Pastor's Penpoint - "It's About Time" - September 2013

The Bible has a lot to say about time. The most important thing it says is something we know already - that our time is limited. Time can be used or wasted, it can be inbested or squandered, but either way, once used, it can never be regained. Time matters because we have such a limited supply. The most famous passage in the Bible about time reminds us that there is a time for everything in life. Here are the first four verses from Ecclesiastes 3:

There is a time for everything,

And a season for every activity under heaven:

A time to be born and a time to die,

A time to plant and a time to uproot,

A time to kill and a time to heal,

A time to tear down and a time to build,

A time to weep and a time to laugh,

A time to mourn and a time to dance. 

We always have plenty of time to do everything we need to do. This means that all of my time belongs to God, and therefore how I spend my days is a sacred issue. Someday I will answer for what I did on October 8, 1982, a date that means nothing except that I pulled it out of the air. I could have said January 17, 1999 or May 8, 2008, or I could have said September 1, 2013 which would definitely bring the matter much closer to home.

Time matters because time is the stuff of life, and when time is gone so is life. That means what I do with the moments of my life, the opportunities I take, the people I talk to, the path I follow, all of it matters because sooner or later, for me and for you, time will be no more.

Time has become the new currency of life. For most of us time matters more than money. We will spend money to save time whereas our parents would spend time to save money. In a world where most of us feel stressed out, we value our free time more than a few extra dollars in our pocket.

What will you do with the time you have ... until you have no more time? Just a thought.

~ Pastor Todd

Rest in Peace, Robert Rawley, Sr.

MOUNT SOLON – Robert Bryan Rawley Sr., 87, of 652 George Walton Road, died Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013, in his home.

Born Oct. 27, 1925, in Augusta County, he was a son of the late Robert Dyke Rawley and Myree Bryan (Michael) Rawley.

He was a self-employed beef and hog farmer who loved his farm, and also enjoyed gardening and hunting. He was an active member of Mt. Olivet United Brethren in Christ Church and the North Augusta camp of Gideons International.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Eugene Rawley, and a sister, Ruby Cherry. Surviving are his wife, Martha (Frey) Rawley, whom he married July 7, 1951; four children, Karen A. Stroup and husband, Greg, of Warren, Ind., Robert B. Rawley Jr. and wife, Ellen, of Mount Solon, David G. Rawley and wife, Cindy, of Greencastle, Pa., and Fonda R. Cassidy and husband, Robert Jr., of Mount Solon; a sister, Mildred Nelson of Fort Wayne, Ind.; two brothers, Harry Rawley of Bridgewater and Guy Rawley of Mount Solon; six grandchildren, LaShawn Lewis and husband, Brian, Bryan Rawley and wife, Krista, Josh Rawley and wife, Rebecca, Karch Cassidy and wife, Mary Beth, Kira Griffin and husband, Travis, and Amos Rawley and wife, Annalee; six great-grandchildren, Luke, Grayson, Eli and Jacob Rawley, Sierra and Canyon Cassidy; one great-grandchild on the way; and two stepgreat-grandchildren, McKenzie and Alston North.

A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday in Mt. Olivet United Brethren in Christ Church, 862 Freemason Run Road, Mount Solon with the Rev. Todd Lilley officiating. Active pallbearers will be Bryan, Josh and Amos Rawley, Brian Lewis, Karch Cassidy and Travis Griffin. Honorary pallbearers will be members of MMI and Gideons International.

The family will receive friends from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday at Bear Funeral Home
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Memorials may be directed to Mt. Olivet United Brethren Church, c/o Ellen Rawley, 827 George Waltons Road, Mount Solon, VA 22843.

We will miss you.

Visiting the Shut-ins

20 of Mt. Olivet's youth enjoyed Sunday afternoon by visiting 3 of the elder members of the church, Mrs. Miller, Mr. Rawley and Mrs. Daggy. They were all emotionally moved by the attention, the songs, and the hugs the youth shared.

 

A Week at Laurel Mission

"Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need." 1 Timothy 5:3

A group of 21 from Mt. Olivet traveled to Laurel Mission this week in Big Laurel, KY. The majority of the work was done at the home of a widow lady named Olla Mae. Her floors were rotting out and giving away because of soil washing under the house and around the floor joists. The joists and floor had to be replaced, along with the plumbing. A new shower, water heater and sink were installed. She had never had hot water before. The house is insulated with metal doors screwed to the outside walls. These were rusting and needed to be painted. Then a ditch had to be dug on the back side to divert water away from the house.

Cedar Chapel was sanded and received a new coat of stain. And the clothing store received a trailer load of supplies and was organized.

After hard work comes hard play,

hearty eating,
 

and heavy sleeping.
 

 Thanks to all who participated by praying, by donating and by going.

Pastor's Penpoint - "An Attitude of Gratitude" - August 2013

"Giving thanks always for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;" Ephesians 5:20

I had someone tell me once, "If you are lucky enough to live in the Shenandoah Valley, you are lucky enough." I am grateful to live in the Shenandoah Valley ... which got me thinking about this 10 letter word ... gratitude.

- The only difference between a traffic delay and a chance to relax a bit is gratitude.
- The only difference between a thunderstorm and not needing to wash your car is gratitude.
- The only difference between an interruption and an opportunity is gratitude.
- The only difference between a joyous life and a gloomy one is gratitude.

Because at the end of the day, everyone has problems. I have problems, you have problems, we all have problems. Gratitude doesn't deny their presence; it just denies them power and precedence. I mean really, it's all about perspective. The truth is no stage of life is going to be "perfect" in the way you've envisioned it. There is always something just ahead that keeps us from appreciating what we have, if we let it. This may depress you, but it should inspire you, because it frees you up to enjoy what you have without worrying so much about making it perfect, because it ain't gonna be.

Scripture tells us "For everything there is a season." If you spend springtime wishing it would be summer and then in the summer you whine about the heat and then in the fall you mope when it rains, you'll always be unhappy. But if you enjoy the flowers in May and the sun in August and the pungent smell of wet earth in November, and if you can learn to splash in the puddles and make iced tea when the temperature is over 100, then you will enjoy every season, and you will know the secret victory of gratitude.

So whether you're in high school yearning for the big world or in college yearning to never read a book again or single and wishing you weren't or dating and annoyed he hasn't asked or married and wanting babies or a parent and dying for those babies to be grown ... just slow it down! Every step of the way, thank God. Savor it all. Drink it up.

And when life is hectic and crazy and imperfect and your finances are tight and your pants are tight and your schedule is tight ... congratulations, you are a human being. Life isn't and uninterrupted plan; life is a long series of interruptions. You either embrace them, or you don't.

So then the goal isn't to win but to see why you're already winning. It's a chessy bumper sticker, but is true ... and the happy people aren't the ones who "have the life they love but who love the life they have."

~ Pastor Todd

Pastor's Penpoint - "Freedom From Terrorism (Sin)" - July 2013

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 
John 8: 31-32

Like millions of Americans, the coming of July points my mind to the Fourth of July holiday and what it represents: our freedom as a nation. This freedom is a precious thing and worthy of our introspection and focus on what independence means.

Gratitude without measure wells up in my heart when I consider the brave men and women of the military who, this Fourth of July, will be and are fighting to combat terrorism. These warriors stand in the line of valiant soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, 2 World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, the first Gulf War and on and on. Each of these conflicts - while unique in themselves - shared the common goal of protecting American freedom. Today's battles are no different.

But even as I prize my freedom as an American, I am moved to consider a greater freedom - my freedom in Christ. It is the freedom that comes with being a disciple of Jesus Christ. "If you abide in my word," our Lord declares, "you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).

This statement was shocking to Jesus' audience. These proud men thought they already had all the freedom they needed by virtue of being "offspring of Abraham" (8:33). Jesus proceeds to point them beyond any national, social or religious freedom they might enjoy to the freedom that comes through His person and work: "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin ... So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (8:34,26). Contrary to what Jesus' listeners thought, they were in bondage to sin and subject to the terrorism it brought.

Even as Christians we can fall to the temptation to trust in other things for our freedom from the tyranny of sin: status, money, food works, associations, etc. But the true disciple finds freedom in Christ and Christ alone. The Fourth of July is a wonderful time to consider our freedom - as Americans and as Christians. Our national freedom is precious, but our freedom in Christ is of infinite worth.

The great hymn writer Charles Wesley was undoubtedly moved by his freedom in Christ when in 1738 he penned this stanza:

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,

Fast bound in sin and nature's night;

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray -

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

The saving truth that Jesus speaks of in John 8:32 bring ultimate freedom - freedom from sin and death and the devil; freedom from a life of futility and an eternity of wrath. It is freedom from the tyranny of hate and bitterness and cruelty. It is the freedom to love God and neighbor.

May this "Declaration of Independence" be on my lips and in my heart this Fourth of July holiday.

~ Pastor Todd 

Honduras Medical Team - 2nd day of clinic

Kira Griffin reported from Nacaome, Honduras that the medical team treated 440 patients today on their second day of clinic. They will be working in that district of the Honduras UB Church for the remainder of the week.