May you see the glory of God in sun and sky; may you hear the Creator’s song in bird and breeze, and may the grace of Christ’s Spirit course through you, body and soul. (author unknown)

Well I got up a little after 5:00 this morning ready to go for a walk.  I’ve had a catch in my back for a week and I figured what I needed was a good walk to work it out.  Then Tracie says something about it sounding like rain.   It’s hard to complain about the rain these days even when you’re standing there in your walking shoes, ready to hit the road for good health and hopefully a better back.  So I decide to make the most of the new situation by going out into what is an unimpressive watering of the earth to move some rain barrels around to catch the water as it flows from the roof.  Actually it was a trickle but I don’t want to offend any rain what so ever.   Well of course I got wet, and yes my back now hurts worse, but I am trapping some of this precious gift of nature for use on the garden.  So I go in, dry off, settle down with my first cup of coffee only to enjoy the peace and quiet of the morning.  Only it’s too quite!  Why, because the rain has stopped.

You make plans, improvise when they don’t work out only to have the situation change again.  There has to be something consistent in life, in a day, in the moment.  Oh yea, Gods’ love and grace.  The one thing that can never be taken away from you.   I can handle the rollercoaster ride today and all the rest so long as my God is with me.   Now about that walk?  I’m sitting down now, so let someone else have the road!
The average American is similar to the weather and yes my capricious desire to go for a walk this morning. People are looking for the answers which will give meaning to life and their own existence.   We are of a frame of mind which speaks about many different ideas of God and even Christianity.  For many Americans the only answer is that there are multiple acceptable ideas or truth, but no absolutes.  In Post-Modern thought there is a coming together in both society and professional philosophers and theologians.  In regards to the professionals John Caputo wrote “…both (Philosopher and Theologian) are interested in the world’s questions of God, and of the good life and of what being ‘human ‘means…” [Philosophy and Theology P5]  We are searching, but do we want solid answers?
Conversely we are in a time when many of our people are seeking for a concrete structure to give value to their economic/consumer based lives, yet at the same time are resistant to accepting the very structure that can give them peace and stability.  In some ways we are in a confused state of understanding ourselves and the universe surrounding us, body and soul.  The up side is that such a confused state opens the population for new ideas, even the old ones like Christianity. The roots of The United Methodist Church run deep from the times of John Wesley who was one of the founders of the Holiness Movement which revitalized Christianity when the Western world was trading in God for philosophy and strict reason.  Our foundation is built out of the Holy Writings of Scriptures and our experiences with our Lord.  These open-ended times are an opportunity to spread the well-rounded Gospel of Jesus the Christ to a needy world.  First we must make sure we are secure in our own understanding of God and are practicing the teachings of Jesus.

Over the coming weeks we will be looking at some core Methodist teachings on the “Way of Salvation.”  Join us as we continue in our sacred journey with God.
May the Grace and Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
Pastor Rick

By looking at the Christ we have our best opportunity to understand life, love, tragedy, and redemption.

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.
- Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein, one of the greatest human minds at unlocking the mysteries of creation understood the power and beauty of that which is beyond our grasp of understanding.  Maybe it was the beauty of it that kept him thinking and dreaming about the unknown and the keys that unlock the doors of understanding, one at a time.

God is the greatest of all mysteries.  This is why faith is so difficult to understand for those without its comfort.  They cannot own it, or create it with their rules;  it is Grace and this is one blessing we cannot control or enforce.  It must be accepted then set free to bless all others.  The minute we tie it down, it is dead, ceases to exist within the borders of our laws.  If we deny others are worthy then we have killed it within our breast.  For Grace comes from the very breath of God, and as Jesus said “we cannot tell which way it will blow.”  Nor is it for us to decide.  Thank God, otherwise we would all be damned by someone!

Seriously, thank God and enjoy the mysterious Grace given to us by our Lord, the Christ.