Jim Nelson
Last week I celebrated my 59th birthday, so I thought I would write a column of personal privilege. I don’t know about you, but on my birthdays I always reflect back on what I have accomplished and look forward to what I hope to accomplish in the future. And for some odd reason the years ending in nine have been much more meaningful and life-changing for me than the ones ending in zero.
In 1968 when I was 19, I left the church. Throughout high school I had been very active in MYF (we weren’t united yet) and the church in general. I had entered college the previous year with the intent of going on to seminary, and becoming ordained. Consequently, I was asked to speak during the Student Sunday worship service. I spoke about what I had learned in Sunday school at that church; I spoke against the war and in favor of civil rights; I said war and racism are incompatible with Christianity. No one spoke to me after the service or for weeks to come. I was shunned, so I left.When I was 29, I started running, which I have been doing on and off ever since. I still run between 25-30 miles a week. I know that seems like a small change, but it has kept me healthier than I might otherwise have been.At 39, I again heard the call to ministry, began the process and entered seminary. I felt like I had been on the boat with Jonah for 20 years running away from God’s call. This was a major decision which affected my entire family. We all had to change our lifestyles significantly.
Ten years ago when I was 49, I went back to school to work on my doctorate, out of which came my first book on Faith and Politics, and led to my being more involved in politics.What will happen now that I’m 59? What life-changing decision will I make or will be made for me? How will I serve my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the next ten years?
As I have written previously, I love what I am doing. I always wanted to be a writer and now I am one. I have the largest congregation of United Methodists in Georgia. I reach over 20,000 people twice a month with the columns and stories I write and publish, a lot more people than I ever reached from the pulpit. Fortunately I do still get invited to preach at various churches on Sunday mornings. Of course with that large of a congregation comes the responsibility to be sure I write with honor and integrity, and I pray that I do. Perhaps this is the year I will work on becoming an evangelist. God continues to place on my heart the need to reach out to the least, the lost, and the forgotten in society especially those who, for whatever reason, the traditional church has failed to reach. I feel called to improve the lives of those beaten down by life; to give them hope and something to look forward to. The struggle as I see it is how do we remain true to what we believe, to the Scriptures and doctrines of the faith while at the same time being open, loving, accepting and respectful of those who need to hear our message? How do we reach those who have been hurt by the church in the past, and those who have rejected the church for what they think it believes?
Sunday, August 10, 2008
From the Bishop: We are keeping Georgia on our mindsB
Michael Watson
Margaret and I rejoice to know that we are going to be able to keep Georgia on our minds! We are grateful that after eight wonderful years in the South Georgia Conference we are going to be remaining in this beautiful state. We look forward to our opportunity to serve our United Methodist sisters and brothers and all the people within the bounds of the North Georgia Conference.So many of you in South Georgia have been very gracious to us by your kind words and deeds throughout our ministry together and during these recent days of transition. So many of you in North Georgia already have showered a loving welcome upon us. We feel blessed indeed. Our hearts are glad, and we give thanks to God for these two great conferences in United Methodism.
Georgia is a very special place. Georgia was the American home of the founders of Methodism, John and Charles Wesley. Now Georgia is home to nearly 500,000 United Methodists - more than the entire Western Jurisdiction. Georgia has some of the strongest United Methodist institutions in the world. Georgia United Methodists are in global mission and ministry that is transforming the lives of countless precious children of God all over the planet. Georgia United Methodists have had a great past, have a great present and look toward an even greater future. Margaret and I are grateful to God that we will continue to serve our Lord Jesus Christ with you here in Georgia.Bishop Lindsey Davis was fortunate to serve in North Georgia for the last twelve years, Bishop James King is fortunate to be coming to South Georgia, and Margaret and I have the remarkably glorious good fortune to have served in South Georgia and now to be assigned to North Georgia. Yes, Georgia is still on our minds, in our hearts and in our prayers. We ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers as we complete our assignment in South Georgia and begin our ministry in North Georgia.
Margaret and I rejoice to know that we are going to be able to keep Georgia on our minds! We are grateful that after eight wonderful years in the South Georgia Conference we are going to be remaining in this beautiful state. We look forward to our opportunity to serve our United Methodist sisters and brothers and all the people within the bounds of the North Georgia Conference.So many of you in South Georgia have been very gracious to us by your kind words and deeds throughout our ministry together and during these recent days of transition. So many of you in North Georgia already have showered a loving welcome upon us. We feel blessed indeed. Our hearts are glad, and we give thanks to God for these two great conferences in United Methodism.
Georgia is a very special place. Georgia was the American home of the founders of Methodism, John and Charles Wesley. Now Georgia is home to nearly 500,000 United Methodists - more than the entire Western Jurisdiction. Georgia has some of the strongest United Methodist institutions in the world. Georgia United Methodists are in global mission and ministry that is transforming the lives of countless precious children of God all over the planet. Georgia United Methodists have had a great past, have a great present and look toward an even greater future. Margaret and I are grateful to God that we will continue to serve our Lord Jesus Christ with you here in Georgia.Bishop Lindsey Davis was fortunate to serve in North Georgia for the last twelve years, Bishop James King is fortunate to be coming to South Georgia, and Margaret and I have the remarkably glorious good fortune to have served in South Georgia and now to be assigned to North Georgia. Yes, Georgia is still on our minds, in our hearts and in our prayers. We ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers as we complete our assignment in South Georgia and begin our ministry in North Georgia.
Aging Well: The More You Complain the Longer God Lets You Live
Robert Beckum
Driving to my office, I saw a bumper sticker which caused me to wince. It read, “The More You Complain the Longer God Lets You Live.” Little did I know the sticker was an omen for my day. Before nine o’clock, a man called asking for help. “You know my mama,” he said. “She complains about everything, and now she’s complaining about the car I’ve bought for her.” “What did you buy?” I asked. “A Mercury Grand Marquis,” he said. Then, he explained, “She’s ninety years old and I don’t want her driving at all, but she refuses to give up her car; so, I got one I thought was safe.” He then made his plea for my help: “Would you mind making a pastoral visit to help smooth the waters with her?” Now, I knew better, but on this day I chose to ignore the way of wisdom (some would say common sense) and dashed off on this fool-hearted errand.I found Miss Sarah and asked about her new car. She muttered her dissatisfaction. I told her I drove a Mercury Grand Marquis and loved it. As I began to point out the car’s safety features, she held up her hand and said, “Now you can stop right there! I know why you’re here, and you’re wasting your time.” With dripping sarcasm, she added, “I’m so glad you like your car. But as far as I’m concerned those things have ‘Old Fart’ written all over them, and I’m not having one. My son knows what I want and I mean to get it!” Having been dissed by a ninety year old, my first thought was, “I really need to think about trading my car.” I managed to ask, “What exactly do you want Miss Sarah?” Her response was immediate: “I want a red convertible! I want to feel the wind in my hair when I drive!” I listened in amazement. Sarah was a life-long free spirit. She was an artist and concert pianist. At age ninety, she wanted to feel the wind in her hair as she drove.
After a polite retreat, I called her son to report my failure and suggested he go with the red convertible. “I was afraid you were going to say that,” he replied with a voice of resignation. For three years before her death, I delighted in seeing Sarah drive her red convertible around town, with her hair blowing in the wind. She never got a traffic ticket or had so much as a fender-bender. She knew what she wanted and she was not about to give in to the prejudices directed toward seniors—-even if it meant being branded a “complainer.” Sarah blessed me with a new vision for aging. I desperately want to live to be ninety and fight my son for a red convertible! Let him call me a “complainer” all he wants. Those of us who have the wind blowing in our hair as we drive will probably outlive them all.
Rev. Robert Beckum is Vice President of Church Relations and Development of Magnolia Manor.
Driving to my office, I saw a bumper sticker which caused me to wince. It read, “The More You Complain the Longer God Lets You Live.” Little did I know the sticker was an omen for my day. Before nine o’clock, a man called asking for help. “You know my mama,” he said. “She complains about everything, and now she’s complaining about the car I’ve bought for her.” “What did you buy?” I asked. “A Mercury Grand Marquis,” he said. Then, he explained, “She’s ninety years old and I don’t want her driving at all, but she refuses to give up her car; so, I got one I thought was safe.” He then made his plea for my help: “Would you mind making a pastoral visit to help smooth the waters with her?” Now, I knew better, but on this day I chose to ignore the way of wisdom (some would say common sense) and dashed off on this fool-hearted errand.I found Miss Sarah and asked about her new car. She muttered her dissatisfaction. I told her I drove a Mercury Grand Marquis and loved it. As I began to point out the car’s safety features, she held up her hand and said, “Now you can stop right there! I know why you’re here, and you’re wasting your time.” With dripping sarcasm, she added, “I’m so glad you like your car. But as far as I’m concerned those things have ‘Old Fart’ written all over them, and I’m not having one. My son knows what I want and I mean to get it!” Having been dissed by a ninety year old, my first thought was, “I really need to think about trading my car.” I managed to ask, “What exactly do you want Miss Sarah?” Her response was immediate: “I want a red convertible! I want to feel the wind in my hair when I drive!” I listened in amazement. Sarah was a life-long free spirit. She was an artist and concert pianist. At age ninety, she wanted to feel the wind in her hair as she drove.
After a polite retreat, I called her son to report my failure and suggested he go with the red convertible. “I was afraid you were going to say that,” he replied with a voice of resignation. For three years before her death, I delighted in seeing Sarah drive her red convertible around town, with her hair blowing in the wind. She never got a traffic ticket or had so much as a fender-bender. She knew what she wanted and she was not about to give in to the prejudices directed toward seniors—-even if it meant being branded a “complainer.” Sarah blessed me with a new vision for aging. I desperately want to live to be ninety and fight my son for a red convertible! Let him call me a “complainer” all he wants. Those of us who have the wind blowing in our hair as we drive will probably outlive them all.
Rev. Robert Beckum is Vice President of Church Relations and Development of Magnolia Manor.
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