October 2015 Letter from Pastor Scott

THE PURPOSE OF PUMPKINS

One of the very recent and popular theological catch phrases in the American Christian church is “missional community.” It’s a great turn of a phrase that reminds us of something as old as the Bible – the church’s primary calling is always to be an instrument through which God can win the lost to Jesus Christ.

Whether it’s a Sunday School class, youth group, choir, men’s work day…everything we do ought to be at some level an invitation to those who are strangers to God, to know Him and grow in Him.
EVEN PUMPKINS! While the money we raise from our annual pumpkin patch helps us in our church budget, our focus ought to be the scores of our “neighbors” who stop to shop. We Methodists are not known for aggressive evangelism (we once were!), but it would be interesting one year to take a survey of our pumpkin shoppers to see how many of them are active in a church. I bet the number is lower than we think.

I encourage you to sign up to “man the patch” for a two-hour shift…or much more! I am absolutely certain that if you do, you will bump into someone who doesn’t know Jesus.

Hungering for Holiness,

Pastor Scott

A STANDARD...OR NOT?

Are you listening and watching closely?  If you're not, you'll miss it...the slow but sure eroding of precious boundaries and standards - those built on Judeo-Christian principles.  I think the word is, "insidious."


I am in no way a follower of beauty pageants.  I have wonderful Christian friends who grew up in pageants, and many whose daughters now compete in them.  I have learned painfully not to debate the value of beauty pageants. 


But now there is this.  The Miss American Pageant (or whoever owns the pageant now) not only invited Vanessa Williams to be a judge and to perform, but in a very warm moment at center-stage, a moment very well-received by the crowd, the pageant apologized to Ms Williams (and her mother in the audience) for "anything that was said or done that made you feel any less the Miss America you have always been, and will always be."


Of course, they were apologizing for stripping her of her crown years ago when nude pictures of her surfaced after the pageant.  I remember when that happened.  I remember being thankful that someone was willing to stand by their boundaries and standards, and that whatever pressure she might have been under at the time, she was easily old enough to know that what she did was wrong.  And, of course to know that, when she entered the pageant, she had already violated their rules.  (I don't have enough space in today's blog to talk about my strong belief in extending God's grace to anyone who is repentant of their sins...including Ms. Williams.)


But on this very day, hundreds (thousands?) of inappropriate pictures will be sent by text from one phone to another, often by those even younger than Ms Williams was back then!  So, after the passing of this many years, and now that "everyone is doing it," the LEAST they should have done is apologize to her!  In fact, was what she did really wrong?


Of course it was.  And, shame (literally) on the pageant for apologizing.  Were they apologizing for hurting her feelings?  For being mean to her?  Were they apologizing for having standards for what it means to be a young woman "worthy" of a crown?  I wonder what they think their apology will communicate to other contestants.  And, if you ever had a chance to convince me that pageants like that one are primarily for the growth, maturity, confidence, character and professional development of young women...sorry. 


When Jesus said, "The truth will set you free," He meant THE truth.  The truth that never changes.  The truth that declares boundaries and standards that are what they are no matter how I feel or what I need.  The truth of the Old and New Testaments without which we will be ruined.  the Truth that He is.


The slope is no longer slippery.  It is a precipitous cliff.  Watch your step...and read your Bible. 


Hmm...maybe those silly conservative churches decades ago who restricted their youth from "mixed bathing (swimming)" were onto something.


Pastor Scott

September 2015 Letter from Pastor Scott

Time Well Spent                              

 As I have been honored to serve our young men and women in the military for over 30 years now, I have enjoyed sharing with my church congregations how their “support” of my reserve duty has made a difference in the lives of those warriors.  Of course, much of what a chaplain does is confidential, but let me thank all of you for the following opportunities I had over the last two weeks to hold out God’s grace and comfort to some who needed it.

I made a lunch date with an airman whom I have known for quite a few years.  It was an opportunity to catch up on each other’s lives and families.  After about 30 minutes of catching up, it was apparent he needed to talk about something else.  Well, two hours later (sometimes, those long clergy lunch breaks are not just about food!), we ended our visit with a rather long and heartfelt prayer for the myriad of “challenges” in his marriage, parenting and life.  Remember, this is a young man who, a few months from now will probably be hiking the dusty sand of Afghanistan in defense of all you and I hold dear.

I also struck up a conversation with a young airman while running on the track.  She had a large tattoo of a beautiful Christian cross on the back of her neck.  I’m not very good at talking to young girls, but I took that as an open door to ask about her faith.  She was brave enough to admit to the chaplain that she was not as “committed to that symbol” as she was when she first got it.  It wasn’t exactly an “altar call,” but I am sure she went home that night committed to being…more committed.  I especially prayed for her that night, that her growing relationship with her boyfriend might be influenced by her faith.

So…thanks to all of you, for supporting what God does in the lives of some of America’s finest.

Pastor Scott