Our very own Ruth Dieter was recently featured for a program called The Pack Horse Librarians Of Eastern Kentucky on National Public Radio (NPR).
The Real Reason for Democracy
A great deal of democratic enthusiasm descends from the ideas of people … who believed in democracy because they thought mankind so wise and good that everyone deserved a share in the government. The danger of defending democracy on those grounds is that they’re not true. … The real reason for democracy is just the reverse. Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows. — C. S. Lewis [1]
Note the d in democratic is lowercase indicating everyone who believes in democracy regardless of party affiliation. We in the West often think of democracy as a cure for all ills even though our own experience proves the opposite. I think we would be better off if we, like Lewis, were more pessimistic. Democracy is not a perfect solution to the problem of governance, it’s just better than all the other options. This side of the return of King Jesus and the fullness of his coming reign, we’ll just have to take what we can get.
[1] C. S. Lewis. Present Concerns: Journalistic Essays (New York: HarperCollins, 1986). Kindle Edition, 279-280.
2018 Church Conference
An official announcement: the Abilene First UMC Church Conference will be Tuesday, November 13, 2018, at 7:00 p.m.
Remembering 9/11
If you take time to pause and remember this day seventeen years ago, I would once again commend to you this prayer from Rev. Jeremy Pridgeon.
Link: http://bit.ly/2eYITAb
Little Free Pantry Update
A quick thank you to everyone who brought items for the Little Free Pantry. The backup pantry that we use to stock the Little Free Pantry is filled to overflowing (we’re going to half to get more shelves). In addition to your contributions, Jenny and I were both approached with donations from people who weren’t part of the congregation today. It’s great to have the larger community involved in a mission project!
To All Affirming Members and Friends
To all affirming members and friends of AFUMC: A group is forming anticipating the discussion of LGBTQ+ issues at the upcoming denominational wide General Conference. We’re seeking ways to be supportive and accepting of all our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our next meeting will be September 23, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. Anyone who is interested is welcome.
Sin from God’s Perspective
A tip of my hat to Malorie Unruh. Last Sunday, She sent Jenny and I a picture posted by a Facebook user named Makenzie Grace Tindall. It wasn’t big enough to use for a slide, but I recreated it in the slide below for my sermon tomorrow morning. I’ll be preaching on James 2:1-17.
The Burden of Anger and Bitterness
“The fact is that when we forgive someone we not only release them from the burden of our anger and its possible consequences; we release ourselves from the burden of whatever it was they had done to us, and from the crippled emotional state in which we shall go on living if we don’t forgive them and instead cling to our anger and bitterness.” — N. T. Wright [1]
Let’s do ourselves a favor and pray for the grace to forgive those who have sinned against us. (Sometimes I have to start by praying for the desire to forgive.)
[1] N. T. Wright. Evil and the Justice of God (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2006). Kindle Edition, 135.
You’re Stuck With Me
Jenny is on renewal leave this week, so if you need anything please contact me first.
Closed for Labor Day
The church office is closed today (September 3, 2018) in celebration of Labor Day. We’ll reopen for normal office hours tomorrow.