August 2015 Letter from Pastor Scott

DOING THE TWO-STEP

A preacher friend once asked me, “How is your church doing?”  I said, “You know…two steps forward, one step backwards.”  With a tone of frustration in his voice he said, “I think my church has gotten that dance backwards.”

By now you have probably heard that I will be deploying as an Air Force chaplain to the War-on-Terror for six months beginning in early January 2016.  The district Superintendent is already making plans to replace me permanently as the pastor at Knightsville United Methodist Church.  The timing of that is up to the District Superintendent and the bishop, but I am moving forward as if I will be your pastor until December 31.

Our church leadership and I have made some important and difficult decisions in the last 8 months so our church can be radical disciples of Jesus, and a growing and healthy witness in our community for years to come.  Who would have imagined 50 years ago that this “little church” would one day be right in the middle of one of the fastest growing areas in the country?!  Our Biblical calling in the middle of this growing community is to win the lost to Christ and make disciples.  We have planted some seeds to grow in just that way.

With the news of my leaving in January, I need you more than ever to work with me; with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service and your witness, to make sure we continue getting that “Two-Step” right.

Pressing on to the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Pastor Scott

BEYOND US...


"Off we go, into the wild blue yonder..."


That's the first line of the Air Force song.  I have sung it endless times.  Every time, I get choked up.  For those of us who are children of AF pilots, it represents more than a pep rally song.  Those words reminded us that our dads (at the time, only dads) were doing something brave and important...and doing it "out there," or "beyond us."  The sky in which they flew those jets was endless, their accomplishments heroic and limitless.  Without conscious awareness, we were part of something much bigger than ourselves.


Forty six years ago today, Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon.  Remember those pictures?  Remember how proud we were to beat the Soviets to the moon, especially after they had beaten us to "manned spaceflight?"  But there was something profound about that wasn't there?  It took our eyes off ourselves somehow.  It forced us to "look up" and remember that our petty squabbles and self-interested quibbling (whining?) was a bit shameful.  Probably the most well-read Christian book in the last 15 years started its first chapter with the four words, "It's not about you."  I'm not sure the rest of the book was even necessary.


The Christian faith and its followers are being persecuted in unprecedented ways, at least in my lifetime.  And it is not getting better.   As disciples of Jesus, "the only name given under heaven whereby we can be saved," our response cannot be fear nor anger.  Our focus on Him must be more fervent and sacrificial than ever before.  Our focus must be on things that are "true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report."  The battle is not with flesh and blood, but against the powers of darkness.  Remember, that includes Satan from without and sinfulness from within.


Look up!  Look up!  Even as we fight to the death this fight for the Gospel of Jesus; in the Middle East, in Charleston, in Chattanooga, in our families and our churches, our salvation is from on high.




Scott