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Message From the Pastor
Marvin United Methodist Church
| Rev. Rod Mullen Pastor |
Church Calendar
JOURNEYS
Moving day always reminds me of the patriarch Abraham and his wife Sarah. In
the book of Genesis we read how they travel from the homeland of their ancestors
to a new land promised by God. Within that story, we are told that they journeyed
by stages, with Abraham pitching his tent along the way to the region of the Negev,
in Southern Israel.
As with patriarchs, matriarchs, and pastors, so also with the church in a larger
sense. Whether we realize it or not, we are always on a journey with God.
Sometimes we may move slowly, at other times we may move quickly, but the
journey is a continuing one. Sometimes God has to kick-start us. At other times
he bids us rest and wait. God’s plan in all the journeys of life is to have us lead a
more holy and righteous life, a life in accordance with his will. That is as true for
churches as it is for individuals, so it will be my pleasure in this next stage of our
lives to seek God’s will for Marvin UMC together.
How do we know God’s will? One of the ways we know God’s purposes for our
lives is by reading, hearing, and studying his word. That’s not always an easy
task. A few days ago I went to the funeral for the father of a high-school
classmate. At the funeral the pastor spoke about Mr. H’s often firm opinions, but
also spoke about his love of Scripture. He said Mr. H thought Scripture was both
holy and confounding – holy because it comes from God, and confounding to us
because God’s ways are often not our ways. At the end of the service the pastor
described Mr. H as a pilgrim. I thought that was a fitting description, not just for
him, but for all those who are eager to do the will of God.
So, let us journey together as we seek to discern the direction God is leading us
as his people—as the church—and to live out his purposes in the world.
Rod
Moving day always reminds me of the patriarch Abraham and his wife Sarah. In
the book of Genesis we read how they travel from the homeland of their ancestors
to a new land promised by God. Within that story, we are told that they journeyed
by stages, with Abraham pitching his tent along the way to the region of the Negev,
in Southern Israel.
As with patriarchs, matriarchs, and pastors, so also with the church in a larger
sense. Whether we realize it or not, we are always on a journey with God.
Sometimes we may move slowly, at other times we may move quickly, but the
journey is a continuing one. Sometimes God has to kick-start us. At other times
he bids us rest and wait. God’s plan in all the journeys of life is to have us lead a
more holy and righteous life, a life in accordance with his will. That is as true for
churches as it is for individuals, so it will be my pleasure in this next stage of our
lives to seek God’s will for Marvin UMC together.
How do we know God’s will? One of the ways we know God’s purposes for our
lives is by reading, hearing, and studying his word. That’s not always an easy
task. A few days ago I went to the funeral for the father of a high-school
classmate. At the funeral the pastor spoke about Mr. H’s often firm opinions, but
also spoke about his love of Scripture. He said Mr. H thought Scripture was both
holy and confounding – holy because it comes from God, and confounding to us
because God’s ways are often not our ways. At the end of the service the pastor
described Mr. H as a pilgrim. I thought that was a fitting description, not just for
him, but for all those who are eager to do the will of God.
So, let us journey together as we seek to discern the direction God is leading us
as his people—as the church—and to live out his purposes in the world.
Rod