History records an interesting even during the dark winter of 1864 just before Christmas. At Petersburg, Virginia the Confederate army of Robert E. Lee faced the Union divisions of General Ulysses S. Grant. The war was now three and half years old and was at a point of virtual stalemate. Late one evening, one of Lee’s generals, Major General George Pickett, received word that his wife had given birth to a healthy baby boy. Up and down the line the Southerners began building huge bonfires in celebration of the event. These fires did not go unnoticed in the Northern camps and soon a nervous Grant sent out a reconnaissance patrol to see what was going on. The scouts returned with the message that Pickett had had a son and these were celebratory fires. It so happened that Pickett and Grant had been contemporaries at West Point and knew one another well. So to honor the occasion, Grant ordered that bonfires should be built on the Northern side too.
What a peculiar night it was. For miles on both sides of the lines fires burned. No shots were fired. No yelling back and forth. No war fought. Only light, celebrating the birth of a child. It didn’t last long. Soon the fires burned down and once again the darkness of war enveloped our nation. But for a brief moment a baby brought light.
I’d never really thought of it as a Christmas song until I heard Tim Hughes' “Here I Am To Worship” on a radio station playing all Christmas music. But notice the first verse:
Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness.
Opened my eyes, let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You.
Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You’re my God.
Jesus is indeed, the Light of the World (John 1:4-5). The good news of Christmas is that for those who will accept the light, darkness can never overtake them. As Jesus says in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” I trust you experienced that light during this Christmas season.
It now becomes our job to share that light with those who are still in darkness. As we approach this New Year, let’s be diligent to let our light shine as never before.
Have a Great Week!
Pastor Barry
I’ve decided to make my Tuesday on the Run e-mail this week a Christmas letter to my wonderful Parkway Wesleyan Family. Rosemary and I would like to express our love and appreciation for each of you and wish you a blessed Christmas. Your continued love and support make our job such a blessing.
I am especially thankful for Pastor Dale and Pastor Pam and the huge impact they are having on our ministry. Besides leading us in inspiring worship every week, Dale does a ton of stuff behind the scenes with technology, the website, communication and printing. I don’t know how we managed without him. And by the way, I’ve been in a lot of other churches recently and I would rank our worship ahead of anything I’ve seen. Pastor Pam continues to impress me with her creativity and faithfulness to the children’s ministry.
Along with Dale and Pam, we’d like to thank our faithful core of youth and children’s workers. From Sunday School, to Children’s Church, to Nursery, to our Youth Ministry, we have a dedicated staff. We could use a few more, but we are thankful for the faithful servants we have.
We all owe a debt of gratitude to Bonnie, our church secretary, for her tireless efforts in the church office. She doesn’t believe anyone ever reads the bulletin, but I know that you do. Her ability to decipher my terrible handwriting is itself a spiritual gift. Thanks, Bonnie for all you do.
I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that we’ve got a great church full of wonderful servants. God has been so good to us this past year. We’ve added a lot of new faces to our congregation which is such a blessing. It seems like we are on the verge of some amazing growth in the next few months. I am so excited about what God is going to help us accomplish in 2012.
Rosemary and I are so looking forward to worshipping together with our church family on Christmas Day. It’s not often that we get this opportunity. What a joy to be able to celebrate God’s wonderful gift with those we love. Of all the gifts we may receive this Christmas none can compare to God’s amazing gift. As Paul says in II Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! Join us on Sunday and we’ll unwrap this gift and celebrate together.
With love,
Pastor Barry and Rosemary
One of America’s greatest poets is Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The year 1860 found Longfellow happy in his life, enjoying a widening recognition, and elated over the election of Abraham Lincoln, which he believed signaled the triumph of freedom and redemption for the nation.
The following year the Civil War began. On July 9, ,1861 Longfellow’s wife, Fanny, was near an open window sealing locks of her daughter’s hair,
using hot sealing wax. Suddenly her dress caught fire and engulfed her with flames. Her husband, sleeping in the next room, was awakened by her screams. As he desperately tried to put out the fire and save his wife, he was severely burned on his face and hands.
Fanny died the next day. Longfellow’s severe burns would not even allow him to attend Fanny’s funeral. His white beard, which is so identified with him, was one of the results of the tragedy—the burn scars on his face made shaving almost impossible. In his diary for Christmas day 1861 he wrote, “How inexpressibly sad are the holidays.” In 1862 the toll of war dead began to mount and in his diary for that year Longfellow wrote of Christmas. “A merry Christmas say the children, but that is no more for me.”
In 1863 his son who had run away to join the Union army was severely wounded and returned home in December. There is no entry in Longfellow’s diary for that Christmas. But on Christmas Day 1864—at age 57—Longfellow sat down to try to capture, if possible, the joy of the season. He began:
I heard the bells on Christmas day. Their old familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth, good will to men.
As he came to the third stanza, he was stopped by the thought of the condition of his beloved country. The Battle of Gettysburg was not long past. Days looked dark, and he probably asked himself the question, “How can I write about peace on earth, good will to men in this war-torn country, where brother fights against brother and father against son?” Longfellow wrote one of the most honest, depressing verses of poetry ever written.
“And in despair I bowed my head: “There is no peace on earth”, I said,
for hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men.”
As we look around at our world this morning, we may be tempted to agree with this hopeless assessment. There doesn’t seem to be much good news. For many, Christmas is a lonely, depressing season, filled with gloom and despair. But we have to remember the story is not over. The last chapter is still to be written. As believers, we can have hope even in the midst of life’s most troubling circumstance. In Longfellow’s great poem, which has become the well known Christmas carol, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”, he turns his thoughts heavenward. With faith he proclaims:
Then peeled the bells more loud and deep; “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep!
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men.”
I hope you know that peace this morning. In John 14:27 Jesus makes us this amazing promise: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. May His peace fill your heart and take away your anxiety this Christmas. [For an inspiring rendition of “I Heard the Bells” check out the You Tube version by Casting Crowns]
Have a great week!
Pastor Barry
P.S. Christmas Events
December 18th, Sunday night 6:30 PM “Arrest Ye Merry Gentlemen” -- our student ministries Christmas program
December 21st, Wednesday 7:00 PM Christmas Carol Sing
December 25th, Sunday 10:45 AM Christmas Day Family Worship
This past summer, Rosemary and I visited the Wright Brothers’ Museum in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
We read of the brother’s fascination with flight and their many failed attempts (it is a wonder they didn’t kill themselves). We climbed the sand dune they used in some of their early attempts with gliders. Finally, on December 17, 1903 first flight with a motorized, fixed wing aircraft was achieved with Orville at the controls. The “Flyer I” embarked on a 12 second flight.
Wilber rushed to the local telegraph office and sent the following message home to Ohio--we have flown for 12 seconds—we will be home for Christmas. Upon receiving the telegram, their sister Katherine went to the Dayton Journal and told the editor of her brothers’ historic flight and informed him they would be home for Christmas if he wanted to schedule an interview. He listened politely and told her he would put something about the boys in the paper.
On December 19th on page 6 of the paper there was a small headline that said: “WRIGHT BROTHERS HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.” The most important story of the year, man’s first flight, and the newspaper missed it! It reminds me of that first Christmas, so long ago in Bethlehem. The “good news of great joy,” the birth of our Savior was missed by most people. The only recorded visitors were a few shepherds and some foreigners who followed a star and found the Christ child. The busy merchants and inn keepers of Bethlehem didn’t know of His coming and could have cared less. Herod is interested only because he wants to kill him and eliminate any threats to his throne. Even the religious leaders, who know of the prophecies that predict the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem, don’t take the time to go the short 5 miles to look. They miss the miracle.
Let’s make sure that we don’t do the same. In all of the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping and decorating, and eating, and celebrating let’s not forget the reason for the season. Take time to focus on Jesus. Reflect on the miracle of the incarnation and what it means for our lives. Can I recommend some Christmas family activities? Gather the family and watch the movie “The Nativity Story”. If you like to read I’d recommend the following historical fictions:
“Two from Galilee” by Marjorie Holmes
“The Nativity Story” (same as movie) from Angela Hunt
The Little Books of Why? By Brock and Bodie Thoene
- “Why a Manger”
- “Why the Shepherds”
- “Why a Star”
Or even better, go to the gospels themselves and reread the story of Jesus’ birth. If you have children or grandchildren there are tons of children’s books about the birth of Jesus. Max Lucado’s “The Crippled Lamb” is a good choice.
And don’t forget to worship. The Lord deserves our praise! “Joy to the World, The Lord Has Come, Let Earth Receive Her King. Let every heart prepare him room, and have a nature sing.” Is there room in your heart for Jesus?
Have a great week!
Pastor Barry
My favorite holiday of the year is Thanksgiving. Not just because we get to eat turkey, stuffing and lots of dessert. Not just because there are lots of football games. But I think I like the fact that it’s the least commercialized holiday that we celebrate.
Yes, I know it’s become preparation day for Black Friday and Cyber-Monday sales. But at least for a while, it’s a time to slow down, spend time with family and be thankful. Hopefully you took some time this past weekend to remember and give God thanks for His many blessings. I am almost overwhelmed at times by God’s goodness. As we spent the weekend spoiling our grandson and being with family, I just couldn't help but Praise the Lord for His goodness toward us. I kept wondering what did I ever do to deserve God’s goodness? Why should I be so blessed? And even greater question is what should I do with all these blessings?
Our Wesleyan Life magazine a year or so ago carried the story of a family that came up with a unique way of counting their blessings in a tangible way. They were frustrated by the fact that they never seemed to have any extra funds to give when special needs would arise. One day they discovered
I Corinthians 16:2 “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
After reading that verse the husband decided he would begin to count up God’s blessings for the previous week. On Sunday afternoon he got out his legal pad and began thinking back over the past week.
He remembered that they had gone out to dinner with some friends who unexpectedly picked up the tab for the meal. He figured, OK, that would have cost me about $50, so he wrote it down. Someone had given them a birthday gift of $25. Then, they got a rebate on something they had purchased for another $25. So in total God had blessed them with an extra $100 that week. They set aside $10 (a tithe of that amount) and gave it to a missionary they were supporting.
The next week they sat down again and counted up their blessings. The wife remembered she had saved $40 on groceries due to a triple coupon day at the grocery store. Their insurance company gave them a $20 reduction for going 3 years without an accident. So there was another $6 for their BLESSING FUND.
At the end of the year they discovered that God had given them over $3,000 in unnoticed blessings and they had been able to give over $300 to missions without ever sacrificing.
I think all of us might be surprised if we took the time to count our blessings. As we head into this Christmas season, let’s remember to thank God for His many blessings. But let’s also remember to share those blessings with those around us who are in need.
Have a great week! It’s good to be back.
Pastor Barry
P.S. Don’t forget the special Veggie Tales movie on Friday night at 7:00 PM! This is a great outreach for our church. If you know of families with kids, invite them to come!
Dr. Alexander Whyte, the great Scottish preacher of the last century, is remembered especially for his pulpit prayers. It seemed that no matter how dark the night or how bleak the circumstances he could always find something to be thankful for. But on one cold, foggy, and rainy morning there was a rather meager attendance for morning worship. They had been enduring the same kind of weather for about two weeks and everyone was sick of it.
One of the parishioners said to another, “The preacher will have nothing to thank God for on a wretched morning like this.” However, they underestimated Alexander Whyte. The preacher began his prayer that morning with these words: “O God, we thank Thee that it’s not always like this.”
The point being there is always something to be thankful for. Being thankful is a choice. We can choose to express thankfulness or we can choose to complain. The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:19-20 tells us to “sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Notice the words always and for everything. We’re not just to thank God when things are going well, we can even thank Him in the midst of trials.
Did you realize that our Pilgrim forefathers faced a difficult decision when that first harvest rolled around. That first winter of 1621 had been a difficult one. Half of the original colony died. There were bouts with malaria and influenza, freezing temperatures, snow storms and meager food supplies. Hardest hit were the children. Only a few of them survived.
In the fall there was some disagreement over what kind of gathering they should have. Some believed they should have a memorial service to grieve the deaths of those who had been taken from them. Yet, the others wanted to thank God for the harvest and His mercy in sparing them and giving them a hope for the future. Aren’t you glad the second group won out?
I hope you can find many things to be thankful for this coming Thursday. God is so good! Even in the storms of life there is much to praise God for!
Have a great Thanksgiving Day!
Pastor Barry
P.S. We are rejoicing over our great 90th Anniversary weekend. We had a wonderful time with the Webb Family on Saturday night. (145 in attendance). Then, what a great Sunday morning! It was great to see so many old friends and acquaintances (193 present). A special thanks to our Anniversary Committee and all who worked so hard to make it a success!
This coming weekend, we at Parkway Wesleyan will be celebrating our 90th Anniversary as a church. On November 11, 1921 the Pilgrim Holiness Church of Staunton was officially organized with 21 charter members. Shortly thereafter, Rev. J. V. Roberts of Roanoke was called to be their first pastor. In preparing for our anniversary it has been fascinating to hear of some of the amazing miracles that took place and to learn of some of the faithful servants who have been a part of this ministry. God has truly blessed this church.
In some ways I feel like King David in I Chronicles 29. David is near the end of his life and he is about to turn over the leadership of Israel to his son Solomon. If you’ll remember the story, David had wanted to build a permanent house for the Lord. However, God had told him NO. His son Solomon would be given the task of building the temple. Though David must have been disappointed, he doesn’t complain. Instead, he begins to gather supplies and raise the funds to complete this project. He begins to get things ready so that when Solomon takes the throne he can begin building almost immediately.
Not only does David give personally, but the people respond with gifts of gold, silver and precious stones. As David takes stock of all they’ve done. As he inventories the amazing treasure they’ve stockpiled, his heart just breaks out in praise. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. (I Chronicles 29: 13-14)
As I think about this anniversary weekend, I feel a little bit like David. “Who am I that I get to pastor such a great church?” Why have we as a church been blessed in such a marvelous way for 90 years?” I’m reminded of the fact that most of the blessings we enjoy are not deserved, they are all gifts from God’s hand. We are simply enjoying the labors of many who have gone before us. We don’t deserve any of this. It’s all because of His amazing grace.
This coming weekend we get to reminisce and remember people and events for the past 90 years. No doubt we will see many old friends and recount dozens of stories of God’s blessings. In the midst of it all, I trust we will be quick to give God the glory. He deserves our highest praise and our heartfelt thanks.
I love the gospel song by Andre’ Crouch that asks the question “How can I say thanks for the things you have done for me?” Things so underserved, yet you gave to prove your love for me;” The songwriter goes on to point out that: “The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude. All that I am, and ever hope to be; I owe it all to Thee” “To God be the glory … For the things He has done!
Let’s be sure to remember this weekend that the Lord deserves all the praise! Hope to see you there!
Pastor Barry
The Rick Webb Family Concert— Saturday, November 19th—7:00 PM
Anniversary Celebration and lunch— Sunday, November 20th—10:30 AM
There will be no Sunday School on Sunday, November 20th
An older couple were sitting in their family room one night watching TV. The husband, turned to his wife and said: “Just so you know, I never want to live in a vegetative state dependent on some machine. If that ever happens, just pull the plug.” His wife immediately got up, walked over and unplugged the TV.
No doubt, all of us would be better off if we were to do the same. I’m not just bashing television, although I do believe it can have a mind-numbing effect. The question is, what kind of life are we really living? Are we just existing? Or are we really living the abundant life Jesus promised? 10 A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life—life in all its fullness. [John 10: 10 NCV]
Our Sunday School lesson in the Sanctuary Class this past Sunday dealt with the living water of Engedi. The pictures on the video were amazing. Here is this lush tropical oasis in the midst of a barren wilderness. Fed by an underground stream, water literally gushes out of a rock and tumbles down a waterfall bringing incredible life to the area.
Sometimes our world seems like a barren wasteland. We are parched and thirsty. We wonder if we can survive another day. Yet, there is a source of living water available to us. Jesus offered this water to a thirsty Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. She had been trying to find joy and happiness in a string of broken relationships, but with little success. Jesus offers her something better, “14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” [John 4:14] A little later Jesus offers this great invitation on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
[John 7: 37-38]
I'm reminded of a story I read recently about a group of sailors whose ship capsized in a terrible storm. They had survived for several days in a lifeboat, but their water supply was gone. With the sun blazing down they knew that they could not survive for long. They were so thirsty. But what they didn’t realize is that they had drifted to within a mile of where the mighty Amazon River empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The fresh water is lighter than the salty ocean water and thus stays on top. It empties into the ocean with such force that it pushes a plume of fresh water several miles out to sea. The sailors didn’t know it, but all they needed to do was lean over the side of their lifeboat and they could have quenched their thirst.
The good news for us this morning is that living water is available for the taking. We don’t have to just exist. We don’t have to remain thirsty. God wants us to experience so much more.
Maybe you’ve heard the song by Crystal Lewis that has become one of my favorite invitation songs:
Come just as you are Hear the spirit call Come just as you are Come and see
Come receive Come and live forever Life everlasting Strength for today
Taste the living water And never thirst again.
Look to the One this morning who can satisfy.
Have a great week!
Pastor Barry
In the Old Testament book of Numbers, God brings His people to the edge of the promised land. They send out spies to scout out the land and their report is both positive and negative. Yes it is a wonderful land, flowing with milk and honey, but there are walled cities and giants there. The majority opinion is that the land is unconquerable. In spite of the encouragement of Joshua and Caleb to trust the Lord, most want to give up and go back to Egypt. Moses describes the scene in in Numbers 14: 1-4 this way That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in the desert! Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
It’s amazing to me that a people would choose slavery over freedom just because it was more comfortable and less challenging. Yet, I wonder how different are we really? Do we fear taking a risk for Jesus? Do we settle for mediocrity just because it is less demanding and doesn’t cost as much?
Listen to this quote from Hans Kung in his book “The Church As the People of God”. “A church which pitches It’s tents without constantly looking out for new horizons, which does not continually strike camp, is being untrue to its calling … we must play down our longing for certainty, accept what is risky, and live by improvisation and experiment.”
I believe what Kung is saying is that we can’t always play it safe. Following Jesus often means stepping into the unknown, trying something new and putting our self in places where unless God helps us we are destined to fail. That’s what it means to live by faith.
Is it scary? Yes! Is it always easy? Definitely not! But the upside is we may get to see the hand of God. There is nothing more exciting than being part of a miracle. My challenge to us as a church is to keep following Jesus wherever He leads us with radical abandonment. We never want to stop short of God’s best for our lives. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend 40 years wandering in circles like the Israelites. The promise land is waiting for those who will be obedient.
Have a great week,
Pastor Barry
P.S. Thanks to all who made our Trunk or Treat night such a success. We had a fantastic turnout and I believe made a great impact on our community.
This weekend I experienced a twinge of loneliness. [A good thing perhaps, since my sermon this past Sunday was entitled “You Are Not In This Alone.”] My wife has been off to Michigan spoiling our grandson for a few days, so I had the weekend to myself. It’s been a productive weekend. I’ve mowed grass, done yard work and fixed a couple of things around the house [4 trips to Lowe’s and Home Depot.] I completed a long run on Saturday, watched lots of football and the World Series, and ate lots of stuff Rosemary probably wouldn’t approve of. [I grilled a cheeseburger Friday and covered it with onions sautéed in real butter—I could feel my arteries clogging as I ate it, but it was soo good!] Yet, I have to admit, the house sure gets quiet after a while. I can only imagine what it would be like to live alone day in and day out.
AARP magazine recently reported the results of a landmark study of people ages 45 and older that determined 35% of us are chronically lonely (up from just 20% a decade ago.) Interestingly, the highest percentage was in the 40-50 age bracket. The study also showed that those who attended church regularly or who volunteered had significantly lower loneliness levels than those who didn’t. One might think that those who reached out regularly through social media such as Facebook would be less lonely, but that was not true. As one expert puts it, “using social networking as a substitute for human contact can be like eating celery when you're hungry. It makes you feel better for a short while, but it isn’t real nourishment, so you get hungrier in the long run.”
So what is the cure for loneliness? If you’re going through a lonely season in your life, what can you do? Well first, you can realize that you are never really alone. If you are a believer, Christ resides in your heart. You have a “friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24) “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8 NKJV). As you cultivate a closer relationship with the Lord through prayer and reading His word you can sing with the hymn writer … “He walks with me, And He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there None other has ever known.”
A second key to overcoming loneliness is to connect with God’s people. The church, fellow believers are your new forever family. These are the people you are gong to spend eternity with, so why not get to know them now. They’re probably not perfect, but you already have a lot in common. They are all sinners saved by grace, just like you. We all love the same Jesus and that should be reason enough to come together. You may find temporary companionship at the local bar, but it can’t compare to the fellowship of the family of God. By the way, as, the established members of this family we should be constantly looking to pull in and include those lonely people who are standing on the fringes. It’s our job to make sure they feel included.
One final key to overcoming loneliness is to look for a place to serve. Find a cause. Volunteer for a ministry.
Look for someone else who is in need or lonely and reach out to them. As you do, you will find your own feelings of loneliness vanishing.
Well, Rosemary is back and our house is bustling again with activity. (It’s a good thing I rested up over the weekend while I had the chance.) Yet, I’m hoping I don’t forget the lesson the Lord taught me. People around us are lonely. There is probably someone I know who could use a friend. It’s my job to reach out to them, include them and make them feel like part of the family. It’s your job too!
Have a great week!
Pastor Barry
|
RSS Feed