All we want for Christmas is a Mule
Wow, what a day! We started out this morning with a trip to the Dr. with Kyle and he ended up with a prescription for an allergy medication. We went from there to Winston Salem to try and find a suit for me (I seldom wear one) and some shorts for Kyle. First stop was Burlington Coat Factory. We looked for about 45 minutes and when we went to the van we discovered the keys were locked in the van. I called the Kia dealership where we purchased the van and was informed that we have roadside assistance up to $75 per occurrence and that they would get someone right out. That was a great surprise, it took about 45 minutes more but they came and got us right in. We went for there to Chick-Fil-A and had a great lunch, those folks at University Parkway do such a great job. Then to Sam’s where I discovered that I didn’t have my membership card. It did turn out to be a great day overall.
Samuel and Kyle loved this Mule in Sam’s. I told Misty we sould get it for them but she didn’t concur.
Ronnie
11th Annual New River Trail/Dr. Ed Dannelly 10-K Run & 5-K Walk
|
10K RUN |
|
11th Annual New River Trail/Dr. Ed Dannelly 10-K Run & 5-K Walk Co-Sponsored by Galax Parks and Recreation Department and the New River Trail State Park
Saturday, May 2, 2009
10-K Race begins 9:00 am 5-K Walk begins at 9:00 am Entry Fee: 10-K Race ($10.00 if postmarked by April 28, 2009 & $15.00 thereafter and on race day) 5-K Walk ($8.00) 10-K Race and 5-K Walk entries include a commemorative race t-shirt.
No awards will be given for 5-K Walk.
Information: Contact the Galax Recreation Department Race day registration is from 7:30 – 8:45 am at the Dr. Dannelly Fitness Park gazebo. Registration closes promptly at 8:45 am. Awards will be given to all 10-K Run overall winners and 10-K Run age group winners. The New River Trail 10-K Race & 5-K Walk will start and finish at the Dr. Ed Dannelly Fitness Park and follows the New River Trail. The 10-K course is an out and back course. The course is entirely flat as it follows Chestnut Creek with the entire race being run on the New River Trail.
11th ANNUAL DR. ED DANNELY 10K RUN & 5K WALK Co-Sponsored by Galax Parks and Recreation Department and the New River Trail State Park Saturday, May 2, 2009 10K Race begins at 9:00 a.m. 5K Walk begins at 9:00 a.m. Entry Fee: for 10K $10.00 if postmarked by April. 28th 2009 – $15.00 thereafter and on race day. 10K Race and 5K Walk entries include a commemorative race t-shirt. No awards will be given for the 5K Walk. Information: Contact the Galax Recreation Department at 27… Race day registration is from 7:30-8:45a.m. at the Dr. Dannelly Fitness Park gazebo. Registration closes promptly at 8:45a.m. Awards will be given to all 10K run overall winners and 10K age group winners. The New River Trail 10K race & 5K walk will start and finish at the Dr. Ed Dannelly Fitness Park and follows the New River Trail. The 10K course is an out and back course. The course is entirely flat as it follows Chestnut Creek with the entire race being run on the New River Trail. |
2008 Pictures of me and my mom
Training Log Thursday April 30th, 2009
Kenneth, Dustin and I ran just over 5 miles this evening. I love to run but over the past 2 or 3 years my training has really suffered. I have been extremely busy working on a Masters Degree, raising Samuel from birth and this past year we added a 10 year old boy to the mix. Anyway, I have been eating a lot of fast food and junk food and that all stops tonight. No more candy will cross my lips at least until I have gotten back to a good training weight. At my best running time and the weight where I felt most healthy I weighed 173 lbs. Now to most people they felt that I was too skinny and looked sick but to me I felt the best I ever had and my running time was awesome for someone who started running after 30. I was consistently running 5K races in under 20 minutes and that had increased greatly.
No more. Tonight is the start of the new and improved Ronnie and Kenneth if he takes the challenge.
I weighed in at 212 lbs on my scales here at home. I did it several years ago and I will do it again.
Ronnie
Update on our friend Ona
From the family:
Thursday, April 30, 2009 8:45 PM, EDT
Pound Downtown 5K Inaugural Run
Saturday was the first run put on by the New Mt. Airy Road Runners. It was a great 5K run in downtown Mt Airy, home of Andy Griffith, Mayberry. I am including the web site of this new club, check it out and join the group. They have a great new logo and you receive a nice dri fit shirt for joining. I am having a hard time finding the training time needed but it is still fun to get out with a bunch of runners and just have a good time. I have found in running that you are really competing against yourself.
Ronnie
facebook – http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30128811&id=1379253267&ref=mf#/group.php?gid=57840147507
web- http://www.mtairyroadrunners.com/
Another World Is Possible
In Youth Bible Study at Out Of The Box we have been studying the book “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan, what an awesome book! The following videos are looking at Shane Claiborne and his work for The Kingdom. Shane is one example Francis uses as someone who really lives that way.
Ronnie
32 Amendments to be considered by 2009 Annual Conference sessions
 |
32 Amendments to be
By J. Richard Peck Voting members of 134 annual conferences around the world will consider 32 amendments to the Constitution of The United Methodist Church as they meet in the coming months. The 62 U.S. annual conferences will begin meeting in May.
Voters will be ordained elders and deacons in full connection and all lay members of the conferences. Members may debate a proposed amendment, but they cannot change it. They must vote either for or against an amendment as it stands.
Twenty-three of the 32 amendments result from a 2005-2008 study by the Council of Bishops’ Task Force on the Global Nature of the Church.
That report said the denomination’s present structure makes it appear to be a U.S. church with appendages in Africa, Asia and Europe. At the same time, the number of United Methodists outside the United States is increasing and may soon be 40 percent.
The Council of Bishops and the Connectional Table approved the task force’s report in the spring of 2007 and sent proposed legislation to the 2008 General Conference suggesting that the name of conferences outside the United States be changed from “Central” to “Regional.”
General Conference delegates agreed that “regional” more accurately describes what these conferences do: address issues unique to the mission and ministry of conferences in that geographic area. Some also suggested that “central” is too reminiscent of the racially segregated U.S. Central Jurisdiction (1939-1968).
Amendments 3-5, 7, 10-14, 16, 18, 20, 21 and 23-32 change the name of “central conference” to “regional conference.” If approved, the name change takes effect on Jan.1, 2013.
None of the amendments will eliminate the jurisdictions in the United States where bishops are elected. The proposed amendments would allow regional conferences in Asia, Africa or Europe the right to establish jurisdictional structures.
The name change will not make the United States into a separate regional conference.
In October 2008, Judicial Council, the Supreme Court of the denomination, ruled “the 2012 General Conference must enact enabling legislation in order to effect the creation of a regional conference or regional conferences in the United States and implement the amendment.”
The 2012 General Conference would not change, but decisions made by that body could alter the design of future regional and international assemblies.
Study committee chair favors
Kansas Area Bishop Scott Jones, chair of a Study Committee on the Worldwide Nature of the Church, said that the creation of a U.S. regional body would not change General Conference’s authority over all matters distinctly connectional.
“The bishops and Connectional Table have proposed that all matters related to doctrine, Social Principles and ordination standards would continue to be decided by the General Conference and applied worldwide,” Jones said. “For example, one part of the church cannot decide in principle not to ordain women. No United Methodist entity can decide to abolish episcopacy. Our basic ministerial orders of local pastors, deacons and elders apply everywhere. All of the Social Principles are truly worldwide in scope. Because of their controversial nature they must continue to be decided at the worldwide level by General Conference or else our church will split.”
Jones notes that non-U.S. bishops unanimously voted in favor of the plan that would allow the most important and unifying decisions to be made by General Conference. Regional conferences would make other decisions.
Jones says legislation proposes creation by General Conference of one or more regional conferences in the United States.
“This would be of great help for U.S. churches to discuss issues like the hymnal, new church planting, seminaries, the Black College Fund and other issues that are unique to us,” said the bishop. “Similar regional issues should be discussed at regional meetings in Africa, Europe and Asia.”
The plan envisions that the General Conference would meet first with the regional conferences meeting in the succeeding months of that year.
World evangelism leader opposes the creation of a U.S. regional conference The Rev. Eddie Fox, a General Conference delegate and world director of evangelism for the World Methodist Council, says he will vote against the amendments. He believes changing “central” to “regional” is a not substantive change, but he does oppose the creation of a U.S. regional conference.
“In the Appalachian Mountains where I grew up, we did not ‘open the gate’ until we knew what would be coming through the gate,” said Fox. “Why would we change the Constitution as our first action before we do the study?
“In the 2008 Discipline the functions of the jurisdictional conference and the Central Conference are essentially the same,” said Fox. “Another level with its financial cost and added bureaucracy will negatively impact our focus and worldwide ministry and mission.”
Fox, who is also a member of the Connectional Table, says that now is not the time to make this change, as the church is becoming more global. “In 1968, 92 percent of the membership of our church was in the U.S.,” he said. “In 2008, 64 percent of the membership is in the U.S.; when we meet in 2012, the ratio could be close to 50 percent. Why take this action now when the growth of our church outside the United States has a positive, needed impact on our life together?” Amendment would grant church membership to all who take vows
Proposed Amendment 1 would clarify that all people are eligible to attend worship services and receive the sacraments by striking the words “without regard to race, color, national origin, status or other economic condition.” The Constitution now states that after baptism and taking vows declaring the Christian faith, people may become professing members in any local church. The proposed paragraph adds a clause stating they must also declare their “relationship in Jesus Christ.”
Writing in the March/April 2009 issue of Good News magazine, the Rev. Walter B. Fenton, a clergy member in New Jersey, calls this amendment “potentially divisive” and “an indirect attempt by special interest groups to ensure the acceptance and full participation of self-avowed practicing homosexuals in all areas of the life of the church.”
Following a 2005 Judicial Council ruling supporting the decision of a pastor in Virginia not to allow a gay man to join his congregation, the Council of Bishops issued a letter stating: “We implore families and churches not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons.” Amendment would extend voting rights Amendment 19 would allow all clergy members of annual conferences to vote to elect clergy delegates to general, jurisdictional or central conferences. Only ordained elders and deacons in full connection now vote. This amendment would extend voting privileges to associate members, provisional members who have completed all of their educational requirements and local pastors who have completed course of study or a Master of Divinity degree and have served a minimum of two consecutive years under appointment immediately preceding the election.
The Rev. Mary Ann Moman of the Division of Ordained Ministry of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry said that if this amendment passes, associate members, provisional members and qualifying local pastors would be able to vote for delegates to the 2012 General Conference in spite of the fact that Para. 602 of The Book of Discipline 2008 states that they are ineligible to vote. Other Amendments
Amendment 2 would require all United Methodist organizations to adopt ethics and conflict-of-interest policies for board members and employees.
Amendment 6 addresses an issue that followed the 2004 admission of the Cote d’Ivoire Annual Conference to the denomination. The conference has more than 500,000 members, but had only two delegates to the 2008 General Conference. The amendment says that newly established conferences could be represented on a non-proportional basis for two quadrennia.
Amendment 8 adds the word “gender” to paragraphs declaring the power of General Conference to govern membership of agencies. They would allow the conference to fix conditions, privileges and duties of church membership, which shall, in every case, be without reference to race, gender or status.
Amendment 9 would ensure that every jurisdictional conference has at least 100 members.
Amendment 15 would reduce from two to one the number of years a lay person must be a church member before being elected a member of an annual conference. It also eliminates a requirement that they be active participants in church.
Amendment 17 would reinstate legislation adopted by the 2004 General Conference and subsequently declared unconstitutional by the Judicial Council allowing laity on the committee on investigation to vote on matters of ordination, character, and conference relations of clergy.
Amendment 22 would recognize Bermuda congregations as part of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference.
–The Rev. J. Richard Peck is a retired member of the New York Annual Conference and communications director for the General Commission on United Methodist Men.
The Constitution of the United Methodist Church
The General Conferences of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church adopted the Constitution in 1966, clearing the way for their merger into The United Methodist Church in 1968.
Most portions of the Constitution can be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote of General Conference delegates followed by a two-thirds affirmative vote of all annual conference members in the U.S., Asia, Africa and Europe. The Council of Bishops then adds the total votes from all annual conferences on each amendment. If at least 66.6 percent of all votes are in the affirmative, the amendment is ratified. The Council of Bishops will announce the results of this year2s voting at its Fall 2009 session. Unless otherwise stated, amendments become effective upon announcement.
In order to protect the Methodist Articles of Religion and the Evangelical United Brethren Confession of Faith, amendments to these must be approved by at least three-fourths of the voting members of the annual conferences.
|
||||||
Clergy Retreat @ Camp Dickenson
I was blessed to spend Monday and half a day Tuesday with about 15 other Clergy form the Wytheville District of The United Methodist Church @ Camp Dickenson. Our time together was led by District Superintendent Dr. Charles Starks. It is a time that I look forward to each year. We meet on Monday at noon, spend the night at camp and then meet through lunch on Tuesday. I didn’t spend the night this time due to Misty being so close to delivery as well as awaiting news from our friends in Atlanta.
We spent our time together viewing and discussing Nooma Video’s by Rob Bell, Pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville Michigan.
Here is just a small sample of an Outstanding Video called “Breathe” by Rob Bell
Here are a couple of pictures from Camp Dickenson
SPRING 2009 JUDICIAL COUNCIL SESSION AVOIDS CONTENTIOUS DECISIONS
The Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church, our denomination’s Supreme Court, met from April 22-24 in Denver, Colorado. The Judicial Council issued eight opinions on April 24. Four of the opinions are of particular interest to evangelicals.
First, in Memorandum 1118, the Council ruled on a declaratory request from the Alaska Annual Conference, which invited the Council to overrule Decision 1032 and hold that the pastor of a local church has no discretion when an applicant states that he or she is ready to take the vows of professing membership. The request asked whether paragraphs 214 (“all persons may . . . become members of any local church) and 225 (transfer of membership from another denomination) of the 2004 Book of Discipline are constitutional under paragraph 4 of the Constitution (“all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, status, or economic condition shall be eligible to . . . upon taking vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members of any local church. . . .”). In Decision 1032, the Judicial Council stated, “Paragraphs 214 and 225 are permissive and do not mandate receipt into membership of all persons regardless of their willingness to affirm membership vows.” The Judicial Council further declared that the pastor-in-charge of a local church has the power to determine “a person’s readiness to receive the vows of membership.”
In Memorandum 1118, the Council held that it did not have jurisdiction to rule on the declaratory request from the Alaska Annual Conference because paragraph 2610.2(j) of the Discipline requires that a declaratory request from an annual conference must “relate to annual conferences or the work therein.” The Council noted that a declaratory request from an annual conference “must be germane to the regular business, consideration, and discussion of the annual conference and must have a direct and tangible effect on the work of the annual conference session.” The request “must relate to some action taken or to be taken by the annual conference session.” Because these conditions were not satisfied by the Alaska Annual Conference in making its declaratory request, the Council held that it was without jurisdiction.
Proponents of eliminating pastoral discretion obviously hoped that the change in the membership of the Judicial Council in the current quadrennium would result in the Council overruling Decision 1032. The declaratory request from the Alaska Annual Conference did not present a vehicle for them to achieve this goal. The Judicial Council properly concluded that it lacked jurisdiction.
The 2008 General Conference had an opportunity to reverse Decision 1032 legislatively by changing the disciplinary provisions on membership to negate the exercise of pastoral discretion, but it did not do so.
A second matter before the Judicial Council involved a review of a decision of law rendered by Bishop Beverly Shamana. The 2008 California-Nevada Annual Conference adopted a resolution, which commended retired clergy of the conference for their “compassion” in being willing to celebrate same-sex marriage or union ceremonies despite a prohibition in the Discipline, which forbids clergy from performing such ceremonies. In response to a question of law, Bishop Shamana ruled that the resolution stepped over a disciplinary line, and was void and of no effect. In her ruling, Shamana wrote, “While the resolution is a commendable gesture to the congregations of the conference in offering the pastoral counsel of a number of retired clergy to persons contemplating same-gender marriage under the laws of California, it steps over the disciplinary line when it commends these clergy to the congregations for the purpose of ‘performing same gender marriages or holy unions.”
In Decision 1111, the Judicial Council affirmed Bishop Shamana’s decision of law stating that an “annual conference may not negate, ignore, or violate provisions of the Discipline with which they disagree, even when the disagreements are based on conscientious objections to the provisions.” The Council said, “[A]n annual conference may not formally disseminate an official conference communication advising its local churches of the availability of clergy who are willing to officiate in ceremonies that celebrate same gender unions” since such an action is prohibited by paragraph 341.6 of the Discipline.
In a third matter, the Judicial Council reviewed a decision of law rendered by Bishop Mary Ann Swenson in the California-Pacific Annual Conference. The 2008 California-Pacific Annual Conference adopted a resolution, which stated, “while we recognize that we are governed by the Book of Discipline . . . we support those pastors who conscientiously respond to the needs of their parishes by celebrating same-gender marriages, and we envision compassion and understanding in any resulting disciplinary actions.” Bishop Swenson ruled that the resolution was permissible and stated, “The action called for in the resolution can be characterized as a pastoral response on the part of the annual conference . . . . What the resolution does not call for is for pastors to violate the provisions of the Discipline governing the celebration of same-gender marriages. In fact, the resolution is specific in acknowledging the authority of the Discipline . . . . The resolution does not call for or encourage violation of the Discipline; it does provide for a response that is pastoral (compassionate) in nature.”
In Decision 1115, the Judicial Council affirmed the portion of Bishop Swenson’s decision of law, which ruled that clergy are subject to provisions of just resolution and fair process, but the Council reversed that portion of her decision of law, which ruled that the resolution was permissible. The Council held that that portion of the resolution which expressed support for actions which would violate the Discipline was impermissible. A concurring opinion by Jon Gray, joined in by Katherine Austin Mahle, stated, “Changes in church law can only be made by the General Conference and cannot be achieved through piecemeal resolutions adopted in an annual conference session. A request for a bishop’s decision of law in an annual conference or for a declaratory decision from the Judicial Council are not effective ways to change the language of the Discipline.” One concern raised by Bishop’s Swenson’s decision of law and the opinion in Decision 1115 is the continued unwillingness of some parts of our church to hold members of our church accountable when the Discipline is violated. Language which calls for persons who violate the Discipline to be treated pastorally or compassionately in subsequent disciplinary proceedings has been used by some essentially to nullify the provisions of the Discipline and to fail to hold persons accountable in some circumstances. Such a result when it happens weakens the covenant United Methodists share embodied in the Discipline.
Finally, in Decision 1113, the Judicial Council held that the Mission Council of the South Central Jurisdiction was properly vested with the authority to give its consent to enter into a lease agreement of Southern Methodist University (“SMU”) with the George W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation (the “Bush Foundation”). The Mission Council’s action was reported to the 2008 session of the South Central Jurisdictional Conference. The Judicial Council held that the Jurisdictional Conference ratified the action of the Mission Council at the 2008 session of the Jurisdictional Conference. Because title to the property being leased to the Bush Foundation remains with SMU, the lease did not and could not violate the trust clause provisions of paragraph 2503.4 of the Discipline, the Judicial Council stated.
The opinions of the Judicial Council can be viewed in the Judicial Council section of the website of The United Methodist Church (www.umc.org).
Youth invited to create logo for international fund
 United Methodist youth are invited to design a new logo for the Youth Service Fund to replace this logo created in 1992 by Mark Jones, then a senior in high school. A UMNS image courtesy of the United Methodist Division on Ministries with Young People. |
A UMNS Report
By Kathy L. Gilbert*
April 28, 2009
A team of United Methodists working in an office in Nashville is looking to youth for some divine inspiration.
United Methodist students, grades 6-12, are invited to design a new logo for the Youth Service Fund administered by The United Methodist Division on Ministries with Young People. The contest is open from May 1 to July 31.
|
|
The Youth Service Fund is a grant program funded by youth for youth service projects. In 2009, grants went to projects from Detroit to Kenya.
A good example of the type of projects that benefit from YSF is Immanuel Deaf Youth Outreach headquartered in Nairobi. This program run from within Immanuel Church brings the gospel of Jesus Christ to a deaf community of more than 3,000 youth. A group of United Methodist deaf youth members from the church started the program in 2004 because the majority of deaf youth do not attend any church services.
“I know there are talented young people out there; tons of you! I just want to encourage ANYBODY to enter a drawing,” said Sarah Smith, grants administrator for the division.
The current logo was designed in 1992 by Mark Jones, who was then a senior in high school. He used Matthew 10:16 as inspiration for his dove design. “The dove is a symbol of peace … what every Christian youth in the world hopes for. The chance for world peace is in the hands of today’s youth, and I know we can achieve it,” he said.
Inspiration can come from anywhere as long as it represents the global nature of the fund, Smith said.
“Many of the projects funded by Youth Service Fund would not have been possible without this funding source,” said the Rev. Michael Ratliff, top executive of the young people’s division. “In addition, because of the way this program is structured, even the application process is an opportunity for young people to grow in their relationship with one another and to clarify what it is they are trying to accomplish.”
All designs will be judged by a panel of young people. The winner will be announced on Aug. 10. The winner and a parent or guardian will get a trip to Nashville to meet with a professional designer who will help hone the art into a finished print and Web-ready logo.
“Young people today are interested in whether God exists,” said Hank Hilliard, manager of youth ministry development for the division. “But more than this, they are asking whether God matters. Young people aren’t as interested in talking about faith or discussing issues as they are about experiences and relationships.”
The fund gives young people around the world opportunities to change lives through service projects, Ratliff said.
“It will be exciting to see how a new logo provides the image that becomes a symbol for energizing the young people of The United Methodist Church to fund even more life-changing, world-changing projects,” he said.
“There seems to be a symbiotic relationship between giving ourselves away and finding who God is creating us to be. The opportunity to move beyond a very me-centered culture, to be other-focused, allows young people a unique perspective to discover their gifts, grow in their faith, refine their values, and shape their future.”
*Gilbert is a news writer for United Methodist News Service in Nashville, Tenn.
News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615… or newsdesk@umcom.org
Update on Gary and Ona April 28th
If you read the blog then you know Gary and Ona, our friends in Atlanta. As you know Ona is in the last stages of cancer and has been moved to a Hospice Home in the Atlanta Area. She and Gary are able to be together, Gary has a bed in the room with Ona, the family is also able to be by their side as much as possible. All of the children are there walking with Gary and Ona through this difficult time in their lives. The update today from Jessica is as follows:
“Moms heart is, as many of you know, strong from years of running. She is in a “coma-like” state. One nurse told Dad last night that if nothing changes she could make it through the weekend. She is very peaceful. We continue to appreciate your prayers, they are definitely felt by our family.”
I am including a previous blog post here because so many of you have asked about Gary and Ona and so many have read and prayed for friends of ours. You are a true family that hurts and feels our pain even when you don’t know Gary and Ona.
Ronnie
John 12:24 (The Message)
24-25“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal.
Death truly is the Engine to Life
We had an awesome time in Atlanta visiting with our good friends Gary and Ona Smith. Wow, we packed a lot in but the point of the trip was to be with Gary, Ona, the extended family and just fellowship and enjoy each others company. As you know if you read the blog or know me through church, Ona has cancer and has been battling for several years to fight this disease.
When we arrived in Atlanta on Thursday afternoon and got settled in, Gary reminded me that the ING Marathon was this weekend and that Ona and he had ran the Half Marathon in 2008, did I want to run this weekend? Well of course with my love of running it was tempting but I have not been training so I didn’t know.
To make a long story short, we went to the Expo at the Georgia Dome on Friday and got registered and I was in. This is when the praying and moaning started. Moaning that I was out of shape and hadn’t been training and praying that I could at least finish in 3 hours. I knew I could finish in 3 hours, I can walk that fast.
Gary and Ona live near Piedmont Park so I went for a 3 mile run/walk/drag on Thursday evening in the park. I was very sore on Friday because I haven’t been training. This was just another thing for me to moan about, knowing that I have 13. 1 to do early Sunday morning. We were able to be with Gary and Ona’s two daughter’s and their oldest son during the weekend as well as their children and families and you will see some of the pictures of them here.
They have/had this great “Little Jumping Bean” place for children just around the block from Gary and Ona’s and we spent some time there letting Samuel and the grand-kids jump in these big blow up things. It is great, the kids can fall and still not get hurt. I think each one of them were stepped on several times but they didn’t get hurt and it was a lot of fun for the little ones. I say had because the place was closing down this weekend so we won’t have the convenience of it being so close by when we visit.
As Gary and I had the kids away jumping there was time for Ona and Misty as well as Jessica and Misty to have some good conversation and not have to run the kids around. With Samuel the running was constant because he wanted to climb the stairs. Gary, Justin, Samuel and I did the grocery shopping for our meals and we ate lots of “Skinny Cows” over the weekend. I didn’t know those things existed but I will be looking for them in Cana Virginia.
It is funny and amazing at the same time, Gary, Justin and I went to the Ga. Dome to register for the race and after looking for a parking spot where we didn’t have to pay $10 we pulled up to ask someone where a certain gate was and they directed us through the service entrance of the Dome and we drove right up to the door and didn’t pay any fees at all. While we were there Gary and I each bought a pair of running shoes and I left my debit card at the booth. Needless to say when we went to the grocery store I discovered the missing card and we had to go back to the Dome and believe it or not we received permission to go back through the service entrance to pick up the card. They did check us out this time to make sure were weren’t up to anything bad.
On Saturday evening we were blessed to prepare and have dinner with Chris, Amanda and Cole. Chris is Gary’s oldest son, we enjoyed preparing the meal together and then eating steak together. Ona is not allowed to have very much steak but she did get to enjoy it on Saturday night with the rest of us.
There are pictures here of the home that Gary and Ona live in, it is where Gary grew up with his mom, dad and siblings. Ona grew up on a street close by and they have been together for 41 years. When they found out that Ona had cancer they decided it was time to fix the home place up and enjoy it. What a beautiful place, inside and out. It is more like a work of art, more than just a house. The most awesome thing is that anywhere Gary and Ona live it is a place where everyone is welcome. For the past 10 years I have been in their home many times and I have always been made to feel like it was my home away from home.
This trip was not unlike the many others that I have enjoyed at Gary and Ona’s. I have been many times before I was married and several times since Misty and I were married, along with Samuel, Kyle and at times other friends have been with us. Gary and Ona love to be active, we ran in the Atlanta Peach Tree Road Race together in 2007. In July 2008 Ona was not able to run the 6.2 miles and I ran in Ona’s place along with Gary. We have often walked around Stone Mountain Park together as well as taking walks with Skippy the family dog in Piedmont Park. We all also like to eat so we have enjoyed places like the Speghatti Factory in Atlanta, the famous Varsity Restaurant and of course we have been to Krispy Kreme many times.
There are so many great memories and this trip was one of the best in it’s own way. Ona is not able to get out and run with us anymore, we ate all our meals together at home because Ona is not able to run around town anymore but the thing we did was just enjoy each others company. Gary and Ona have taught us so much and we will be forever grateful for their friendship.
Ona’s time on this earth is beginning to come to a close but we will never say goodbye. We will never say goodbye because Ona will leave this body and immediately be with Jesus and one day and it will not be that long for any of us, we will be with Jesus and Ona again.
When a loved one leaves us in this world there is an emptiness, a void that no one can fill. However, as in this world, when a person leaves to go on a journey, as they go out of sight, we say, there they go!
We don’t question that their departure means they will be arriving at some other place in a short time. When they arrive at that other place they say, here they come! Likewise when someone we love who knows Jesus as Lord and Savior leaves this world, we say they have departed! But, in heaven, they say, here they come! They are absent from these frail bodies and they are absent from us but they are present with Our Lord.
Death causes us loss and grief to be sure but death is overrated for the Christian. Death is not our enemy but our friend. Death is the gateway that leads to Eternal Life. Death is the key that opens the gate and relieves us from this pain and suffering, this groaning to be with Our Creator. Death is the gateway to our being in the actual Eternal Presence of our Living Savior. Death is the gate into a land where there is no sorrow, no more separation, no more pain and no more tears. It is a place not made with human hands but with Our Creator’s Hands.
No eye here has ever seen nor can our minds imagine the things that Our Lord has for us when we meet with him in that Eternal Home.
This is not goodbye, this is only the beginning. This is simply a time that we can rest assured that we will see each other again. This is a time where we say everything that needs to be said but we rest assured on the promise of Our God that we will be together again.
Calvin Miller says, “Death is not the terror that we suppose. Jesus dying the most excruciating way, He was not dead for long. In the chronicles of God, no death has ever lasted long. We fall asleep on this cruel planet and wake up a world away. It is amazing just how often the New Testament speaks of death as sleep.
What is death at most?
It is a journey for a season.
A sleep longer than usual.
If thou fearest death, thou shouldst also fear sleep.
Ronnie
P.S. I had several friends encourage me that I would do much better than 3hours in the half marathon because I was running in honor of Ona. I finished in 2 hours, 16 minutes. To God be all Glory!
You may also want to sign Ona’s guest book. Eventhough you may not know them here, you will meet them in heaven one day soon.
Out Of The Box: God At Work
What follows is the story of the First United Methodist Hillsville Youth Group. Their mission trip to Macon Georgia. The vision of a storefront Youth Ministry Site in order to take the church to the people and the results.
Ronnie
We have been open for about 6 months now and hundreds of people have come through the doors at Out Of The Box. There have been events with 150 people in attendance and Safe Halloween brought several hundred through our doors in one afternoon. Youth are finding a place where they love coming and many adults are getting acquainted with the main church through OOTB.
Council rejects resolutions on same-sex marriages
Council rejects resolutions on same-sex marriages
 Bishop Beverly Shamana presides over The United Methodist Church’s California-Nevada Annual (regional) Conference in Sacramento, Calif. A UMNS file photo by Paul “Spud” Hilton. |
By Neill Caldwell*
April 27, 2009 | DENVER (UMNS)
United Methodist clergy cannot perform same-sex marriages, even in states where such unions are legal or the ceremonies are endorsed by a regional church group.
The Judicial Council, the denomination’s top court, ruled at its spring meeting that it is a chargeable offense for United Methodist clergy to perform ceremonies celebrating same-sex unions.
The ruling overturned resolutions from two annual conferences supporting clergy who perform same-gender marriages.
In the case of the California-Nevada Annual Conference, the council affirmed Bishop Beverly J. Shamana’s decision voiding a resolution passed by the regional group backing retired pastors who perform same-gender marriages.
“An annual conference may not legally negate, ignore or violate provisions of the (Book of) Discipline with which they disagree, even when the disagreements are based on conscientious objections to the provisions,” the council ruled.
Council member Belton Joyner Jr. filed a dissenting opinion.
In a separate decision, the council reversed California-Pacific Conference Bishop Mary Ann Swenson’s ruling supporting a conference resolution recognizing “the pastoral need and prophetic authority of our clergy and congregations to offer the ministry of marriage ceremonies for same-gender couples.”
In a concurring opinion, Jon Gray and the Rev. Kathy Austin Mahle wrote “church law can only be made by the General Conference and cannot be achieved through piecemeal resolutions adopted in an annual conference session.”
The 2008 General Conference, the denomination’s top legislative body, voted to retain its ban on same-gender marriages and to bar clergy from performing such marriages or consecrating them in the church. Pastors who perform same-gender unions risk losing their clergy credentials.
In other decisions, the council approved the lease of Southern Methodist University property for the George W. Bush presidential library, museum and public policy institute and did not take up a request from the Alaska Conference for a ruling on church law regarding the openness of church membership relative to pastoral discretion to deny membership.
The council said the lease agreement between United Methodist-related SMU and the George W. Bush Foundation does not violate church law.
Critics opposed to many policies of the Bush administration, including the war in Iraq, argued placing the institute on SMU property would be inconsistent with church teaching.
In its own review, the nine-member council said it found nothing in the lease agreement that violated the school’s Articles of Incorporation or the church’s Book of Discipline.
In the membership case, the council said it did not have jurisdiction to address possible competing claims in church rules because the request for a declaratory decision did not deal with an action by the Alaska Conference.
The case refers back to an earlier council ruling in favor of the right of a Virginia pastor, the Rev. Ed Johnson, to block a practicing homosexual from joining the congregation of South Hill (Va.) United Methodist Church. The council ruled the pastor of a local church has authority to determine a layperson’s readiness for membership.
The council also said it did not have jurisdiction to rule on a request from the West Ohio Annual Conference on the formula for deciding the number of bishops in a region. The 2008 General Conference approved a plan that will result in one less bishop in four of the five U.S. jurisdictions beginning in 2012.
*Caldwell is editor of the Virginia United Methodist Advocate and covers the Judicial Council for United Methodist News Service.
News media contact: David Briggs, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 7… or newsdesk@umcom.org.
Issues for Annual Conference of The UMC
Interesting information for those attending Annual Conference in June @ Lake Junaluska. Please be in prayer for Our United Methodist Church and take action when possible. Please be familiar with the issues and vote the way you are convicted.
Amendments o be voted on @ Annual Conferences.
Ronnie
Sunday Night Live: W/SouledOut and Donna Godwin
This Sunday Night will feature SouledOut and Donna Godwin.
You will not want to miss this one!
Come as you are, no need to dress up!
Ronnie
Check Out SouledOut Website
SouledOut
Baby Collins @ 36 Weeks
Your pregnancy: 36 weeks
How your baby’s growing:
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She’s shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.
At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she’s in a head-down position. But if she isn’t, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an “external cephalic version,” which is a fancy way of saying she’ll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.
See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)
Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby’s development.
Update on our friends Gary and Ona
First I would like to thank all of you who have been praying for Gary and Ona. Many of you do not know them and have never met them and yet you pray because of our friendship.
Ona has now been moved into a Hospice House where she and Gary can be together and the best of care is provided around the clock.
Here is a note from their daughter, Jessica. “Mom and Dad had a very restful night in their “new home”. When the doctor came to visit Mom told him she was concerned about all of her “new” visitors. The Dr pulled Dad aside to address this concern. Turns out the DOCTOR and staff ARE the NEW visitors. Mom is very comfortable and the staff is wonderful. It’s great that Dad is able to not only stay in the room but he has an ACTUAL BED…right now. This has truly been a blessing.”
We appreciate your continued prayers for the Smith Family.
Ronnie
Information about Southwest Christian Care
http://www.swchospice.org/common/content.asp
Purpose Statement
Our purpose is to glorify God as guardians of the sanctity and dignity of life by providing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual care to our patients and their families and offer hope based on faith in Jesus Christ as Lord of life and death.
These guys need a good home
OK these little ones need a good home and they are weaned and ready to go. If you are interested please contact us. They are mixed breed and look like they will make big dogs, they are beautiful.
Ronnie
Sharp Responses for the Perplexing
 Sharp Responses for the Perplexing
Dear Ronnie, Are you ever confronted with the following? If so, experiment with these responses.
One of the guiding concepts that has served as a pillar of the Love and Logic philosophy is, “I don’t become what I think I can. I don’t become what you think I can. I become what I think you think I can.” You might want to check out Love and Logic’s audio CD, “Winning the Homework Battle.” Jim Fay |
About Ronnie G. Collins
I am one of the Pastor’s of First United Methodist Church in Hillsville Virginia and FUMC Downtown “Out of the Box”, Youth Ministry. We now have two campuses. The main church is at 225 Fulcher Street and our newest location is 522 North Main Street Hillsville, FUMC Downtown “Out of the Box”. I have a rich history of different church backgrounds to pull from and I believe that is why I am where I am in my Christian Life today. I have a Passion to see hurting, lost people come to know Jesus Christ. I believe that we as Christians have to demonstrate God’s Love to them, rather than just telling them they are loved. I am married and have 4 sons two very special nephews that are like sons, 2 grandchildren and 3 great nephews that are like grandchildren. I am a blessed man.
