On the heart of your Bishop - May 2013
Who does not need Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, a coach, mentor, guide, friend, or consultant?
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Where is the finish line?
It all started with Nehemiah hearing about the distress of his spiritual family back in Jerusalem. He prayed about...
Volume 158 No. 50 4/20/2012
Closer than you think!
The side rear-view mirror of most cars has a statement on the passenger side that we should heed: Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear. When I look out of that mirror, I see vehicles that seem to be a good distance back. But, in actuality, when I turn to look, they are closer than the mirror shows. I think there's a lesson in this.
Keeping up with General Conference
General Conference 2012 will open on Tuesday, April 24, at the Tampa (Fla.) Convention Center and remain in session through Friday, May 4. As the only body that can speak as The United Methodist Church, the 988 delegates from around the world will write The Book of Discipline 2012 and The Book of Resolutions 2012, adopt a budget for general church operations during 2013-16, elect members of the Judicial Council and the University Senate and take other actions.
Harp to serve as Summer Camp Director
Rev. C. J. Harp, campus minister at Valdosta State University’s Wesley Foundation, has been hired to serve as Summer Camp Director for the 2012 summer season. Rev. Harp will maintain his appointment as Wesley Foundation Director, but has a summer schedule that permits him to make this contribution to the Conference’s summer camp program.
General Conference
Most people who read the South Georgia Advocate are United Methodists. While we have our first allegiance to the Triune God, we have found ourselves at home with the United Methodist expression of the Christian faith. The readership ranges from those who “like” to those who “love” The United Methodist Church.
Join in prayer for General Conference and the South Georgia delegation
The beauty of being a part of a connectional church is that we can call on one another to pray and support each other in prayer. As the 2012 General Conference approaches, it is important to know our prayer foundation is firm and we are connected in a global prayer network. To join with our delegation in support and prayer, we asked them the following: How can we, as an Annual Conference, specifically pray for our delegation as you prepare and participate in the 2012 General Conference session?
Following in their fathers' footsteps
Following in a father’s footsteps sometimes means filling some pretty big shoes. Or, in the case of Revs. Thad Haygood and Jack Varnell, some pretty big clergy robes.
Lesson 2: The Bread of Life
The sixth chapter of John opens with Jesus crossing the Sea of Galilee and a multitude of persons following him. Jesus knew the crowd would be hungry and asked Philip where they could purchase food. Since neither Philip nor Andrew had a solution for feeding the massive group, Jesus took lunch (two fish and five loaves of bread) from a boy. He blessed it, broke it, and served it to the crowd. The sustenance that Jesus provided was more than enough. It not only met the needs of the crowd but there was plenty left over.
Lesson 1: Healing the blind man
A medic who was rushing his wife to the hospital in their car as she was having a stroke was arrested by a police officer and charged with multiple offenses. With his emergency flashers on, the man “proceeded cautiously through a red light,” prompting the officer to follow him and try to pull him over. The husband continued on to the hospital, knowing how critical it was for his wife to receive immediate medical attention. Upon arriving at the emergency room, the man, who was carrying his wife, was blocked at the entrance by the officer who was trying to arrest him. Unaware that the driver had phoned ahead and that staff was awaiting the patient, the officer barged into the treatment area and had to be told to leave by hospital staff. The medic was charged with “assaulting a police officer, disorderly conduct, reckless endangerment, evading arrest, two red light violations, and registration violation.”