Holland’s UMC is a caring community

that invites and equips people to follow Jesus.

Dear Holland’s Friends and Family,

Grace and peace to you from God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I trust this week’s E-Pistle finds your soul doing well as we wind down the summer.  I can hardly believe September is upon us as we approach Labor Day Weekend!

On this coming Sunday, we will continue our sermon series on Lessons from God’s Heroes for Holland’s.  We have learned in recent weeks from Samuel, Joseph and Moses, all giants of the Old Testament.  Now we turn our attention to three giants of our faith from the New Testament.  This week:  Paul: Invest Your Life; followed by Peter: The Really Important Things, and finally, Jesus: Your Toughest Job, Your Deepest Joy.  And that will take us to our Homecoming Sunday to be celebrated on September 26.

So now,  a word about Paul and the lesson we can learn from him.  As you are aware Paul is the person whom God chose to formulate and articulate much of our Christian doctrine.  While the gospels tell us the story of Jesus’ life and ministry, it is Paul who solidifies the foundation of Christianity and challenges followers of Christ to a lifestyle that befits the name Christian.  One of the wonderful epistles that forms our faith is 2 Timothy.  Here, the elderly Paul is taking inventory of his life of discipleship as he instructs, encourages, and empowers young Timothy to continue the work of faith that he has begun. 

On Sunday, the preaching text will be from 2 Timothy 2:1-10; 4:6-8.  In chapter 2, Paul tells us, by use of occupational analogies what some of the characteristics of the Christian life ought to be.  He cites the teacher (2:1), the soldier (2:3), the athlete (2:5), and the farmer (2:6).  Then in chapter 4, the old man Paul, who is now facing his time of departure from the earth, graces the Church of the ages, which includes you and me with his farewell address. 

As I read and pondered these texts in recent days, I was reminded of a story about St. Francis of Assisi.  One day as Francis was hoeing his garden, someone asked what he would do if he were suddenly to learn that he would die before sunset that very day.  The saint replied, “I would finish hoeing my garden.”  So it was with Paul.  Paul knew that this life’s sunset was upon him.  Yet, with faith, he could say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith!” (2 Timothy 4:7).  Paul had been diligent in his calling to plant seeds of faith and to tend what was the spiritual garden of the young church.  Indeed, Paul had invested his life wisely! 

On Sunday we will give some thought to what it means to live faithfully unto our earthly end.  By the way, this is not a sad or tragic story.  It is a glorious story of one who laid a firm foundation for you and me.

Sam Levenson, the comedian, once said, “If you die in an elevator, be sure to press the up button.”  After he met Christ on the Road to Damascus, Paul spent the remainder of his life pressing the up button.  Paul died on the rise and we are better for it!

I hope to see you on Sunday at the abundant LIFE dispensing place,

Blessings,

Pastor Gary

919.772.5294 (office)