A Methodist Looks at Baptism

Baptism is an essential part of the life of the Church. It is the act of initiation into The United Methodist Church.  As many people come to our denomination from other traditions or as new Christians, it is important that we clearly and lovingly communicate the Scriptural Wesleyan views of baptism.  We celebrate many commonalities with other Christian denominations.  More importantly, we seek to practice baptism in harmony with the Scriptures.

First of all, baptism is a sacrament.  The United Methodist Church recognizes two sacraments: communion and baptism.  The sacraments are defined as “an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.”  Thus, baptism is something that we can see happening in one’s life, while knowing that God is at work in one’s life in a unique way.

Scriptural discussions of baptism often begin with Jesus’ baptism by John in the Jordan.  In the passage, Jesus submits to baptism “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15).  There are three areas where we can examine this baptism in the context of Jesus’ time and our current church environment: John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, Jesus’ baptism was an establishment of a covenant; John’s baptism concentrated on the past things, Jesus’ baptism was an initiation of New Life; John’s baptism was repeated often, Jesus’ baptism was once and only once.

John was not the first person to baptize others seeking to live a righteous life.  Between the times of the Old and New Testaments, some devout Jews practiced ritual cleansing similar to baptism.  One such devout community was at a placed called Qumran.

 Those who wanted to join the community participated in a special rite of cleansing with water.  These baptisms were repeated often and were a means of penitence and submission to God’s will.    Female converts to Judaism were expected to undergo a ritual cleansing.  Males were circumcised and ritually cleansed.   These Jewish ceremonial washings were administered to infants as well as adults.  These acts can be seen as a forerunner to the sacrament of baptism.

Daily ritual baptisms were also performed in John’s time.  Of their own initiative, people often attempted to wash away the mistakes since their last baptism (maybe just the day before).  Caught in a trap of attempting to attain self-righteousness, the people came to John asking what to do.  They came with the understanding that they were trying to wash away the sins since the last baptism (Luke 3:7-19).  He told them that Jesus was coming with a new baptism. That baptism was to establish a covenant with God and his people.  Much like we remember the covenant made of infants in circumcision in the Old Testament, as United Methodists, we remember this covenant with the baptismal right for infants.  Our liturgy reminds us that Jesus told us we are not to withhold the kingdom of God from little children; the kingdom of God belongs to them.  In remembering this covenant relationship, we also remember that the priests sprinkled the blood of the sacrificial lamb on the Ark of the Covenant.  Many remember this as they accept the sprinkling of water on a baptismal candidate.

John’s baptism focused on past things, Jesus’ baptism initiated a New Life.   When the people came to be baptized by John in Luke 3, he reminds them that they should put away the sins they’ve committed previously.  John encourages them to practice piety in their life and work.  But Jesus’ baptism was to new life.  Romans 6:3 reminds us that Christ was raised to a new life in the resurrection, so through baptism are we given new life.  Many people see baptism by immersion as a symbol of this dying and rising to new life.  Many United Methodists remember this as we recognize baptism by immersion as another acceptable form of baptism.  

At the baptism of Jesus and the baptism of the Ephesian believers in Acts 19:1-7 we see that the Holy Spirit is poured out upon those receiving the sacrament.  Many remembering this instance among others, as United Methodists recognize the pouring of water as an acceptable form of baptism.

John’s baptism was repeated, Jesus baptism was a one time event.  We’ve mentioned about that people came to John regularly for baptism for forgiveness.  However, baptism in Jesus is a one time event.  Paul reminds the church at Ephesus in Ephesians 4:4-5 that there is only one baptism.  Baptism is a one time event.

Often times, pastors are asked to “re-baptism” someone.  The person may say they don’t remember their baptism, or they didn’t “feel anything” or they were baptized in a different denomination.  To answer these issues, we must remember the first principle listed above: baptism is a sacrament.  That means that God is the initiator and the who one does the action in the baptism.  We may bring ourselves to baptism, but He is the initiator of the covenant and the one who performs the spiritual grace.  Therefore, if we were to “re-baptism” someone, we’d be saying that God isn’t true to His Word and didn’t do what He said He would do.  It isn’t necessary to try to “re-do” what God has already done.  

As United Methodists, we recognize that God acts in the lives of children as well as adults.  In Old Testament times, boys were presented to the priest for circumcision at eight days old.  This was as a recognition of the Covenant God initiated in the life of the child.   Even Jesus underwent this ceremony.  Now, all God’s children, boys and girls, can receive the initiation of the Covenant of Baptism.  

The Book of Worship reminds us that:

Our Lord has expressly given to little children
     a place among the people of God,
     which holy privilege must not be denied them.

Remember the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, how he said,
     "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them;
     for to such belongs the kingdom of God."

In the early church, entire households were baptized when a leader in the home responded to the Word of God.   The baptisms in Acts 10:47 and Acts 16:15, 33 describe three different occasions when large groups of people and/or entire households were baptized.  It can only hold that people of all ages, including children, would be included in these baptisms.  

Parents who present children for baptism are not just dedicating them to God.  They are, in fact, celebrating their one baptism .  This is an important life event--better said, the MOST important.  Parents should present their children in the congregation where they intend to raise their children.  After all, the entire church is promising to live and serve as examples for the family.  During the baptismal covenant, the parents are committing to live a life true to the Gospel.  They are promising to accept the guidance of the church.  They are committing to be faithful to God in their own commitment and to be faithful to the church through their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.  This is much more than “getting the baby done.”  This is making a Spiritual promise before God and His Church.  Nor should baptism in the United Methodist understanding should not be confused with Christening.  The act of Christening is the public naming of the child.  While this is a part of baptismal service, is not the end of it.  The baptismal service is all three: a public promise to raise the child in the Scriptures, the giving of a Christian name, and most importantly the child’s one baptism.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, reminded the Methodists that no matter when we were baptized, do not to “lean on the broken reed” of our baptism.  This means that making a public profession of faith in Christ is necessary for one to be saved from sin and death.  True faith in Christ requires a broken and contrite heart and a confession of Jesus Christ as Lord.  This can be made a different ages and may be made at the time of baptism or by affirming the covenant made at our baptism through a confession of faith.  For those baptized as children, United Methodist congregations offer Confirmation.  Through Confirmation we learn WHAT we believe as Christians and WHY we believe it.  One does not have to complete the Confirmation course just to be a Christian.  But when completing Confirmation one should certainly have a firm understanding of the faith before making such confession before God and the congregation.  Remember, baptism is a mark of Christian discipleship.  The one receiving baptism may affirm that covenant immediately at the time of the baptism.  In the instance of an infant baptism, the person is expected to affirm the baptismal covenant at an appropriate age.  Maybe that is through Confirmation.  Maybe that is through another public profession of faith.

All of this must be practiced with the firm understanding that baptism is an act by which the baptized are received into the Body of Christ.  Baptized persons, regardless of their age, become members of the Church.  Therefore, baptism is a rite of the whole church, worshipping together.  Whenever possible, baptism should be performed in the public worship setting. If there are circumstances by which a person cannot be baptized in such a setting, the congregation should be made aware and recognized by the assembled worship community.

So, let’s review.  As United Methodists, we:

1. Recognize Immersion, Sprinkling, and Pouring all has valid Scriptural and Historical modes of baptism.
2. Remember Christ’s command to baptize and make disciples.  No matter what age someone is baptized, they (and the church) make a promise to live as Christian disciples together.
3. Understand that baptism is THE act of initiation into the Church.  It is God who takes this initiative, not the person.  Therefore, it need not be repeated.  
4. It is necessary that the baptized make a public profession of their faith in Christ.  This can be at the time of baptism, or at a later time--such as Confirmation.

If you have other questions about baptism, talk to your minister or other Christian mentor.  

Some links for further reading:

The United Methodist Church's home site for a discussion about Baptism can be found here.  (This includes several links to FAQ's about age, mode, and meaning of baptism.)

Read the full text of The United Methodist Church's understanding of baptism, "By Water and The Spirit" here.

Also consider these sources for further reading:

“By Water and Spirit,” The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church 2012.  Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 2012.

Campbell, Ted A. “Conversion and Baptism in Wesleyan Spirituality,” In Conversion in the Wesleyan Tradition, Kenneth J. Collins and John H. Tyson, ed. Abingdon Press: Nashville, 2001.

Campbell, Ted A.  Methodist Doctrine.  Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1999.

Staples, Rob L. Outward Sign and Inward Grace: The Place of Sacraments in Wesleyan Spirituality.  Kansas City: Beacon Hill, 1991.

The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2012.  Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 2012.

The United Methodist Book of Worship.  Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1992.

UM101 Week 3--Methodist Four-Fold Message and Sacraments

In the month of January 2013, I'm leading a class on United Methodism 101.  Thank you to the Fairhope UMC Foundations Sunday School Class for hosting me.   

The majority of this week's discussion focused on the four-fold message of Methodist Theology and the Sacraments.  That four-fold message is:

1. Everyone needs to be saved (original sin)
2. Everyone can be saved (universal grace)
3. Everyone can know they are saved (assurance)
4. Everyone can be saved to the uttermost (Christian perfection)

We also discussed baptism and Holy Communion.  We gave special attention to the theological premise for baptism and that it is available to all: regardless of age or any other reason.  I have written more about this issue.  You can read my "A Methodist Looks at Baptism" post on this blog. It is just before this one.

You can find the full Prezi presentation from this week's lesson here.

Again, I look forward to your questions and comments.

United Methodism 101, Week 2

In the month of January 2013, I'm leading a class on United Methodism 101.  Thank you to the Fairhope UMC Foundations Sunday School Class for hosting me.   

We had a great week 2.  Here are the links for this week:
2. UM Theology, Part 1.  God works in us and through us.  It is God who works in and through us.  We respond to His invitations and His work in the world.  The link to this week's Prezi is here.



Here are the links I mentioned:

• More information on the threefold understanding of Grace--Prevenient, Justifying, Sanctifying--is here.
• More information about Scripture, Reason, Tradition and Experience can be found here.  Remember, Scripture is the central to all these.  The others can be described as ways we interact with Scripture, not superior to Scripture.
• Read the Foundational Documents of The United Methodist Church here.
• You can find the Google eBook version of Ted Campbell's Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials here.

In case you missed it, here are the links for week 1:
1. The People Called...Methodists.  This is a history of who we were, so we know who we are.  We look at the theology in our history.  You can find a link to the Prezi here.
Some other links you might find helpful:

• The United Methodist Church's links about our history arehere.  You'll find expansions on each stage.
• Learn more about our theological heritage here.

Stay tuned for more each week of the class.  I look forward to seeing you Sunday.



I welcome your questions and comments.  Keep them coming!

UM 101

In the month of January 2013, I'm leading a class on United Methodism 101.  Thank you to the Fairhope UMC Foundations Sunday School Class for hosting me.   

Here are the links for week 1:
1. The People Called...Methodists.  This is a history of who we were, so we know who we are.  We look at the theology in our history.  You can find a link to the Prezi here.
Some other links you might find helpful:
--The United Methodist Church's links about our history are here.  You'll find expansions on each stage.
--Learn more about our theological heritage here.

Stay tuned for more each week of the class.  I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

You can contact me with comments or questions any time.

Social Networking Christmas

I pray that worship at Christmas time has been meaningful for you.
Like me, you may enjoy a look at what the first Christmas may have looked like through Social Networking.  Here's a link to the video we used on the 23rd and 24th.  Merry Christmas, friends.  And on Earth, Peace and Goodwill.

Piercing the Darkness

The light shines in the darkness, 

and the darkness has not overcome it.

With many of you I continue to shed tears of disbelief, of grief, of dismay for our sisters and brothers in Newtown, Connecticut.  How do we even begin to extend compassion to those whom we may never meet, and on whom we would never imagine such a profound grief?  What words do we offer to our friends, our families, our children who try to fathom the events at Sandy Hook Elementary School?

Let us begin by admitting that the irrational acts of fallen and broken people cannot be rationally explained.

Sin, by its very nature and practice, is self-destructive and destructive to all those around.  It defies all logical explanation.  But that provides little solace to the parents of 20 children who lost their lives on what was to be an otherwise “normal” morning, 10 days before Christmas.  Nor does it comfort those families of the adults who loved those children and died while doing all they could to protect them.

So where do we begin to engage in such a dialogue?  2,000 years ago, something similar happened.  Matthew 2 records the slaughter of the innocents:  All the boys under 2 years of age in and around Bethlehem were killed by Herod’s soldiers.  The Magi told Herod that they heard the King of the Jews had been born.  This paranoid, demented leader wanted to take no chances in losing power and had all the Hebrew male children killed.   Blood filled the streets of Bethlehem and the surrounding villages.  The cries of the mother’s weeping must have been haunting.  Matthew recalls the words of the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,
    weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
    she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

The prophet was recalling a time when the children of Israel were taken away by their Babylonian captors.  Mothers had lost their children at the hands of the cruel and inhumane.

Our sisters and brothers are weeping again at the hands of the irrational and inhumane.

But what are we going to do about it?  That’s a question many seem to now ask.  Let us not rush off to beat the drum of certain piece of legislation, regulation, or policy that will, seemingly, make things right overnight.  The answer is not that simple nor made of human hands.   The heart of the matter is a matter of the human heart.  The lasting change that must come will be a matter not just of the outside.  Outside changes will not change the inside.  Only a change on the inside will bring a change on both the inside AND the outside.  The answer begins when the Church rises up to do her part. 

We must take the time to mourn with the families of the children and adults in this most grievous of times.  Losing someone in such a manner in terrible enough.  But no parent should have to bury a child.  So grieve with these families.  And grieve deeply.  But grieve as a people with hope.

Such hope is the message of the coming of God in the person Jesus Christ, a baby born in a manger.  The story does not end in darkness.  The Light was born into the darkness and the darkness has not, and cannot, overcome it.  It is the message of Christmas.  It is the Gospel message.  And it is a message worth telling.  

In a small community in Connecticut now sits 20 little bedrooms filled with the toys of innocence: dolls, trucks, crayons, and the like.  Now robbed of their innocence, the bedrooms sit empty and parents long for one more chance to hold the little ones to them, just one more time.  How will things ever be right again?  The families of the teachers, administrators and others who gave their lives struggle with the pangs of loss.  An entire school and community huddles together looking for solace.

Where can anyone find peace in such a world?  When the Bible speaks of Peace, it does so not in the sense of a mere cessation of hostilities.  It means instead that, despite the circumstances, there a sense of God’s presence, of His comfort, of His assurance.

Many of us have seen the pictures from Connecticut of men, women, and children holding candles in vigil.  The soft glow the flame shining a piercing light into an otherwise dark night.  How appropriate.  A deep darkness fell over Newtown, and the entire country.  But the darkness never prevails against the light.  The Light always overcomes.  The people of the Church, Christians everywhere, are again called to shine a light of hope into the darkness.

So what do we do now?  Hug those near to you a little tighter.  Give our teachers and school officials and extra measure of support.  Show your appreciation to our first responders.  And rise up and be the Church.  Please join me as we pray earnestly for those affected.  For the people of Newtown.  For teachers everywhere who look at a classroom of beautiful faces everyday.  For the leaders of our schools and our communities.  Pray for a new movement in the Church, a movement of Christians who will rise up and be the light, the peace to a dark and distraught World.  A world that longs and cries for what, it knows not.  And only Christ is the answer.  May He be your Peace now and forever more.  May He pierce our darkness anew this Christmas time.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  --Jesus.  John 16:33

Together at the Lights

Photo from Press-Register

One of my favorite events of the year in Fairhope is the Lighting of the Trees.  If you're new to the community (as many people in our church are each week), you are welcome to come to the event with me.  I'll be the guy with the big, goofy grin on his face.  Here's the way it works.  On the Thursday before Thanksgiving, the city closes the downtown streets.  Large crowds congregate at "The Clock" at the intersection of Fairhope Avenue and Section Street.  The school bands play and the mayor makes a speech.  As the clock strikes 6:00 p.m., he flips a switch and the darkened streets are illuminated in a moment.  A million Christmas lights, which have been carefully placed in the trees alongside the streets, warm the night.  A loud cheer goes up from the crowd and the music begins again.

To some, that may sound like a rather silly thing for all those people to get excited about.  But I guess the thing that I like about it is just that: we all get excited about something together.  A divisive election season will be over.  It will be a few weeks before the Iron Bowl.  And for one evening, we can all come together to get excited about something--even though it may seem silly to some.  We put aside our differences and unite for a small celebration.  People cheer with wonder and awe about the same thing at the same moment.  I'll admit that I don't even look at the lights at first.  I look for the light to shine on our children's faces as they react to the spectacle.

As we head into the holiday season, I wonder if we could find more things like this to get excited about.  What if we came together in the Unity of Christ in the midst of Thanksgiving?  What if we shared that same wonder as we anticipate the coming of the Christ Child?  What if we put aside the competition of gifts and parties and instead celebrated the purity of the Hope of God?

The Lighting of the Trees kicks off the Holiday Season in Fairhope.  Maybe I'll see you downtown that night coming for the same reason I am. Then let's be in worship and study together throughout the Season as we pray that we will let God bring us all together for His purpose today and forevermore.

Routine?

Routine. Many of you have shared with me how much you enjoy the routine of the new school year. For many it means a regular weekly schedule where we can “get things done.” In the body of believers, there are new opportunities for growth now that we are in our “fall routine.”
Prayers. Are you praying for your church? The mission of the church in the world? The opportunity to be involved in that every day? I encourage you to pray, not only on Sunday mornings, but everyday for your part in God’s Church.
Presence. While we may be “back in the routine,” many things can distract us from Sunday worship. MAKE IT A PRIORITY to be in worship. You have a profound impact on others by your presence. When you can’t make it, be sure to catch up on each week’s message by listening online: www.fairhopeumc.org. In October, Mike and I will teach a six-week study on the book of Romans.
Gifts. God has called each of us to share the gifts He gives with others. We do this with joy, because God is the one who has called us. God has called us to be a part of another’s life by using His gifts. Thank you for committing to this work this month.
Service. Joyfully serving others is a powerful way to grow in faith. This month we continue work at the Habit for Humanity home, serve in post-hurricane clean up, work towards rebuilding tornado damaged homes, and much more. See below for details.
Witness. One of our greatest privileges is to tell another about what a difference God has made for us. There is someone in your life with whom God wants you to share His love. Will you do so? Pray daily that He will show you how to do so.
What a joyful routine, to be faithful in our Christian walk together.
One great way to do so is to participate in serving others and here are several opportunities:
Ecuador Medical Mission Team for Spring 2013 is now forming. Please prayerfully consider how you might be involved. For more information, contact Rob at rob.haynes@fairhopeumc.org.
The Habitat for Humanity work will continue until the work is done. Come out any Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday to 27711 Tallent Road in Daphne. For more information contact Rob at rob.haynes@fairhopeumc.org.
Our next Family Promise week is November 18. Let us welcome, with open arms, homeless families from Baldwin County during Thanksgiving week. For more information contact Lany Simmons at owen_simmons@ml.com.
Hurricane Isaac Clean up teams. We have been invited to participate in clean up teams in Louisiana and Mississippi teams. ERT Training is required. Dates will be determined upon availability of team members. For more info, contact Rob at rob.haynes@fairhopeumc.org.
April 2011 Tornado rebuild teams. Let's finish strong in rebuilding homes in West Alabama.
ERT Training is NOT required. Work is light and available to all skill levels. For more info, contact Rob at rob.haynes@fairhopeumc.org. 

UM 101

Methodism 101

Baptism.  Communion. Epworth.  Aldersgate.  Prevenient Grace.  Going on to Perfection.  The Book of Discipline.  The Book of Resolutions.  Charge Conference.  Annual Conference.  General Conference.  Jurisdictions.  Appointment System. Bishop.  District Superintendent.

EUB.  UMC.  Wesleyan Theology.  Arminianism.  Apportionments.  UMVIM.  UMCOR.  

As United Methodists, we share a common heritage with Christians around the world.  At the same time, we have a rich history and theology as we seek to live as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.  There are many things unique to The United Methodist Church that define who we are as a body of believers.  Where our commonalities and our unique heritage and understanding intersect is one of things that makes being a United Methodist a wonderful thing.

I encourage you to explore this for yourself.  On four Wednesday nights this fall I will leading a discussion of these topics and more.  I invite you to come on Wednesday nights, 6:15-7:30, in the Fellowship Hall.  The course will run September 12 to October 3.   Bring a friend, your questions, and your Bible.  We will have some fun!

One of the ways God has worked through the Methodist movement throughout the centuries is in the ministry of Small Groups.  Fall is a great time to renew our commitment to participation in many of the great opportunities we have available: Sunday School, LifeGroups, Small Group Bible Study, Men’s and Women’s Ministry studies, Disciple Bible Study, and many others.  There is great power in participating in such a community.  And besides, it what we do as Methodists!  See you there!

Hurricane Living

Inland friends sometimes ask what it is like to live on the coast, where we experience hurricanes.  I’ve lived in Kentucky and Illinois and seen floods, ice storms, tornadoes.  I’ve lived in northeast Ohio and seen blizzards.  Each area has its own unique challenges.   I’ve lived on the Gulf Coast for 21 years, over half my life.  Living in an area where hurricanes are a possibility leads us to prepare, much like living in other areas require you to prepare.  We don’t buy rock salt to cover the driveway and snowblowers.  We buy plywood to cover the windows and generators.

My family and I live at least ten miles inland.  We live near woods and fields of cattle and row crops.  Some of those living inland have said that we on the coast get what we deserve when we get a hurricane.  They say that only the wealthy have their second homes on the coast and that it is okay to let them blow away.  I haven’t always found that to the be the case.  Storms (hurricanes, ice storms, tornadoes) occur all over the country.  Our neighbors use their homes as their primary (almost exclusively ONLY) residence.  Our neighbors are firemen, teachers, WWII vets, farmers, and landscapers.  They are hardworking, caring, good people.  Hardly would we consider our homes expendable.  Living in a hurricane area is just a part of life for us.

Over the years you accumulate things.  One year you buy a generator.  Another year you buy some plywood to cover the windows.  Another year you actually cut them to fit the doors and windows.  You keep your stash of flashlights, lanterns, and batteries handy.

With each storm you accumulate stories.  You remember the places you rode out the storm, the times you evacuated, the times you WISHED you had evacuated and that times you wished you had stayed put.  You remember the storms by how old the children were or when Grandma came over to ride it out with you.  These events become a part of our family history.  

Hurricanes are often large and unpredictable.  Forecasting their landfall and intensity is difficult.  When one enters the Gulf of Mexico, those of us living on the hundreds of miles of coastline must be prepared.  Even small changes can mean a big difference.  Isaac had rain bands some 350 miles across.  We were on the outside edge of those bands.  If Isaac moved 25 miles to the east, it would mean that several more inches of rain fell upon our homes and land, not Mobile Bay.  So an adjustment of less than 10% can mean the difference between a drizzly, breezy day and downed trees, power lines, and significant flooding.

Therefore, we prepare.  For Isaac we were expecting a storm with winds of at least 115mph.  A week ago, the forecast was for it to go far to the east of us.  That would put us on the “good” side. When you’re on the west side of the storm, the rains and winds are much quieter.  As the week progressed, the forecast track moved west.  For a day or so, the forecast track put the eye of the storm passing over our home.  But the forecast track kept moving west.  That puts us on the “bad” side.  When you’re on the east side the rain, winds, and possibility for tornadoes all greatly increase.

At the church, we put our plan into action.  We secured the facility.  We called our “sensitive” populations.  The governor declared a state of emergency and ordered evacuations.  Schools closed for three days.  People move into a strange state of motion.  The stores are quickly emptied of bread, water, canned meat, peanut butter, paper products, batteries, and snack foods. (As a side note, our family always buys ice cream at this point.  That way if the power goes out, we have to eat the whole carton immediately, lest it should melt.)

The news people tell you to fill your car with gas.  On your way to fill up you see several boats on trailers headed inland.  You may find stations out of gas.  When you find gas, you may wait in line behind someone filling up several cans.  Maybe it is for their generator or maybe it is for peace of mind.

Our family seeks to move with calm through the process.  We clear the yard and porch of lightweight items.  We help our neighbors and friends.  We get the animals settled.  As we work, a foreshadowing breeze creates a whisper through the surrounding pine trees, and we take one more look around before we head into the house.  Later we will poke our heads out between bands of rain coming on shore, when the wind the will howl through those same pines.

Despite all the ills of the storms, I love the family time the storm creates for us.  It is almost as if we are being pressed inward, from all sides, to be together.  We do those projects we’ve been meaning to get ‘round to for a while: we clean out a closet or two, I get that old reel cleaned and reassembled, we play games together, we watch classic movies, we go splash in the puddles.  The space of family time is our calm in the storm.  
We don’t really turn on the television very much.  The repetition and the hype seem to steal something from our solace.   This solace remains constant in the time between the bands when the winds and rain is calm or when the rain blows horizontally through those pine boughs.

Kevin Stokes and Tony Wood wrote a song that reminds us that sometimes God calms the storm, and sometimes He calms His children.  No matter where we are, storms will rage around us.  I pray for one or the other for my neighbors and for all those affected.  Sometimes, late at night when I hear the winds blow from inside may warm and dry home, I close my eyes and I see the children I met in Haiti.  I see the tent and tarps they lived in and hear the winds blow around me.  This is the same storm they saw but a few days before I did.  Did they pray that God would calm them or calm the storm?

When the storm is over, like turtles poking our heads out of our shells, we take a look around.  We check on one another.  We see how we can help.  Storms are a part of life.  Jesus reminded us that troubles will come.  However, he never leaves us nor forsakes us before, during, or after those storms.  He calls us to be the arms of compassion to those affected: firemen and farmers on the Gulf Coast, or orphans in Haiti.  When we are affected by the same storm, it seems like the differences between us fade away a little more.  He calls us to remind them all of His promise, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Real Social Network

I am fascinated by the way people connect to one another.  We have dozens of options to attempt to connection through Social Media.  We live in a TGIF world: Twitter, Google Instagram, and Facebook.  YouTube is now the second largest search engine.  Millions us have our phones always on and always on us.  Technology drives a large portion of our lives.  I too use many of these technologies on a regular basis.  I’ve connected with friends, love ones, and new acquaintances.  So have millions of others.

But are we more connected than we ever have been? I mean TRULY connected.

On Sunday, August 19, we begin looking at the Real Social Network and power of community.  We are going to study Social Networking and Scripture’s call to live in community, the effects of the (Cloud?) Crowds on our lives, and power of a few faithful friends in our midst.  I invite you to be present each in worship as we look at these in The Gathering.  Remember, you can always find our sermons online at www.fairhopeumc.org or on iTunes.  And if you want to connect with me, you can find me www.facebook.com/rob.haynes or Twitter @rob_haynes. :->

In the August 19 message, I reference these videos.  I offer them to you here if you want to learn more:

Psychologist Sherry Turkle: Connected, but alone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Xr3AsBEK4

The Marketing Revolution of Social Media:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aconjR6uH4

The (real) Social Network: The Power of Community

No doubt Social Networking has changed the world.  It has helped to bring down governments (remember the Arab Spring?), streamlined the distribution of important information (ever gotten message about breaking news or a coming storm?), reunited us with old friends (ever friended a high school flame?), and given us something else to amuse us (watched a cat video lately?).  Worldwide over 750 million people are on Facebook.  Twitter is not far behind with 500 million users.  We can communicate more information, to more people, over a broader distance, in a shorter time, than ever before.  We can catch up with old friends, make new friends, and keep them up on what we are doing.

But it forces us to ask the question: we may be more connected, but are building authentic, lasting community?  What is life was more than a status update, a 140 character Tweet, an Instagram photo, or an e-mail?  What if it were more than a simple interface on a screen in the palm of our hands?

Don’t get me wrong, I use all of these forms of communication--sometimes several times a day.  I am glad that we can stay in touch with so many people in such an easy manner.  But I hope that it doesn’t remain there.  Authentic and lasting community takes more that these types of interactions.  How do we move that direction?

Beginning August 19, we will take a look at the power of authentic community with a three-week series in The Gathering.  Be present each week for these times of teaching and study.  And oh, while you’re at it, feel free to follow me: I’m on Facebook: www.facebook.com/rob.haynes, Twitter: @rob_haynes, and Instagram: rob_haynes.    =:-)

Water, Water Everywhere

Welcome to summer!  One of my favorite parts about this time of year is spending time on the water.  I love to do things in the water, on the water, under the water, near the water-WHATEVER! I love hiking near a mountain stream, fishing under a shade tree on a farm pond, floating on the lake, or sitting at the beach.  I think one of the things that draws me to the water is what it represents.  Singular water molecules join together in the trickle of a mountain stream.  That flows to the pond, which empties into the lake which empties into the sea.  It takes every little mountain stream, every pond, every lake to make up the waters of the sea.  And when they join together, they represent great beauty, great power, and great wonder.  Stand at the edge of the sea on contemplate how vast, how deep, how wide it is.  Consider the myriad of life that exists below the surface of the water.  I may be simple minded, but the profundity of the simple water droplets coming together to form something so mighty like sea leaves me in awe.

Maybe that’s because I see the power of the church in much the same way.  Time and again we see the Spirit of God represented by water in the Scriptures.  By ourselves, we can do very little.  However, when we join together with a few others, we begin to have a great effect--the stream begins to trickle.  And so it goes as we join and as we become a single unit like the sea. 

When you find yourself on the water this summer, take a minute to contemplate the little parts that make up the larger body of water.  It takes every drop to make up the whole.  So it is with us.  We all do our part to make up the Body of Christ.  May we enjoy our summer while we maintain our faithfulness in Prayers, Presence, Gifts, Service, and Witness.  Let’s come together in worship, study, prayer, and fellowship.  The rest of the time, let’s go spend it on the water together!

Imagine No Malaria

Think for a moment about the disease that we no longer worry about because of the dedication and research of those of generations before us: scurvy, polio, bubonic plague.  We don’t give much thought to these anymore.  In the USA we would include MALARIA on that list, but that is not so for much of the Developing World.  However there is a plan to eradicate, and YOU can be a part of the solution.
One lesson we learned from General Conference 2012 is that The United Methodist Church is increasingly a WORLDWIDE church.  The number of Africans United Methodists is approaching 5 million.  It is one area where the church is growing the most.  Our brothers and sisters there need our help in serving their neighbors.  Our missional focus for Annual Conference this year is Imagine No Malaria, a campaign to STOP malaria for good.  This is a world-wide effort of the people of The United Methodist Church to raise $75 million to eliminate death and suffering from malaria in Africa by 2015. This comprehensive approach to beating malaria through prevention, education,
communication and treatment.  Malaria is both preventable and treatable. There is currently a plan to eliminate malaria
in our lifetime.  For more than 160 years the denomination has been a key player in the fight against malaria, operating hospitals, clinics and mission centers across Africa.  Through our partnership in ministry with them, we can look forward to the day that we can celebrate the elimination of malaria around the world.
So what can you do?  We will present a special offering at Annual Conference the week of June 4.  We will focus on this special offering here throughout the month of June.  Your gifts, over and above your regular giving, will make a huge difference.  Every contribution makes a huge difference.  $10 buys an insecticide-treated net, one of the most effective methods of prevention.  As little as $28 a month will impact 100 people in prevention, medications, and education.  As with every donation to these projects, 100% of the donation does directly to the project.
Would you join me in this fight against a needless killer?  Together let’s Imagine No Malaria to threaten our brothers and sisters around the world.  For more information, visit our website www.fairhopeumc.org.

Going Fishing this Spring

Summer is one of my favorite times of the year.  I enjoy getting out to the beach, getting on the water, working outside.  Fairhope is a great place to live if you love the warm weather and the sun.  This summer we’d like to celebrate some of these things in The Gathering with you.

Have you ever noticed how much Jesus talks about FISHING in the Gospels?  We see Jesus on the Sea of Galilee several times.  He called fishermen to be among His first disciples.  He used fishing boats for a pulpit. Jesus used fish in His miracles--from coins in their mouths to miraculous catches to feeding thousands of people with just a few fish.  Why so much emphasis on fishing?!?

I’m excited as we are in a series in The Gathering called “Going Fishing: The Fishing Stories of the Gospels.”  Whether you fish or not, I think you’ll find something encouraging, challenging, and edifying in these studies.  That’s because Jesus’ fishing stories weren’t about fishing; there were about LIFE.  I encourage you to bring a friend and come to worship.  Fishing poles in worship will be optional! :)  The series runs through May 20.

Which brings me to another thing: this summer we want to encourage you to “come as you are” to worship.  In May we begin Casual Summer in The Gathering contemporary worship.  I know that there are many things that my draw your attention this summer.  My prayer is that faithful participation in worship will continue to be one of those.  So if you’re headed out somewhere on Sunday, come to church first.  Come in your jeans or your shorts and feel uninhibited in worship.

Later in the summer we have more great series planned, so stay tuned, stay plugged in, stay involved!  I look forward to worshipping, to studying, (even to fishing), and to enjoying the upcoming summer with you!

Ecuador Medical Mission Team--April 20

Ecuador Medical Mission Team

April 20

The Least of These

Have you thought about the "least" these people in our world? Jesus certainly does. He proved that in His life and work in ministry on Earth. He was about God's business in serving and ministering to the people that seemed seemed to have forgotten. Among these were the sick, the poor, the lame, the blind.

This week we've seen our team serve some of these same people here in Ecuador. They have looked past their impressions or even preconceived ideas. Instead they have looked for Jesus in each face they've seen.

Today our work in Quito drew to a close. We were blessed to serve hundreds this week with medical care, dental care, and provided glasses. These children, youth, and adults were able to get the referrals they needed and all medicines and vitamins for each.

We won't have the opportunity to serve in this exact same way again. But this experience encourages us to look for the least, the last, and the lost that are within arms' reach in our own contexts back home. Those that we seem to pass each day on the way to work. The ones we forget about that live near us. The ones that Jesus would spend time with--the least of these.

How about you? Who are the least of these in your own context? Are you ready to serve as Jesus did? Are you ready to use the gifts and graces that He has given you to serve? It doesn't have to be across the world. Maybe it is to be across the street. Maybe it is across the hall. Wherever it is, ask God to show you who you can serve and how. He'll show you. He wants to show compassion and love to His children. And He wants to use YOU to do so.

 

We have been very blessed to work with SIFAT (Servants In Faith and Technology). To learn more about their work and how you can also be involved visit www.sifat.org.

In Ecuador we've worked at sites where Compassion International is making a difference in the lives of children as they release them from poverty in Jesus' name. Visit www.compassion.com

In early blogs, we mentioned the work of Dr. and Mrs. Paul and Flor Fellers and Bayside Medical Mission. Visit them at www.baysidemedicalmissions.com

To learn more about the ministries of Fairhope United Methodist Church, visit www.fairhopeumc.org 

May we all take seriously the word of Christ in His call to serve and to bring life, life more abundantly (see John 10:10).

Matthew 25:31-46

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.


34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

 

 

Ecuador Medical Team 2012--April 19

April 19

Quito

Medicine can do so much. There's only so much that medicine can do.

I couldn't be more proud of this team. They have done a remarkable job in service to God's people so far this week. They have done an excellent job with every aspect of the experience: the travel, the food, the time with one another, and most of all time in the clinic. They have shown amazing love to these beautiful people in Ecuador.

We have seen people for well check ups. We have also seen them for life-changing illnesses. We have been able to share medical care and offer them the medicines and procedures they need, anti-parasite medications and vitamins for all. We can definitely say that we have made an impact on the people of Ecuador. There is much that medicine can do.

Today, we were also reminded that there is only so much that medicine can do. A poignant lesson came when we saw a middle-aged woman who complained of insomnia. As we asked more questions we realized that she has suffered a great deal. She lost her father and fifteen-year-old daughter in tragic incidents. She was unable to find work. The weight of the world was upon her. He problems were not physical, but spiritual. Our doctor offered some of the most profound healing I have heard in a while. "I've studied medicine a great deal. I also know that there is much that I don't know. In your case, my medicines won't help. This healing can only come from Jesus Christ.". We called the leaders of the church to come pray with her. We offered her encouragement and a community of love and support that she so desperately needed. It was the right medicine and a much needed time.

There is much that medicine can do. But there's only so much medicine can do. My prayer is that we will continue to offer both types of healing wherever we may go and to whomever God may bring our way.

 

Ecuador Medical Team 2012- April 18

April 18

Quito

What's the difference?

When you see someone, what do you see? Do you see the things you have in common? Or the differences? Here in Ecuador it is often easy for us to see those differences. The differences in skin color, hair, language, customs, foods, etc. Differences abound.

But the members of the team are challenging themselves to see the similarities. The similarities in our families, our friends, our children, our parents, OURSELVES. It isn't difficult to see the similarities when we open our eyes. I think about the parent who rode 4 hours by bus, one way, with her pre-schooler today. He has a rather serious orthopedic condition. She wanted to see our Dr. Fellers because she wanted to continue a relationship they'd built. Quite simply she wants the best for her child. That's a similarity many of us could see.

I also think of the way that we share a common grief when children suffer. We have seen children suffer at no fault of their own. This continues to break the teams's collective heart. And it spurs the team on to our work. Certainly we share this similarity in our own relationships.

Above all, we have our common love of God and His love for us. Though we may worship in different churches, different denominations, different languages--we share this common love of the One God and His love for us. This unites us beyond any external differences and breaks down barriers. Only God can break these walls with this much love. It is a joy to witness and to partake.

How about you? What did you see today? Differences? Similarities? May God open all of our eyes to the common love He has for us. Look around you today in your own context and the people you'll see. You'll be amazed at the similarities that God will show you.

 

 

Ecuador Medical Mission 2012--April 17

Ecuador Medical Mission 2012

April 17

Quito

Tonight Hutch, during our nightly devotions, gave a great reminder to the team about the power of leaving a legacy. We have all received a legacy from our parents, our grandparents, pastors, teachers, coaches, and other leaders. They make up so much of who we are, what we do, and the decisions we make.

 

Today, in the work of the clinic, the team saw the effects of legacies. Some of those legacies are healthy families. Some are much darker: babies having babies, difficulties in marriage, unhealthy parenting, and the exploitation of the youngest of God's children. The team was able to shine light in these darkest of places. The light of Christ shone upon these and others. This light came in the way of love and compassion. It came in the beginning of physical healing. It came in the way that the leaders of this church are now able to minister to these beautiful people. If we had not come, those lights may never have shone. Today we began BREAKING legacies. We began breaking destructive legacies and working to replace them with lasting, loving legacies.

 

It causes us to pause. What are the legacies we are leaving? Are we shining the light of God's love on those to whom we are passing our legacies? Are we willing to stand up to those who are passing on these destructive legacies? Are we willing to shine light in these dark areas? My prayer is that we all would so let the Love of God shine through us that we may an impact on this generation and those to come.

 

 

 

 

Ecuador Medical Mission 2012--April 16

Ecuador Medical Mission 2012

April 16

Quito

Today was the team's first day of clinic. The work was exhausting and rewarding. That is often the case when you are working in the gifts that God has given you. You work hard and you are tired, that good tired. It is the good tired that comes when you finish strong in the race, work hard on a project, or pull together with your team to do what seemed impossible-until you tried. Thats's exactly what happened today, all of the above.

 

We saw about 100 patients in the Villaflora region of Quito. We saw kids, youth, and adults of all ages. They all had a chance for a visit with a physician, an eye exam, and a visit with the dentist. In addition, they all received the medications they needed, vitamins, and anti-parasite medications. We have relationships with medical personnel here in Ecuador that allows us to make all necessary referrals.

 

Despite the loud and busy atmosphere, the team worked hard and did a great job. Loud and busy, they realize, just means that there are children (of all ages) whom God loves all around us. And they are within our arms' reach to serve and love. The most important encounters we had today were the spiritual ones. People came to our team members for help in their marriages and spiritual lives. We are blessed to do so.

So the team members lay their heads down tonight with that good sort of tired feeling deep down in their bones. We do some expecting more great things tomorrow.