Declores!
So, I’m fairly fresh from returning from the bishops retreat that the UNYAC of the UMC. I want to reflect with you upon some of my gleanings from the conference. Mike Slaughter from Ginghamsburg UMC near Tipp City OH was our speaker. The Ginghamsburg church is recognized by many groups for the work they do. He talked about his perspective of caring for us, the theology behind church growth and, the strategy of church growth.
Closer Walk is a movement. That tells me that it has focus, purpose and direction. As the commercial says, an object in motion tends to stay in motion. My life experience teaches me that things that are in motion require energy to get them to stop. In the case of a spiritual movement, lack of energy will cause the movement to stop. When we stop doing the things we should be doing, the things we were taught to do on our walk, our spiritual momentum in a positive direction will stop.
Mike says if he leaves his discipline of spiritual practice for just one day he can feel himself falling away from God. What about you? What is the pulse of your relationship with Jesus? Have you lost your momentum? Are you like me, been a long time since you went to Ultraya? When was the last time you grouped? What have you done to support those you sponsored on a walk? Have you forgotten the commitment you made to assist them in their journey of faith?
One of Mike’s messages was that all leadership begins with self-leadership. We can’t take people to places we have not already been or are not willing to go. As I see it, if we are going to keep the momentum going, we must remember not just what we are trying to do but also how we are going to go about it. Our life of faith begins with devotion to Christ. We have to live out that faith moment by moment through the day and we have to live it out day after day after day. If we don’t practice our devotion we will loose momentum.
The good news is God desires relationship with us. We can find our momentum again. Make an effort today to wrestle with God through a scripture. Make sure you are praying; remember that praying is listening and talking. We have two ears and one mouth for a reason; we should listen twice as much as we talk! Most importantly, walk beside someone. A threefold cord is not easily broken; you, another person and God will strengthen each other and powerfully meet the storms of life.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian