reflections about life and the randomness that follows

Seems like the economy continues to plague our thoughts. I saw a recent article on the news where a woman stated that “we need to fall on our knees and pray for God to save us.” Hate to break it to you all, but God sent Jesus to give us eternal life and the ancient Egyptians to invent these little financial life savers called scissors. Directions: 1.  Open scissors 2. Insert credit card between the two sharp blades 3. Cut card into tiny bits. We need to be praying that we will stop falling into the trap of consumerism, and then take action to prevent it in our lives.

It was good to have Jason back in the south. I had a great time catching up with him and discussing the differences between America and Australia. We also both exchanged gifts. He gave me his copy of The Shack which I have already began to read, and I gave him the opportunity to loosen up his shoulder with my 12 gauge. It was a lot of fun being able to step out in the backyard and rip into a coffee can.

At The Fellowship we’re currently in our series “What is Worship?” Last week we looked at tools that we use during worship such as the United Methodist Worship Planner, the UM Hymnal, and of course the Bible. Here are a few things we discussed:

1. If worship were like a dinner table then the Bible would be the centerpiece of the table, Christ would be sitting at the seat of honor at that table, and we would be around that table eating and talking.
2. The hymnal contains more than just hymns! Most hymnals (Methodist or not) contain prayers, worship services for things like the celebration of new members, Baptism, Communion, prayers of confession and pardon, responsive readings, and prayers from the saints.
3. The worship planner is a great resource. It contains the lectionary as well as suggested hymns, anthems, visual aids, and liturgical colors.
4. The worship planner could be used as a legalistic tool that causes us to lean on this book rather than the leading of the Spirit.
5. The hymnal contains songs from post 1950!!
6. The Bible has a concordance in the back that helps you to find Scriptures relating to particular topics.
7. The Bible has this to say about worship:

“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

John 4:21-24(TNIV)

Hope all of you have a great weekend! God Bless!!

First things first. I realized that I haven’t had a header on my blog in a while. I decided to change up the theme, but have yet to find a header I like. Tell me what you think, and what might look good as a header. I’m not a very artistic person so if I have ideas I’ll listen.

A brand new clutch, pressure plate, and bearing have been replaced. After dropping the engine, exhaust, sub-frame, axles, and transmission everything was back to normal. Thank goodness my neighbor is a technician and knew what he was doing.

The SC United Methodist website got a facelift. It looks great and is much easier to navigate. Salkehatchie also got an update.

Cody posted the other day about Twitter. I have an account but have yet to figure it out. I guess it’s time for me to get one now that the SC Conference has a twitter.

I had the chance to go to the YouthWorker’s Movement meeting in Columbia last week with Chris. I’m really excited about being a part of youth ministry connected throughout the conference. The speaker was Jennifer Williams from Bethany UMC in Summerville. She talked to us about the Advent Conspiracy and how Bethany UMC and the youth group have refocused during Advent this year. Most people don’t know where Summerville is located. Just a refresher, Summerville is one of the most active places east of the Mississippi for earthquakes… like the one that happened Tuesday.

Have a great Thursday!

I’ve been reading two books recently. Youth Culture 101 by Walt Mueller and at Russ‘ recommendation I’m also reading The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, 10 Year Anniversary Edition by John Maxwell. Both are great books. YC 101 reads like a well written text book and is full of stats as well as actually stories. 21 Laws is kicking my tail as I was told it would. Thanks Russ.

Thanksgiving was pretty awesome. It was mine and Kristie’s first big holiday together. We headed down to Georgia to meet at my cousin’s place. Gina and Thomas just had a baby boy, Dylan, back in August. It’s rare that my side of the family gets together since we are spread out from Florida to Virginia to Bama to Texas. Thanksgiving was great. I got to help fry a turkey (or at least video Thomas dipping it in). After we got done we watched video’s of propane tanks exploding on youtube.

Kristie completed her student teaching on Monday. Now all she has to do is walk down the aisle and get that very expensive piece of paper.

Yesterday was… eventful at best. Here’s how things played out:

I met with the Anderson District youth pastors (all three of us) at the Fuddruckers on Clemson Boulevard. It’s always good to catch up with Chris and Tommy. I guess Tuesday’s are busy for some. For me they’re sort of like second Mondays.

Kristie and I have both been excited about her graduating. The problem is that a number of schools in the upstate just aren’t hiring. Some districts actually have hiring freezes. We’ve been praying that she’ll be able to get into a school and yesterday Kristie got a phone call for an interview.

The car has been expanding my faith. By expanding my faith I mean dying. The little red key holder as Jason calls it, got me down to Anderson for the meeting which means I had to take I-85 for 13 exits. Made it to Fuddrucker’s just fine. While talking to Chris in the parking lot I told him to pray I didn’t die while going home on 85. Well I didn’t die, and neither did the car. Now comes highway 8. Now, 8 isn’t that bad. Actually, it’s the polar opposite of I-85. Most of the time you’ll be behind a tractor or see a cow in the middle of the road before you see someone doing over 55 miles an hour. So I begin my trek down highway 8. Things are going well and I’m not nearly as nervous as I was on interstate. I get through Pelzer, cross back into Greenville County and I’m 4 miles home. Then I remember the hill… rather the mountain of highway 8. I have felt the clutch slipping from time to time, and it has been getting worse and worse. I knew that I would lose speed going up this hill and would have to downshift… but I had no idea how the car would react to being pushed. Before you tackle the mountain you have the chance to gain some speed going down another hill. I took the chance. I pressed the gas getting the car up to nearly 70 by the time I was at the foot of the beast. As I began my quest to conquer I began losing speed. 65, 60, 55, 50… I downshift to 4th praying that I’ll make it. 45, 40… 3rd gear… 35, 30… 2nd gear… 25, but I’m almost there… 20, downshift to 1st! Come ON! 15, 10 I crest the hill and begin rolling down the other side only to remember another hill. It’s not nearly as steep but it’s about a mile long. I knew I couldn’t make it so I pulled over. Just then the phone rings. Judson King, the congregational specialist that is over youth ministry for the South Carolina conference. His next words were timeless. “Hank this is Judson King, how’re you doing today?” After talking to Judson I walk to Washington Baptist to see my old friend Rusty who gave me a ride over to my mom and dad’s place less than 2 miles away. I’ll be spending Saturday tearing into that transmission. Oh the joys of front wheel drive.

I must confess… the car is all Kristie’s fault. She prayed back in August, “Lord, I need this car to make it through student teaching.” The day after she is done it dies. Be careful what you pray for. Have a great day everyone!

1 Kings 19

Revenge from Jezebel

Ahab reported to Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, including the massacre of the prophets. Jezebel immediately sent a messenger to Elijah with her threat: “The gods will get you

for this and I’ll get even with you! By this time tomorrow you’ll be as dead as any one of those prophets.”

When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for dear life to Beersheba, far in the south of Judah. He left his young servant there and then went on into the desert another day’s journey. He came to a lone broom bush and collapsed in its shade, wanting in the worst way to be done with it all—to just die: “Enough of this, God! Take my life—I’m ready to join my ancestors in the grave!” Exhausted, he fell asleep under the lone broom bush.

Suddenly an angel shook him awake and said, “Get up and eat!”

He looked around and, to his surprise, right by his head were a loaf of bread baked on some coals and a jug of water. He ate the meal and went back to sleep.

The angel of God came back, shook him awake again, and said, “Get up and eat some more—you’ve got a long journey ahead of you.”

He got up, ate and drank his fill, and set out. Nourished by that meal, he walked forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep.

Then the word of God came to him: “So Elijah, what are you doing here?”

“I’ve been working my heart out for the God-of-the-Angel-Armies,” said Elijah. “The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I’m the only one left, and now they’re trying to kill me.”

Then he was told, “Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by.”

A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.

When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, “So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?” Elijah said it again, “I’ve been working my heart out for God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I’m the only one left, and now they’re trying to kill me.”

God said, “Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus. When you get there anoint Hazael; make him king over Aram. Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi; make him king over Israel. Finally, anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Anyone who escapes death by Hazael will be killed by Jehu; and anyone who escapes death by Jehu will be killed by Elisha. Meanwhile, I’m preserving for myself seven thousand souls: the knees that haven’t bowed to the god Baal, the mouths that haven’t kissed his image.”

Elijah went straight out and found Elisha son of Shaphat in a field where there were twelve pairs of yoked oxen at work plowing; Elisha was in charge of the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak over him.

Elisha deserted the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please! Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye—then I’ll follow you.”

“Go ahead,” said Elijah, “but, mind you, don’t forget what I’ve just done to you.”

So Elisha left; he took his yoke of oxen and butchered them. He made a fire with the plow and tackle and then boiled the meat—a true farewell meal for the family. Then he left and followed Elijah, becoming his right-hand man.

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