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“If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.”
1 Corinthians 12:26 (NRSV)

A seminary professor from another generation retired early due to failing health and died at the age of 58. The final ten years of his life were spent in and out of hospitals. After his death, his wife gathered several of his articles for publication. In one chapter, this teacher traced the stages of his ministry.

He wrote:

“When I began, I thought of myself as standing on the bank of the stream of life, shouting instructions to the swimmers below. I was the expert.

The second stage of my ministry, I thought of myself as the rescuer. If I saw someone going down for the third time, I would plunge into the water, rescue him, get him started in the right direction again, and then return to the bank.

But during the last ten years of my life, I was in the water. We were fellow strugglers, with our arms around one another, trying to help each other make it to the shore.”
—Wesley Taylor, Tualatin United Methodist Church, Tualatin, Oregon

Don't let anyone drown…

Friends, we are fellow strugglers on this journey of faith, hope, life, and love. When we put our arms around one another, the burden becomes lighter—because of Christ. We must do all we can not to let anyone drown.

Pray for one another.
Invite friends, relatives, acquaintances, and neighbors to church.
Be part of a small group and study God’s Word together.
Hold one another accountable in the Spirit of Christ.
And love one another, as Christ has loved each of us.                                                                              See you in church this Sunday.

Blessings from Pottsboro, Pastor Frank (alegria@lakewayumc.org)