I Choose to Follow Jesus!

As many of us wrestle with the changes that will arrive on July 1, I came across a wonderful reading by Rueben P. Job, a retired bishop of the United Methodist Church. It is from the devotional “A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God.” The theme of the day is “taken where you do not want to go,” and who of us hasn’t been there before? Bishop Job’s words that I intend to commit to memory are, “We choose to follow Jesus and then Jesus chooses where we will go. It is that simple.” Those are profound words, not only for a United Methodist pastor (although they seem extremely relevant for me), but for every follower of Jesus Christ. We have all at some point in our walk found God leading us where we didn’t particularly want to go…and at times we intentionally made the decision not to go! Though I will confess that the times when I chose my preferences instead of God’s, the outcome was regrettable. So having said that, I am looking forward to what God has planned for me and my family in Sumner. I also believe God intends to do a mighty work here through your new pastor, Julie Smith. If you will only welcome her and her family as you welcomed me and my family five years ago, and follow her leading as you’ve followed mine, this church will continue to prosper as together you make disciples for Jesus Christ.