Seventy Years of Faithfulness!

Seventy years is a long time. And for the past 70 years Forest Road United Methodist Church has provided a beacon of hope in our community. That is worthy of celebration, and that is what we are doing this morning.Today is HOMECOMING SUNDAY!

There is great difficulty in attempting to capture 70 years of memories in a single day. That, however, is what we are trying to do. We are pulling out all the stops to celebrate the wonderful history of our congregation.

Months of work and effort have gone into making this day special for all those attending. Our festivities actually began last night with a delightful Dinner at Charly's Restuarant. There were 33 of us who had a delicious meal while sharing stories and memories.

That brings us to today. And what a day it is going to be.

At 10 am we begin with a social hour: more stories, more shared memories with a history video and tables of photos and historical items.

Our 11 am worship will feature special music and our own District Superintendent, the Rev. Scott Davis, preaching. Worship will be followed by one of our memorably delicious fellowship meals.

But, that's not all. After our meal we will have a great afternoon of special music with the Fort Hill UMC Bell Ringers and several other exceptionally talented artists, some well known and fondly remembered as past members of our congregation.

Today is Homecoming Sunday! Join us as we celebrate 70 years of faithfulness!

just shine

"It is better to live a holy life than to talk about it. Lighthouses do not ring bells and fire cannons to call attention to their shining; they just shine." - Dwight L. Moody

Moody, the great 19th century evangelist, nails it. What is important is not what we say. That counts for little.

What is supremely critical, however, is how we live. The sermon most people will see is how we live. Most of the time our lifestyle says far more about our faithfulness to the Gospel than anything we might say about our beliefs.

Love. Live in love, and let that love shine out into the darkness. The light of that love will bring more into a safe harbor than any noise we will ever make.

the lesser of two evils

Numerous times during this Presidential campaign season I have heard the statement that neither of the two leading candidates are worthy of the office of President of the United States. I have been told that both candidates have serious, even major, flaws in their character or their personality that should disqualify them to hold our nation's highest office.

Those statements usually precede a remark that this year we will be voting for the lesser of two evils. That so many people feel this way is a truly sad state of affairs. And it points out the deepening sense of doubt and alienation so many of us feel about the leadership and governance of our country.

It's a good time to be reminded of the words of the immortal Jerry Garcia. He wrote,

"Choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil."

Whoever we choose to support for the next leader of our nation, we need to do so prayerfully. We need to measure the words and actions of all the candidates against their faithfulness to scriptural holiness and a lifestyle of love.

Before we go to the polls in November it may be again time to ask "What would Jesus do?"

President Dwight D. Eisenhower once stated a profound truth that bears repeating;

"This world of ours...must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect."

These are words we again need to hear and take to heart. Perfect love casts our fear.

As disciples of the man from Nazareth, we are called to live in love, and not in fear. Loving each other as we have first been loved leads to the mutual trust and respect that eradicates hatred.

it's a fact

Perfect love casts out fear. That is not a promise. It is a fact.

And in a world where we see fear and mistrust growing every day, it is a fact to which we need to pay more attention.

When we live in fear we are denying that God is in control. If a God who loved the world enough to give his Son so that all could be saved is in control, well, why are we afraid? What do we have to fear if God loves us?

Fear is just another tool in the devil's toolkit. It is definitely a big one, but we just need to understand that love casts out fear.

Trust in God's love. Extend that love to all you meet. Live in that love.

Surround yourself in God's perfect love, for perfect love casts out fear.