It’s finally here.  Seems like an eternity and a blink of an eye all at the same time.  This Sunday, August 3, I will preach my first sermon in the Sanctuary services at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas.  A few thoughts as I approach this Sunday…

• I’ve already learned so much about Houston and the Chapelwood community in the past two months.  I still have much to learn, but I am so encouraged by your support and excitement.
• In the past few weeks, I’ve been meeting with the staff, ministry teams, and others in the community just to get my head wrapped around things as we head into August.  I wish each and every one of you could know EVERY single thing Chapelwood does and dreams to do through your generosity and support.  It is absolutely amazing!
• I have visited all of our worshiping communities: Mercy Street, Esperanza, Upper Room, and Contemplative in addition to the Sanctuary services.  I’ve even watched services online to get a feel of how it works.  We are blessed with a diverse community.  I truly believe that makes God happy.
• Every person I’ve met has shared words of excitement and encouragement about us being here.  It warms my heart to know you love my family.
• This Sunday, I will preach on Mark 4:35-41, “The Calm and The Chaos”.  It will help you know a little more about me and about how God will work in and through us as we move forward into the future.  My desire is that each and every worship service will be a time of true and authentic worship where we experience the living Christ in our midst.
• August 3 will be a big day in other ways…the shuttles will resume and I hope you will take advantage of them.  I plan to.

As a final thought, let me leave you with our call to worship for August 3.

Let us start this time well, by reminding ourselves:

That we are not here because of our goodness, but because of Christ’s grace,

That we are not here to enlighten ourselves, but to allow Christ to enlighten us,

That we have not come to be entertained, but to worship God with heart, soul, mind and strength.

With overflowing gratitude,

John

The use of color to create a focal point.

Proverbs 4:25

“Let your eyes look directly forward and your gaze be straight before you.”

In art, a focal point is the element in a painting or a photograph that pulls in the viewer’s eye.  The artist points us to the center of attention or the main subject. The focal point draws you through the picture’s composition, through color, and through the range of tones used.  Artists may use color to help us see the focal point in pictures…such as a single red apple among many green apples.  Other times the photographer may use the aperture of the camera to bring specific items into focus while other items are fuzzy.  And then there are the great artists who are subtle with focal points.  A great example is the painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer.  As the name implies, Vermeer uses a pearl earring for a focal point that subtly draws the eye but is not blatantly obvious.

The use of aperture creates a focal point.

God is an artist who works in similar ways.  The Master Artist paints through scripture, tradition, reason and experience.  God gives us some very clear focal points at times – who God is, who we are, and how we are called to work with God in the world.  But God also creates other focal points that are right there in front of us but require a little more spiritual awareness to see.  All of God’s focal points are central identifying ways we understand God and ourselves.  Ultimately, all of God’s focal points point us toward love and grace.

On August 3, 2014, I begin preaching at Chapelwood UMC in Houston, Texas.  Focal Points will be our first sermon series together as we explore the central themes God has for our lives and our ministry together. I am hopeful that focusing on the central tenets of our faith and looking at how God works in the world will lay a solid foundation for our journey together.

Some members of Chapelwood have asked me, “Are you here yet?  Is your family with you?  Are they settling in okay?”  The answer is yes!  We moved to Houston in early June.  I have been hard at work in July spending time with the staff of Chapelwood, experiencing our worshiping communities, surprising a few Bible studies and Sunday school classes, and visiting a few folks.  We are settling into our new home and our girls are making friends and staying busy.  Your prayers and words of excitement and support mean more to us than you can know.  Chapelwood is an amazing community of faith (but I’m sure you already knew that).

Johannes Fermeer’s, “Girl With a Pearl Earring”

Recently, I visited with a beautiful and encouraging woman named Marty Schroff.  In our visit together, I was so encouraged by her spirit and her joy.  As I was leaving, I asked Marty, “What can I do for you?”  Her answer humbled me. In over 20 years of ministry, I can honestly say no one ever answered that question the way Marty did.  Her response served as the focal point of our time together.  She said, “Just BE, LIVE, and PREACH LOVE!”

I promised her I would…and I promise you I will.

Through the calm and chaos,

John

Children at a Texas border holding facility. (Reuters)

The news has been filled with pictures and news of a humanitarian crisis in our own state.  On the Texas border with Mexico, there are thousands of children who have traveled from all across Central America seeking asylum.  This issue has become politically charged in recent days, but the fact of the matter is this…we are facing an opportunity to “embody grace as we receive it to those who need it.”  There is a time and place to discuss politics and US policies, but now is the time to act in Christian love to help children and families who are in desperate need at our borders.  Jesus made it clear, “I was hungry, thirsty, naked, in prison and you fed me, gave me drink, clothed me, and visited me.  As you did it to the least of these, you did it to me.”

Children at the Texas border facility. (Reuters)

So, what can we do to help?

• First, we can never underestimate the power of prayer.  Pray for the children, parents, agencies and our government.  Pray that God will give clarity.  Pray for sustenance for those in need.  Pray that God will also be at work within the countries these children and families are fleeing.
  • The Texas Annual Conference Hispanic Ministries Committee will host a prayer vigil at St. Luke’s Gethsemane Campus on Tuesday, July 15 from 5-10 p.m. (6856 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, 77074).  They are inviting everyone to pray that God will intervene to give wisdom and the courage to respond appropriately as the church; for protection and care for these vulnerable families and children; and for wisdom and courage for the leaders of our nation. You can stop by anytime to pray between 5-10 p.m.
• Second, you can assist financially.  The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is involved with churches on the border especially impacted by this crisis. You may donate financially to help churches on the border minister to these children and families affected.  If you are here in Houston, you may make your check out to “Chapelwood UMC” (11140 Greenbay, Houston, TX 77024) and mark the memo line “UMCOR-Immigration Crisis” or you can go directly to the UMCOR website and read their plea and make a donation there.

Children at the Texas border shelter. (USA Today)

I will ask our mission leaders to look at other ways Chapelwood can be the embodiment of grace in this need.  But please don’t forget to pray.  I truly believe God is deeply grieved at the suffering of children.  Keep them in your hearts and prayers.

This past week, I returned home to Houston, Texas from St. Simons Island, Georgia with my daughter Sarah Mac.  When we passed through Mississippi, I thought I would expose her on that great Mississippian, Jerry Clower.  When I was young, we liked to listen to him so I thought Sarah would like him as well.  All I can tell you is she was glad to enter Louisiana and control the music again.

One of Jerry Clower’s stories struck me as we listened.  It is called “Marcel is in Trouble”.  In the story, Jerry goes off on a tangent that has a lot of great meaning…

“My momma had got the law to come after me.  I heard him toppin’ the hill, I looked up the hill from the football field and there was that ole green car what the constable drove around in the 4th district with…had that ‘syringe’ wide open.  Scared me and I run up to ’em and I said, ‘Constable, what’s wrong.’  He said, ‘Your dearest and best friend’s in bad trouble.  Your momma has sent me after you.’  I said, ‘What did Marcel Ledbetter do?!?’  He said, “Jerry, he tore up a beer joint.’  Not that it made any difference what my friend had done.  You know, when I was a young’in growing up if a friend’s foot slipped, you run and put your arm around him and said, ‘looky here…there’s enough of you left to salvage, and I come to hep ya.’  Now a days if a friend’s foot slips a lot of us want to know, “What’d he do?!?  I ain’t gonna hep him!’  I called a brother deacon the other day, I said let’s go help a friend of ours, he’s in trouble.’  Deacon said, “I wanna know what the sorry devil done before I help him!’  I said, “Well let’s gather us up a bunch of rocks and go stone him!!!“

Wow.  I’m not sure I really need to expand on that.  Just remember Jerry’s line, “if a friend’s foot slipped, you run and put your arm around him and said, ‘looky here…there’s enough of you left to salvage, and I come to hep ya!’

Would that we could return to those days where we could see what’s worth salvaging in people around us and just come to ‘hep ’em’ instead of looking for rocks to carry with us.