It has been a little while since I retired from the ministry. I certainly miss studying and working on sermons, writing news articles for the local news outlets, and other associated endeavors—but most of all, I miss the folks at Paxton Methodist Church.
I decided to ask the various news outlets if they would print an article by me every once in awhile about this and that. This will be my second attempt.
The first article was from when I broke my hip. Actually, the following article was to be the first, but then life interfered with my plans: I needed to write a huge thank-you to all those who helped when I broke my hip and during my recovery.
I spent 23 years preaching at four Methodist Churches in East Texas. I also spent 33 in the school business, with all 33 years at Joaquin schools. Some jobs I enjoyed better than others. And there were people I liked better than others.
When I was a principal, I had a sign that I could see but visitors to my office could not. It said, “Everyone brings joy to this office—some when they come in and some when they leave.”
Sounds about right doesn’t it? My last ten years of preaching were at Paxton United Methodist Church. It is a church with a very small membership but with a great impact on the communities in Shelby County. I can tell you that if you are looking for a church with wonderful and caring members full of kindness, love, and joy, you will not go wrong in visiting Paxton Methodist Church. I mean, they put up with me for ten years!
I always told the congregation that my greatest fear as a preacher was that I would become a “one note preacher.” Here is what I mean.
Years ago, when I visited my mom in Dallas, on Sunday mornings we would go to the church of my childhood. Their new preacher had a powerful voice and presence. But no matter what the Old Testament lesson, Psalter lesson, Epistle lesson, or Gospel lesson was, he always preached just one note. His one note was “the cross.” The cross. The cross. Yes indeed, the cross is vital to understanding the faith, but the life and teachings of Jesus were much more than just this one note—and the Bible contains many other important life lessons.
To my own disbelief and chagrin, I did become a “one note preacher.” Yes indeed, I succumbed to one note—that Jesus is all about “loving kindness.” “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4: 16) Back in the 1930s, Duke Ellington wrote a song, “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).” Love should be that swing for Jesus Followers.
In boxing things up after my retirement I came across a scrap of paper with a quote. Unfortunately, the part that had the author’s name was no longer there. I wish I could claim to be the author, but I can’t. It goes like this, “If you look for sin and evil, you will find it. If you look for love, you will find it.” Let’s look for love.
During my recovery after I broke my hip, my wife came across the Latin phrase “felix culpa,” meaning that even when awful things happen, it is possible that something good may arise from them.
Sue ordered a small tin sign saying “Felix Culpa,” which is now over the door in our living room. I pass by and see it about a hundred times a day.