July 18-31, 2007.
It is kinda funny, isn't it, that the man who has for the past few weeks been preaching and writing about the need to not hurry the arrival of Christmas, to be intentional about soaking up the richness of the season of Advent, to throw dates over six months away into this week's message. However, I firmly believe the two are related.
I have been given the honor of leading our conference's Volunteers in Mission Summer 2007 trip to Cambodia. Many of you will remember meeting my friend Esther who was with us in early October. Through the people of the United Methodist Church, many great things are being done in this country that, only a couple of decades ago, was thought to have no future. We will be working with our missionaries on the ground there in several light construction projects and in holding a Vacation Bible School in one of the local ministry settings. My hope and prayer is that you will prayerfully consider going. There are several of you who I have already visited with about this mission, and I firmly believe that God is calling the people of Pharr Chapel to be involved in this ministry. The main concerns people express to me are about vacation time, family matters, and cost. Let me be the first to tell you that, believe it or not, if you are called to go on this trip, God will provide a solution to all your concerns. Please let me know if you are even remotely interested so that we can start planning now.
What's this have to do with Advent? Well, the first time I went to Cambodia, I was full of some of the same concerns as you all. However, God took all those away. Look more closely at the story of Mary and Joseph. They, too, had concerns about this call that God had put on their lives. They chose to put their trust in the Lord, even though it did not necessarily make sense to them at the time.
What is it that God is calling you to that you keep resisting for one reason or another? When are you going to stop resisting and allow God's will to be done within you?
See you Sunday!
Lamar
It is kinda funny, isn't it, that the man who has for the past few weeks been preaching and writing about the need to not hurry the arrival of Christmas, to be intentional about soaking up the richness of the season of Advent, to throw dates over six months away into this week's message. However, I firmly believe the two are related.
I have been given the honor of leading our conference's Volunteers in Mission Summer 2007 trip to Cambodia. Many of you will remember meeting my friend Esther who was with us in early October. Through the people of the United Methodist Church, many great things are being done in this country that, only a couple of decades ago, was thought to have no future. We will be working with our missionaries on the ground there in several light construction projects and in holding a Vacation Bible School in one of the local ministry settings. My hope and prayer is that you will prayerfully consider going. There are several of you who I have already visited with about this mission, and I firmly believe that God is calling the people of Pharr Chapel to be involved in this ministry. The main concerns people express to me are about vacation time, family matters, and cost. Let me be the first to tell you that, believe it or not, if you are called to go on this trip, God will provide a solution to all your concerns. Please let me know if you are even remotely interested so that we can start planning now.
What's this have to do with Advent? Well, the first time I went to Cambodia, I was full of some of the same concerns as you all. However, God took all those away. Look more closely at the story of Mary and Joseph. They, too, had concerns about this call that God had put on their lives. They chose to put their trust in the Lord, even though it did not necessarily make sense to them at the time.
What is it that God is calling you to that you keep resisting for one reason or another? When are you going to stop resisting and allow God's will to be done within you?
See you Sunday!
Lamar
