New Covenant UMC Blog

A Good Excuse for a Late Blog

Randy Wall — Tue, 29 May 2012 02:09:18 +0000

It is Monday night, and I am just getting to writing my latest devotion. I suppose it would be noble or even heroic to say that I have been busy on this Memorial Day doing some important ministerial tasks but that is not true. Ann and I went after church on Sunday to the mountains of southern Virginia. We had dinner with some old friends on Sunday evening and rambled around the southern Virginia countryside looking at some beautiful waterfalls. Today (Monday), Ann and I spent time together viewing the scenery of the Blue Ridge Parkway before spending some family time this evening celebrating my Father-in-law’s 82^nd birthday.

I shared my activities of this Memorial Day weekend not to bore you or impress you, but to point out that it is important that followers of Jesus take time to be with family members and those they love. As important as it is to do the work of the Kingdom of God, it is also important that we connect with and spend time with family. We have a commitment to Christ, but we also have a commitment to them. I am thankful I chose on this Memorial Day weekend to be with good friends, my wonderful wife, and our family.

We need to spend with friends and family now because they will not be with us forever. I remembered today what I was doing on Memorial Day, 1985. On that day, I participated in the funeral of my Grandmother Perry. 20 years later on that very same day, I participated in the funeral of my step-father, Beamon Wyrick. Yes, go follow Jesus and do the work of the Kingdom. However, also take time to spend time with the people you love. Now, enough reading this blog. Go and hug a family member, or take time to tell them that you love them. Have a joy-filled week.—Pastor Randy Wall

Passing the Peace

Randy Wall — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:29:19 +0000

One of the parts of our worship services we have every Sunday here at New Covenant Church is the “passing of the peace”. While most of us use it as a time to speak to friends and guests alike, it is more than that. Why, it is even biblical. When we “pass the peace”, among the opportunities presented to us is the chance to “make peace” with those who we have something against before worship (see Matthew 5:23). It is also a chance to wish peace to those around us even as we desire for peace to be wished to us.

Today, I find myself thinking of these words from Matthew 5:9 where we hear Jesus say, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” It is so much easier to “pass the peace” than to “make peace”. In a few days, we will come to another Memorial Day and will remember those who died “making peace” for us. As we come close to Memorial Day, let us seek to not just be “peace lovers” or “peace passers” but also “peace makers”. Have a joy-filled week.- Pastor Randy L. Wall

Test Time

Randy Wall — Sun, 20 May 2012 20:39:09 +0000

We had to be quieter than usual around the church campus last week. The doors of the preschool classes were closed, and the preschoolers had to use their “inside voices” as they chatted. The sound of a lawn mower was not heard on our campus last week so as to not distract the students. Why? Because the Mountain Island Charter School, like many other schools across our area, was having EOG’s. For the uninformed, E.O.G. stands for End of Grade test and the students were in the midst of taking them last week. Those tests are a major benchmark for school administrators and students alike in how they are doing.

As I breathed a sigh of relief at the fact that I do not have to take the E.O.G. tests, a thought occurred to me: I might not have an E.O.G. to take, but all of us who follow Jesus who will have an E.O.L. to take. There will be an End of Life test that all who follow Jesus will face, and it can be summed in these verses from John 15: 5-8 which say, ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Those who follow Jesus will face an End of Life test as Jesus determines if we have borne the fruit of a disciple. What do you think? More importantly, what will the Lord Jesus think about your final test score? Have a joy-filled week.- Pastor Randy Wall

Marriage Thoughts

Randy Wall — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:26:00 +0000

There is much that has been said about marriage in recent weeks in the press. Most of the commentary is related to the “marriage amendment” that was on the ballot in North Carolina on Tuesday, May 8. I have listened to the commentary pro and con on the amendment, and it occurs to me that most of the comments have focused on who one should marry instead of what marriage should be. Whatever you think about the marriage amendment, I think we can agree that the world is a better place when marriages can be strengthened.

Last night, I joined some of men of New Covenant Church as we continued our study on the book of Ephesians. There were several passages of scripture that we looked at last night that surely strengthen marriage. Here are a couple of them:

“Do not let the sun go down while you are angry….” (Ephesians 4:26). Every married couples have their moments when they get angry with one another. That is normal and natural in the course of human relationships. Any marriage can be strengthened if couples will get over their anger quickly instead of holding on to their anger and “stewing” about it.

“Love your wives as Christ loved the church….” (Ephesians 5:25) Someone in our Bible study pointed out last evening that the apostle Paul has more instructions to husbands about marriage than to wives about marriage in Ephesians 5. Perhaps husbands need more instruction. If I as a husband and if all husbands could love their wives as Christ loved the church, how much better marriages would be.

There is one final final comment I would make about marriage: pray for your spouse and your family. I pray daily for my wife Ann, our children, my son in laws, and my grandchildren. I also pray daily that God would help me be the kind of husband that He would have me to be. All of us need God’s help in our marriages, so pray for your spouse and family. Have a joy-filled week.- Pastor Randy Wall

The Class of 2012

Randy Wall — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:24:13 +0000

Many colleges and universities are holding their graduation exercises in these days. This morning, I read in the paper about one member of the class of 2012. His name is Gac Filipaj, and he is 52 years old. He graduated from college yesterday with honors. An immigrant from war-torn Yugoslavia, he worked full time cleaning toilets and the like at Lerner Hall on the Columbia University campus. When not working, he spent his time taking classes at Columbia graduating yesterday with a degree in the classics. I don’t know Gac, but I think I would enjoy getting to know him. He is a man that personifies that learning is not just a “young folks” game. No, learning is for a lifetime.

I also read something else this morning- the Bible. Hear these words I read this morning from Ephesians 3: 17-18 which say, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. “

Learning is for a lifetime, folks. Gac Filipaj certainly exemplifies that. There is so much in this world to learn and there is so much of God I still want to know. I invite you to join me in that learning by reading your Bible, being a part of a study group, and being a part of a church community. Have a joy-filled day.—Pastor Randy Wall

Thanks for the “Naomis” in my Life

Randy Wall — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:39:55 +0000

The Book of Ruth is one of two books in the Bible named after a woman. (The other book is Esther.) We hear in the Book of Ruth of a woman named Naomi who moves to the land of Moab with her husband and two sons. Her sons marry Moabite woman, Orpah and Ruth. Unfortunately, Namoi ‘s husband and her two sons die. The story goes that Naomi decides to move back to Judah. In those days, women did not work outside the home. It seemed perfectly logical that Naomi would want to be near her own family after losing three close members of the family. When Naomi encourages her daughter in laws, Orpah and Ruth , to return their homes, Ruth balks at the idea. Listen to these words in Ruth 1: 18-20 as Ruth speaks to Naomi:

¹⁶ But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. ¹⁷ Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” ¹⁸ When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

This Sunday will mark my 10^th Mother’s Day since my Mom’s death. Though I greatly miss my Mom, I also find myself thinking in these days of those women before my Mom’s death and afterward who have been a “Naomi” to me. Though these women did not carry me in their womb, their love and example have carried me through moments of challenge and struggle. Some of these women are still living; others have gone on to be with the Lord. Whether they are living or dead, I give thanks for these “Naomi’s” in my life.

I also find myself thinking of those women who have been “Naomi’s” to my daughters, Heather and Ginger and give thanks to God for each of them. Though Heather and Ginger have had a limited relationship with their biological mother in the last two decades, there have been countless women who have loved them, nurtured them, and cared for them. Sometimes, Heather and Ginger were aware of the care and example of these women; sometimes, they were not. One of those women is my own wife, Ann.

As Mothers Day approaches, I give thanks to God for my Mom. And I also give thanks to God for those “Naomi’s” in my own life and in the life of my girls. I suspect you have some “Naomi’s” in your life and in the life of your family. I invite you to do the same. Have a joy-filled week.- Pastor Randy Wall

A Choice to Vote

Randy Wall — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:01:06 +0000

This Tuesday the election season begins in earnest in North Carolina as we have primary elections. While I will not use my office as a pastor to endorse any candidate, I will encourage those of voting age to exercise your right to vote. When you vote, you are not “speaking your mind” on what you believe is important, but you are also exercising a freedom that many brave Americans won for us on the battlefields around the world through the years.

Voting is a cornerstone of a democratic government. The Bible has very little to say about Democracy. Israel did not have a leader (a King) for a long time because God was their King. Finally, God relented to allow them to have a King at their insistence. However, the Kings of Israel did not come through a democratic vote of the people but through God’s choice or through their ancestors. We read in the New Testament that Jesus was born in Bethlehem simply because Mary and Joseph were seeking to follow a decree of a leader, Caesar Augustus. The Roman leadership over Israel during the days of Jesus and during the time of the early Church were not voted on by the people, but appointed.

Despite the fact that early Christians did not have a voice in who was their leadership, the apostle Paul tells them in Romans 13:1-5,

¹ Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

On Tuesday, exercise your right and privilege to vote. Whoever is elected to office, let us give them the honor and respect their office rightfully deserves. Finally, let us pray for our leaders and let us pray for ourselves as we select our leaders in this primary season and in the November general election. Have a joy-filled week.- Pastor Randy Wall

He Always Shows Up

Randy Wall — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:00:44 +0000

We had our monthly fellowship meal last evening here at New Covenant Church. Since I had not seen many in our church family for sometime since I was out of town most of last week, it was so good to be together and catch up with people.

Today, I find myself thinking how important that meals are in the stuff of life. Meals are a central part of some of life’s most joyous and saddest events. Meals are a central part of the Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations for many of us. As we observe Mother’s Day in just a few days, many will gather for a meal to celebrate Mom. While we gather for meals on these happy occasions, we also gather for meals on sad occasions such as before or after a funeral.

In Luke 24, we hear of some of Jesus’ disciples walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. As they make their journey, they are joining on their journey by a person they do not know. When the disciples arrive at their destination, they invite this stranger to stay with them and share a meal with them. As they share the meal, they realize that it is Jesus in their midst.

One of the things that you can count on when you gather for a meal with followers of Jesus is that no matter what the menu or what the occasion, Jesus shows up. Whether we gather in joy or sorrow, for a feast or for only a morsel of food , the living Christ is here among us. Thanks be to God. Have a joy-filled week.– Pastor Randy Wall

New Additions to our Home

Randy Wall — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:40:13 +0000

We have some occupants at the New Covenant Church parsonage that you may not know about. It seems that a bird has built a nest in one of our hanging baskets. Yesterday, I spotted three baby birds in the nest. The way those baby birds looked at me, I think that I was more a curiousity to them than they were to me.

As I think of those new additions to our household, I am reminded of a passage of scripture from the sermon on the mount. In Matthew 6:25-27, we hear Jesus say, ²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?

It is not unusual during the week for this pastor to encounter persons who are worrying about the challenges of their life: jobs, sickness, family, and the like. The list of things that people worry about is long. From time to time, I am among those who worry. I am grateful for those birds who are temporarily dwelling at the Wall household for reminding me of the love and care of our heavenly Father for all of us and each of us. I recall a poem I learned years ago. While I am not sure I remember it word for word, this is what I remember: “Said the robin to the sparrow, I would really like to know/ Why these humans worry and fret so./ Said the sparrow to the robin, It may just be/ They do not have a heavenly Father who loves them/ like He loves you and me.” Have a joy-filled week.- Pastor Randy Wall

The Titanic and the Church

Randy Wall — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:06:21 +0000

This month of April is the 100^th anniversary for the sinking of the Titanic. As he travelled from England to the United States in the northern Atlantic Ocean, the Titanic hit an iceberg on April 14 and sank on April 15. He was one of the worse maritime disasters in modern history leading to many safety improvements in passenger ships. Though I have never seen an iceberg like the one the Titanic hit, I am told that what you see only portion of the iceberg. There is so much more below the surface of the iceberg.

I believe the iceberg is a fitting metaphor for the church. What you see in the church newsletter,the bulletin, or on Sunday morning is only a small portion of what God is doing in His Church. You do not see all the prayers being said… the calls, visits, or cards sent to the sick, homebound, or those who have lost their way to church…. the Bible verses that are read… the testimonies that are shared… the kindnesses that are given to those around the block or in other places.

When folks only see a portion of what God is doing in His Church, the Church is not only like an iceberg. It is also like the Lord Jesus. I am reminded of these words in John 21:25 which says, ²⁵ Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. Have a joy-filled week, my friends.– Pastor Randy Wall