Smart Thoughts

The new year is here. As a new year begins we have a unique opportunity to turn over a new leaf, to approach problems with renewed exuberance, to develop new habits, and in some cases just start all over. It is a great time of the year to become more focused on our spiritual lives. A time to take our devotional life more seriously. It is an excellent time to move from a devotional time to a devotional lifestyle. It is a great time to become serious about a devotional time. There are many good devotional books that offer daily readings for a calendar year. Some of my favorites are: My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, Bread for the Journey by Henri Nouwen, Disciplines: A Book of Daily Devotions offered by The Upper Room, and Listening to Your Life by Frederick Buechner. At both churches you will find copies of The Upper Room Devotional Guide, which is published bi-monthly. At my website, s-mart.org, you can click on the button lableled “Devotionals” to find several on-line daily devotionals. DON’T FORGET– there are weekly opportunities for spiritual growth in Sunday School and Worship.

This year Diana and I will have the opportunity to begin the year with The Congress on Evangelism. At this nation-wide gathering we will be able to hear the inspiring preaching of Tyrone Gordon, the pastor of St. Luke “Community” UMC in Dallas, an excellent African American preacher. We will hear Maxie Dunnam, the author of shelves full of devotional materials and outstanding leader in the United Methodist Church. I look forward to learning from Mike Slaughter, the pastor of Ginghamsburg UMC, a congregation that has brought lively worship to thousands every week. I will have the opportunity to meet Bishop Robert Schnase, the author of the book our district pastors were studying during the Fall. This will be the second chance that we have had to be a part of a Bible study lead by Dr. William Abraham, the Professor of Wesleyan Studies at Perkins, and I am excited. I have experienced the teachings of Terry Teykl on prayer in the past and look forward to his approach to prayer ministry in the local church. What a way to begin the year!!!!!!!!

When we return from the Congress on Evangelism, I will be home just long enough for a Staff-Parish Relations Committee meeting, before spending a couple of days with our new bishop, Mike Lowery. Bishop Lowery will be the keynote speaker at our annual clergy retreat as well as the preacher for our closing worship together. It will be a very busy couple of weeks, but an exciting, inspirational, and educational beginning to a new year.

May you know God’s blessings in this coming year,

Eddie