God Does Exist
28 "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 (NRSV)
A man went to a barbershop to have his haircut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists.”Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things." The customer thought for a moment, but did not respond because he did not want to start an argument.
The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw an average person with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barbershop again and he said to the barber, "You know what? Barbers do not exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!" "No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside." "Ah, but barbers DO exist! " answered the barber. "What happens, is, people do not come to me.” "Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people do not go to Him and do not look for Him.
Friends: I am sure that there are many who would argue the case for why we have the poor and suffering in the world. We will never eradicate the poor and suffering of this world. We can only do our part: That which we have come across in our lives and ministry to the people of God. Sometimes that ministry is within the congregation. Oftentimes, outside of the church. It is said that if you wanted to do missions, go to Africa or China. Now, Africa and China are sending missionaries to the United States. Many churches, ours is no different, that has a great history of serving the needs of the community in a variety of forms.
We started the Lakeway Christian Community Resale Barn. This part of the Lakeway United Methodist Church has supported thousands of folks in the local and extended community, It has done this selling donations and reselling to the tune of millions of dollars to date. These proceeds goes towards financial assistance to many folks. We need to go to the next step: Not just financial assistance but our personal involvement. There are a good number of members that regularly volunteer at different levels of the church and community. However, we need to intentionally recruit others.You hear me say: “God has blessed us to be a blessing.” Our school, community outreach programs, and more need our presence. Matthew 25:45
45 Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' I believe that he was not talking just about money.
Blessings from Pottsboro, Pastor Frank (alegria@lakewayumc.org)