STATEMENT OF FAITH
PROLOGUE
This is an extremely difficult exercise for me. While I realize it is also for all of you, I think I find it so difficult because I take such a simplistic view to life. I am definitely not what people would call “a deep thinker”, and I usually take the approach of one of my favorite philosophers who said, “I y’am what I y’am, and that’s all I y’am”.
I also still have I guess somewhat of a childlike exuberance when it comes to religion. There are many times I have moments where I just want to say “Wow!”, particularly when something really hits me during the Worship Service, but fortunately I do have some sense of decorum, and I keep those comments inside of me. I don’t feel that I’m very far on my religious journey as some of you are, but I’ve come to accept that, and realize that the journey is the thing, not the destination. My time will come, I just have to have patience. I have to admit though that patience is a virtue that I do not possess, which anyone in my family can attest to. Laurel would probably change the adverb above to childish rather than childlike. But I digress.
I am thankful for some of the resources I had to prepare this and must give credit. The fantastic sermons that I stuff into my planner that I pull out on plane trips that I call “The Best of Westminster Church.” I have about 6 or 8 that I have read over and over again and periodically add to my collection. If any of the ministers note some plagiarism tonight, remember that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Tom Long’s sermon on Kindness that I listen to in the car when I need a boost., thanks to John Ey. And the words of wisdom that come from my small group, both over the course of time and over the past few weeks when I’d make those panicked phone calls asking for ideas on my statement of faith. If I can stick a plug in here and use one of my favorite slogans from my favorite sport, “Small Group Fever, Catch It!”.
I had considered taking the easy way out and just saying, “I believe”, but that wouldn’t be fair to any of you and it wouldn’t be fair to me. I’ve also never been one to take the easy road, which my boss continually reminds me of and which drives him crazy. So without any further ado,
MY STATEMENT OF FAITH
I believe that each of us is a child of God created in the image of God and embraced by the mercy of God through Jesus Christ.
I believe that while there are many instances in our world where it may not seem like God can possibly be present, God is somehow present, offering faith, courage, and hope.
I believe that The Golden Rule may be very simplistic, but it is probably one of, if not the most, effective way of dealing with people.
I believe that imagination is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us, and it gives us the ability to have hope. To steal from one of the sermons mentioned above, “hope is faith pointed toward the future”, which gives us the ability to see each other and the world as it will be in the Kingdom of God.
I believe that passion is the greatest gift that God has given us, but in many instances, our passion can be misplaced. I believe that the greatest people who have walked on this earth have had a passion for following God, righting wrongs, curing injustice, and usually all of the above.
I believe in miracles and I believe that there is a certain magic in the world and that magic comes from God through miracles.
I believe that what my daughter Megan once said to me at a very early age, that the world is really a beautiful place is true. Unfortunately, in too many instances, rather than “stopping to smell the roses”, I have trampled them on the way to my destination. While I still haven’t stopped to smell the roses yet, I have at least started to notice them.
I believe that there are many times in our lives when God speaks to us, but we are usually too busy to hear. In some instances, at least in my case, God gives me a swift kick in the head when the message is important enough.
I believe that I have been given an enormous number of gifts from God, and for the life of me, I have no idea why. I also believe that there are many people who have not, and it bothers me a lot that I’ve been given so much and others have been given so little. This one I still struggle with tremendously, and I have no quick and easy answers other than to say I need to share the gifts I’ve been given as much as I can.
I believe that the essence of true contentment comes from the line in “Be Thou My Vision” that says, “Riches I need not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou my inheritance through all of my days”. I wish I could say I was there, but I’m not. As I noted, it’s the journey that counts. I’m still a work in progress.
PROLOGUE
This is an extremely difficult exercise for me. While I realize it is also for all of you, I think I find it so difficult because I take such a simplistic view to life. I am definitely not what people would call “a deep thinker”, and I usually take the approach of one of my favorite philosophers who said, “I y’am what I y’am, and that’s all I y’am”.
I also still have I guess somewhat of a childlike exuberance when it comes to religion. There are many times I have moments where I just want to say “Wow!”, particularly when something really hits me during the Worship Service, but fortunately I do have some sense of decorum, and I keep those comments inside of me. I don’t feel that I’m very far on my religious journey as some of you are, but I’ve come to accept that, and realize that the journey is the thing, not the destination. My time will come, I just have to have patience. I have to admit though that patience is a virtue that I do not possess, which anyone in my family can attest to. Laurel would probably change the adverb above to childish rather than childlike. But I digress.
I am thankful for some of the resources I had to prepare this and must give credit. The fantastic sermons that I stuff into my planner that I pull out on plane trips that I call “The Best of Westminster Church.” I have about 6 or 8 that I have read over and over again and periodically add to my collection. If any of the ministers note some plagiarism tonight, remember that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Tom Long’s sermon on Kindness that I listen to in the car when I need a boost., thanks to John Ey. And the words of wisdom that come from my small group, both over the course of time and over the past few weeks when I’d make those panicked phone calls asking for ideas on my statement of faith. If I can stick a plug in here and use one of my favorite slogans from my favorite sport, “Small Group Fever, Catch It!”.
I had considered taking the easy way out and just saying, “I believe”, but that wouldn’t be fair to any of you and it wouldn’t be fair to me. I’ve also never been one to take the easy road, which my boss continually reminds me of and which drives him crazy. So without any further ado,
MY STATEMENT OF FAITH
I believe that each of us is a child of God created in the image of God and embraced by the mercy of God through Jesus Christ.
I believe that while there are many instances in our world where it may not seem like God can possibly be present, God is somehow present, offering faith, courage, and hope.
I believe that The Golden Rule may be very simplistic, but it is probably one of, if not the most, effective way of dealing with people.
I believe that imagination is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us, and it gives us the ability to have hope. To steal from one of the sermons mentioned above, “hope is faith pointed toward the future”, which gives us the ability to see each other and the world as it will be in the Kingdom of God.
I believe that passion is the greatest gift that God has given us, but in many instances, our passion can be misplaced. I believe that the greatest people who have walked on this earth have had a passion for following God, righting wrongs, curing injustice, and usually all of the above.
I believe in miracles and I believe that there is a certain magic in the world and that magic comes from God through miracles.
I believe that what my daughter Megan once said to me at a very early age, that the world is really a beautiful place is true. Unfortunately, in too many instances, rather than “stopping to smell the roses”, I have trampled them on the way to my destination. While I still haven’t stopped to smell the roses yet, I have at least started to notice them.
I believe that there are many times in our lives when God speaks to us, but we are usually too busy to hear. In some instances, at least in my case, God gives me a swift kick in the head when the message is important enough.
I believe that I have been given an enormous number of gifts from God, and for the life of me, I have no idea why. I also believe that there are many people who have not, and it bothers me a lot that I’ve been given so much and others have been given so little. This one I still struggle with tremendously, and I have no quick and easy answers other than to say I need to share the gifts I’ve been given as much as I can.
I believe that the essence of true contentment comes from the line in “Be Thou My Vision” that says, “Riches I need not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou my inheritance through all of my days”. I wish I could say I was there, but I’m not. As I noted, it’s the journey that counts. I’m still a work in progress.
No comments:
Post a Comment