Good Guys and Villains

I guess I am still a kid at heart; I still love to go to the movies. Maybe it's because I have kids that I still find comic book characters fascinating. Be it Iron Man, Spider-Man, Superman, or as the case may be recently, Batman. It has to be more than me who finds thrill in the comic book stories spun by both DC comics and Marvel considering the substantial box office records broken last week. Somebody else out there loves this stuff too!

While I left the actually magazine's behind years ago, big screen or small, I find myself drawn to it like a moth to a flame. The new installment of Batman: The Dark Knight comes with far more action than its predecessor, Batman Begins. This time, Gotham City, is plagued by the crazed lunatic, the Joker. For those who thought Jack Nicholson broke the mold on how to play the villain, think again. The Late Heath Ledger may be nominated for an Oscar for his role. He may be considered one of the best bad guys ever to hit celluloid.

Okay, so I know this is not a movie review column, but I found some unique links between the Dark Knight and Jesus. For fans who have yet to see the movie... stop now! And yes, I know that Jesus is not a comic book character! But, here goes.

Batman upsets society. He is a vigilante who goes about fighting crime to protect the lives of people. But there is something else. He dares to reach down into the gutter to do the job others who are unwilling or too corrupt to take on. In many ways, while this endears him to the public, the criminals and even the police are not amused. In the same way, Jesus upset the social norms of His day. He dared speak to women, welcome children, heal the lame and leapers, even on the Sabbath. He was an advocate for the poor and oppressed and called the religious leaders and wealthy accountable for their actions. In short, both are depicted as larger than life heroes.

But, heroes are hard to come by. One great line from the movie is, "You either die the hero or you live long enough to become the villain."

Jesus embodied this quote. To those whom He healed, spiritually, physically, and mentally during his earthly life, he was a hero. Yet, in the last day of that earthly existence, Jesus was scorned, mocked, spat upon, and reviled as a villain. He died a horrific death and, had it not been for Joseph of Aramathea, His body might have been left for the dogs to dine upon. In this latest installment, Batman becomes the hunted villain too. I find it interesting that it is self inflicted fate. He allows the public to think ill of him rather than causing the people of the city to lose hope if they ever know the real story. The hero today may be the persecuted tomorrow. It was left to a crowd to condemn Jesus. A crowd that was incited to shout, "crucify Him!' again and again.

While I enjoy the fantasy of Batman, Batman is fictional. Jesus' life, self sacrificial death, and eternal life are a reality. Hebrews 1 says, "After He finished the sacrifice for sins, the Son took his honored place high in the heavens right alongside God, far higher than any angel in rank and rule." Again in Hebrews 2, "It makes good sense that the God who got everything started and keeps everything going now completes the work by making the Salvation Pioneer perfect through suffering as he leads all these people to glory."

Everyone needs this hero to save us. Be sure to pick the right one! I hope you can accept Jesus as yours!

The Good about the Good News

What comes first... repentance or forgiveness? That is the question Professor J.B. Torrance raised with his theology students. This question was used to stop the soon to be preachers in their tracks and really make them think hard about the heart of God and the reconciling work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Torrance’s point was that God’s forgiveness (i.e. grace) is unconditional and is to be proclaimed as such to the world. John Calvin said “a man cannot apply himself seriously to repentance without knowing himself to belong to God. But no one is truly persuaded that he belongs to God unless he has first recognized God’s grace.” Yet how is one to understand God’s grace if it is not proclaimed to him or her as a fact rather than a conditional promise?

Dr. Baxter Kruger tells this story. He says, "I had a conversation with a young man who was somewhat disturbed by my simple declaration that “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself” (2COR 5:19) and by the fact that I turned to the folks gathered at our meeting and declared that all without exception had been forgiven and embraced by the Father himself. In the conversation afterwards, I asked the young man, ‘what is the gospel?’ 'What do you tell people to believe?’ ‘what is the good news?’ He answered, ‘I tell people to believe in Jesus.’ I then asked, ‘believe in what about Jesus?’ His response was telling, ‘I tell people that if they repent and believe in Jesus, they will be forgiven.’ ‘So,’ I said, ‘the object of our faith is not Jesus and our salvation in him, but the possibility that we can be forgiven, if we repent and believe in Jesus. So we are summoned to believe in a Jesus who may be our savior if we repent and believe in him correctly, and in doing so (which we can’t) we actually make him the savior?’

Do we really believe in the fact of our forgiveness through Jesus and thus have something real to believe in? Or do we believe in the "possibility" of our forgiveness, and thus believe in whatever it is (our faith, repentance or goodness) that makes the "possibility" a reality?

Kruger goes on the say, "the gospel is not the news of what can be if we make it so; it is the news of what is, of what God has established in Christ. ‘God was in Christ reconciling the cosmos to himself." Thus, J.B. Torrance, John Calvin and even the Apostle Paul were right. Forgiveness is prior to repentance, and thus, even, prior to faith itself. Without the fact that God, in Christ, was reconciling the world to himself on that cross, then there is nothing real to believe. Without the proclamation of this truth as truth in our churches today, we give people nothing to believe in except themselves and the existential power of their own faith, abilities, and self-energized repentance. We cannot be afraid that there is anyone on this earth who is not supposed to hear that they are forgiven, embraced and included. Remember... grace is a free gift... presented by God... so that you are free of your sin. It is a reality and we thank God for our gift and acknowledge that we are in constant need of such a wonderful gift. We strive to be more, yet by God's grace we are free of sin and live each day, humbly walking with our Savior. That is Good News!

Check Your Daughters or Sons Date with These Helpful FBI Hints

Hello Dads and Moms,

I saw this blog elsewhere and had to post it for you. Maybe it will help?

These agents specialize in profiling individuals in order to predict behavior. Use these tips to rest easy until your daughter comes home at curfew, courtesy of Rodale Publishing:.
• Tip #1 from FBI agents – ask your daughter for her date’s full name ahead of time and then Google him, look him up on My Space, Facebook and You Tube. Any personal profiles or videos that come up will give you a good sense of his personality. Check out his favorite movies, books and videogames. According to Clint Van Zandt, who worked for the FBI for 25 years, reality mimics fantasy. He says he can’t tell you how many times he’s asked a criminal where they got their ideas and they’ve said they saw it in a movie.
• Then, when he gets to the house, evaluate his clothing. John Douglas, a former FBI investigative chief, says what a person wears reflects their overall level of judgment. So a jacket, combed hair, and cologne say – ‘I care. I’m trying to put my best foot forward.’ Camouflage pants, unwashed hair and body odor say ‘I only care about myself – and even then, not so much.’
• If the guy has any visible tattoos or piercings – ask about them. Generally the more in-your-face they are, the more they represent a cry for attention. People who demand that others notice them, may have trouble being sensitive to another person’s needs. Ask about the meaning behind the body art. It’ll provide insight into his character.
• As you’re talking to your daughter’s date – let the conversation stop. See how he fills the pause. That puts a person on edge and you can see how they handle stress.
• Finally, the FBI agents recommend that you directly state what your expectations are when he’s out with your daughter. Watch his body language. If he folds his arms and moves away, no matter how subtly, he’s resisting what you’re saying. So take down his license plate number, just in case.

The End of The World

When I was a teenager, one of the popular books of the day was "The Late Great Planet Earth" by Hal Lindsey. It was a book that scared the pudding out of me! It was still the era of the Cold War with Russia (USSR) and tension was always high. Lindsey used the Bible to explain the coming end of the world. His explanations were based on scripture and images that he put together to interpret a final war and the coming of Jesus Christ. After reading the book, I really thought that I might not grow up before all of this happened.

Since Lindsey's book, others have presented theories about the coming end of the world. Many of the views seem very logical or plausible. Are you worried about the end of the world? Do you think often about it? Does it seem that the world has gotten worse over the last few decades? Maybe you think about this idea often. Maybe you never think about it at all. I am often asked what I think since I am a pastor. Here's what i say.

The end of the world is coming. I know because I read the end of the book (the Bible). The Bible says in Matthew 24:29-31, "But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other." I do not purport to explain the coming of the end. I only know that THIS world, as we know it, will come to an end. I know that Jesus Christ will come again and He will be the one to deal with Satan and all of Satan's followers (again... I read the end of the Bible). I know that Jesus has promised all of His followers a place with Him. (What that is exactly like, I'm not sure, but I do know that it will be better than anything I or anyone has ever experienced)

The world that we live in is bad, but I am not sure that it is any worse than it was 50 or 100 years ago. Maybe we just have faulty memories and believe that the past was always better. So I cannot say that the world is coming to an end because things are terrible. In fact, most Americans have a better life than ever and the freedom to choose to worship God in more ways than ever. Whether people make that choice is another matter. Therefore, the end of the world may be no more closer to happening within the next few years than it has been in the last 30. Matthew 24:36-37 tells us we do not know when all this will happen. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah."

But the end of the world will come for us at the end of our lives. That is also a date we do not know. The answer to the question of when the world will end lies in our own deaths. For each this world will end. Thus, we might want to take heed to listen to Acts 1:11 "...Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?" Live today a life of discipleship and keep your eyes fixed on serving Christ and the day will come when you may look up at Him with wonder and He will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" God loves you. Until next time, blessings!

The Life, Death, and Life of a Lady

This past Monday I went to a funeral. This shouldn’t be much of a surprise because as a pastor, I often conduct funerals, but on this occasion, I was there to support my friends. The friends were Roger and Beth Durham and their children Josh and Heather. Roger’s mother, Mrs. Laura Durham, had died after a battle with cancer and I wanted to be there.

I had met Mrs. Durham on several occasions. She was so nice and always had a wonderful smile on her face. But, I think that I learned more about her at her funeral than I ever learned about her when I met her. She was not much into talking about herself. She was, in fact, quite unassuming and soft spoken. But there was always something special about her. It was something that was unspoken and yet it beamed from her like a lighthouse beacon. She was a devout Christian. Her faith could not be contained. It radiated out of her even if you met her on only a few occasions, you just noticed something about her. I want to let you read a portion of her obituary, “As can be attested by all who knew her, Laura was a truly devout woman of the Lord, a trusted confidant, a gracious and loving mother, as well as a devoted Grandmother and Great-grandmother. She exuded love in every encounter be it with family, friend, or stranger. Her life was a constant example of God’s grace and love on Earth. She warmed hearts, caused laughter, and fed the body and spirit of everyone until their heart was content. Whether she was baking cookies for VBS or baking bread and cinnamon rolls for family and friends, she warmed the hearts of everyone who knew her. Laura’s house was one of good cheer, continuous love, and unending patience.”

The funeral service was so appropriate. Her pastor Dr. Joe Worley recounted her tenure as a secretary at First Baptist. She was a pleasure to have in the office and represented the church with dignity and grace. One of her sons, Rev. Larry Fondren, gave the eulogy. His words were elegant and he emphasized that tears were due to loss of being with Mrs. Durham, not due to her future… because she was with her Lord. The service was a celebration of a life well lived and I was thankful to have been there to hear about the impact Mrs. Laura Durham had on all those whom she met.

The Bible tells us about life, about death, and about life after death. In John: 14, these words of comfort can be found, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Was Mrs. Durham some sort of Super-Christian? Yes and no. She simply gave her life to Christ and Christ dwelt in her heart and ruler her very being. That is a blessing you can have too. All it takes is the humility to surrender your life and pray for Jesus to take it over. That’s it! No magic formula or special words… Jesus already loves you and is waiting to lead you. Mrs. Durham did that very well. Granted, not all Christians may be able to exude the kind of love that she gave, but we can give it our best shot!

My hat is off to such a wonderful story of Christian faith, may the same be said of us all at our funerals.

Biblical Truth Can Be Found Not Only In the Bible

Last week, my kids and I went to see the newest super hero movie, Iron Man. The kids really liked it and it was very well done. More importantly, the message was clear. (For those of you who do not know the story, I will quickly give a recap)
Tony Stark is a brilliant young man who inherits a weapons manufacturing plant from his father. Tony is everything the word “playboy” implies. He is a partying, egotistical, arrogant, and self-centered fellow who lives to make money, spend money, and meet the young ladies. But something amazing happens along the way. On a trip to the Middle East, he is kidnapped and held hostage by a band of terrorist who ask him to create a weapon of destruction for them. He begins to realize that his only hope is to use the tools available to create something that can help him escape his captors. He does… and Iron Man is born. While I will not give you the rest of the movie plot, the main thing that happens is that Stark discovers new priorities. Suddenly his former lifestyle becomes irrelevant and he realizes that his life can best be used in helping people instead of creating death and destruction for profit. I want to share with you a couple of Biblical stories which illustrate a transformation of priorities for individuals.
The first is the story of Saul of Tarsus. You know him as Paul in the New Testament. Before being renamed, Paul (then known as Saul) was one of the most adamant opponents to the Christian movement. He was having Christians arrested and stood by as Stephen was stoned for testifying to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In Acts 9:1-20, we read that suddenly Jesus appeared to Saul and he was blinded. When his sight was restored, Saul gained new insight to Jesus and literally saw his life in a different light. Saul became Paul and transformed into a zealous defender of the Christian faith. We know of that faith through all the books of the New Testament which bear his signature.
The second story is about a Syrian commander named Naaman. His story is found in the Old Testament book of II Kings chapter 5. Naaman, although a man of power and prestige, had a sever skin condition that cause him great agony. The prophet Elisha sent word to Naaman by way of a slave girl to dip himself seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman listened to the words of Elisha and did exactly as he was told to do and only then was the skin condition cured forever. Through this miraculous healing, Naaman realized that there was only one true God and swore that he would never sacrifice to any other gods except God. His life was forever changed!
That’s the challenge for us. What part or parts of our lives do we need to examine in order to see our priorities fall into place? Even in the best believer, there are ways to improve ourselves and our walk with God. When we believe we are either too good to grow in Christ or we convince ourselves we are too bad to even be in such a relationship, we are simply allowing ourselves to be fooled. You are probably somewhere in between and that means we can and should find new ways to get into a deeper relationship with God. It may be in your worship, your prayer life, your Bible study, or even your service to others. Focus in on just one of these aspects of faith and try to improve in that area. It may even be in some small way, but it is progress. Somewhere there is room for improvement and/or transformation.
The truth is… we are all put here for a reason and that reason is to glorify God and serve others in His name. We do these things by a continual effort to get to know God better. Put your priorities in order and be an Iron Man or Iron Woman for Jesus Christ.

Holy Moments Happen

This past Wednesday, in Portland, Oregon, Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University hit a home run in women’s college softball. It was her first home run in her career as a college or high school player. Why is that significant? Yes, her three run home run made the difference in the 4-2 win over Central Washington University and eliminated them from the playoffs. But that is not significant; in fact those kinds of things happen all the time. What is significant is what happened after Tucholsky hit the ball. She was so excited that as she rounded first base, she stepped over the bag and failed to touch it. She took a step toward second base and realized her error and pivoted to return to first and touch the base. But as she spun around, she felt something POP! She crumpled to the ground and knew that she had injured her knee so badly that she could not even stand up… let alone go around the diamond and touch all the bases to complete her home run. After speaking with officials, it was ruled that Tucholsky had to touch the bases for it to be a legal home run and she could not have a pinch runner or be aided by her team in any way. What do you think happened?

In Matthew 25:37-40 says, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”

Two members of the opposing team, Central Washington team members, went over to Tucholsky, picked her up, and walked her around to each remaining base including home plate so that her home run would count. Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, the starting first baseman and shortstop left their positions and lifted Tucholsky up as human crutches and made sure she touched each base. WOW! The two women didn’t even know that this was Tucholsky’s first ever home run or that she was a graduating senior and her college career was now over with the injured knee. They said, “We just wanted to help.”

Now that is what I call sportsmanship or should I say sportswomanship! In an era filled with players rushing into the stands to fight each other and even fans, it is refreshing to see the heat of competition cooled off by the desire to help someone else. It was not about winning or losing, it was about doing what was right. Tucholsky hit the home run, but Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace had the biggest hit. They acted on their God given idea to help. Yes, they acted, but God planted the idea in them to assist a fallen player, even if she was on the other team. When you go out to watch a game, hold a baby, embrace someone you love, enjoy a concert (like the one last week at Lamar State College of Port Arthur featuring the Oak Ridge Boys) or any other joy in your life, you are in touch with your creator. In a very clear way, you are IN CHURCH. The creator of life and giver of joy allows us to tap into the joy shared between the Father and Son. The Holy Spirit brings us a taste of the love that exists in the Triune God. Have you seen a Holy moment or recognized God’s presence today in your life? I know that you have and if you think hard you do too, even as you have read this article, God is with you now. In Matthew 10:7 Jesus makes this claim, “The kingdom of heaven is near.” Once we realize that God is with us everywhere, we can begin to know God as our companion and shepherd each and every day. Each day God’s mighty works and love for His creation, including you and me, are breaking forth… look for God today.

God is sure to show up!

Prayer Day labyrinth to be ‘journey toward God’ by Darragh Doiron The Port Arthur News

While the whole community is invited to The Prayer Path labyrinth, Beth Faulk is confident of one RSVP.
“God is sure to show up,” Faulk said.
Providence Presbyterian Church will host the interactive event from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, which is the National Day of Prayer.
The path is designed to be a quiet time for busy people to experience God, Faulk said.
“That’s the purpose of the labyrinth. It’s a time to slow down, be with God and pray for our nation and government,” Faulk, parish associate, said.
Buddy Ware and Larry Hagen used chalk lines to mark where blue gaffer’s tape will mark the path on canvas spread across the gym floor. Booties will be provided for those who want keep their shoes on, or else they’ll have to sock-foot it, Ware said.
The labyrinth is not a maze. It has an entrance and an exit. Visitors will read as they go and stop at points, such as a stop with pebbles that will represent problems to drop into a bucket.
“They’ll let go of their worries,” Faulk said. “The journey is toward God.”
Walkers should forget about their grocery lists and meetings and use the time to focus on God. If they have a specific prayer or healing request, they should bring it.
“They should set aside any barriers from thinking about God,” she said.
Several religions have incorporated labyrinths into their faiths for 3,000 years, Faulk said. Members have walked a path that St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Groves provided, Faulk said.

“They loved it. They felt like they had a truly moving experience,” she said.
She said members, who are meeting at St. John Lutheran Church at 4600 Jimmy Johnson Blvd., hope to recreate that feeling and share it with others.
“Come and enjoy it with us and walk it expecting to experience God,” she said.
Church member Nancy Currie said excitement has surrounded the project.
“When Pastor Beth brought the idea to our Christian Education Committee, everyone caught the excitement bug and has helped pull it together. We think it is a unique opportunity to help our community celebrate the National Day of Prayer in a meaningful way,” Currie said.
Currie said Sue Hagen and her husband worked hard to find supplies for and finish up the project for visitors.
"What an opportunity, indeed, to be able to share this wonderful experience with the community,” Hagen, of Bridge City, said. “We have had an opportunity to walk the labyrinth in our church on a couple of occasions, and it was such a moving experience to be able to journey through the labyrinth and feel the presence of God. Being able to focus on our walk with God and spend time listening to what this soul-searching activity speaks to our souls is something that we are looking forward to immensely. We sincerely hope it will be a meaningful journey to many.”

For A Long Time, I Thought…

When I was a boy, I heard many sermons in the church where I attended. Time and time again, I was told that Jesus loved me and He was a wonderful Shepherd and Counselor and all those other glorious names. Therefore, I want to be a Christian. You know, I wanted Jesus to take care of me and be my protector. And I needed it. Why did I need a protector you might ask? No it wasn’t from the bully at school or from an older sibling whipping up on me. It was from the wrath of God the Father! Yes, I thought that God, you know, the old guy on the throne with the white beard (the God in the Old Testament)… was not happy with me because I was… a sinner!

For a long time, I thought this way and I was relieved when I learned that this concept was not something I just dreamed up. Other people, maybe even you, identified with this view as well. Theologian Baxter Kruger says, “The ideas that God, the Father needed to be appeased in order to accept us, and that Jesus became human in order to suffer the wrath of his Father on the cross so that we could be accepted, always struck me as terribly wrong. But, growing up in the deep South, such notions were all one ever heard, and heard repeatedly, and still do. In this atonement theory, the Father is in two minds about us, or, at the very least, there are two sides of the Father, the one being the righteous, just and holy side, the other being the graceful, merciful and loving side. The one thing we knew for sure about God was that he could not simply forgive us and accept us as his fallen creatures. The truth, we were told is that He could not even look upon us vile sinners. His holiness and justice and righteousness demanded satisfaction before forgiveness could become a reality. And so on the cross Jesus bowed as the Father’s holiness, justice and righteousness formed into wrath against our sin and was poured out upon him instead of us.”

The trouble with this understanding of God is that there is no forgiveness at all. The Father simply takes out His wrath against the Son. We are told that we should be glad it’s Him (Jesus) and not us! While Jesus can become human and live amongst us, eat with us, heal us, and love us, the Father is stuck on the outside because His holiness and perfection cannot look upon sin and we cannot be accepted because we are sinners. Thus, we have a Father who is of one nature and a Son who is of another.

Scripture teaches that God (The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit) is ONE God, yet three persons. This concept is called the Trinity. While it is not expressly stated in the Bible, it is specifically implied. Texts like John 14:9 “he who has seen me, has seen the Father”, John 10:30 “I and the Father are one”, and Hebrews 1:3 “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature” all indicate that, in Jesus Christ, God the Father is revealed as well.

In his book, On the Incarnation of the Word of God, St. Athanasius comments on this subject. He says, “As, then, the creatures whom He had created…were on the road to ruin, what then was God, being Good to do?” The old saint of the Church knew that God was of one nature God’s holiness, justice, and righteousness are in tune with His love and mercy. God refused to abandon His creation and decided before the beginning of time to let nothing come between Him and us, not even sin. Thus, Jesus is not the sacrifice to God on our behalf, NO… God the Father and Son are at work in tandem. God pronounces a mighty word of grace to us all through the cross. Romans 8 is trying to remind us of this truth when it says, “I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” The Father and the Son invite you (through the Holy Spirit) to enter into a love affair. They already have a crush on you!

PA congregations share worship space

Article by Darragh Doiron for The Port Arthur News, PORT ARTHUR —
Good neighbors are sharing brotherly love.

The congregations of St. John Lutheran Church and Providence Presbyterian Church can’t get any closer. They’re sharing a building.
“It’s worked exceedingly and abundantly beyond our wildest imagination,” Buddy Blake, St. John pastor, said.
Clay Faulk explained how his flock moved into the St. John gym for a while as their new church is being built. Everything that filled the former church complex now fits in the host gym.
“Believe it or not, we fit in here,” Faulk said, moving a curtain to show stacks of chairs, books and office equipment. “We’re crashing on the couch, literally.”
An altar, piano, tables and chairs are arranged around the basketball goal. A clump of mismatched couches in the corner is where the young people gather at court-side services, he said.
Providence Presbyterian Church is the new name for Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, which just moved from Gulfway Drive. Members are camped out at St. John Lutheran on Jimmy Johnson Boulevard but will soon break ground on a new home on North Twin City Highway.
Faulk said the United Methodist District bought their former home on Gulfway Drive with plans to start a new church.
“It was difficult for people to let go of a building they loved,” Faulk said, but added that they’ve adopted a motto for the process: “If God leads you to it, God will lead you through it.”
“We’re so thankful to the Lutherans,” Faulk said.
The pastors have worked out a schedule that Blake refers to as a three-course feast. On Sundays, locals can catch a 9:30 a.m. Presbyterian service in the gym, a 10 a.m. Lutheran service in the sanctuary or an 11:15 a.m. Presbyterian service in the sanctuary.
Blake said he had faith the arrangement would work out. They aren’t charging rent, but the guests are making a contribution that helps St. John’s expenses. An added benefit is that there are now enough people for a full, blended Sunday School, he said.
“When the opportunity came up, it was something that I knew almost from the very beginning was going to be a tremendous blessing,” Blake said.
The groups plan to be merged neighbors for at least 18 months.
Beth Durham is part of the Providence congregation. She said the changes call for an attitude of adjustment. “It hasn’t been easy, in fact I think the more challenges we have faced, the more of an affirmation it has become, that Satan doesn’t want us moving forward. It’s very difficult to trust in the unknown, but that’s where faith comes in, and I think we’ve all learned that our faith needed to be kicked up a notch,” Durham said. “We’ve had to step out of the box, or out of our comfort zones. But God is seeing us through this move, and we anticipate many new ministry opportunities on the horizon.”
After all, they’ve changed before. Faulk said that in the early 1900s First Presbyterian came into being on Mobile Street, then in the 1960s moved to Gulfway Drive. In the 1970s, the Westminster Presbyterian church joined them and they renamed the congregation First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. With this move, members decided to create another new name with Providence Presbyterian Church.