Woodworking
Woodworking is one of my favorite hobbies. It provides a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. As you create something beautiful and functional from a simple block of wood, you can also learn valuable lessons about faith and discipleship. I want to explore the connections between woodworking and Jesus, and how this hobby can help us grow in our faith.
One of the most important lessons that woodworking can teach us is about creativity. When we work with wood, we are essentially bringing something new into the world. We are using our God-given talents and creativity to transform raw materials into something beautiful and useful. In the same way, God has given each of us unique gifts and talents, and he calls us to use them to glorify him and serve others. We can honor God through our creative pursuits, whether it's woodworking, painting, music, or any other art form.
Another lesson that woodworking can teach us is about patience. Working with wood requires a great deal of patience and attention to detail. You can't rush the process, or you may end up with a flawed or incomplete project. In the same way, following Christ requires patience and perseverance. We must be patient with ourselves and with others as we grow in our faith and seek to become more like Jesus. We must trust in God's timing and plan for our lives, even when things don't go as we expect.
Woodworking can also teach us about stewardship. When we work with wood, we are using a precious resource that has been entrusted to us by God. We must be good stewards of this resource, using it wisely and responsibly. In the same way, we are called to be good stewards of the other resources God has given us, including our time, talents, and relationships. We must use these resources in a way that honors God and serves others.
Finally, woodworking can teach us about the value of hard work. When we work with wood, we must be willing to put in the time and effort required to create something beautiful and functional. In the same way, following Christ requires hard work and dedication. We must be willing to put in the time and effort required to grow in our faith and serve others.
Woodworking isn’t just a hobby, it’s something that can teach us valuable lessons about faith and discipleship. By being creative, patient, responsible, and hardworking, we can honorGod through our woodworking projects and our lives as a whole. As we work with wood, we can be reminded of the ultimate woodworker, Jesus Christ, who gave his life to create something beautiful and valuable: our salvation.
The Heat Is On
As we take time this summer to go on vacation, spend time at the beach, and be lazy by the pool, before we know it the time for school to start back up. And what this thrift store has done this year is quite amazing.
The thrift store provided the funding for the the school back pack food program. This program took place in 7 local Navarre schools, providing a total of 14,161 bags of food for weekend snacks and meals for children in need. Each week approximately 393 bags were packed by over sixty volunteers. What an amazing accomplishment. School counselors expressed the appreciation and desire for this program to take place again this coming school year.
What is just as amazing as how this funding comes together, generated by the thrift store. Money just doesn't grow on trees. But in this case, it comes in bags of outgrown kids clothing, glassware that has been replaced, DVD movies that have been watched, books that have been read, and curtains that have been replaced. Donations are received at the donations door are then sorted, cleaned, tested, and then put for sale in the store. And frequently sold the same day they come in! This revenue then is deposited, and available for the purchase of food for the school children. The food, volunteers, and recipients are prayed for, and the packing begins!
How used household goods and clothing becomes food for growing kids is an awesome process. But it requires lots of people coming together with a common goal in mind. Making this world a better place for us all.
In the We Care office, we have the opportunity to meet and help many people. Recently a client came to the office, and we were able to provide utility assistance. Having 2 growing teenagers at home, we provided multiple bags of groceries for the household that day also. We suggested they talk with the school counselor about participating in the weekend food program. It is at this point in our interaction that the tears began to flow. The kids had received the bags of food this past year, and the astonishment and gratitude covered this client's face. They shared about how powerful prayer was in their life, and how thankful they were for not only for our help and ministry that day, but all along this past school year.
Helping people, providing hope, and giving out food. Yes, we do that. And it all starts at the donation door of the Good Neighbor Thrift Store. Turning goods into food. Helping others. That is what we do here. And ask any one of our 120 volunteers. We have a great time doing it!
Calling Big Jake
It may not be popular or politically correct in these posthumously judgmental and unforgiving times, but I am a big John Wayne fan. I guess it would be more accurate for me to say I am a big fan of the characters he played. Rooster Cogburn, Cole Thornton, Major Daniel Xavier Kirby, Col Davy Crockett, Wil Anderson, Col Mike Kirby, John Bernard Books, John Elder and more than one hundred and fifty others. The reason is not difficult to understand. As they did for so many other boys of my era, these characters had a great deal to do with teaching me what a man should be - tough on his enemies, loyal to his friends, a gentleman with women, and deeply committed to those he loves. We learned that men should always act with courage and honor, never shoot anyone in the back, and always be tough but fair, whatever the cost. To this day, I still have occasion to ponder how a John Wayne character might handle a situation in which I find myself. No - my WWJD bracelet is not about the “Duke,” but there are days when it could be.
It is difficult for me to choose one favorite John Wayne character, but clearly in the running is the man he played in the movie, Big Jake, Mr. Jacob McCandles. Released in 1971, Big Jake is not considered one of Wayne’s classics, but it has been a favorite of fans for more than fifty years. The Rotten Tomatoes summary of this movie goes like this:
“The avenging head of the McCandles clan returns to his estranged family and leads the search for his kidnapped grandson. Big Jake sets off, his sons in tow, to deliver the ransom to the kidnappers, but has little intention of handing it over without a fight.
It is a splendid movie with a great character, but that is not why I bring it up here. The real reason is a running dialog imbedded in the movie I could not get out of my mind during Annual Conference last week. You see, a major premise of the story is that Jacob "Big Jake" McCandles is generally thought to be dead, but he is really wandering the west as a gunfighter. So, there are several scenes where his character is told: “I thought you were dead,” to which McCandles responds in the negative, declaring: “Not hardly.”
It offers some light comedy relief for the movie, yes, but what in the world does it have to do with Annual Conference? Well, sometime during the conference, I read an on-line article that said the United Methodist Church was dead. Finding myself in one of those WWJD situations, I thought about the falsehood people were sharing with Jake McCandles and instinctively answered, “Not hardly!”
Our denomination is under attack by the enemy, and everybody knows it. When I tell someone I am Methodist, their eyes close, head bobs up and down and they say something like, “Oh, too bad what’s going on there.” They are right, but it is not as bleak as the tales on the grapevine would lead one to believe.
It’s true the last few conferences have been dominated by the dreaded “D” word – disaffiliation. For many churches, this issue has diverted attention away from Christ’s mission for the church and crippled ministry across the Annual Conference, but not everywhere, and certainly not here. While the media was on the outside portraying us all as going for one another’s jugulars, inside our Conference last week I witnessed God’s people disagreeing with civility, love, and grace in keeping with the spirit of Ephesians 4:31 – 5:2, which says:
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
And now, a new “D” word is taking hold in our Conference – discipleship! Here are a couple of examples.
We learned last month that AWF Conference has launched a new Ministry Strategy Team and appointed our District Superintendent, Jean Tippet, as its Director. Rev. Tippet’s team of “ministry cultivators” will lead our conference in planting new faith communities, as well as coaching our existing churches to reach new people in new ways. There are already eleven new ministry startups in progress, two of which are being spearheaded by former NUMC ministers. Check out https://www.awfumc.org/newsdetail/new-beginnings-two-churches-launch-to-serve-communities-offer-hope-17274744
I also ran into a former NUMC Associate Pastor at the conference. She is currently serving a church in the Florida Conference that chose not to disaffiliate despite the urging of its leadership. When disaffiliation failed there, the pastor and some of the leaders started a new church in the same town and took some of the old congregation with them. Today, these two churches are cooperating – working together to serve the needs of their community, while maintaining personal relationships and ministry connections – and both churches are growing! What the enemy meant for harm; God will use for good (see Gen 50:20).
The media does not understand. The United Methodist Church will not be going away. Out of death comes new life. That is at the heart of every Christian’s story, and I believe it will also be at the center of the UMC story. So, take those stories that say, “those Methodists are destroying themselves” or “that whole denomination is imploding” or “the UMC is dead,” with a grain of salt. I can confidently say, “Not hardly!”
Grace and Peace
Marriage
A week ago, Katie and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary - which was the fastest 10 years of my life. (I promise Katie likes that joke, at least I think). That first year is like a roller coaster of highs and lows, things you say and do right and things you say and do incredibly wrong. You learn so much more about someone when they are with you every day, sharing life's highs and lows, crying and laughing.
I'm reminded about the closeness - or lack thereof - with our relationship with Christ. This is another relationship needs to be nourished daily; with as much commitment as we can muster. In Ephesians, Paul instructs us to submit to one another and love each other sacrificially (Ephesians 5:21-33).
As followers of Christ, we are privileged to witness and experience this divine love in the context of our relationship with Him. Our relationship with God involves a spiritual union, where we become one with Him through faith. Just as a husband and wife commit themselves to each other, God's love for us is steadfast and unwavering. He never breaks His promises and remains faithfully devoted to us.
The main component to that of a godly marriage is sacrificial love. The Bible instructs husbands to love their wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. Jesus, the perfect example of sacrificial love, laid down His life for us on the cross. This selfless act demonstrates the depth of God's love, as He willingly paid the price for our redemption.
Similarly, in marriage, sacrificial love requires setting aside personal desires and priorities for the well-being of one's spouse. It involves placing their needs above our own, making sacrifices, and seeking their good. This mirrors God's love for us, as He consistently puts our needs above His own. His unconditional love compels Him to shower us with grace, forgiveness, and blessings.
Furthermore, marriage is a journey of growing in intimacy. As a husband and wife spend time together, communicate, and share their lives, their connection deepens. Similarly, God invites us into a relationship of intimacy with Him. He desires us to know Him intimately, to seek His presence through prayer, study of His Word, and worship. As we draw closer to God, we experience His profound love and find fulfillment in His presence.
Just as a marriage requires trust, God invites us to trust Him completely. Marriage partners place their trust in each other, relying on their promises and faithfulness. In our walk with God, we must trust that His plans for us are good, even when circumstances are challenging. We can find peace in knowing that His love for us is unchanging, and He will guide us through every season of life.
You Are Enough
On July 29th,1969 Neil Armstrong climbed down a ladder and said “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. They were the first words spoken on the moon surface, and as iconic as that moment has become, it was very close to being extremely different.
When John F Kennedy gave his famous speech saying we would get to the moon before the end of the decade, nobody knew how to get to the moon. In fact, we weren’t even entirely sure where the moon was. We also didn’t know if when we landed on the moon the space craft would sink down through several feet of moon dust. One thing was discovered fairly early though, for every pound of material launched into space, you would need an extra three pounds of rocket fuel to get it there.
It's for that reason that the astronauts almost climbed down a rope onto the moon’s surface. A rope weighs next to nothing. In the 1/6th gravity of the moon it’s not as much of an exercise as it is on Earth. Also there is next to no chance of a rope failing under the conditions. As hilarious as this sounds, it makes a lot of sense. Ultimately it was scratched because it would look ridiculous to have a multi billion dollar space program with the most advanced technology culminate it a simple rope. Well, that and there were concerns about the astronauts getting back up if one of them was injured or if there was another emergency. In the end, the ladder was a good choice. It’s still simple, and made out of the right material it’s not super heavy either. But I still like to think about Neil swinging onto the moons surface instead.
When it comes to church, sometimes we throw away the simple ideas because, like the rope, we think they are just ridiculous. But it’s often those simple ideas that really have the most impact. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people come up with elaborate ideas for how to get people involved in small groups or to get them to volunteer for a project, or even to get them to come to church. The truth is, the most effective way is also the simplest way. You invite them. That’s right, it’s a simple invitation. The kind where you walk up to someone and just say, “Hey, I’m heading up to the church right now to decorate for VBS, you should come with me.” You are the best solution for church growth. You have all the tools you need to bring people to Jesus. Forget all the gimmicks, you are enough because God has made you enough.