Weekly Update// Pastor Chris
Dear Asbury Family,
Amanda’s birthday was last Thursday (September 1), so as a family, the four of us – Amanda, Hannah, Noah, and me – went to dinner that night. On the way home from the restaurant, Noah, who’s four, started listing off (as four-year-olds often do) all the careers in which he’s interested. “When I’m big,” he began, “I want to be a painter and a truck driver and a police officer and a firefighter and a mail person.” Curiosity got the best of me, so I asked him, “What about a pastor….like Dad?” He quickly responded, “No, it’s too much talking!” I’m not sure if he meant pastors in general talk too much or I in particular talk too much. Honestly, I didn’t attempt to follow up!
Kids keep us humble, don’t they? They have a way of helping us adults stay grounded and not take ourselves too seriously. As a parent, I am grateful for all the lessons our kids have taught me, if inadvertently, about love, grace, and life and living as a follower of Jesus.
It seems that so often God uses the people around us to shape us. This is true of our children, but it’s also true of other people whom we know – including those in the church! The reality is God uses the people of the church to speak into our lives and help us in our journey of discipleship and becoming more and more like Jesus. A few weeks ago, I preached on the importance of church. During the message, I referenced the book of Hebrews, which states,
24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his [Jesus’] return is drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT)
As we enter the fall season -- and, consequently, find ourselves in more of a routine than perhaps we were in during the summer months -- I hope we will intentionally carve out time for Christian community. Remember these are the relationships God wants to use to fill us.
This Sunday Pastor Erwin Lopez of the Central Florida Wesley Foundation will be delivering the message. Additionally, we’ll be taking up a special offering to support the ministry of Wesley, which God is using to touch the lives of young people. As always, it’s going to be a great Sunday!
Blessings,
Chris
p.s. Given that this Sunday is the twenty-first anniversary of September 11, we’ll be remembering 9/11 victims and survivors, as well as first responders, during services. September 11 is a day that is forever etched in our memories.