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Two Sections – Section A
Volume 156 Number 23
The Bishop
Getting our
priorities straight
BY BISHOP W. EARL BLEDSOE
North Texas Conference
Have you ever felt like
washing your hands of the
whole matter of trying to help
people? As
a former
District
Superintendent,
I confess
that I had
many days
in which
Bishop Bledsoe I felt that
way, but I didn’t wash my
hands of the matter. Why?
For the sake of the gospel we
must get involved. Jesus calls
us to not only get our feet wet
but to get our hands dirty as
well in helping others.
A few months ago, Leslie
and I visited the Dallas
Bethlehem Center, located in
South Dallas. It is one of the
most depressed areas in the
city of Dallas, serving families who live in the 75215 and
75210 zip codes. The greatest
resource needed, other than
money, is persons with gifts
and talents to help develop
curriculum and to share their
time with others. The Center
has a new Executive Director,
Mrs. Petrella Booker, and she
is working to meet the needs
of the families in the area and
to serve the community as
well. But, she needs help, especially in securing sponsors
for many of the children. The
cost to sponsor a child at the
Center amounts to just under
$5800 per year.
Several years ago, I
read two passages in the
scriptures that offered me a
choice about how I respond
to people in need. The first
is found in Matthew 27:24,
where Jesus is brought before
Pilate to help resolve a matter
of leadership. “When Pilate
saw that he was getting
nowhere and that a riot was
See “The Bishop…” on Page 5A
072000
October 9, 2009
‘Silent Sermon’ shares Gospel in seven languages
BY DR. JOAN G. LABARR
P
Editor
icture a silent sermon.
If this appears to be a
contradiction in terms,
imagine that this sermon preached in seven
languages, five in sign
languages and two in spoken
languages, all simultaneously.
And the preacher never “said”
a word.
The scenario is real. On
Aug. 5, Rev. Tom Hudspeth,
an associate pastor and director
of the Deaf Ministry at Lovers
Lane UMC, Dallas, preached
for the second World Methodist
Mission Conference of the Deaf
at Kwanglim Seminar House,
Poncheon, South Korea.
As Dr. Hudspeth signed
in American Sign Language
(ASL): “No eye has seen, no
ear has heard, no person has
imagined what God has prepared for those people who love
him,” he asked the congregation to sign Paul’s words from I
Corinthians 2:9 along with him.
They did, responding in Korean, Japanese, Kenyan and Sri
Lankan sign languages. Korean
and English translators voiced
the sermon in their languages.
One of the sign language
translators was Rev. Joo Kang,
the first Deaf person ordained by
the Korean Presbyterian Church,
who was the Lovers Lane Silent
Night Dinner speaker in 2007.
Another was Hyeoung Kim, a
Deaf Korean Methodist missionary from Sri Lanka, while
a third translator was a Deaf
pastor from the Wesleyan Deaf
Church in Japan.
Two translators from Sri
Lanka and Japan watched Rev
Kang on a television monitor,
so they did not have to turn
around to see Dr. Hudspeth’s
signs. Off camera, a fourth sign
language translator, Joseph
Kimathi, from Kenya, a hearing
person, translated into Kenyan
sign language. He listened to
a voice interpreter speaking in
English, and sat facing the first
row of chairs, interpreting for
the Deaf pastor from Kenya,
who is also his mother.
A Korean woman listened
to the English translator, then
voiced in Korean. Toby WitteDix of Baltimore, MD, voiced
Dr. Hudspeth’s ASL in English.
“To God be the glory for
this amazing conference put
on by the gracious and generous Korean Deaf and hearing
friends in Christ. They ask for
your prayers for the peaceful
Dr. Tom Hudspeth, left, preached in ASL, as tranlators interpreted
in Korean, Sir Lankan and Japanese sign languages. A translator
out of camera range signed in Korean.
reuniting of their country,” Dr.
Hudspeth said.
Before they left Poncheon,
which is about a two-hour drive
from the South Korean capital,
Seoul, and almost to the border
with the North, the announcement came that the next World
Methodist Missions Conference
for the Deaf will be in August
2013 in Nairobi, Kenya. Dr.
Hudspeth, who was elected to be
the General Secretary and Treasurer for the World Federation of
Deaf Methodists (WFDM), will
be part of the planning process.
Rev. Margaret Mukami,
the first Deaf woman to be
ordained in the Methodist
Church of Kenya, and president of WFDM, will be host
for the 2013 gathering.
Back home, Dr. Hudspeth
remains a tireless advocate for
Deaf Ministry. He says that the
number and variety of requests
that come through phone calls,
See “Silent sermon…” on Page 4A
First UMC, Alvord
New facilities open church to future ministry
BY DR. JOAN G. LABARR
S
Editor
eptember 2009 marked
the fulfillment of a
dream and the completion of a three-year
project for First UMC,
Alvord. The 125-year
old church in rural north Wise
County has finished a $325,000
capital project including a new
multi-purpose building with Fellowship Hall and renovation of
the rest of the facilities.
On May 31, members and
friends of the church gathered for
a festive Consecration Sunday
and 125th anniversary celebration as Wichita Falls District
Superintendent Rev. John Rosen-
UM cross and
flame symbol
and the proud
name “Memorial Hall.”
At the
consecration
service, Rev.
Rosenburg
reminded the
church that
they were not
only noting
125 years
The historic 1892 First UMC, Alvord, church
of contribubell, signals a new day for the church with its
tions to the
remodeled 1960’s sanctuary building, left, and
ministry of
new multi-purpose “Memorial Hall.”
Jesus Christ,
burg led in the consecration of
but they were also celebrating
the new building. The structure
an accomplishment that created
now has outdoor signage with the
tools for future ministry.
Soon after the consecration,
hard-working members began
the daunting task of renovating
the 1960s era building. Work
continued throughout the summer. Walls came down, and once
tiny rooms became open, bright
and airy. A highlight is the new
children’s wing, Journey Land,
with three classrooms – arts and
crafts, encampment and drama –
decorated for rotational Sunday
School. Two small restrooms
were combined to create a children’s restroom area.
Sunday School Superintendent Judy Nivens directed the
Children’s Wing project. Artists Kandy Shelton and Donna
Nivens painted the rooms with
See “New facilities…” on Page 5A
4 A NTCcircuit
Isasi-Diaz lecture, Oct.29
Dr. Ada María Isasi-Díaz,
professor of Social Ethics
and Theology at the Theological School of Drew University and visiting professor
at Perkins School of Theology, will present “Reconciliation: The Face of Justice in
the 21st Century” at 7:00
p.m. Oct. 29 in the Great
Hall of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall at Perkins School
Dr. Isasi-Diaz
of Theology. The lecture is
made possible by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation, and is sponsored by the SMU Center for the Study of
Latino/a Christianity and Religions. Co-sponsors include
the Religious Studies Department and the Women’s and
Gender Studies Programs at SMU. The lecture is free and
open to the public. Dr. Isasi-Díaz will be at Perkins from
October 25 through November 3 in her capacity as visiting professor. Her visit comes under the auspices of the
school’s Center for the Study of Latino/a Christianity and
Religions, and is made possible through a grant from
the Luce Foundation. During her visit Dr. Isasi-Díaz will
conduct other lectures, hold consultations with faculty and
students, and preach in community worship.
Quilters top totebag goal five-fold
Rev. Tom Waitschies, pastor
of Wesley UMC, McKinney,
consecrated quilts, toys, books
and other gifts for “Project Night
Night” during the church’s Sept.
20 worship service. The next
day the bounty was delivered to
Samaritan Inn, Collin County’s
only homeless shelter.
Some 33 children are among
Samaritan Inn’s residents.
“Project Night Night”
is dedicated to improving
the lives of these homeless
children, one sweet dream at
a time, with conviction that
every child deserves to have
his or her nighttime needs met.
“Project Night Night” seeks
to advance the emotional and
cognitive well-being of each
child by providing objects of
reliable comfort (security blankets, age-appropriate books,
and stuffed animals).
Inspired by an e-mail by
Suzie Campbell, daughter in
law of quilter Yvonne Campbell, the “Piecemakers” quilting
club picked up the challenge
to produce 10 tote bags, and
several members started mak-
From left,are Yvonne Campbell, Suzie Campbell and Betty Bailey
display completed totebags.
ing small quilts or blankets for
the project. Donated fabric in
the quilting cabinets was used,
along with some purchased by
individuals. Other items included stuffed animals, books,
and the tote bags.
To say they exceeded the
goal is an understatement.
“Never underestimate what a
quilter can and will do for a
project for children especially
the homeless,” said group member Campbell. Final tally saw
the quilters delivering 56 tote
bags, plus, twin sheets, pillows
and other bedding.
For more information, please
call 972-542-2228, or visit website www.wumcmckinney.org.
‘Silent sermon’ shares gospel in seven languages…
Continued from Page 1A
e-mails, and sometimes people appearing at the church, amaze him.
He said that one Sunday
afternoon, his wife, Mary Kay,
saw a woman signing in the
hall. She indicated her father
was deaf, and as they drove
past Lovers Lane UMC, they
saw the Deaf Ministry sign
and came in. The woman’s
father lived in California, and
was coming to visit for a few
weeks. She indicated that her
church had an interpreter, but
not many Deaf people attending. Lovers Lane’s willingness
to take the next step and offer
a fellowship for Deaf persons,
an opportunity to socialize and
bond as a group, struck her as
vitally important.
Dr. Hudspeth explained that
Deaf ministry offers a progressive series of challenges.
Interpreters are important, but
limited, as this is a passive
experience in which people
come and see, but when the
interpreter leaves, the Deaf
people leave the church too.
The next step in his view is
full-fledged Deaf Ministry, an
interactive experience where
Deaf persons are being called
on to exercise their gifts and
grace for ministry. This is
a full-fledged ministry with
Sunday School, fellowship
and mission opportunities.
The final level is a Deaf
Dr. Hudspeth and translators served communion to World Methodist Mission Conference of the Deaf participants.
church, where worship is a
Deaf-led experience, similar
to the worship Dr. Hudspeth
preached for in Korea. The
Deaf United Methodist Church
closest to the NTC is New Life
Deaf Fellowship at Northern
Hills UMC, San Antonio.
Dr. Hudspeth observes that
in some ways the Deaf are
“oral” learners, just as the Bible
was an oral experience when
it was first communicated to
illiterate people who listened to
the stories. “The Deaf need to
experience the Bible as narrative,” he said. This year he is
doing a chronological Bible
study using the Book of Acts,
which offers the kind of material he calls; “wonderful” for
OCTOBER 9, 2009 | NORTH TEXAS CONFERENCE NEWS
this style of study.
Young people are an important factor in a thriving Deaf
Ministry, and the South Central
Jurisdiction has recognized this
by launching a new camp for all
Deaf and hard of hearing children
and youth June 24-27, 2010, at
Cross Point Camp, Kingston,
Ok. Ages six to 17 are eligible to
participate. For more information
on the SCJ EXTREME Children
and Youth Camp for the Deaf,
go to www.missionumc.com/
extremecamp.html.
Cross Point Camp is not far
from the NTC, on the north side
of Lake Texoma. It is a project of
Mission UMC in Ft. Smith, AR,
and coordinated by Dee Mathes,
whom Dr. Hudspeth worked with
on a Deaf Ministry mission trip
in the summer of 2009.
The camp is a very special
endeavor for Dr. Hudspeth, who
said, “So many times Deaf kids
are hidden away, not thought of
and miss out on the important
experiences of growing up in
the church.”
That is why Dr. Hudspeth
continues to put energy and
support into the Lovers Lane
Academy for the Deaf, a small
school that is offering individual attention and new hope
for Deaf teens. For information about the school, contact
Executive Director Peggy
Key, 214-890-0881, or e-mail:
[email protected].
On Oct. 3, Lovers Lane
hosted the sixth annual “Silent Night” Dinner, benefiting
the school and the church’s
Deaf Ministries. Keynote
speaker was Bishop Peggy
Johnson, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, a pastor who
has served Deaf congregations and faced physical challenges in her own life.
Dr. Hudspeth is always
eager to share about Deaf
Ministry and how churches
can become involved. Contact
him at 214-706-9522, voice
phone, or 866-326-4765,
video phone, or e-mail: [email protected].
Yam Jam 2009 - Oct. 17 in East Texas
Helping Hands Gleaning
Ministry will host the 2009
Yam Jam Oct. 17 in a field off
Highway 69 in the Emory/Alba
area of East Texas. Volunteers
will gather at the
field to pick up
sweet potatoes
left behind after
harvest to donate
to agencies that
provide food for
people in need.
At the 2008 Yam Jam, 278 volunteers gleaned 56,500 pounds
of sweet potatoes and donated
them for distribution to food
pantries and outreach centers throughout north Texas.
This day’s work provided
over 42,000 meals to families
of four.
Founded in 2001, Helping
Hands Gleaning Ministry is a
501 C(3) hunger
relief ministry
whose mission
is to utilize the
services of dedicated volunteers
to salvage food
that otherwise
would be wasted and give it to
people in need of food. To volunteer or for more information,
please contact Betty Cordell,
phone: 469/337-2576 or email:
[email protected].
New facilities open church to future ministry…NTC circuit 5 A
Continued from Page 1A
whimsical biblical scenes, complete with an occasional iconic
cartoon character, and carpenter
Terry Harris built the children
a boat on wheels using 2x4
lumber from the 1894 church
building and paneling from the
1960’s building.
The new building, which is
named “Memorial Hall” to remember all of those who built the
church and served faithfully over
Wichita Falls District Superintendent Rev. John Rosenburg, left,
the years, honors their memory
with a building that equips the
and Lay Leader Charlie French help lead the May 31 consecrachurch to thrive in the 21st Cention service in the pre-remodeled sanctuary space.
tury. The church also honored its
to work. For French it has been
space, open to a new patio area
living saints, including Bill Spain
an experience that brought the
outside the entry. The clean and
and Damon Pennington, the two
congregation together and helped
cheerful
new
nursery
is
convesurviving members of the 1961
build an understanding of the
niently
located
near
the
gatherbuilding campaign still active in
worth of each individual. As the
ing
space.
the congregation.
project progressed, there were
General Contractor for the new
In addition to the spacious
volunteers with gifts of welding,
building was PVP Building SysFellowship Hall, which can easpainting, sawing, working with
tems and the interior contractor
ily accommodate 250 people at
glass and carpentry.
was Barry Stone Custom Homes.
tables, the 2,300 sq. ft. structure
“Even if it is one lady who
Building Committee Chairhouses a large kitchen, bathspent
two hours scrubbing and
person
Kim
French
explains
that
rooms with showers, three adult
polishing
the cross, when it
in
the
renovation
phase,
church
Sunday School rooms, two ofcomes
to
working
in a church,
members
themselves
pitched
in
fices, and a storage room. There
there
is
a
point
where
everyone
is additional space
is doing what God calls him or
on the second floor
her to do. Each of us has a way to
that can be finished
serve,” she said.
out in the future.
Other members of the BuildThe newly
ing
Committee include Larry
remodeled sanctuForeman,
Terry Harris, David
ary increased the
Nivens,
Jo
Alexander-Watson and
seating capacity
Chandra
Berry,
ably supported by
to 275. Chancel
church secretary Amy Hiler.
furniture lovingly
The renovations and new
built by Bill Spain
building
are opening up new
was refinished,
ways
to
serve,
and showcasing
as were the pews.
some
hidden
talents.
Ask 6 feet 5
The once tiny
inch
Charles
Witmere,
a football
narthex has been
player
for
Texas
Tech.
When
the
Complete
with
hard
hat
“helmet,”
6
feet
5
transformed into a
new
Rotation
Sunday
School
inch
Charles
Witmere
plays
Goliath
for
the
large and welneeded a Goliath, he stepped
coming gathering children’s Sunday School.
up to the challenge, even when
the costume included a hard hat
in lieu of a helmet. When he
walked into the drama room bellowing, “I am Goliath,” some of
Highland Park UMC, Dallas,
the kids dove under the table.
will offer an Intensive Journal
In the three years the Alvord
Workshop: “Depth Contact:
project has been underway, two
Symbolic Images and Meaning
pastors have served the 100-memLife,” led by Rev. Wally Chapber congregation. When Rev.
pell, Oct. 23-25.
Carroll Caddell came to Alvord as
This is the second half of the
a retired pastor serving part-time,
Intensive Journal workbook. The
the congregation shared a 20-year
“Life Context” section is a prereqold dream of a new building. He
uisite. The study will invite particiagreed to help and the Building
pants to explore “experiences of
Committee and Capital Campaign
connection” which had significant
were launched.
meaning, offering insights about
After the project was securely
Rev. Chappell
ultimate concerns and exploration
underway, Rev. Caddell chose to
of major themes in life. Advanced
payment of the $155 fee is Oct. 21.
“retire” again, and present pastor
meditation techniques offer an
For more information, or to register, Rev. Ed Cherryholmes, another
avenue for greater reflection.
either call 214-523-2296, 214-523retiree, was appointed. “One of
The experience will begin
2331, e-mail: carterj@hpumc.
the things we like about him is
with a 5:45 p.m. dinner on Oct.
org, or [email protected].
that he always believes in us,”
23. The workshop is from 6:30 to
Make checks payable to Highsaid one of the Alvord members.
9:00 p.m.
land Park UMC, and mail to: The
The church also applauds the
Saturday’s session will be 9:00
Academy, 3300 Mockingbird
support they received from the
a.m.to 1:00 p.m., and Sunday will
Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, or regTexas Methodist Foundation
be 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
ister online at www.hpumc.org/
(TMF) consultant for the CapiDeadline for registration and
pages/09_class_registration.
tal Campaign and lender for the
Highland Park UMC to host
Intensive Journal Workshop
Following the summer of hard work, the newly remodeled sanctuary features an open, well-lighted chancel with historic furnishings
lovingly refinished.
project. The total cost for the new
building and remodeling was
$375,000. The church ended up
financing $200,000 through TMF.
Now that First UMC, Alvord,
is living into its new space, leaders are heeding the word of the
superintendent at the consecration and using the new facilities
as tools for new ministries and
revitalizing existing ones. The
UMW group was re-started in
2008, and the congregation is
seeking new ways to evangelize
and reach out to the community
and surrounding area.
The church is also planning
a Lord’s Acre festival on Oct.
24 in conjunction with its Oct.
25 Charge Conference. Though
the Lord’s Acre is not new, the
opportunity to hold it in the spacious new facilities opens new
possibilities.
The Bishop…
Continued from Page 1A
imminent, he took a basin of
water and washed his hands in
full sight of the crowd, saying, ‘I’m washing my hands
of responsibility for this man’s
death. From now on, it’s in your
hands. You’re judge and jury.”*
The second passage is found
in John 13:3-6, where Jesus is
in fellowship with his disciples
right after supper and demonstrates in a prophetic way what
servant leadership is all about.
“Jesus knew that the Father had
put him in complete charge of
everything, that he came from
God and was on his way back to
God. So, he got up from the sup-
First UMC, Alvord
‘Lord’s Acre’
Oct. 24
First UMC, Alvord, will
celebrate its 2009 Lord’s Acre
from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 24 in the church’s new
Fellowship Hall and remodeled sanctuary.
There will be items for sale
in the “Country Shop” and
“Just Like New Shop” and a
silent auction. A turkey and
dressing meal will be on sale
for $7 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00
p.m., with no cost to children
four and under.
For more information,
contact Judy Nivens, [email protected].
per table, set aside his robe, and
put on an apron. Then he poured
water into a basin and began to
wash the feet of the disciples,
drying them with his apron.”*
In life we are presented
with two basins of water from
which to wash. One enables
us to wash our hands of the
matter and let nature take its
course. The other involves
getting up from our tables of
plenty, setting aside our pride
and dignity and learning to
wash the feet of those in need.
Needless to say, often I am
prone to wash my hands of
the matter, but then I cannot
get out of my mind the image
of our Lord and Savior when
presented with an issue, doing
just the opposite. Which basin
do you wash from?
* Eugene H. Peterson, The
Message.
North Texas Conference
United Methodist
Reporter
Joan Gray LaBarr editor
Lee Zastovnik prod. assistant
Jo Ann Hayes circulation
[email protected]
972-526-5006
P.O. Box 866128
Plano, Texas 75086-6128
972-526-5000
800-969-8201
www.ntcumc.org
NORTH TEXAS CONFERENCE NEWS | OCTOBER 9, 2009
8 A NTCcircuit
Lovers Lane UMC to combine lectures
Columnist shares reflections on topic ‘The Shack’
Editor’s Note: Parts of the
following article appeared in the
“United Methodist Reporter”
column, “Wesleyan Wisdom” by
Dr. Donald W. Haynes.
W
m. Paul Young’s
book, “The Shack,”
continues to be
a run-away best
seller. Young is
now touring the country with
a series of lectures and will be
hosted by Lovers Lane United
Methodist Church Foundation
in May 2010.
The Lovers Lane United
Methodist Church Foundation
is honored to combine the annual Tom Shipp Lectures, typically held each October, with
the James C. and Barbara McCormick Distinguished Speaker
Forum and bring to the greater
Dallas community Mr. Young
on May 2 and May 3 in 2010.
Why does this book and the
author’s real life story continue
to resonate so deeply with millions of people?
Too often we have reduced
what it means to be a Christian
to the hereafter. Len Sweet has
written so tellingly that being
a Christian is more than our
eternal destination. It is that,
but Paul calls us, during the
journey, to “have the mind in us
that was in Christ Jesus.” Many
of us, who feel comfortable
with dying into the hands of
God whose name is love, have
a hard time living in relationship to human beings who sin
against us. The petition of the
Lord’s Prayer which God has
the hardest time meeting is
Jesus’ insistence that we forgive
those who trespass against us.
No miracle is more astounding
than the grace to forgive those
who have hurt us deeply, almost
to the point of destroying our
mental, spiritual, and physical
well being.
The difficulty to forgive is
known to each of us. The hardest
“sin against us” to forgive probably is forgiving someone who
murdered one of our children.
This plumbs the depths of grace.
Maybe this reality is the reason
William Young’s novel, “The
Shack,” continues on the best
seller list of secular bookstores.
Almost on every page we
can identify with Mack as he
deals with his grief, his anger,
his bitterness, his loneliness,
and his loss of desire to be in
church. Hanging like an everpresent cloud over every page is
“The Great Sadness.” Perhaps
Dr. Haynes
this within itself is what draws
us to these power-packed pages
because every one of us has had
some form of “a great sadness.”
Our response to our own
“great sadness” varies. Perhaps
it was an accident and we blame
ourselves for its happening.
Perhaps it is a broken relationship, and again, we blame
ourselves for the divorce, the
child who is estranged, or friendship that we lost. Perhaps it was
a relationship that was highly
damaging and we stayed in too
long. We have a zillion ways to
feel as Mack felt in The Shack;
our relationship with God is impaired and our relationship with
the church is negative.
The novel condenses Mack’s
encounter with each person of
the Holy Trinity into one weekend. By attending one of his
lectures at Lovers Lane United
Methodist Church, you will hear
the life story behind the novel.
Young is not only an engaging
writer; he is a moving speaker.
Audiences everywhere have
reported being “on the edge of
our seats” as Young re-casts the
book’s plot into the chronology
of his own spiritual journey.
Being forgiven is being
healed from our brokenness,
being relieved of the price we
pay for protracted bitterness.
“The Shack” is almost without
parallel in leading us “through
the valley of the shadow of
death” and emerging with a
restored soul, an anointed spirit,
and a cup that runneth over. In
“The Shack,” Mack learns for
the first time since his father’s
abusiveness what it means
to experience “goodness and
mercy that follows me all the
days of my life.”
Our best word for God’s
power is “sovereignty.” God
is sovereign and can express
that sovereignty any way He
chooses; God chooses love over
power, human freedom over
coercion. We do that with our
children; we love them enough
to set them free and hope they
OCTOBER 9, 2009 | NORTH TEXAS CONFERENCE NEWS
will remember who they are
and live in a love relationship
with us as parents. However, we
run the risk of their not loving
us reciprocally; so does God.
Love is vulnerable. Grace is
resistible. Choice is not a farce;
it is a freedom. We often retreat
into a victimization syndrome
of believing that our lives are
determined, even pre-determined, by circumstances. Life
as Jesus revealed it is determined by choices and following
our choices are circumstances
that might improve or worsen.
We often cannot control what
happens to us; but by God’s
grace, we can have a major
role in how we respond to that
which happens!
God (“Papa” in “The
Shack”) says, “You try to make
sense of the world in which you
live based on a very small and
incomplete picture of reality.
You dictate the terms and judge
my actions by your matrix and
find me guilty because I allow
human freedom of choice.”
An awful lot of what is done
in my name has nothing to do
with me, and is often, even if
unintentional, very contrary to
my purposes.”
Mack quoted Jesus’ words
from the cross, “My God, My
God why has thou forsaken
me?” He screams to God the
Father, “You abandoned him
just like you abandoned me.”
And Papa responds, “McKenzie,
I never left him and I have never
left you.” Mack retorted, “That
makes no sense.” The Father
answers, “I know it doesn’t, at
least not yet.” Papa tells Mack
that God is not in the business
of justifying the bad things that
happen to good people, but redeeming them. From that point
the story line intensifies.
“McKenzie, you don’t think
I’m good. If you knew I was
good and that everything is covered by my goodness, then you
might not always understand
but you would trust me; but
you don’t.” Mack responded, “I
don’t?” Sarayu, the Holy Spirit,
answers, “Trust is the fruit of a
relationship in which you know
you are loved. Until you know I
love you, you cannot trust me.”
In his surreal conversation
Jesus says, “I came to give you
life, real life, my life…but we
will never force that union on
you. If you want to do your own
things, have at it; to force my
will on you is exactly what love
does not do. Submission to each
other is not about obedience, or
authority; it is all about relationships of love and respect.” To
the degree that fear rules what
you do and say and feel, “You
neither believe I am good nor
know deep in your heart that I
love you. You sing about it in
church and you talk about it in
Sunday School but you don’t
know it. Living unloved is like
clipping a bird’s wings and
removing its ability to fly. Not
something I want for you.”
It is lines like this in “The
Shack” that make me want
everyone to read it!
Most of the millions who
have read “The Shack” are
limited to the printed pages.
Some, however, check William
Young’s webpage and discover
that he is lecturing in a town
near you. Those within commuting distance of Lovers Lane
United Methodist Church in
Dallas can be with the affable
Mr. Young on Sunday and Monday, May 2 & 3, 2010.
Tom Shipp was the founding pastor of Lovers Lane; his
mission was to reach out to
alcoholics in a redemptive, radical outreach of saving-grace.
Young comes to Dallas as one
of the great speakers of the annual Tom Shipp Lecture Series
and the James C. and Barbara
McCormick Distinguished
Speaker Forum.
To gain the most from Wm.
Paul Young’s lecture, one needs
to read “The Shack” and get into
a small group to “ tap the deep
wells” on nearly every page of
this riveting storyline that carries
incredible Christian truth.
For more information about
the combined Shipp Lectures
and the McCormick Speaker
Forum in May 2010, please call
the Foundation Office at Lovers
Lane United Methodist Church,
214-706-9561.
Following up on the Aug. 21st
Vacation Bible School issue of
the NT United Methodist Reporter, two Sherman-McKinney
District churches report exciting,
learning-filled weeks.
Wesley UMC, McKinney,
offered Group’s Power Lab curriculum, drawing more than 100
children. The participants were
divided into multi-age crews,
enjoying a variety of games and
crafts and a daily Bible story
drama presentation. They participated in two mission projects,
bringing canned fruit for the
McKinney Food Pantry (local)
and collecting soccer balls for
an orphanage in Mexico. The
children signed, decorated and
prayed over the soccer balls as
part of the experience.
Lakeway UMC, Pottsboro,
celebrated Vacation Bible School
at Camp E.D.G.E. Director Lisa
Kusch and more than 40 volun-
teers taught, inspired, fed and
played with children and youth.
The mission project provided a
friendly competition, boys vs.
girls, and the children raised
more than $540 to provide camp
scholarships for 2010. Sunny
D donated cases of juice, and
Roma’s Italian Restaurant in
Pottsboro donated pizza for the
last night.
Churches share more VBS successes
Wesley UMC, McKinney, children prayed over soccer balls
before they were sent to an
orphanage in Mexico.
The Lakeway, Pottsboro, VBS participants enjoyed a week at
Camp E.D.G.E. and raised scholarships for Camp 2010 as their
mission project.