Random Thoughts

Anyone stopping by Lookout Mountain UMC today would have thought that we were rocking out…and I guess that I was. I was at the church alone today preparing for this Sunday. As I was doing some work in the sanctuary, I put Michael W. Smith’s Worship album on the sound system and pumped up the volume. I found myself overcome by the emotion of the music. I was dancing on the chancel (I’m not sure that Father John would approve) and I was on my knees with tears streaming down my face. Surely the presence of the Lord was in this place this morning…and I’m glad that I was there too.

As I was listening to the album, I discovered the theme that I want to use for Lent (I know, a bit late). Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus is a wonderful song that we can use to remind us of the purpose of this whole exercise of examination and clarification of what is important.  It points us where we need to go as we repent and turn our lives around to follow the one who has bought and paid for us with his life.

One of the neat things that I was able to do at convocation was getting to sit in on a briefing by the our conference Sudan action team.  Holston is preparing to enter into a multi-year covenant with the East Africa Conference (serving Burundi, Kenya, Sudan, Rwanda and Uganda) to provide assistance in the areas of need as outlined by Bishop Wandabula.  My heart was touched and my soul was stirred.  I don’t know what this means for me and how I might participate in the effort, but I’m praying for discernment.