What We Do For Children

What Is Happening

  The tragedy and scandal at the Penn State University football program continues to make headlines as the findings of various investigations are released and now as punishments and consequences are meted out. At the center of this tragedy are the actions of assistant coach Jerry Sandusky and the inactions of head coach Joe Paterno, along with the school's president and others in key leadership positions. The scale of this story is enormous. That it happened at one of the most highly respected universities in the country is shocking. That the all-time winningest coach at the top level of college football would be involved is even more so.
  The ramifications of what is being uncovered are far-reaching. My initial reaction from nearly a year ago was that this will reshape not just college athletics or the world of sports, but nonprofits and all organizations that serve in and around children. I continue to pray for the families of the victims and the entire community that is grieving.
  This tragedy, like the shooting deaths in Aurora, Colorado last week, is unsettling. I think it gives us reason to clearly define what it is we believe.

What We Believe

  The Bible tells us that every person is created in the image of God and therefore has great and immeasurable value in the eyes of God, the Creator of the universe (Genesis 1:27-31). Jesus goes on to define a right relationship with God as one that is like a father and child (Matthew 6:9). He goes on to say that entrance into heaven hinges on changing to have childlike characteristics (Matthew 18:3). Finally, Jesus speaks a word of woe to anyone who would cause one of these "little ones" to stumble. The church is a collected group of people who are seeking to live by the Kingdom values taught by Jesus and found in the Scriptures, but also who are teaching and confirming such grace-filled living in the others who are welcomed on the journey (Ephesians 1:18-23). Embodying the love and radical grace of Jesus is what it means for the church to be the 'Body of Christ' in the world.

What We Do (in response to our beliefs)

  A number of years ago, our church council adopted a Safe Sanctuaries policy, similar to the one required of every United Methodist Church in South Georgia, to be intentional about protecting children, our church, and our volunteers. It sets some minimums for both recruitment of volunteers (time involved at church, background checks, etc.) and establishes policies about how children are supervised (at least two approved persons present, no groups in rooms without windows or open doors, etc.). We continue to live into what this means for our church.

  In addition to our volunteers, the Conference required a day-long session of Sexual Ethics training for clergy serving United Methodist churches every three years. Scott is scheduled to attend his third round of this in September of this year.

  Starting this year, we have adopted the principles of ORANGE ministry with children and families. ORANGE is about the church's commitment to partner with families to shine the light of Jesus into the lives of the next generations. Families are first in the line of influencers of children, so we want to help them train up children in the best possible way. This means we are encouraging more participation by adults in children's ministry events instead of less. We love families of every size (family is 1+)!

  Beyond just policies and practices, we pray. We pray for those who have been hurt by the world and for those not yet reached by God's love. We pray for every child in our care and prepare for all of those who will arrive someday. We pray that as we teach and model the love of God we know we are also greatly loved.

Adding It All Up

   I loved being gone, but I am glad to be back. It is a wonderful thing to return home to a great community and an even better congregation where we know we are called to serve and grow in serving together.
   As many of you know, Julie, the boys, and I spent the better part of a week in Lake Junaluska, NC for our Carruth family reunion. Over 55 cousins and relatives gathered around kickball, fireworks, food, sliding down a mountain stream, kayaking, food, telling stories, and then plenty of food and desserts. 
   We returned from there and then last week Julie and I flew to visit friends at their home in Las Vegas. Jay and Amanda were in our youth group a decade ago and have grown to be some of our best friends. He serves in the US Air Force and she works as a pharmacist. They welcomed us like family and showed us the sights. As we approached home when it was all over, my mathematical instincts took over and I tallied the following numbers:

• 0 lost at the casinos in Las Vegas. 
• 1 book read. (Henri Nouwen's The Return of the Prodigal Son)
• 2 Sundays away from worship with the people of Epworth meant 2 Sundays worshiping with the people of GOD in other places. We attended a bilingual service at Julie's home church in Roswell and then a contemporary service in Las Vegas where Jay and Amanda attend. 
• 3 kayaks carried my father, my son and myself across Lake Junaluska for an hour as we raced and splashed each other. 
• 4 hour excursion to see the amazing scale and engineering prowess of the Hoover Dam.
• 5 hours of little sleep in the D-Terminal of the Las Vegas Airport waiting on the next flight after the first one left without us!

   I had to laugh as we were traveling home and tallying up our time away. These numbers are not very impressive. Considering how long we were gone and the places we visited, they are kind of small, to be honest. Some things defy accounting. Some things are too big for numbers. 
   Instead words will suffice: Amazing friends, Beautiful wife, Crazy boys, Magnificent GOD. While these are all true here at home it is nice to know they are true when we are away from home, as well.
   May the GOD who bids us come and follow Him into a life so abundant that numbers often fail be with you in your goings and comings. Grace and Peace, Scott

Jesus Wants More Than 'Like' From Us

Scott: I was thinking about a sandwich. Which do you like the most: the grouper, the trout, the catfish, or the flounder?

Maggie: I don't eat fish. 

Scott: (my face now showing a puzzled look) 

Maggie: It is because I work here and serve it all the time.

   I enjoy talking with the servers working in restaurants. Beyond just "How are you doing?", I often ask them about their favorites or seek recommendations for entrees. Such was the case last week in North Carolina, as our family sat down with friends at a place known for good seafood in Waynesville. The above dialog was just a portion of what we talked about, but I was fascinated by this specific response.
   You can see the irony in her explanation. Could you imagine if persons in other professions made the same statements? What would we think about the dentist who doesn't practice brushing because she works with teeth all the time? What about the mechanic who doesn't maintain his car because he's around cars all day? 
   Of course, it is perfectly okay for Maggie to have opinions about fish. But what if the same logic was extended to someone in the church? What if the pastor responded to a question about the Bible with "I don't read it much because I am around it all the time"? Or worse, what about the church member who professes not to believe in Jesus because they're inundated by books, stories, and testimonies about him? Suddenly, the irony becomes tragic. 
   The truth is, Jesus doesn't want us to like him. Jesus is not content with us simply preferring God over a variety of options. The call of a Christian isn't about preferences or tastes. Jesus wants love. Love this is about total commitment. Love that is about practicing that which you believe. Jesus wants us to do the one thing: trust in God, above all else. This is the journey of discipleship. We are called to live so others would see in us a reflection of the One who made us. Could you imagine if, with our freedom, we chose to be counted as believers but denied practicing the stuff of our beliefs? The truth is, the world looks at the church and that is exactly what they see: people who attend and even serve a product that they themselves do not practice or even like! Mind you, this does not describe everyone, but it describes enough believers that the world has a difficult time being convinced otherwise. Instead, may they know we are Christians by our love. And our forgiveness. And our restraint. And our sharing. And our joy.

"By our purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness we have shown ourselves to be God's servants - by the Holy Spirit, by our true love" 2 Corinthians 6:6

Red, White and Blue

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

   These are important words. They are challenging words. They are the kind of words that start wars. People for over two centuries have gone into battle to fight for our belief that these words mean something. I will spend some time this week thinking about the men and women who have given their lives so that these words are kept strong around the world. I am thankful for soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and the guard for making this happen. I was thrilled to say a word about our own Lt. Kris Farrar while he was with us in worship this past Sunday.

   These are powerful words, indeed. But how many of us remembered that found within the previous words of the document that would push the fledgling colonies towards winning independence is a statement about God, our Creator? Statements and study about God is most often referred to  as theology. Theology made it into the Declaration of Independence.

   It remains there today. As United Methodists, we believe that people, while corrupted by sin, are free to make their own choices because of God's divine grace. We have freedom to choose to embrace God - and the same freedom to turn away and reject God. We exercise that freedom everyday in every deed, word and thought.

   The church is a gathering of those who believe in the Creator of Life, Liberty, and Happiness. The church is the place where the truth about those things is proclaimed, and where people are encouraged in their daily lives to strive for them. So we started this week around a Table with bread and a cup, and now go forth as those aware of our blessings and the high calling that goes with them.

   Grace and Peace and may the United States of America bless God. Amen.