One door closes … one door opens

Today was our beloved pastor's last day as our official pastor. The service is nothing less than what I expected. Jerry spoke on "Remember These Things". He reminded us that we are Christ's ambassadors and that God has set apart Gateway and we would fulfill our mission. We sang some of Jerry's favorite hymns and songs and then He spoke of the fine man God has chosen to lead us into the future. Then I experienced one of the classiest acts I've ever seen in a church service. Jerry and Beverly and the kids walked around the church while Alex played and they shook hands and hugged everyone. The tears flowed so freely from everyone that I started a "Kleenex" committee (of course we are Methodists) and actually ran through two boxes. Jerry and Beverly hugged everyone and you could see the love everyone has for this Godly man and his most wonderful family. While I can't speak for anyone else, I can say this for me. I will always remember this day and the image of God's love and grace as this small congregation of believers and their beloved pastor said goodbye to each other. The emotion flows as I think of it even now. I stood in front of the church and watched as Beverly walked under the cross with her hands held high in praise to God as she left the building. My good friend and our former lay leader Joseph Slife closed in prayer reading most timely and appropriate scriptures with tears in his eyes. Saying goodbye is so difficult. A door has closed.


Next Sunday Joseph and Becky Dye will be in the pulpit. I am so excited. For just as God called Joshua to follow Moses, I believe God has called Joseph to follow Jerry. Just what the future holds, I don't know. I know as a congregation we prayed earnestly about the minis
try Joseph and Becky bring to our congregation. Saying hello is exciting. A door has opened.

Some thoughts on our class

A new day is upon us.  Gateway is entering a brand new phase of her life.  The same is true of our adult Sunday school class.   For the last year we’ve been working through Dr.  Paul Tripp’s book on Psalm 51, “Whiter Than Snow”.  This class has been a joy for me.  Of the 50 lesson’s I’ve been through, I probably hated 15 of them.  There were 15 or 20 I had no opinion on and 15 I really liked.  This is probably not much different than any other book I would have read during that time.  However I do have a few thoughts on the class and for Julia and I, a surprise ending!

One of the things I’ve enjoyed about the class is the open exchange of ideas and personal experiences.  The class has followed in the tradition established by Peggy Jo and Frieda.  A tradition of honesty and openness.  Tom’s leadership of this class has been honest and open and with Tom’s own brand of teaching skill’s displayed weekly.  I want to thank him for his faithfulness over the last year in leading our class.

There have been moments of great levity in class.  Many of those moments seem to be traced back to Leland for some reason.  Leland  brings to the class the critical eye of a communications professional along with a marvelous sense of humor.  I smile as I write this thinking of some of his comments.  Thanks Leland for your help in spicing up the class!

Evelyn brings to class the wisdom of years of following Christ.  Her insights and prayers were so refreshing.   Thanks Evelyn.

Each week I would look forward to Gene and Marion’s contributions.  Again, wisdom and experience personified.  Their lightness and sharp commentary have given me pause for deep thought on more than one occasion. 

As our elder statesman, Roque keeps us on our toes.  One of the things I like about Roque is he simply throws it out there and lets us deal with his comments and ideas.  He brings perfect blend of wisdom, humor and a life long perspective that have added to the class a wealth of knowledge.  Thanks Roque!

One of the more memorable classes was the time Hope and Missy shared about their efforts to save their good friend David from the electric chair.  I can close my eyes and see again as I sat there transfixed on Hope as she bared her soul to us with pain and anguish over her mistakes in life and her and Missy’s efforts to fight for David’s life.  Then the joy of victory as 2 hours before his execution, he was spared.  Thank you Lord Jesus and thank you Hope and Missy!

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Beverly’s contributions to the class.  Her insights are special to me.  Her ability in hearing God in dreams and her writing skills have added to the class innumerable times.  I get tickled as I sit here thinking about the times Leland has spoken on a given subject and I watch as Beverly watches him with a sparkle in her eye and a big grin on her face as she waits until he’s done and then laughs out loud or adds to the mix some witty insight or some deep truth.  Her voice will be missed in our class as she and Jerry move on to the  next phase of their life in Christ!  Thanks a million Bev!

Lest I forget any one person, I thank  everyone in class for their faithful attendance  and the contributions each has made.  Cynthia reading her letter to God was special.  Claire’s comments and freshness of heart have been  greatly appreciated.  I guess I just  say, thanks to everyone in class!

One last note I wanted to share that truly caught Julia and I off guard yesterday.  We are on vacation in Hilton Head and for the last 20 years, we’ve been coming to one particular church on the island, Central Church lead by Pastor Michael Carr.  Michael knows who we are even though we only come to his Church once a year in June.  Yet we have come to think of Central Church as a place we belong.  Michael Carr is a great speaker and teacher and in Julia’s and my life, he is one of the three best speaker and teacher’s we’ve had.  We’ve been so blessed to have had Richard Exley, Jerry Varnado and Michael Carr as men we can call Pastor’s and friends.   As Julia and I were coming down to the island, just before I was pulled over by a Rockland police officer for speeding, I was contemplating the changes upcoming in our life at church.  I was thinking to the Lord that I would love to have Michael Carr pray for Jerry and Bev and for Gateway.  I know how the services go, and they don’t have a time in prayer at the front of the church as we do at Gateway, but I was just thinking how good it would be if Michael could pray for us.  Now in the last 20 years, I’ve never run into Michael at any time any place other than the church.  Saturday night Julia and I were walking on the beach and she stops and say’s “There is Pastor Carr”.  Sure enough Michael was there and he took time to hear our request.  He shared his insights with us and promised he would pray with us Sunday morning.  He did exactly as he promised and as he prayed for us, there was a tremendous sense of God’s presence and power.

But the most interesting part of the service was Michael’s sermon.   He is doing a series on Living on the Edge and he spoke on the Marriage of Michal and David in 1st Samuel 18.  He gave us a perspective on David I had not heard before.  He spoke of the problems David encountered with Bathsheeba were a direct result of the breakdown in communications in his marriage with Michal.  Julia and I were both impressed with the sermon, and with the passion it was delivered and the truth it held.  I will make sure the link to this sermon is available to everyone as soon as it is posted.  It will give you a perspective on Psalm 51 that I had not seen until yesterday.  In my opinion, this is the perfect ending to a wonderful Bible study!

And now, in the words of the great American Hero, Buzz Lightyear, “To infinity and beyond!!!!”

A change in focus

Joshua 1:1-7 Net Bible

After Moses the Lord’s servant died, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant: “Moses my servant is dead. Get ready! Cross the Jordan River!  Lead these people into the land which I am ready to hand over to them. I am handing over to you every place you set foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the wilderness in the south to Lebanon in the north. It will extend all the way to the great River Euphrates in the east (including all of Syria) and all the way to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

Gateway is undergoing a change in leadership.  We have been lead by a dynamic man of God for 25 years.  Now we have a new leader, Pastor Joseph and Becky Dye.  Friday night June 4th the PPR committee met with them at Alton and Frieda's home.  The Holy Spirit showed up big time!  Joseph and Becky shared their hopes and dreams and members of the committee shared with them their thoughts.  It is truly and answer to prayer about how they were chosen for the job and I will let Joseph share that publicly.  It’s just a marvelous “God thing”.

We prayed for the church.  We prayed for Jerry and Beverly as they also enter uncharted waters.  It’s exciting and yet its sad.  We’ve never done this before.  Yet we enter with confidence in the future knowing that God is in control of the life of our congregation, Joseph and Becky and their family as well as Jerry and Beverly and their family.

I must admit to a severe case of cognitive dissonance.  I walked today, listening to music and talking to God about everything going on at Gateway.  I am thrilled beyond words at what I sense is in the future for us.  I am scared because my good friend and pastor will be doing something else.  I’m excited about Joseph and Becky.  They are such a great fit for us at Gateway.  (He even seems to get along ok with Tom).  I am scared because Jerry doesn’t have a job.  Is it possible to have elation and despair at the same time?  Yes it is!  As I was walking I sensed the Lord walking with me and starting to show me some things.

Alton mentioned to me as we were leaving Friday that this seemed like God handing the ball off to Joshua.  As I thought about that I believe the Lord confirmed that.  God is very proud of Jerry and the work he’s done at Gateway.  I believe Jerry is the only man that could have lead this church through the rough and stormy waters we’ve been through.  It’s not about size and numbers.  Quite the opposite, it is about loyalty and obedience.  Jerry has been loyal and obedient.  But now as a church we must change focus.  We must move out of the survival mode into the taking the land promised to us mode.  Joseph is the man God has chosen to take this church into the promised land.  It’s as if God is saying to Joseph:

“Jerry my servant is gone, now therefore you go and lead this church to take the land I promised to them.  Be strong and courageous, and do not be afraid.  I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.”

I write this with the conviction that we need to do what Joshua told the people, “Prepare your supplies, for within three days you will cross the Jordan River and begin the conquest of the land the Lord your God is ready to hand over to you.”  That means Athens and the surrounding communities.

Get ready Gateway!  There are going to be times when we will be tempted to be afraid and will need courage.  We will need to hang on to God and each other, but we are ready to conquer the land.

Lord: Thank you for your faithfulness.  Thank you for sending us Joseph and Becky and their family.  Thank you for taking care of Jerry and Beverly and Aaron and Bethany.  Give us all strength and courage to get through the next three weeks.  Give Joseph and Becky the wisdom to say what you want them to say as they prepare to come to Gateway.  Give Jerry and Beverly courage and faith to know you will take care of all their needs according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus!