day struggles of living, and working and loving that our faith is put to the test. It’s during the week as we rub shoulders with the world that we have the greatest opportunity to influence lives and make a difference in our world. During the reign of Oliver Cromwell, the British government began to run low on silver for coins. Lord Cornwell sent his men to the local cathedral to see if they could find any precious metal there. Af¬ter investigating they reported: “The only silver we can find is in the statues of the saints standing in the corners.” To which the radical soldier and statesman of England replied: “Good! We’ll melt down the saints and put them in circulation!” God doesn't need us setting in a dusty corner or sleeping on a comfortable pew. He needs us “out there”, in circulation, touching people’s lives. As Colossians 3: 17 tells us “whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Whether you’re delivering mail, taking blood pressures, teaching kindergarten or washing dishes … do it as if you were doing it for Christ. Our mission field is all around us. Get out there and circulate! I trust you’re working on your chili recipe for this coming Sunday night. I’m actually experiment¬ing with a new recipe today. It’s good, but it needs a little something. I’m still looking for that “secret ingredient” that will make it just perfect. Have a great week! In Christ, Pastor Barry Tuesday on the Run 01/20/2010
Today is the day for lists. This morning at breakfast I made a short grocery list. There are a few things we’re out of and need from the grocery store—milk, bread, OJ, mint chocolate chip ice cream (I probably would have remembered the last one without a list.) My second list involved a number of phone calls I need to make. Then finally I just came up with a list of things I need to remember to do this week. Now if I don’t lose the lists, I may get all of this stuff done. All of this list making got me to thinking about some of the lists we find in the Bible. If you check off most of the items on these lists, I guarantee you’ll have a great week. Moses’ List (Exodus 20: 3-17)
Just to report, we received over $1,000 for Haiti Relief on Sunday. Our Missions Committee added to this amount and sent a check for $2,000 to World Hope (our Wesleyan Relief Agency) that is already on the ground meeting needs and saving lives in this devastated region. Thanks for your unselfish generosity. Also, just a reminder that we have lots of meetings and activities going on this week. (check the website www.parkwaywesleyanstaunton.org) Don’t forget the Mountain Ridge Ringer’s Spaghetti Supper and Silent Auction this coming Saturday night, January 23rd from 5:00—8:00 PM. Have a great week! Pastor Barry Tuesday on the Run 01/12/2010
Good morning! I hope you have been able to stay warm these last couple of days. The good news is we are headed for a big thaw this coming weekend. It may get up to 50! Woohoo! Another item of good news involves the Argots. We were able to move them into the new parsonage yesterday. We are still planning an open house once they get settled. Thanks to all who helped clean last week and those who helped move furniture and boxes yesterday. I know Dale, Pam and James are glad to finally be home. Praise the Lord for the great service on Sunday. It’s nice to have everyone back and to be consistently breaking the 100 barrier (105 on Sunday). We also welcomed four new members into our fellowship: Deborah Smith, Brandi Sparks, Sam and Sandy Lyon. Plus, I believe God encouraged a number of people during our closing prayer time as we submitted to him our fears. As God told the suffering church at Smyrna, “I know about your affliction and your poverty. I know the terrible things people have said about you. Don’t be afraid!” Why? (1) Because it’s temporary (2) Because even if you die, you will live and (3) One day you will receive the crown of life. The First and the Last has already overcome our last enemy death, so we have nothing to fear. Yet, according to a recent poll, Americans are more frightened that ever. USA Weekend recently ran a cover story entitled, What Americans Are Afraid Of. Here is their list:
Allan Emery, a successful business man, tells the story of spending a night with a shepherd on the Texas prairie. During the night, the wail of a coyote spooked the sheep. The sheep dogs immediately sprang up and were on alert. The sheep began to bleat pitifully and were in a panic. Emery says the shepherd simply got up and threw a couple of logs on the fire. In the glow Allan Emery says he could see thousands of little lights in the darkness. He realized those lights were reflections of the fire in the eyes of the sheep. “In the midst of danger,” he observed, “the sheep were not looking out into the darkness where their enemy lurked, but instead they were keeping their eyes set in the direction of their safety, looking toward the shepherd. It reminds me of Hebrews 12 where we are encouraged to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and the perfecter of our faith. Don’t be afraid. Keep your eyes on the Shepherd. Have a great week, Pastor Barry Tuesday on the Run 01/05/2010
Brrrr! It’s cold this morning. If this is “global warming” I’d sure hate to see “global cooling”. Thank God for furnaces that work, car heaters and thermal underwear. Wherever you are this morning, stay warm and be especially mindful of those around us who may be struggling to survive this cold weather. If we can help, we should do what we can. Let us know if you are aware of any particularly needy situations. It was good to be back with our Parkway family this past Lord’s Day. I feel like I haven’t seen some of you in weeks. We had a great service for those of you who weren’t there. Our District Superintendent, Greg Reynolds was present to bring us greetings from the District, plus he ministered to us in song. Following the service he met briefly with the local church board. Well, this is the first “Tuesday on the Run” of the new year. I don’t know about you, but there is always something exciting to me about looking at that fresh, blank calendar. I went to Staples a couple of weeks ago and bought my new “Day-Timer”. Already it is beginning to fill up, even into the Spring and Summer. The question I always ask myself as I look at those blank pages is: “Barry, what are you going to do with the 365 days of 2010?” Will this be a year that counts for something or will it just be another year? Will this be a year of personal and spiritual growth or more of the status quo? In the light of eternity will this year have any positive results. I’m convinced nothing of eternal value happens by accident. It requires discipline, hard work and consistency. That’s why we are beginning a new class this month entitled GROWING CLOSER TO GOD: “Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People”. From now until Easter, we are going to examine twelve spiritual disciplines that have the potential to transform your life. We will be talking about classic disciplines such as fasting, prayer, and solitude as well as disciplines like forgiveness, humility and rest. These will be practical lessons with weekly assignments and lots of encouragement. We are not just going to learn about spiritual disciplines, we are going to practice them! As you may have noticed from the bulletin insert, this class will be offered at two times: on Wednesday night and during the Sunday School hour. Our goal is not to take people away from other established classes but to attract new Sunday School students. There is a hymn we sometimes sing at the dawn of a New Year that was written by Francis Ridley Havergal in 1874 and was introduced in a Christmas greeting that she sent out to her friends. It is a great prayer for us to consider as we face another year! Another Year is Dawning Another year is dawning, Dear Master, let it be, In working, or in waiting, Another year with Thee. Another year of mercies, Of faithfulness and grace; Another year of gladness In the shining of Thy face. Another year of progress, Another year of praise, Another year of proving Thy presence all the days. Another year of service, Of witness of Thy love, Another year of training For holier work above. Another year is dawning, Dear master, let it be On earth, or else in heaven Another year for Thee. - Francis Ridley Havergal Philippians 3:13 “But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Have a great week Pastor Barry |
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