Williamston Free Methodist Church

It’s All About Sports

Amanda Miner — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:06:20 +0000

When a certain professional quarterback kneels on a football field it becomes a topic of conversation on ESPN and every radio sports show. When a college quarterback gives a speech at the Big Ten pre-season meetings he is lauded as a great role model. Both of these men are being used by God and I believe witness the growing hunger in our world to see and hear the things of God. When I first felt my heart warming to sharing the love of Christ with people, I remember hearing something about how people were more willing to hear the message than most God-followers were to share it. I felt that was a little harsh but sadly I have come to realize there is a great deal of truth in it. So naturally I ask why? What would cause one who has come to know the love of God to be uncomfortable in sharing that love? This is a bigger question than I can hope to answer but I would like to offer some food for thought.

Sports are life to many people. When sports stars like Tim Tebow and Kirk Cousins use the gifts God has given them they are modeling one of the first and most basic ideas about evangelism. That basic idea is for us to take what God has given us (interests, gifts, personality) and use them to share the love of God. What God has given you and I (interests, gifts, personality) is the bridge to carry the love of God across to a seeker. Don’t make sharing your faith more than that. Through the love of education a teacher shares the love of God with other teachers and students. Through the love of the outdoors an outdoorsman shares the love of God with those who share his love. Through the love of reading a reader shares the love of God with those who live to read. Do you get it? God has not only given you His love, but a way to share it. Don’t make this too difficult. Be who you are, doing what you love and God will provide the audience. In short, do all that you can do and let God do what only He can do.

Today I will go to a basketball game with the girl’s varsity team here in Williamston. I was asked to be an assistant coach this year by the head coach. When I look at those faded newspaper clippings my mom saved for me I see a younger me in short shorts and high socks caught in the moment of playing the game I loved. Today when I go to the game with my team I am not dreaming about playing again but using the love of the game of basketball to share the love of God. Is that too hard to understand?

Winners and losers?

dougf — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:14:46 +0000

Yesterday the NFC and AFC championship games were played. In both games there were players who today are the subject of much conversation. There were players who did great things and are being hailed as winners and those who didn’t have their best game and are being called losers. The labels given to players who excel or fail should remind us of how easy it is to label people based on a small sample of their life. When I see this happen to people it makes me so glad that I know someone who has seen all of my life and doesn’t label me. Instead, what God does for me is love me same on my worst day and my best day. What that does for me is assure me that what I do is not who I am. I am, because of my relationship with God, free to live life “all in”, not worrying that failure will define me. Only God loves this way, and today I am so glad that I have discovered that. If you haven’t discovered that, look for a cross and there you will find your answer.

What’s in a Name?

dougf — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:02:08 +0000

For the month of December I have been speaking about how much a name/title can mean. In the Old Testament the prophet Isaiah gives 4 names/titles to the baby who will be born hundreds of years later in a manger. “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Each of these names/titles is huge, but maybe the most personal to me is the “Eternal Father.”

I am one of the fortunate who have an amazing father. My dad is my friend, hero and the one person who I always want to earn his respect. My dad is not perfect but he is what I want to be. I admire his commitment to my mom. I am blessed by his generosity to his kids. I am proud of his reputation in his community. I marvel at his unwavering service to his church. I want to follow God like I have seen him do for his entire life. My dad is the greatest, but there is one thing he is not. My dad is not “eternal”.

Recently I was talking to a friend who just lost his dad. We were talking about how much our dads meant to us and how we both loved having our dads be a part of everything we did. As i listened to my friend’s voice crack with emotion I knew he was facing the reality of life without his dad. I have to admit that I fought back the tears as I thought of the unthinkable day when I too may not have my dad around.

John Wooden said, “Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.” As much as I love my dad for all he is, I love him most for preparing me to be ok without him. I don’t know that my dad did this intentionally, but he showed me and taught me that there is a father who is eternal that I will never be without. In life and in death I will always have a father.

Born in Bethlehem, Jesus came to introduce us to his father. Do you know God as your heavenly father? The bible says that, “but as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.” In one of my favorite movies, “the Blind Side”, the Touhy family has decided to ask Michael Orr to be a part of there family. When Mr.Touhy asks Michael if he would like to be a part of the family, Michael says, “I thought I already was”. Today I fear many people believe that they already are a part of God’s family but they haven’t said yes to God’s invitation. That is all you have to do, say yes to God’s invitation to join his family. Saying yes is admitting that you want a heavenly father and want to be one of his family. He does not turn any away, and loves each one unconditionally. Open up the best gift this Christmas, the gift of adoption into God’s family!!

A little child shall lead them.

dougf — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:52:58 +0000

Yesterday there was a full-house to witness the children’s ministry Christmas production. If you were here you will not soon forget the day, and if you were not let me tell you the kids hit it out of the park. The singing and the passion from the kids was amazing. Pastor Lori and here team had the kids ready and the kids were awesome. It is so great to see that Pastor Lori is taking our kids ministry to places it hasn’t gone before!! If you get a chance, say thank-you to Pastor Lori and her team. Yesterday we saw again that kids often lead the way for the church and for families!!

Core Values

dougf — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:23:21 +0000

I just don’t care! Those words are hard for some of us to say. We feel that if we say them we are not doing all we can. Well, I am learning that none of us has the capacity to “care” about everything. I was told some time ago that I would have to choose which battles to fight and that has become a necessity for me. So let me tell you what has helped me to choose my battles. Very simply, what has helped me is the commitment to knowing and carrying out my “core values”. There are other definitions of “core values” but I think of them as things that raise my blood pressure to the point that if I don’t get involved I will suffer. These values are ones that over time I have come to know that I cannot live without.

Core values are what God made us for. Core values are not to be compared. Core values cause us to live beyond ourselves. Core values help us rise above criticism. Core values give us a reason to live. Core values match our giftedness. Core values are the driving force behind world changers.

So, how do you know/discover your core values? I would suggest you ask the following questions: 1) What problem makes my blood boil and keeps me up at night? 2) What thing that I do brings me peace in my inner being? 3) What do I do that if I couldn’t do it I would be devastated? 4) What would I take a bullet for?

While we all have some similar core values, I have found meaning in knowing that I have some that are unique to me. I believe that the only way a man could die for people who mocked and spit on him was that he had found his core values and was willing to die for them. How could I follow such a man and not aspire to know my core values in that way?

Tis’ the Season

dougf — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:43:22 +0000

The hot cider was on the stove and “White Christmas” was in the DVR player. The holiday season had begun! As with so many people/families we have our traditions in the Bradshaw house for the holidays. There is something that gets right down to the core of you when you are enjoying holiday traditions. Call it a “warm-fuzzy” or whatever, but you get that “this is what life is all about feeling”. But, what if…? What if the pile of bills you face is the only present that you will get? What if you getting together with family is your “just get it over with” moment? What if you have lost a loved one this year and every moment of the holiday season just makes it hurt worse?

There are over 250 names given to God in the Bible. My favorite name/title for God is found in the Christmas story. The name is first mentioned hundreds of years before the birth of the baby Jesus and then repeated in the Gospel of Mathew. The prophet Isaiah said that a virgin would give birth to a baby and his name would be Immanuel which means “God with us”.

Whether your holiday season will be some of your best days or worst days I cannot think of doing the holiday stuff alone. The promise of the prophet was for all of us. The blessings of families, friends, and time to enjoy being with each other is a sign of God being with us. The sorrow and sadness that can be a part of this season can only be survived by knowing that one is not alone. “God with us” is the gift that we all share this holiday season. As one who enjoys countless blessings I am asking God to help me to realize that my blessings could be someone else’s pain. I am asking God to help me count my blessing and offer any help I can to those who are struggling.

I do not know how to answer the questions of pain and suffering in your world but I know countless people who have endured the worst of times by coming to the realization that God was with them. God watched his. So I hope that this holiday season if you are struggling that you can know “God is with you”.

Thanksgiving

dougf — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:15:47 +0000

Recently on facebook I have noticed that several of my friends have been giving thanks for something different each day. I love seeing in print the many things people are thankful for. An exercise like this is good, as I see people going on record to share their gratitude. But what if there was something even better?

At the end of one of my favorite hymns the writer penned these words, “love so amazing so divine demands my life, my soul, my all.” Whenever I sing that I have a sense that saying I am thankful for something is a good start, but there is more demanded. Just as much as faith needs to be accompanied by deeds, so do words of thankfulness need to be partnered with actions. Telling someone who is in need that you will be thinking of them is good. Giving someone in need something that meets the need is great.

This holiday season I challenge you to not stop at good, but press on to great. Give of your time, talents and treasures. Go beyond words of thankfulness and let your actions speak of your gratitude.

Pivotal Circumstances

dougf — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:33:31 +0000

In all of our lives there are moments when we face tough circumstances. In these moments huge decisions are made about what we believe. I was listening to a message by a preacher/hero of mine, Andy Stanley, and he said this, “God brings trials into our lives to test and expand our faith. He is more interested in the growth of our faith than he is in our comfort.” Chew on those words for a while and you will have a reaction!! It has been my experience that Andy is right. I do not mean that I would choose to grow my faith this way but I think he is right. As I continued to listen to Andy he gave some teaching that helped me. Here are three things that I learned:

1) The difference maker in whether we lean into God or run from him in tough circumstances is the people who are around us.
2) There is a huge move from thinking God is doing something to me, to God is doing something in me.
3) Phillip Yancey said, “there is only one thing worse than disappointment with God and that is disappointment without God.”

I am not ready to say I have learned all there is to learn about pivotal circumstances, but I do know that they are real. If you are in the midst of a pivotal circumstance I think it is worth your time to consider who you run with, how to know God is doing something in you rather than to you, and that disappointment with God is different that disappointment without God. Welcome to the walk of faith my friend.

Believe

Amanda Miner — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:48:25 +0000

As a result of the events of last week, I was asked to participate in the memorial service of Gabe Corbett, some of those in attendance asked for a copy of the words I shared with the community. At risk of tooting my own horn, here it is…

High school is a time for fun, first dates and friends. When tragedy comes to a high school, it comes in like an unwelcome guest, bringing confusion, fear and anger. Since last week the WHS students and staff have been dealing with this intruder. As I have talked to the students, hugged the students and cried with the students, I have learned how they are dealing with the intruder of tragedy. Today the students, led by the freshman class, are making a statement to this intruder. The statement is one that Gabe made. I/WE BELIEVE.

The Students of WHS Believe That:

Life is a gift and it is to be treasured
The future is ours and we will not let anything or anyone tell us differently
Friends matter
Walking together is better than walking alone
Mountain Dew, M&M’s and Pizza are the three main food groups
Fun is what you live for
Hornet Pride is it
Black is for the moment and Royal Blue is for the rest of our lives
Gabe will always be with us

We as a community have seen some of our best and worst times recently. Those on the outside have watched as we have celebrated and now as we grieve. I believe that what others have seen is a commuity like none other. A community where students and staff have decided that when one hurts, we all hurt. A community that today says “We Still Believe”.

Who is with me?

dougf — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:16:36 +0000

In 1991 I attended the Superbowl. Actually, I was the guest of a friend who works for the Detroit Lions and spent four days in Minneapolis attending not only the game but all of the events that go with it. It was a weekend to remember but there was one problem, I was by myself. My friend who invited me was busy working and so I was left to attend the events solo. Several times I would catch myself saying, “did you see that?”. Then I would look to the side and realize I didn’t have any friends with me. The weekend was awesome but without someone to share it with it lost some of what it could be.

We were made to share our lives with others. The good and the bad, we were made to live in community. This week our community suffered a horrible tragedy and it brought home to me again that we were not made to handle life as a solo act. Life, in its best and worst moments, was meant to be shared. If we learn anything as we get older it is that we need each other.

Last fall we put on our “Hornet wear” and traveled the state to support our team. This fall we will gather in our “Hornet wear” again at the football field. This time as we gather we will support a grieving family. As Blake Shelton sings, “God gave me you for the ups and downs, God gave me you for the days of doubt…”. Together we walk side by side in the best and worst moments of our lives and for me at least, it is the only way I want to live my life.