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GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN Change. That’s the theme of New Year’s, really. We mark the end of one year – with all of its success and regrets – and we begin the new year with a clean slate and a promise that this one will be the best one yet.  I don’t know if you’re a New Year’s resolution maker or not, but I am. New Year’s resolutions are all about looking back over the previous year and identifying ways to grow and become better. And what better time to reflect on growth than at the ...

When you are sad or lonely PATHWAY TO HIS PRESENCE B.J. FUNK Mercy danced around me that day, but I was too preoccupied to notice. Mercy’s ballet was slow and beautiful, a soft melody preceding each step. Mercy was tender, kind and inviting. However, I had already given the key to my heart to grief, sadness, loss, and loneliness. Mercy would have to wait for better times, happier times. I did not want her to dance.  “Let me be,” I begged. “You cannot begin to understand the pain I feel, the ...

By Dr. Hal Brady As someone suggested, “Charlie Brown isn’t the only one who asked, ‘what’s Christmas all about.’” Real people also ask it. Well, what is Christmas all about? Permit me to offer a few suggestions. Christmas is about God being with us! “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us …” (John 1:14). One of my favorite Christmas stories is about the little boy who was walking home one evening with his father from a Christmas Candlelight Service. This was in England during World War ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON On Wednesday, May 24, 1738, a very troubled John Wesley awoke early in the morning. Around 5 a.m. he opened his Bible and read, “There are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, even that ye should be partakers of the divine nature.” He opened it again and read, “Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God.”  That afternoon he visited St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. St Paul’s is a massive Gothic building which is 400 feet tall and dominates London’s ...

LEADERSHIP REALLY MATTERS ANNE BOSARGE REV. JAY HANSON Last week I, Anne, attended a Children’s Ministry conference with two of my friends and coworkers from The Chapel Ministries. While there, we had the opportunity to ride in a limo bus. The three of us were visibly excited about this opportunity and were snapping pictures and laughing at the ridiculousness that we would be so excited about a limo with neon lights, curved pleather seats and way too many cup holders. After the bus started ...

By Dr. Hal Brady A necessary ingredient of a good home is pictures – pictures placed by meaningful experiences and inspiring examples. I am a dog person, but I have had one cat in my life whose name was White Socks. She was a black cat with four white feet, and I really cared for that cat. When I was eight years old my father sent me to camp for two weeks at Bar Rest Boys Ranch in Warm Springs, Ga. It was basically where you go live with a horse for two weeks and learn to ride or you just don’...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN Church metrics continue to be a moving target of evaluating the health and effectiveness of our churches. I’m reminded of that fact today as our conference journals hit mailboxes and we were bombarded by statistic upon statistic from the local churches across our conference. These numbers (we believe) offer a snapshot of how healthy (or not) our churches are. We look at things like number of new members, professions of faith, baptisms, active small groups, pastor ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON John Wesley was convinced that a person could have a spiritual experience which would give them peace, joy, and victory over sin. His friend and fellow pastor, Peter Bohler the Moravian, had convinced him to study his Bible where he discovered numerous instantaneous conversions in the Book of Acts. Wesley then said, “I see it can happen, but that was back then in the Bible and I just don’t see it happening around me today.”  Peter Bohler said, “I can bring 10 ...

PATHWAY TO HIS PRESENCE B.J. FUNK Having fried chicken once a week was a given at my house. How well I remember coming in from school, starting my homework, and hearing the first sounds of grease popping on the kitchen stove. Soon, the smell of mama’s chicken permeated the air, filling every available space with its mouth-watering aroma. My sister and I practically raced to get the table set, put the ice in the glasses, and pour our sweet tea. I remember which piece each of us liked the best. ...

Dr. Hal Brady Some years ago noted football coach Lou Holtz said something that most of us can relate to. He was speaking of the troubles we face in our lives. Holtz stated, “I know God doesn’t send us more troubles than we can handle, but sometimes I think he overestimates my ability.” I suppose we all feel that way at times. In our illnesses or troubles, who of us has not wondered if God hasn’t overestimated our ability? Like Lou Holtz and like you, at times, I’ve wondered about that during ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON John Wesley returned from Georgia a deeply troubled young minster. His life had been shattered and he felt that he had no faith. Upon his arrival back in London he found a group of German Moravians. The Moravians had impressed him during a storm at sea and had blessed him while in Georgia. He befriended a young Moravian pastor, Peter Bohler. Bohler was 10 years younger than John. He spoke German and a little English. John Wesley spoke English and German. But they...

LEADERSHIP REALLY MATTERS ANNE BOSARGE REV. JAY HANSON I watched a young child, his older brother, their father, and grandfather labor for hours to build a beautiful sand castle. Shortly after its completion, the tide turned and started rushing in to destroy their beautiful structure.  This was the first time the young child had actually gotten to participate in the building of the family sand castle. He could not understand why nature would destroy their work, but his commitment to the ...

By Dr. Hal Brady Sometimes in a world of vastness we forget the power of a good deed or a loving act. It is still true that the healing of the wounds of a man on the Jericho Road has an influence far beyond Jericho or Jerusalem. To be sure, God often takes a single good deed and multiplies its significance. Through the magic of God’s grace that goodness shines and shines and shines. What is so powerful about a good deed, anyway? First, a good deed is powerful because it brings out our best! ...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN President John F. Kennedy once said, “Change is the law of life … those who only look to the past or the present will miss the future.”  I’m not entirely sure if President Kennedy was reflecting on his Catholic upbringing or not, but that is a very theologically astute observation. Change is the law of life with God. Transformation happens as a result of change. And God’s love calls us to continually change and grow. As good Methodists, we call this “moving on to ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON One of John Wesley’s main goals in coming to Georgia was to preach to the Indians. He said, “I will hear the gospel afresh by preaching it to the innocent savages because they have no defense against the text.”  After he had met with some Native Americans he was very severe with them. He said, “They are liars, thieves, and murderers. They murder their own babies and they murder their own parents! They do not wish to learn and are not willing to be taught.” ...

PATHWAY TO HIS PRESENCE B.J. FUNK I don’t know why I kept reading this book on John Wesley’s seven sisters, other than the fact that anything concerning John Wesley pulls me like a magnet. I wanted to understand more about his sisters and their apparent need for love, as the title suggests. “Seven Sisters in Search of Love” by Frederick E. Maser was not a particularly great read unless one has a keen interest in this family, in the kind of parenting that could produce two giants of faith like ...

Dr. Hal Brady Arriving home one day, I was having a great deal of difficultly with my attitude. I had just come off the expressway and I was disgusted with some of the other drivers. I had had it with speeding drivers, reckless drivers, tailgating drivers, lane-changing drivers, and light-running drivers. Since no one was home when I arrived, I trudged to my study to cool down. In a few minutes I opened a book and almost immediately spied another minister’s sermon title. Instantaneously, I ...

LEADERSHIP REALLY MATTERS ANNE BOSARGE REV. JAY HANSON Let’s talk volunteers. Think about Sunday service teams like ushers, greeters, parking lot people, coffee shop servers, Children’s ministry workers, and more. Would you describe your volunteer teams as passionate armies of fully equipped and deeply committed soldiers? Are people lining up to sign up to come aboard the battleship? Or does your volunteer system seem more like a sinking ship people can’t get off of quickly enough?  I’d like...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON  While John Wesley was on St. Simons Island he had numerous encounters with Beta Hawkins, the doctor’s wife. She sent her maid to ask John to visit her in her home. Expecting trouble, he insisted that the maid promise to stay right with them and not leave for a minute during the visit. It was a good thing.  Wesley and the maid went into a small front bedroom in Dr. Hawkins’ home. Beta was not there at first. John sat on the bed. Soon Beta came in with both hands...

By Dr. Hal Brady Some years back an English author penned an essay on the illusion of happiness. He began the essay with the story of a young man who was facing a difficult and momentous decision. The boy asked, “Don’t I have the right to happiness?”' The author responded, “No, you don’t. And, if finding happiness is the chief pursuit of your life, you will never find it.” Many in our time are desperately searching for happiness, and that’s certainly not a bad goal. The problem, however, is ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON After four days travel by boat from Savannah to St. Simons Island, John Wesley took up ministry where his brother had left off. He visited from house to house. He discovered the best time for visiting his parishioners was right after lunch. The colonists would rise early, work hard, return home for a big lunch, then take a nap before returning to work in the afternoon. Just when they were about to take their nap after their big meal John Wesley would knock on ...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN The longer I serve in a local church, the more I become aware how much our physical spaces – the spaces we use for worship, teaching, fellowship, and service – say a lot about the souls of our congregational life. We may not always pick up on this, especially if we’ve been a member of a church for many years. A place can become home quickly and we grow accustomed to the feelings we gain by being present while missing the details of the space itself. Nonetheless, ...

Recently, I read about a man named George Parkinson who dreamed for 40 years about earning a doctor of philosophy degree from the university. The First World War, however, took him as a chaplain. After that he experienced ill health, the Depression, and other professional responsibilities. All of that interfered, and it became necessary to postpone his plans. But he never gave up the idea. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE w:LatentStyles DefLockedStat...

It’s that time of year again for many churches and pastors – time to say goodbye and hello. It’s a bittersweet time of year, really. On the one hand, change is exciting. New pastors mean new ideas. New churches mean new people to develop relationships and share ministry with. On the other hand, change is really hard. Some pastors are leaving great churches filled with many close friends – friends who have shared life’s ups and downs. Some churches are losing pastors who have meant a great deal ...

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Some years ago in Houston, Texas, a 2-year-old child was summoned for jury duty. The late Halford Luccock, Professor of Preaching at Yale Divinity School at the time, commented on the error and said, “That was a divinely inspired mistake, for the child is the final jury before which our civilization will be tried.” If how we treat our children is the final test, there are a couple of very important considerations. First, consider the fact that we are failing our children! Not everyone, of ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON Charles Wesley was living in a lean-to up against the fort at Fort Federica. He was charged with mutiny. Wesley said, “Mutiny? But I support what we are doing here and I support Oglethorpe.” Oglethorpe said, “Well, some of the men want to leave and they go to church. So we think you are behind this.” Wesley explained, “I have never seen these men in church in my life.” Charles didn’t have a teapot. That wouldn’t bother most of us. But an Englishman without his ...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN By now, we’ve all seen clips of the ongoing struggles plaguing Baltimore, Maryland following the tragic death and funeral of Freddie Gray. 24-hour news coverage has a way of emotionally wearing viewers out, and maybe that’s why we in South Georgia probably feel a little of the strain of the civil unrest. Rather than exhausting us more by offering some sort of trite reasons for one “side” or the other, I want to instead point us to one of the many rays of hope that has...

There is a cartoon of a little boy who seems out of sorts with the Almighty kneeling in prayer. In his prayer, he says, “Aunt Stella isn’t married yet, Uncle Hubert doesn’t have a job yet, and Daddy’s hair is still falling out. I’m tired of saying prayers for this family without getting any results.” The current issue of “The Christian Century” magazine has a report about a new social survey that was funded by the National Science Foundation. Supposedly, this multi-million-dollar study gives us ...

PATHWAY TO HIS PRESENCE B.J. FUNK I love the way our mighty God makes Himself available to us. He is holy and powerful yet He comes to our side as our dear friend to whisper His comfort, peace and guidance. This next line is one of my favorites. “God can open doors that no man can close, and close doors that no man can open.” I love this thought. It leaves nothing out, nothing to chance. It is clear and concise and looks to God as being completely in charge. If God wants a door to close in your ...

LEADERSHIP REALLY MATTERS ANNE BOSARGE REV. JAY HANSON Bishop King took this picture of me in Antioch on a hill that houses a cave called St. Peter’s Church. It was in this cave that the early followers of “The Way” would secretly meet with Peter, Paul and Barnabas to worship God. It was in this place that the followers of Jesus were first called Christians. Right below me is this field with sheep that appears unchanged by the centuries. In front of me, sprawled out as far as I can see, is the...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON John Wesley was living in a lean-to covered with palmetto branches up against the fort at Frederica. He thought he would be staying in the tent with Oglethorpe, but that had not happened. The heat was getting to him. He was covered with insect bites. The women were driving him crazy, especially two of them: Beta Hawkins, the doctor’s wife, and Ann Welch, the carpenter’s wife. It is hard to believe these two women were as evil as depicted in Charles and John’s ...

A woman in her eighties, rigid and conservative, had become cynical. She thought everything modern was bad and every new change was a disaster. She complained to a neighbor, “It's a good time to be dead.” Now, few of us would be pleased at being compared with this glum person. But many of us, if we are honest, do not have much room to brag. We know that one of the things we do best – and perhaps most frequently – is grumble. And our grumbling tends to spill over into everything else. Like the ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON On March 9, 1736, Charles Wesley first set foot on St. Simons Island, Georgia. He wrote in his diary, “No sooner did I enter upon my ministry than God gave me, like Saul, a new heart…” However, that enthusiasm did not last long in Frederica Town. One of the first things Charles did in Georgia was to get Oglethorpe to pass a rule forbidding “the discharge of firearms on the Lord’s day.” Some of the people loved to go out shooting on Sunday. Charles was just ...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN Lent is the time of year where we look at our lives and do the hard work of being honest about things that might be keeping us from growing deeper in our relationship with God. Now, many use it as an excuse to deprive themselves of chocolate or caffeine or dessert. I say that’s fine so long as those things are hindering your faith life. If they’re not and you still want to give them up as an act of endurance for the next 40 days, then fine, at least add something new...

Since our daily newscasts show so many grieving people and since I have just finished reading about the death of legendary North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith, I want to address the subject of grief. Grief has been defined as “the natural response to any loss.” The key word is that it is natural. There is an orderly process people go through in dealing with grief. This process is nature's way of healing a broken heart. And keep in mind that there are no short cuts, no magic words or magic...

PATHWAY TO HIS PRESENCE B.J. FUNK On the first night of Winter Camp Meeting at Epworth By The Sea, Bishop King asked us if we still had our Baptismal Certificate. He said that as he has grown older, his baptism has also grown in meaning. Immediately, my mind went back to scenes from my childhood as I sat on Mama’s bedroom floor and asked the question she heard me ask every year on my birthday. “Is this the year, Mama? Is this the year I get to open the preacher’s letter to me?” “Not yet,” she ...

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JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON After spending almost a month waiting for Rev. Quincey to leave Savannah, John Wesley became the pastor of Christ Church. He had waited on the ship “Simmons” and spent time with the Germans who came to Georgia with Oglethorpe. Finally, in early March 1736 he led his first worship service in the small public building on Bay Street. Almost at once he sensed potential trouble for himself and his ministry in Savannah. After that first worship service he wrote to his ...

David Letterman, on The Late Show, made it famous. Of course, I'm referring to “The Top Ten.” With great fanfare, every night Letterman presents the Top Ten direct from the “home office.” Sometimes Letterman’s Top Ten are way out, but they always draw considerable laughter and are usually quite entertaining. Over the years I have noted numerous other Top Ten list from other sources. These Top Tens have included the “Top Ten Liar's Lies,” the “Top Ten Recipes for Reindeer Snacks,” “Top Ten Most ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON In early March 1736, John Wesley gathered his new Savannah congregation together and lined out “how it was to be while he was their pastor.” He told them that they were going to have communion the “old-fashioned way,” which meant that in order to take communion they first had to go to confession with the pastor who would then give them a token which they were to then present at communion. He said, “I will not serve you communion if you do not have that token!” He...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN I’m currently reading a great book titled “The Power of Habit: Why We Do the Things We Do” by Charles Duhigg. The book looks at our daily habits and unpacks the science behind why we do the things we do. For example, it is believed that up to 40 percent of our daily activity comes from habits engrained in us instead of conscious choices. You might think you’re making a conscious decision to put on shoes, but the way you put them on the same way every time comes from a...

Rev. J. Michael Culbreth Sunday morning continues to be a time of deep racial division across our nation. Ninety percent of all African-American Christians worship in all-black churches and 90 percent of European Christians worship in all Caucasian churches. Chris Rice, the author of “More than Equals: Racial Healing For the Sake of the Gospel,” notes that only 5 to 7.5 percent of churches in the United States are considered to be racially diverse. Since all congregations need to be more ...

PATHWAY TO HIS PRESENCE B.J. FUNK The Christmas carolers sing out on a cold winter’s night: “O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Much pleasure thou can’st give me; How often has the Christmas Tree afforded me the greatest glee; O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Much pleasure thou can’st give me.” It is a message of hope and joy. In the distance, another tree is honored, the church choir lending their lovely sounds to this tree’s message. “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON On Feb. 6, 1736, John and Charles Wesley first set foot on Georgia soil after four months aboard the “Simmons” on their voyage across the Atlantic. They came ashore on Peppers Island in the mouth of the Savannah River. Today the island is called Cockspur Island. James Oglethorpe left the colonists in the care of the Wesleys as he sailed the 15 or so miles up the river to visit the town of Savannah. The Wesley brothers took a hike to explore their new home land. ...

LEADERSHIP REALLY MATTERS ANNE BOSARGE REV. JAY HANSON We don’t earn our salvation or our spiritual growth – they are gifts of grace that we receive. Even our faith is a gift of grace from God. As Christians we are comfortable with the concept of gifts that are given and not earned, but in leadership, that concept no longer applies. Positional authority, respect that is given simply because of one’s title or position, no longer exists in our society. Today we operate with the understanding that...

A former parishioner I hadn't heard from in 20 years telephoned me recently. There was a certain desperation in her voice. I remembered that she had been a youth in one of my churches. “Dr. Brady,” she said, “I am under great stress. My problem is twofold: my husband drinks and my father is ill and very dependent. In addition, my family has had a drug and alcohol problem. My brothers have been in trouble with the law and my parents frequently say to me, ‘You are our shining light. We keep going ...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN Well, it’s that time again. Election Day is upon us. It’s time to be bombarded by numerous campaign commercials, too many automated phone calls, and enough negative news commentary to make you begin to question the very meaning of our election process. Candidates want to appeal to our sense of duty and compassion. They spend loads of money to play on our fears and hope to somehow inspire us along the way. It’s probably a good thing every two years for Christians to ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON A third winter storm racked the “Simmons,” the ship on which John Wesley sailed to Georgia. It was a bad storm! The main sail was shattered and water was pouring into the ship. The sailors were pumping water out, the colonists were bailing water out, and the English were screaming in terror. John Wesley was as frightened as anybody. He was looking death in the face and he was not prepared. When he looked in on the Germans he found them singing. Later he asked the...

PATHWAY TO HIS PRESENCE B.J. FUNK Every night, the frogs in my pond make music for the neighborhood. I like to think they’re singing songs of praise to their Maker. Psalm 150 reminds us that everything that has breath can praise the Lord!  When the frogs in my pond praise Him, they don’t seem to care how loudly they sing or how exuberantly they sound. Their songs of praise are not based on how they feel, how muggy the night, or on how many bugs they could not catch that day. They were created to...

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LEADERSHIP REALLY MATTERS ANNE BOSARGE REV. JAY HANSON How much time do you spend working in problems instead of working on problems in your church? Think about some of your most difficult issues. Does your list look something like this? Lack of volunteers Everything that needs to get done never does Always a shortage of resources Discouraged and unmotivated people Enthusiasm to reach the unchurched is just not there Resistance to change always seems to win the day How much time and energy do ...

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Rev. J. Michael Culbreth Drastic changes are occurring around us constantly. One of the changes taking place in the United States is that our nation is becoming less homogeneous. Unfortunately our churches remain homogeneous. In fact most of our congregations consist of people from the same racial, economic and cultural background. Yet as we read God’s word we see a church that is multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and economically diverse. Consider how the scriptures challenge the church to pursue ...

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A modern parable based on Matthew 18:23-33 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false" DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="371"> w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2" /> w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading ...

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LEADERSHIP REALLY MATTERS ANNE BOSARGE REV. JAY HANSON You are a leader. You are a leader not because of the title you have or the position you hold but because God created each of us to be Christian leaders. Stop thinking of leadership as a position and start thinking of it as personal influence. Leadership is using your influence to make a difference in the lives of people around you. Good leaders leverage their relationships with others to move them closer to Christ. We are all leaders, ...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN This is one in a series of columns documenting Rev. Gosden’s transition from associate pastor to senior pastor. Read more on his blog, www.mastersdust.com. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false" DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99" LatentStyleCount="371"> w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true" ...

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GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN Recently, National Public Radio ran a story about a controversial sculpture installed at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Davidson, N.C. The statue depicts Jesus as a homeless man, wrapped in a blanket, curled up on a park bench. The only signs that give away his identity are the crucifixion scars on his feet, which are sticking out from under the blanket. w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false" DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" ...

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JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON         On Aug. 4, 1727, John Wesley left his classes at Oxford to help his father. A “Fellow of Lincoln College” during those days could do that sort of thing. Samuel Wesley needed his son to help him get out of debt. So John became his curate (assistant pastor) and served a little church at Wroote across the river from Epworth where his father was pastor. Except for his time in Georgia, this was the only pastorate John Wesley ever served. Epworth was located ...

LAUGH & LEARN CATHY LEE PHILLIPS About this time last year, an editor with Zondervan Publishing called and asked, “Cathy, how would you like to write for a Bible?” That question stunned me into silence. I stumbled for an answer and finally said, “Uh, I thought that book was finished.” She laughed and then invited me to write four short devotionals for a new Study Bible being published by the Zondervan Corporation. This publisher is well-known for their New International Version of the Bible. ...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN Wednesday marks another observance of Ash Wednesday and begins the season of the church year known as Lent – 40 days of denying ourselves fun things like chocolate and gossiping. It’s a bit of a drag, but it’s a predictable drag. We’ll begin, ready for the test of endurance. We’ll hear the story of Jesus, alone in the wilderness, being tempted by Satan, and we’ll say to ourselves, “If Jesus can resist temptation for 40 days on an empty stomach, surely I can forego a ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON      On March 17, 1726, John Wesley was unanimously elected Fellow of Lincoln College. His father was so proud of him. Samuel Wesley wrote, “Wherever I go now, my son, Jackie, is a Fellow of Lincoln College…!” At the College he taught Greek, Latin, Bible, Philosophy, and Logic. He gave lectures in “Natural Philosophy,” “Moral Philosophy,” and “Religion.” He served as moderator of the daily debates. Later in life Wesley credited his work with the debates at Lincoln...

PATHWAY TO HIS PRESENCE B.J. FUNK Perhaps some of you will recognize this story written by an unknown man: “Many years ago, I was sentenced to federal prison. I had a beautiful wife and wonderful children. I said to her, ‘Honey, don't write to me. I won't write to you. The kids should not know their dad is in prison. If you want to, go ahead and find another man - somebody who will be a good father to those boys.’ “I do not know if she kept her part of the bargain. I kept mine. Last week when I ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON                   John Wesley was ordained Deacon in the Church of England on Sunday, Sept. 19, 1725. He was 22 years old. He was ordained at Christ Church Cathedral at Oxford University by Dr. Potter, Bishop of Oxford, who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury. After his ordination John wrote in his diary, “Leisure and I have taken leave of one another. I propose to be busy as long as I live, if my health is so long indulged me.” He determined to seek God and...

LAUGH & LEARN CATHY LEE PHILLIPS Dr. John Pemberton in 1886 brewed a sassy drink to alleviate headaches and calm nerves. Asa Candler of Atlanta purchased the formula and gave it a name. Today the whole world recognizes the Coca Cola brand. Tasty and beloved, the Coca Cola recipe remains perhaps the most highly-guarded trade secret in history. In 1930, Harland Sanders magically blended eleven herbs and spices and established his Kentucky Fried Chicken. The details still remain under lock and key....

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN It’s a new year. We’ve come through the season of Advent. We’ve celebrated the coming of the Christ child in the manger. We’ve thrown away our old calendars and hung new empty ones showcasing a year full of promise. So how are you going to fill that new, empty calendar? Better yet, how are you different in this new year? I’m not a huge fan of making New Year’s resolutions. I confess that it’s largely due to the fact that I have a hard time keeping the resolutions I ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON                                   On June 21, 1720, John Wesley became a student at Christ Church College, one of the 40 Colleges that make up Oxford University. His father and both of his grandfathers had been students at Oxford. His older brother, Samuel, Jr., had graduated from Christ Church, and his younger brother, Charles, enrolled there four years later. John’s father had made arrangements for John to visit Dr. Sacheverell, a prominent pastor in London who...

PATHWAY TO HIS PRESENCE B.J. FUNK Tonight I watched the 1954 movie “White Christmas,” with Bing Crosby. The costumes were bright, the scenery was inviting, and there was not even a hint of immorality the whole way through. Refreshing! I don’t remember Bing’s voice being this rich and mellow, and I don’t remember Vera Ellen at all. Her waistline would make Scarlett O’Hara jealous! I sat glued to the screen, welcoming a more innocent time in Hollywood movies. Living in South Georgia, we don’t ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON                                   John Wesley was 10 years old when, on Jan. 28, 1714, the Duke of Buckingham, a long-time friend of the Wesley family, nominated him as a student at Charterhouse. John had been homeschooled by his mother and was ready for advanced education at Charterhouse in London.  His father advised him to run three times around the garden each day to keep in physical shape. Charterhouse was a large mansion which had once been a Catholic ...

Christmas has a special way of really bringing out both the best and worst in many of us. I was reading an article the other day about how we can “save Christmas” by demanding that retail stores drop their conventional “Happy Holidays” line for the more religious “Merry Christmas.” And it made me think of one particular experience I had that has just stuck with me. I vividly remember one particular day of the Christmas season a few years ago when I was trying to finish my shopping. I was at a ...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN A church member and good friend recently gave me a book that meant a great deal to him. He’s a very successful young business owner and I’m a pastor. He’s trying to grow in the area of discipleship and how it relates to his vocation and I’m trying to grow in the area of leadership. Since the two of us come from such different yet similar worlds, we’ve begun a relationship of giving each other meaningful books that we think might help the other person grow. The first ...

PATHWAY TO HIS PRESENCE B.J. FUNK My heart is jumping and I cannot sleep. My mind is twirling with a thousand exciting thoughts. It’s not Christmas Eve. It’s not even December, but my thoughts are racing in and out as I pack my bags and prepare to drive the short distance from my home in Chula to Camp Tygart. Tomorrow begins another wonderful Walk to Emmaus weekend, and I have the awesome privilege of working on the team.  For me, the joy and excitement come from two sources: one, God always ...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN There was a wonderful article that recently ran on NPR written by Diedre Sullivan entitled, “Always Go to the Funeral.” Sullivan writes about how her parents taught her as a teenager that you make time for someone's funeral when they die. She takes the lesson a step further and says, “I have to do the right thing when I really, really don't feel like it.”  Her parents were the kind of parents I want to be. They taught their child that no matter what, you don't get to ...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN It’s 1:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. I’ve finished my lunch and settled in for another routine Sunday afternoon filled with reading and writing and baseball whenever I’m not chasing my 16-month-old daughter around the house. By all accounts it’s a typical Sunday afternoon except for the fact that this particular afternoon didn’t follow a typical Sunday morning worship service. You see, I felt the Spirit of God this morning in a way I’ve haven’t experienced for some ...

PATHWAY TO HIS PRESENCE B.J. FUNK Motel Six television commercials are known for their “We keep the light on” advertisements. They might not mean much to some people, but they send a comforting beacon to many for whom the light has been turned off.    For those who have ever had a door slammed in their faces or a rejection that feels like hard fists in the stomach, the encouragement of finding a place that actually keeps the light on is an oasis of hope, a contrast to their desert of darkness.  ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON Did you know that perhaps the first Sunday school in all of Christendom was started by John Wesley, Charles Wesley, Benjamin Ingham and Charles Delamotte? The place was Savannah, Ga., and the date was 1736. John had come to Georgia to be pastor of Christ Church in Savannah, the third pastor of this Anglican (Church of England) congregation in the new colony of Georgia. These four young men came to Georgia with General Oglethorpe who had started the colony ...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN  It was a hot, June day in South Georgia. The word “hot” doesn't even seem sufficient. After all, June in South Georgia can bring days when the heat sits on you like a 50 pound backpack. It was the sort of day when you couldn't keep water cold for long. But you don't care because you'd settle for tepid water if it means rehydrating after just a few minutes in the oppressive heat of the day. It was the sort of day when any indoor space became a Promised Land flowing ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON John Wesley was a prodigious letter-writer. For much of his life he spent hours each day writing letters. Many of these letters were to his mother, his father, his brothers and sisters, and to fellow Christians and church leaders.  Many more letters were sent in response to people who wrote to him asking for advice and guidance in their Christian walk. Wesley saved letters he received and people saved his letters.  These letters have been preserved in “The ...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN I’m writing this column around 2:30 p.m. on Ash Wednesday. We’ve completed two of the three services we’re offering today. It’s been a busy day of activities and our night will end just as the day began – with a worship service reminding us that we are dust and to dust we shall one day return. “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” You know, sometimes it’s strange to be a Christian. This is only my third Ash Wednesday in the role of “pastor.” I’...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON John Wesley’s diary is one of the most outstanding diaries in English literature. He actually had two diaries. One was a series of small leather-bound volumes in which he wrote every hour. This diary was written in a personalized shorthand – a code. Then each week he would take these notes and write his journal in clear English sentences, paragraph style. He would often make copies of his journal and send them to friends. Some were published English papers so the ...

JOHN WESLEY MOMENTS DAVE HANSON John and Charles Wesley were students at Christ Church College, a part of Oxford University. John became a teacher at Lincoln College, which was also a part of Oxford. John left for a few months to help his father who was pastor of St. Andrews Church up at Epworth.  While John was gone, Charles started a small gathering of fellow students who met for prayer each week.  Some say it was really only one other student and they would simply go to worship together.  ...

BEYOND THE NEWS CREEDE HINSHAW Merchants have always touted shopping.  It’s de rigueur to complain about greedy moneymakers and aggressive, insane shoppers on the recently dubbed Black Friday.  Decry the madness if you must but remember that it’s not a recent phenomenon; shopping on the day after Thanksgiving has simply grown in a logical, efficient progression over the decades.  Internet shopping and increasingly earlier store openings were anticipated in a quainter way some 40 years ago by ...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN I currently serve as an associate pastor at Mulberry Street United Methodist Church in Macon. One of my primary responsibilities is young adult ministry. During the past two years I’ve learned a good deal about what ministry with young adults is like and I’d like to take a moment to share a few ideas with you. Take them, leave them, question them, it’s up to you. Do NOT over-generalize the demographic. Statements like “all young people want…” are simply not ...

GROWING IN GRACE BEN GOSDEN I guess I can’t really help it, but every four years I follow political races like they’re sporting events. Now you must know that my interest comes from the fact that my background was in political science. Before I was called into the ministry, I majored in political science in undergrad and planned to go to law school. My great hope was to work in politics or cover politics as a journalist. So I admit that I can be a bit of a political junkie at times. There is, ...

By Missy Buchanan UMR Columnist  A grandmother paused while her 9-year old grandson tried to scoop up sand with his bare feet. For the last half-hour, they had been strolling along the wide beach of the Atlantic, feeling the mist on their faces and picking up sea shells. She couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so free to enjoy her grandson in the beauty of nature.  Over the years she had traveled many places with all three of her grandchildren. They had ridden horses in the mountains ...

By Rev. Robert Beckum The South Georgia Annual Conference Delegation for General and Jurisdictional Conferences continues to meet in its preparation for General Conference. Central to our preparation is a careful study of The Call to Action. This Call to Action will be the center around which most proposed legislation before this General Conference revolves. Some proposals seek to implement the plan and others seek to modify the plan, but there is no comprehensive “alternative” plan of action ...

By Rev. Robert Beckum* Your South Georgia Conference delegation will meet on Friday, October 21, for an overview of General and Jurisdictional Conference issues. We have invited representatives from the General Board of Pensions to brief delegates on the significant changes proposed for our current clergy pension plan.  The first thing that strikes me about the upcoming General Conference is the profile and makeup of delegations, comprising the voting members for 2012. Of the 988 voting ...

By Rev. Ben Gosden It’s become everyone’s guilty pleasure. It’s that one place you go when you don’t feel like working or paying attention and you just want to see what’s going on in the world. It’s become one of the biggest time-wasters in life and yet, it’s also become one of the first places where we share and announce life events. Relationships are no longer “official” until they are announced here. Acquaintances and friendships are not legitimized until they are “official” here. Job ...

By Rev. Robert Beckum It is an honor to serve in the 2012 South Georgia delegation to General and Jurisdictional Conference. As Larry Price and I lead the delegation’s work and preparation for these conferences, we want to stress the representative nature of our delegation. It is our responsibility to faithfully represent the churches of the South Georgia Annual Conference. In order to be faithful in our representation, we need your help and your input. The General Conference is the top ...