Greetings Holy, Healthy and Happy People of God,

As I write this to our faithful and devoted community of radical followers of Jesus Christ, I am returning from a conference on “Relationships Leading to Change Local Conversations on Race, Inequality and Justice.”  Willis Johnson, Pastor of Wellspring United Methodist Church, located in Ferguson, Missouri led our time.  Although the conference offered some extremely helpful ways to engage in conversations about race, inequality and justice, the one that remained with me was, “Every blessing comes with boundaries and burdens.”

Thinking about blessings as boundaries and burdens, it reminded me of the blessing of Jesus Christ to come into the world as Lord, Savior and Redeemer.  His blessing was our salvation, but his boundary is limited to our acceptance of his gift of salvation.  And the burden, he died so that we could have life and have it more abundantly.

So the Prophet Micah offers us some insight to our blessings:

 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  Micah 6:8

We get to receive the blessings of God with boundaries and burdens.  Every day we welcome the blessings of God with the reality of trusting to be in a relationship with God that is eternal.  So act, allow Love to go public and do something!

Hear the W.O.W, the Words of Wisdom: “Ministry is a contact sport!”

As always, remember, God’s will for us is good, we must do the rest!

Pastor Stephen