The four week study entitled “ Out of Egypt”, led by Carolyn Gray, was completed on Sunday night. This series of lessons showed the parallels between the experience of Moses and people of Israel and the experiences of contemporary Christians. In a very real sense we are all recipients of God’s grace, we all have the wilderness experience and reach the promised land, only to find that there are still giants in the land (our lives) to overcome. We find that we can do nothing without God. We thank Carolyn for this thoughtful, inspiring series of lessons.

In the “just started” category we might include the launching of the Spring Festival.  This is a one day event on May 15 that will consist of the combination of the traditional church-wide garage sale in the Family Life Center with a new wrinkle: a crafts/gently used items sale in the parking lot complete with children’s games/features and refreshments.  The parking lot sale is open to everyone in the community to rent booth space and sell their wares. This is an opportunity for our church to bond with others in the spirit of fellowship and cooperation. Volunteers of all kinds are needed to make this event a success.     

The “in progress” subject includes the refurbishing of the sanctuary which is, indeed, “in progress”. See the picture. The Council approved the expenditure of an additional $4,300 to extend the work to include the north hallway and the east entrance. The project is moving right along and we are all looking forward to a return to the beautiful sanctuary for our worship services on Easter Sunday.

I have this book called “6 Habits of Highly Effective Bosses”  by Stephen E. Kohn and Vincent D. O’Connell. I thought we might share the the 6 Habits today but instead of bosses let’s just see how well they work for all of us.

1. Expand Self Awareness. The idea is to become more aware of who we are and what motivates us. Self awareness is not easy but essential because it helps us to realize how we approach others and different situations.

2.Practice Empathy. This means putting yourself in the shoes of others. Empathy in to connect with the humanity of another in a way that makes them feel like you understand.

3. Follow the Golden Rule. We are aware of that one. It is the basis of Christianity. “Do unto others what you want them to do unto you.”

4. Maintian proper boundaries. For work that means the boss is the boss but in life it might mean that others need their personal space.

5. Criticize Artfully. I take that to mean that when you need to criticize someone, remember they have feelings too.

6. Flexing to different People styles which means don’t become too rigid in how you approach things and be able to listen to others and let them have ownership and input.

You know those are pretty good ideas in all that we do. The Christian faith is all about all of those ideas. Self awareness comes form knowing we are God’s. Respecting others stems from recognizing their worth as God’s children. Over all those are pretty good rules especially the Golden Rule.

 Peace and Grace. Reed.

I am awed by the technology that is available to us in our world. Here I am in a meeting with annual conference leaders for evangelism while writing my article. Then in a moment I will post it and it will go out instantly.  Stop to think about it, this is all done in real time and instantly. However, there is a drawback to all this.

With e-mails, face booking, blogging, and now twittering, if you sneeze about 80 billion people know it.

Here is the problem: It means that we don’t often stop a reflect on the matters and depth of life and faith. We want instant answers and instant responses to life and life’s situations. When we don’t find easy answers and easy solutions, we can become easily become discouraged and disillusioned with those around us and with God Himself.

We don’t just think and reflect. Thinking and reflection and praying and conversing and waiting for God can lead to a profoundly deeper understanding of life and your role in life itself. It allows us to take time to ask the profound questions. One of which is WHY?

It doesn’t have to be in the greatest dilemmas like “WHY did my husband have to die?” It can even in lesser WHYS like why am I here? Why am I a dentist? Why do I have enough kids to keep me broke for the rest of eternity. That one may not concern you but I have been struggling with it but that is a different article.

I want to invite you to take time to just slow down and reflect upon life, your role in it and God’s plans and purposes. Let me suggest a way to do it. Begin by finding a favorite Scripture verse or passage and then spend an entire week of reading that same verse over and over again and then think about what it means to you. I think that be the end of the week you will find you are deeper in faith and life.

 Peace and grace. Reed.

On Saturday, February 27, eight members of a group known as Faith Builders repaired a leaking roof of a home in Hillsboro at no cost to the home owner. Pictures of Saturday’s activity show Faith Builders in action.

Faith Builders is a ministry organized by the First United Methodist Church to provide assistance to people in the community who need help in maintaining their homes. While the United Methodist Men at First Methodist is the sponsoring organization, anyone interested in assisting their neighbors is invited and encouraged to participate.  Those interested in being a part of this ministry can do so by calling the church office at 254-582-2342 and leaving name and contact information.

Likewise persons needing assistance are encouraged to call the church office.       

Linus and Charlie Brown are talking in a recent strip of Peanuts. Linus is saying, “I don’t like to face problems head on. I think the best way to solve problems is to avoid them. This is a  distinct philosophy of mine. No problem is so big or so complicated it can’t be run away from.”

Charles Schultz was often profound and often way ahead of his time. I find that to be true even in our church life. Too many times we prefer to turn our backs on “problems” rather than confront them or seek to solve them. Let me give a couple of examples in a different way.

If our school system only graduated 40% of the students, what would we say or do? Probably seek a change of the administration or the board especially if your child was one of the 60% not being educated. What would happen if a local doctor only cured 40% of his patients? How long would they remain in their practice? How about a car company who cars only ran 40% of the time and the rest of the time it was in the shop? That company probably wouldn’t be around long.

Then, if only 40% of our neighbors are in church, are we doing what we are called to do as a church?

When we as the church see a need, a problem, do we try and correct it or do we try and avoid it? Do we sound too much like Linus?

I know that there are times when I like Linus’s philosophy. Especially when it comes to having to confront people or real problems. Avoidance has its comfortable appeal. However, it never really solves the problem.

As a church we need to confront the problem of attracting people to the Gospel of Jesus. We need to become inviting to get them to come. We need to welcome them better when they do. We need to assimilate them when they join.

In the words of those always referring to Charlie Brown’s often goof ups, “Good grief, (Charlie Brown) First Methodist Church.” It is time for us to stop avoiding and time to start doing.

Peace and Grace. Reed.

This past Sunday, the Junior High Sunday School class visited a member of our church family, Mary Barnett.  Mary lives in the new Country Club Retirement Center in Whitney near the Lake Whitney Country Club.  She has lived there for about three months.  Mary met them at the door and gave them the tour of the entire place.  It is a beautiful retirement and an assisted living center.  The class was most impressed with the theater room.  It has huge recliners (9 of them) and a big screen on the wall to watch movies or TV.  They loved it!!  Mary invited them to come and watch a movie with her sometime.

After giving them a tour, the chef in the dining room served a prepared snack of cookies and ice cream to the class.  Mary was presented a card and flowers and she expressed how pleased she was for the visit. It reminds us that seemingly small things can mean so much.  A picture of the class with Mary is shown below.

The youth then went to IHOP to eat, and while they were there, paid the check for a family with four small boys.  Next stop was City Park where they enjoyed the great weather and a few got wet in the creek. All of the youth who served food at the Church’s Valentine Banquet were present, except for one.  The Youth earned the funds for the flowers and meals by serving at the Valentine Banquet and want to thank those attending that event for their generosity.

Just another fun day with an energetic, neat group.

Carolyn Gray

Terrific Nights Together (TNT) is the Wednesday evening fellowship meal served in the Family Life Center at 5:30 PM.  Everyone is welcome.  The cost is a free will offering and the benefits include meeting old friends, making new friends, and sharing a good meal.  The menu for Wednesday, March 10 is chicken breast, carrots, baked potato, salad, bread, dessert, and  beverage.  Kids are treated to fried chicken and mac and cheese.  Come one, come all.

I decided to check the www. thing under the title of “Reed’s Rambling” and lo and behold, THERE’S ONE OUT THERE besides mine. Good grief, is nothing sacred? I wonder if there are other places that would produce the same results. I mean, I wonder if there is a “Suzie’s Solutions” or a “Fred’s Fantasy.” The truth is that we are all unique and like to think that there is no one like us and certainly we might want to be the only Suzie or Fred on the face of the earth but the truth is that we are not the only one with a similar name, etc.

There are some simple lessons to be learned from it all.

First, while there are others who have your name, there is only one of you. You are unique and special. To that end, there is none like you. God created you to be entirely different and special.

Second, while we are different, we are also the same. We all need love. We all want to be accepted and made to feel we are unique and special.

 Third we are all unique and just the same and God loves us because of it. The hardest we are called to do is to love those who are different than we are. It is easy to love our friends but not our enemies. It is harder to love our selves than it should be. But God loves us no matter who we are or what we think or do.

We forget that. God really had a great plan when we created us and sustained us. From the very beginning He has loved us both for what and whom we are. Just look at the people in the Bible. He loved King David for his leadership and strength. The funny thing is that He also loved David because he was an adulterer.

I want you to realize that no matter who you are and ehat you do or not do, God stll loves you and will always will.

 Now, I wonder how I can get rid of that impostor writing using my name.

Peace and Grace. Reed.

For the eighth consecutive year the Valentine Banquet at First Methodist Church, which honors widows and widowers, entertained a large crowd of church members and others in the community with good food and live entertainment.  According to the so-called official count, 136 people enjoyed delicious pulled pork barbecue with all the trimmings. The meals were served by the Junior High Youth Group which received 50% of the net proceeds plus gratuities.  The Junior Highs use these earnings to fund their mission projects.

The theme for the evening was The Grand Ole Opry, and the Family Life Center was decorated with country and western gear.  The Grand Ole Opry tribute concert included performances related to Minnie Pearl, Ernest Tubb, Tammye Wynette, Patsy Cline, Dale Evans, Martina McBride, and Johnny Cash.

The banquet is produced by the Sunday Scholars Sunday School Class. Pictures follow:

Frank Luntz in his book “What Americans Really Want…Really” offers the following list and asks us to pick two. So I offer it to you.

1.)The opportunity to succeed. 2).The good life. 3.)The pursuit of happiness. 4.) The American dream. 5.) A fair shake. 6.) To be left alone. 7.)A fresh start. 8.) Everything I can get. 9.) A fighting chance. 10.) A new beginning. Okay got your two? Now I am not going to go down each of those and talk about their implications. I am going to offer some thoughts Mr. Luntz’ offers.

From his results he has found that people need to return to hometown values.

We need peace of mind more than a bursting bank account.

We need to celebrate the richness of family.

We need communities to make the human connection. 

We need honesty.

We need to acknowledge that we are a happier and more productive nation when we keep God in our lives.

Now, I want you to look at your two picks and how well do those match up to his results?

For the church, the needs list seems to be what we are supposed to be about. Hometown values, peace of mind, family, human connections, honesty and God. YES!! It is what the church is about. Along to way we will help you accomplish whatever you picks are. Hope you come to help us make the “need” list happen and the “want” list to be realized.

Peace and grace. Reed.