I need all the faith I can have, through God’s graciousness.

Frankly Speaking… ¹⁴ But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? ¹⁵ And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" ¹⁶ But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" ¹⁷ So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. Romans 10:14-17 (NRSV)

Bishop David J. Lawson talks about old shoe congregations where people find comfort, friends and unchanging circumstances. The problem with the old shoe fit, is that there is no growth in something that fits like a old shoe. If one is growing, one constantly needs new shoes, as uncomfortable at first as those new shoes may be. The pathology of the old shoe syndrome can be broken, Lawson suggests, by asking these five questions:
1. Are persons growing in relationship to God through participating in our congregations?
2. Are persons growing in their knowledge of Scripture, ... and the history of our church?
3. Are persons giving evidence of increased Christian commitment by the way they live?
4. Are persons growing in compassionate world citizenship?
5. Are persons viewing our congregations as supportive centers of excitement and joy?
--Lawson, Fits Like an Old Shoe, Dateline 8 (November 1993), 1.

It is number two that I want to write about today: Are persons growing in their knowledge of Scripture? I am often amazed when I asked the congregation to bow their heads for prayer, then ask to hear the sounds around the sanctuary, then begin to pray. What is heard? I hear the wind from the pipe organ billows, the rustling of paper shuffled, a cry of a child fidgeting from a parent, a cough, the squeaking of a pew or two… Try it next time when the moment is right in the sanctuary. A colleague of mine told me of a scripture-hearing program that he has started in his congregation. It is called: “Faith Comes from Hearing.” A MP3 audio stick has the New Testament read in a way that captures your attention. The one I hear has background sounds for that particular part of the scripture-context-moment. In just a few weeks, I will ask everyone to receive one of these and begin a discipline of “just listening to scriptures. Your cost is nothing. I will ask for donations from folks who wish to contribute to the ones I have purchased for our children and youth… What would happen when you hear the scriptures read for the first time, again? FAITH COMES FROM HEARING…AND WHAT IS HEARD COMES FROM THE WORD OF GOD. I need all the faith I can have, through God’s graciousness. Expect a blessing.

Shalom + Paz + Pax + Peace
Pastor Frank

We have a right to ask, seek, and know the will of God

Frankly Speaking… Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 (NRSV)
In his book, Invitation to Pilgrimage, John Baillie wrote, “I am sure the bit of road that most requires to be illuminated is the point where it forks.” He’s right. There is no place on our life journey where we need more light than on the road, where we have to make a decision about which direction we are going to go. Thankfully, however, there’s a promise related to that too: God’s Word, according to Psalm 119, is a lamp to our feet and a light to our paths (v105). We have a right to ask, seek, and know the will of God. But there is a catch: once we know it, nothing but obedience will do. Maxie Dunnam’s book, “Irresistible Invitation: Responding to the Extravagant Heart of God.” Page 195.

Friends, I have always sought God’s will in my personal life. There have been times when the fork in the road needed several 1000-watt bulbs to assure me that I was on the right path. At the end, I had to put my trust in God, that the God who brought me to this point in my life would complete the journey set for my family and I. Nevertheless, how do we seek God’s will for a church? A congregation of just less those 800 members, with 800 different ways of wanting things done? Does majority rule? Is there really a vote taken for every act that the church makes? We entrust certain aspects of the church to people who either have been sent at pastors, or elected in positions of leadership. We hope and pray that these individuals would seek God’s will for the church. At the end, decisions are made. Even if a decision is made not to do anything, a decision has been made, and we must be willing to bear responsibility of its results…or lack thereof.

I have written several articles on change. I will not bore you with another. What I do know is that the church is at a fork in the road for its future. Regardless of which side of the “tracks” you are on regarding possible projects presented at the town hall meeting this past Sunday, those coming after us will bear our decisions. I will ask you to pray. Hank Hamilton, on behalf of the Prayer Ministry, asked the same. Ask for God’s guidance for your part of the process of discernment. That this discernment be made clear for your part of the ministry of the church is very important. It is about doing God’s will through you, through First United Methodist Church of Beaumont. Friends, be faithful…God is faithful.

Shalom + Paz + Pax + Peace Pastor Frank

On a personal note, I thank God for allowing me to be pastor of this great church.

Frankly Speaking… Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NRSV)
When Robert Louis Stevenson, racked by tuberculosis, was nearing the end of his life, his wife came in one morning and said, “I suppose in spite of all your trouble, you will tell me again that it is a beautiful day.” The great novelist answered, “Yes, my dear. I refuse to let that row of medicine bottles be the circumference of my horizon.”

Friends, on the writing of this epistle, many things have happened in our lives these past few weeks. We are in the midst of presidential debates and possible record numbers on voter turn out. We have seen the stock market plummet some 18% of its value. We have been blessed to have birthdays and anniversaries grace the church…Eloise Milam turned 100 years young. She is now playing that beautiful D9 Steinway grand piano in heaven. David Hearn will soon celebrate his 100^th birthday in November. The Hearn Lecture Series celebrates its Silver Anniversary. On a personal note, I thank God for allowing me to be pastor of this great church. I will have completed five years on December 31. It seems that I have just arrived. Yet, as we see the world and many great things happening…and many not so great things happening, we ask, are we better off today than yesterday/last week/last year/10 years ago and so on? I believe that God has a plan for our lives as part of his plan. We have to be willing to wait on the Lord, find his strength in these difficult and uncertain times, and know that his grace will always be sufficient in our weakness. I am reminded of Paul’s words to Timothy, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. 2 Timothy 4:1-2 (NRSV)

Like Robert Lewis Stevenson, only I can decide what will be the circumference of my horizon. In other words, what is it that defines you? Will it be your hardships, or triumphs? Successes or failures? Wealth or poverty? How religious you are or the fact that going to church is a miracle in itself? I want to be defined as a child of God, saved by grace through faith, of sacred worth, and with a unique purpose so that God’s purpose will be fulfilled. Regardless of what happens or does not happen in my life, I want to view my life through the eyes of a compassionate God, and the loving lenses of Jesus’ eyes of forgiveness and worth. There are two and one half months in this 2008 year. What will we do to make a difference in our lives, the life of the church and our community? You have an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life…or maybe, your own. I invite you to try to be faithful in your presence on Sunday mornings. Give as you can sacrificially...even in these uncertain financial times. Pray daily for yourself, others, and the church. Volunteer an hour a week, or even an hour a month somewhere. You can make a difference. You just have to believe that you can.

“I pray,” said Moshe, “that God will give me the strength to ask him the right questions.”

Frankly Speaking…

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, ¹⁸ so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. Ephesians 1:17-19 (NRSV)
In his autobiography, Night, Jewish philosopher Elie Wiesel tells of growing up in a village in Hungary before being sent to a Nazi concentration camp. As a boy, he befriended Moshe, the poor man who cleaned his synagogue. One day Moshe saw Elie in the synagogue praying. Moshe asked him, “Why do you pray?” Moshe proceeded to tell Elie the way of questions. “Every question possesses a power that does not lie in the answer. Humans raise themselves to God by the questions they ask.” Elie then asked, “And why do you pray, Moshe?” “I pray,” said Moshe, “that God will give me the strength to ask him the right questions.”
—Daniel T. Hans, “What do you want from God?” Gettysburg Presbyterian Church, Gettysburg, Penn., July 31, 2005, www.gettysburgpresbyterian.org.

Friends, since the last Frankly Speaking, we have endured a hurricane, power outage, displacement, fallen trees and fences, broken windows and storm surge. The church fared well this time. Many others in our community did not. We pray for recovery and rebuilding. We pray how God will use us in the renewing process in bringing hope to our community. It will take more than a hurricane to bring down the church. This crisis does not define who we are…only how we respond to it does.

The church recently had a Church Conference with two agenda items: to affirm Thera Freeman to the ordained ministry, and to hire a financial consultant to begin the capital campaign process. Both are important. Both will require our support and prayers. Thera will be on her way to Uganda in a few weeks. Mike Allen, a financial consultant for RSII, will begin his ministry with us in a few weeks as well. There will many questions to ask as we venture into a capital campaign for the church. I would ask that you pray for Thera and Mike daily. Pray that God will guide their lives and hearts to be about the Lord’s work in a faithful and creative way.

On another note, on August 4, I had a total knee replacement. It has been a painful journey of stretching, bending …all towards healing. I want to thank the congregation for your support while I was out of the pulpit for those weeks. I thank you for your prayers and cards that have given me smiles on my face, and tears of joy in my soul. Several brought food to the house that was welcomed and all eaten. I am blessed to be pastor of this great church. I am honored and humbled by your generosity of friendship, and support. I have great hope for the future. The Capital Campaign and Building Committees are working hard to bring to the church a plan of action that will affect our ministry potential for years to come. I am proud of their efforts. Pray. Be faithful. Encourage one another. Moreover, allow God to do what God does best through you and your gifts.

Shalom + Paz + Pax + Peace Pastor Frank

Hurricane Ike /Update

Friends,
Please note that the Second Sunday Covered Dish Meal is postponed until the 3rd Sunday...this is due to the uncertainty of where Hurricane Ike will finally land.

Pray for all who are evacuating and those remaining during this hurricane Ike moment.

All church services are scheduled as planned, unless there is another mandatory evacuation for our Beaumont-Golden Triangle area.

Pass this note to other church members in your email address book.
Blessings to all…
Pastor Frank

Just pray!

Almighty God,
We come to you with humble hearts and a desire for safety in our souls. We pray that this hurricane will do minimal damage to property and lives. We beseech you, O Lord, to give us wisdom in having to make decisions of whether to stay or leave. We do know that your grace will help us through these difficult times. O Lord, hear our prayers and comfort our souls. In Jesus name. Amen!