Weekly Grind - Resolutions

With the coming of the New Year’s Eve you probably read, heard, or talked about resolutions. You might have made plans to tackle or recommit to something that would make a big difference for you. But as we’re already over a week into the new year, you might have already fallen off your new diet, workout, or other great idea that just didn’t fit somehow.

A good start can certainly help, but a strong finish is what really matters. So even though New Year’s Day is a great place to start, don’t let being past it keep you from making changes that you want to make. Call it a another chance. Call it a do-over. Call it a mulligan.

God calls each of us in a special way. Take a step toward that life that he desires for you.

Blessings & Peace!

Michael

Comments always welcome michael@woodwayfumc.org

New Year: 2008

(resolutions, commitments, promises, gifts, decisions, resolves, intent, purpose, dedication)

To myself: _______________________________________

___________________________________________________

To God: __________________________________________

___________________________________________________

To my family: ____________________________________

___________________________________________________

To my church: ___________________________________

___________________________________________________

Something I can do…

Daily: ___________________________________

Weekly: _________________________________

Monthly: ________________________________

This year: ______________________________

In my life: ______________________________

Currently Watching Fight Club (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) By Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Meat Loaf, Helena Bonham Carter, Zach Grenier see related

Weekly Grind - Christmas Shopping

I’m a last minute Christmas shopper. Occasionally I have actually waited until Christmas Eve to buy presents. It sort of clarifies things. You don’t have time to agonize over the perfect item. You tend to focus on getting through your list. Sometimes I didn’t even agonize over things like sizes or colors or style.

Years ago for some reason, everything aligned just right and we got all our Christmas shopping done in November. I remember how at ease we felt going to different gatherings and celebrations without “The List” hanging over our heads like an unrelenting taskmaster.

Some years we get very thematic, like “No Clothing for Anyone” or “Everyone Gets a Book.” That would keep us from getting anyone a cliché present or some gift by default. We really like gifts to have a connection to the receiver, not just connecting a name with a good deal.

This whole shopping frenzy is much more a product of businesses trying to assure their profitability than anything else. I’m not sure that things like egg nog, meat and cheese sets, and fruitcake have a market at any other time of year. It is strange how some things have bought their way into being a tradition.

I generally don’t really get into the mood for Christmas until a few days before anyway. There is extra time to spend with family. The Christmas music that is being broadcast from every speaker that you pass doesn’t seem intrusive and out of place anymore. Growing up as part of the TV generation, I get nostalgic about Christmas Specials like Charlie Brown and Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It finally all fits together and feels right.

Many years ago, we accidentally ended up with nothing scheduled for Christmas Eve. We made a nice meal for just our individual family, dressed up nice and went to church together, put on our pajamas when we got back, and played games. Focusing on the gift that we are for each other became our Christmas Eve tradition. Just our little family together, like Mary, Joseph, and Jesus.

Of course, we did pass on the stable and sheep.

Merry Christmas & God Bless Us, Every One!

Weekly Grind - Christmas Productions

Weekly Grind - Prayer is Good

Prayer is a good thing.

I have chosen to call myself a Christian. For a few years I had chosen not to. As of late I have chosen to more specifically call myself a follower of Christ. That lends itself to the definition of a disciple, which is rooted in the word discipline. I generally don’t do well with discipline, but then along came the phrase spiritual disciplines. That almost sounds magical. Inviting. Challenging. I can get on board that.

The major spiritual disciplines are:
- the marking of the week (Sabbath)
- the tithe
- the sacred meal
- fasting
- the marking of the day (by prayers)
- the keeping of the liturgical year (holy days)
- the pilgrimage

Developing my prayer life is where I have been putting the most effort lately. The easiest prayers are simple lists of concerns that we bring before God. Sometimes we need to do this just to get us out of the way so that we can connect to God. We should never stop there. At the very least we should also thank God for what He has blessed us with. This can require more effort at times so we can see that this is where the discipline starts coming in. Next could be asking for direction for where He needs us to be.

As I have put increasing stock in the faith that God has a plan for my life, my belief is that prayer is my time to move toward that plan. I’ve gotta believe that He has a better plan than anything I could come up with on my own. So I certain don’t want my prayers to be an attempt to get Him to see it from my point of view. I’ve seen where that usually ends up.

Here’s my list of what I pray for. It starts out as close as it can be and spirals out to everyone that is or has been a part of my life and to reaches out beyond.

Sherri
Brooke and Alex
My faith & my discipleship
Jeff, Pam, and the other pastors in my life
Other faith builders here & beyond our church
Our extended families and close friends
Our youth here & beyond our church
Our entire church family here and beyond
All those in need
Blessings & Peace

Sunday evening with the youth group we did a prayer walk throughout the church. Starting in the youth room we lifted up the ministry and the lives being touched by what we do here. We moved to the nursery & children’s area, the fellowship hall and Sunday School classes, the offices, the sanctuary, and finally the visitors parking spaces and other churches around us.

I’m sure we didn’t tell God anything He didn’t already know, but I do believe He likes it when we are part of the process.

Blessings!
Michael

Weekly Grind - Mission Waco Toy Run

I pride myself on enjoying my motorcycle regardless of what the weather looks like outside. But Sunday morning was a tough ride. I can handle cold. I can handle rain. Cold rain is a difficult combination. Each stop was a chance to warm up and enjoy the fellowship of many different churches being part of a bigger picture. I'd do it again without question.

We were greeted so warmly at Church Under the Bridge with all the great items that will make Christmas possible for many families. A great aspect of what Mission Waco does is that people do pay about 20% of the retail cost of the items. That income is then used to purchase more items that can be purchased by other families in need. This preserves the dignity of the families that participate because they are not just being given a handout. They are actually helping and contributing to the system that is helping them.

It is very easy to see ourselves as the benevolent givers that make Christmas possible for those less fortunate. Feeling good about giving is not wrong but that really should not be our motivation for helping. So many of us have been blessed with so much, it is only right to share with our neighbors. Jesus explained very clearly that our neighbors were not just the people that live near us.

Here's an email from Jimmy Dorrell expressing his thanks:

Dear Generous Churches,

Although the weather could not have been much worse yesterday morning, the impact for the poor could not have been much better! Yesterday’s annual Mission Waco Christmas Toy Store “biker run” was our largest ever with 18 sites (16 churches and 2 H.E.B. Stores) collecting new toys. We estimated some 1500 toys were collected just yesterday, and several other churches are collecting presents to be delivered later this week.

I was amazed as the bikers traveled the city for three hours in the cold and rain to make a difference for lower income families. The “Riders of the Son,” led by Thomas Barber, were divided into two groups this year and traveled as far out as Speegleville and China Springs to local churches, several of them first time participants.

Thank all of you who worked so hard so that others could be blessed! The Toy Store opens next week and hundreds of families will be receive the benefit of your generosity. I’m trusting God is pleased and gets the honor!

Thank You!!!!
Jimmy

Blessings!
Michael