Time flies...

⁴ Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant  ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. ⁷ It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸ Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. 1Corinthians 13:4-8 (NRSV)

 Friends: It just does not seem that six years have come and gone since my family and I have arrived to be in ministry with you. There is that old adage: “Time flies when you are having fun.”  Several members of our annual conference will be retiring from active ministry. I will be one of them; 39.5 years in service in The United Methodist Church.

Many will go on to live close to family, others will “stay in the neighborhood,” [Edna and I will be one of those.] and others will be traveling the country in motor homes. Whatever the case may be, people come to a point in their lives when they can no longer do what they love and enjoy. Many of us have been there, done that, and bought the T-shirt.

Yet, there is hope. I enjoy getting up early in the morning. I have a ritual from brewing coffee, reading the Upper Room Devotional, feeding our zoo, and starting the day. Edna and I are now sharing breakfast duties. However, retirement seemed to have snuck up on me. I have some more packing to do, and to see how God will continue to use this guy from Corpus Christi to further His kingdom work.

I will encourage you to be faithful to God through Christ. I would encourage you to grow in your understanding of scriptures. Go to church on a regular basis. Should you be a member of Lakeway, remain faithful to this church. Participate in a small group study. Pray daily. Forgive often. Love always. Enough preaching for today.

I have two more Sundays as pastor of Lakeway. My sermons will be:  June 21, Matthew 14:22-33, Jesus Walks on Water; June 28, John 3:16-17 and Proverbs 3:5-6, God’s Plan and Direction for your Life. You are invited. 

Until next time, blessings.

Pastor Frank (alegria@lakewayumc.org)

Numbers 6:22-26 (NRSV)
²²  The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
²³  Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them,
²⁴  The LORD bless you and keep you;
²⁵  the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
²⁶  the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.