Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Little Chapel on the Bonaire Prairie

The Bonaire Methodist Chapel, by Marie Holly
   It was this month, in 1894, that the Bonaire Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was completing construction on the chapel built by a handful of families from the farming community. Earlier that year, the Rev. M. B. Ferrell, a preacher at the Sandy Run church, choose Bonaire as a spot to try to plant a new church because it was the next stop headed south on the Georgia Southern and Florida Railway. That February a committee was formed to consider the formal development of an ongoing, worshiping congregation, and soon afterwards Mr. W. S. King donated land. By mid-summer, he and his two sons were joined by five other men in the actual building on the structure that we still worship in on Sundays.
   We don't have photographs from that August 1894, but mind does create images as I wander back there with questions about life in our community one-hundred and twenty three years ago.

Was that August as hot as it is now?
What did they do about the mosquitoes?
Who provided the saw mill to cut the timber used in construction?
How much traffic passed by on a average afternoon when the men worked on the church building after completing their work on their own respective farms?
How vital was the support they received from their wives and families, that they saw the project completed in a such a short period of time?
What visionary sketched out the plans for a room large enough room that it would still be used today to welcome new friends and guests?

   At the century mark, Earline Cole compiled a wonderful history of our church. She choose Psalm 102:18 as a theme, Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord. It is so true. We have been blessed by men and women, who could surely never have imagined the stream of persons yet unborn who would enter our little chapel. We are sending out invitations this week for our Church Anniversary on September 24 to give witness to the greatness of God. Mark your calendars now.
   Grace and peace, Scott

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

The Storm Around You and Me

Gale-force winds arose, and waves crashed against the boat so that the boat was swamped. But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. They woke him up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re drowning?”
- Mark 4:37-38


Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1633  
   Panic is what we are tempted to do when waves come crashing in on the boat we are in. The disciples gave in to the temptation, even to the point that they accuse Jesus of not caring. The disciples were afraid. They knew the lake well, most of them growing up on its shores and working its water from their youth. When things suddenly change, people panic and that reaction, left unchecked, tries to replace common sense and truth. 
   Trust. Fear was not the only option, though. Jesus was not acting based on fear; in fact, he was asleep on a pillow. Jesus trusts that the waves cannot do more than they can do. They cannot touch his soul or the souls of the men on that boat. 
   We are 10,000 miles from that lake. It happened 2,000 years ago. The languages spoken there are now dead, but the story is still very much alive. This story is important. When the boat we are in is being battered by the waves, we have a choice to give in to fear or to trust. This is a word for America. This is a word for me. Is it a word for you, too?
   We are called to trust. We are called to give witness to the power of the one who calms the storms. We are called to not panic. The means of grace, given to us by God, to stay grounded in such trust include prayer, the scriptures, worship, and fasting. These get us through the storm.
   Before the story is over, Jesus spoke and the winds and storm were immediately calmed. He has that kind of power. Our task is to trust and not give in to fear.
   Grace and peace, Scott

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Throw Your Best at the Problem

   The subway system of New York City is wishing it were not in the news so frequently, lately. The system has experienced 32,000 delays in the past year, caused by overcrowding, crumbling tunnels, and an out-dated signal system that will take one billion US dollars and 50 years to fully replace. Did you know over 6 million passengers board the trains every day? They enter at any of the 472 stations along the routes that run under four boroughs. Earlier this week, to address some of the manageable causes of the delays, they deployed 1500 workers one night along the lines to make repairs.
   I know Houston County is a long way from New York City and very little about the subway makes you think about the church, but we do the same thing down here. We throw our best stuff - people - at our biggest concerns and challenges:

  • When Jesus’ spoke to his disciples in his final moments before ascending to heaven, he told them to go.
  • When we learn someone lost a loved one unexpectedly, we go (with food).
  • When the Spirit moves us to feed and clothe our neighbors, we go get friends to help make it happen.
  • When we see an elderly neighbor needs help sprucing up his yard, we grab some gloves and go.
  • When our friend rises to make their way down front to pray at the altar, we go.
  • When the truck drops off tons of food to be packed and shipped around the world with Rise Against Hunger, we go pitch in.

   The same is true for the families who gather with us every week. There is no greater responsibility than that of raising the next generation, so we send our people as parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, foster and adoptive parents, and even kind neighbors to help shine the light of Jesus on the concerns and challenges of growing up.
   We believe the church is called to partner with families to shine the light of Jesus into our kids’ worlds. This is so important, we throw our best at it every week: you.
Grace and peace, Scott

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

A Lifetime of Changing Seasons; Every Week Matters

   There is a season for everything, says Solomon in the first verses of Ecclesiastes. He says in Ecclesiastes 3:1, There’s a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens. 
First Day 2017
   This past week has marked the passage from the end of summer vacation for many families in our area and the start of school for students and teachers. Our prayers continue for all of the teachers and staff who daily give their hearts and minds to helping shape young people by God's grace. It is a holy calling.
First Day 2009
   This is also the season of first-day of school photos. Need proof? Simply open up any social media page and you will find them shared by the thousands. With Julie always already out the door to serve as a teacher herself, I have had the privilege of snapping these photos of our boys for a decade now. I love it. Traditions that allow you to mark the passage of time are particularly special. My boys suggested that this year should be the last of the first-day photos, but I am simply going to ask nicely again, next year.
   While Solomon's book of Ecclesiastes is mostly a downer, realizing his wasteful pursuit of pleasure over and above everything pure and good, he certainly gets it right with this passage about changing seasons. Julie and I keep these photos every year to remember when our boys were little, but we also mourn a little that these days are passing so quickly.
    Our church is committed to helping families make good use of every week to grow kids in wisdom and courage. Every new day marks the passage of time in front of our eyes. I am thankful you are on the journey with us. Grace and peace, Scott