Monday, September 29, 2008
Encouragement!
When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you. – Ephesians 4:29 (NCV)
Do you say things that are good for those who listen to you? How can words make others become stronger? Who have you hurt with harmful words? What do people need to hear? What will you say to spread peace and joy around you today?
The following story is by an unknown author found at: http://www.wow4u.com/hospitalwindow/index.html
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."
We all need encouragement! Words can hurt us, and words can make us feel great. Christ often said the thing that gave people strength to keep on going. Be his disciple and encourage others, so others may say of you, “he/she just wanted to encourage all.”
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Monday, September 22, 2008
Building the Bridge
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.” – Matthew 5:9 (KJV)
“You’re blessed when you can show others how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.” – Matthew 5:9 (The Message)
Are you a peacemaker? How have you shown others to cooperate instead of fight? Who has been a peacemaker in your life? Why does being a peacemaker allow one to discover who he/she really is? What does a peacemaker do?
Yet another story e-mailed to me.
Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.
Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work," he said.
"Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?"
"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber curing by the barn? I want you to build me a fence - an 8-foot fence - so I won't need to see his place anymore. Cool him down, anyhow."
The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."
The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.
The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.
About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped.
There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge... a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work handrails and all - and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.
"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."
The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.
"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more bridges to build."
We all have many more bridges to build! Christ was the ultimate bridge builder and peacemaker, for he was the Son of God. Let us all be called children of God as we sow peace in the midst of conflict. Building bridges is the only way to become God’s hope and joy! Start with the bridges you need built in your life, and then build them for others!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Faith to Keep On Going
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
Do you have faith to persevere in the hard times, and wait upon God? Have you met people whose faith in God renew their strength, and allow them to work when others give up? Have you felt the rush of mounting up on wings as eagles, running and walking without tiring, fighting the good fight with joy, and being able to take on the world because you wait upon the LORD?
Another story sent to me through e-mail:
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided since the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. So, the farmer invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed shovels, and began to shovel dirt into the well.
All the other farm animals were very upset about this, because the donkey was their friend. But they discovered there was nothing they could do to help him. At first, when the donkey realized what was happening, he cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well, and was astonished at what he saw.
With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off, and take a step up on the dirt as it piled up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well, and trotted off!
MORAL: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. But each trouble can be a stepping-stone. What happens to you isn't nearly as important as how you react to it. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not giving up!
Shake it off, and take a step up!
When we wait upon God we never will give up! Life will never stop throwing dirt at us, and we will never stop shaking it off, because our strength comes from the Lord. Do something amazing when the world seems to hold you down, show others the power that comes through faith and make it out of the deepest of pits!! Then the world will know what you already know, “they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength!”
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Monday, September 8, 2008
Newspaper writes about First Pres
Resurrection.
First Presbyterian, whose membership once surpassed 400, was down to some “18-to-25 faithful” and in danger of having its doors shut before the church’s pastor nominating committee decided to take a chance on a fiery young believer who was preaching at an African-American church near Oakland, Calif.
Some eight months later, under the leadership of 28-year-old Garrett Andrew, First Presbyterian has increased its membership by 68 percent and those once sparse Sunday crowds have grown to around 100.
Not that the church’s members and their young pastor are ready to declare victory just yet. For the suddenly growing church, there’s still plenty of work to be done before the resurrection of First Presbyterian is complete.
“We’re riding the wave of the Holy Spirit here,” Andrew, born, raised and educated in California, said during a recent conversation. “This church is living proof that God is greater than any one church, any one person, any one planet or any one universe.
“First Presbyterian is a standing miracle. I think even the Presbytery had written this church off. But our members know more now about resurrection than any of them ever did before.”
Many of First Presbyterian’s members are quick to credit Andrew, who studied at the San Francisco Theological Seminary, for the church’s turnaround. But just as quickly the boyish pastor deflects such talk.
“People rightfully look to their pastor as a leader,” he said, “but a lot of people look for the pastor to do everything. That’s not what being a church family is about. A church body must recognize and use the gifts of all its members.”
Betts Smith has been a member of First Presbyterian longer than anyone else on the church rolls. She joined in December of 1949, when membership was above 400. She said that the departure of popular preacher Jack Hand in 1955 led to a rift in the church. About half of its membership left for the newly formed Covenant Presbyterian in Northwest Albany.
“We still had around 200 members, but a lot of the people who left were young people,” said Smith, a native of Wilmington, Del. “Gradually, we started losing members, and then about 10 to 15 years ago things really got bad.
“It got to the point where I just said ‘I’m going to stay here until the doors are closed for good.’ Thank goodness, that didn’t happen.”
But it almost did.
Monty Cox, the 27-year-old chair of the pastor nominating committee who had joined First Presbyterian when he was 9, said the church was on the verge of being unable to pay its utilities bills. He cringes at the thought of how close his church came to closure.
“The people who were still coming here — and some days there were only about 18 — were growing frustrated,” Cox said. “I think we on the nominating committee knew if we brought the wrong individual here, we were done. It was critical we get the right person.
“We had to get the person that God called.”
The long strange trip that brought Andrew to First Presbyterian certainly has the markings of divine intervention. After serving an internship at Sojourner Truth Presbyterian in Oakland and working for a year at nearby Elmhurst Presbyterian, Andrew said he “opened myself up to the entire country.”
His biography, a resume of sorts listed on the Presbyterian Church’s Pastor Information Forum, drew interest from a number of unusual places.
“I was contacted (for interviews) by a Chinese church, a Taiwanese church, a church all the way across the country in Mobile, Ala.,” Andrew said. “I said yes to everyone I heard from except for one church: First Presbyterian of Albany.”
Andrew and his wife, Melinda, did not really want to leave California, but they decided to travel to Mobile for an interview. And, since they were flying all the way across the country, they relented to visiting Albany.
“I sent out eight e-mails to people whose resumes I’d seen on the PIF after looking at 75 to 100,” Cox said. “Garrett was the only one who replied, even though his reply was that he wasn’t interested. Since he had responded, I looked closer at his resume and realized how impressive it was.
“I sent him another e-mail telling him how interested in him we were.”
When Garret and Melinda finished their tour of the newly built — and heavily attended — Presbyterian Church in Mobile, they figured they’d found a new home.
“It was perfect,” Andrew said of the thriving Alabama church. “The interview went great; Melinda and I loved it. I started a couple of times to call the people in Albany and tell them thanks but no thanks, but something made me go ahead with the trip.”
When the Andrews saw the mostly vacant downtown area and the condition of the stately old church at 220 N. Jackson St., they were even more convinced they were headed to Mobile.
“We went to a service, and there were about 18 people there, including us,” Garrett Andrew said. “The kids choir sang a song — there were three of them, and one of them was dressed in full fatigues with a John Deere hat. An older gentleman walked up to me before the night was over and said, ‘You look like a Yankee.’
“I knew this place was wrong. Everything about it said, ‘no’. I knew when we got to the airport, I would never see Albany, Georgia again. Just goes to show you that God has a sense of humor.”
Cox made one final push to convince the Andrews to stay in Albany while the pastor and his wife were waiting at the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport for a plane that would no doubt take the couple to Mobile. But a funny thing happened during that wait.
“Here’s what happened: God kicked me in the face,” Andrew said. “I thought back to a sermon my mentor had preached about the apostles’ lack of faith during a storm. Jesus went into the storms unafraid, and I knew it was my calling to go into this storm.”
And that he’s done, overcoming a somewhat awkward introduction period — “When some of the members heard I was coming from San Francisco, they wanted to make sure I was married,” Andrew laughs — during which he’s appealed to members and visitors both old and young, black and white, rich and poor. The response has been nothing short of miraculous.
“There are a lot of people who’ve been around for a while who don’t like changes,” B.F. McKinney, the church’s oldest member at 90, said. “But change is good when God’s in it. We’ve got a good minister now, a man who’s blending the old and the young and getting them to work together.
“This has been a great church to me; my three kids grew up in this church. This is my church home.”
Thirty-three-year-old Jason Hill, in the past an “off-and-on” attendee, says the new spirit at First Presbyterian is good for his young family.
“The church is alive now with growth and spirit,” he said during a recent Bible study session. “It’s like a renaissance here, alive and thriving.”
Andrew is given to writing down quotes he likes. A section of one wall in his office is covered with yellow Post-It notes that contain such words of wisdom as “No man can at one time call attention to himself and glorify God ...” and “A church filled with the Holy Spirit is God’s greatest tool ...” and “Work as though everything depends on you, but pray as though everything depends on God.”
On another section of the same wall is one little Post-It note, sitting by itself.
“I have these sayings that inspire me over here,” the pastor says, pointing to his collection of quotes, “but I also have these three devils here that I look at every day.”
On the tiny slip of paper are three words: “pride, money and sex.”
“Pride’s the worst of them; that’s why I thank God that He and my family bring me down to Earth every chance I get,” Andrew said. “Every time I preach a sermon and think ‘I’m so good,’ invariably the next one will suck.
“I’ve learned to put my trust in the Holy Spirit, and I believe that whatever we have or will accomplish at First Presbyterian Church will be the will of God.”
During a fellowship dinner at the church on a recent Wednesday night, Charlie Mullis came by to talk to a visitor. A member at First Baptist Church of Albany for 48 years, Mullis and his wife, Pat, are the newest members at First Presbyterian.
“I felt that First Baptist started losing its direction several years ago,” Charlie Mullis said. “I have no animosity toward First Baptist, any of their members or their pastor, but when they moved (to Lee County), I stayed put.
“Pat and I started going to different churches, and we had kind of settled on First Methodist and Porterfield as the churches we were supporting. But one day we parked in the parking lot across the street and I turned to Pat and said ‘You want to go in this one?’ We came in and felt right at home. And once we got caught up in the exciting things happening here, the passion and conviction led us to become members here.”
For any who doubt the impact Garrett Andrew has had on the members of First Presbyterian Church, Mullis’ next words offer ironclad proof. This 73-year-old man, who had the same church home for 48 years and now has been a member at his new church for only three weeks, looks a visitor in the eye and gives his account of resurrection.
“This is my church home now, ” he says. “I have some old Baptist minister friends that I’d probably want involved, but if I died tomorrow, Garrett would preach my funeral.”
September Newsletter
I want to share the number 68 with you all in this newsletter. There is nothing particularly special about the number 68, although I do enjoy Psalm 68:10-11, “Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor. The Lord announced the word, and great was the company of those who proclaimed it.” So as I share the number 68 I ask that you all remember this scripture when you think of 68, and I do want you to think of it!
Some of you are probably asking, “Why this number?” Well, it is the percentage of membership increase in this church in 8 months!! 68%!! I can barely believe it, but I am not surprised because as the psalmist said, “The Lord announced the word, and great was the company of those who proclaimed it!” My brothers and sisters, the Lord has announced the word in our congregation, and in our community, and the company of those who are proclaiming it is becoming great!
When I wrote out first year goals for our humble congregation I asked God to increase our membership 50% in the first year. But now in 2/3 of that time we have grown 2/3 larger! In fact if we keep up with this growth we will have grown by 100+% in one year!! I am sorry if all the exclamation points are somewhat annoying, but it is difficult to convey the incredible amount of excitement pouring out of me as I consider how much God has blessed us!!!!!
As we have been blessed and have settled in we see how God provides for the poor through us. Our Second Saturday Snack Sack has grown and has more participation than ever. We have begun a new ministry called The Community Resource Ministry where we are putting together resources to help the needy figure out who can help them when they come to us. We are working with other churches of other denominations to feed and care for the poor. There is no wonder why Psalm 68:10 speaks to us, “Your people settled in it (our church), and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.”
Recently Columbia Theological Seminary has begun the Flint River Ministry Initiative. This Initiative looks to raise $60 million to provide scholarships for seminary students who will work in churches in need of revitalization. The Initiative will also provide churches the resources to pay for the pastor until the church reaches self-sufficiency. Do you know where they got this idea? Well I am sure they thought of it before our church, but our church has become the example of how to revitalize churches!! In the seminary’s most recent newsletter this Initiative is described and 1st Presbyterian Church of Albany, GA is highlighted as a shining example of the Lord announcing the word!
“Becoming God’s hope and joy!” is our simple vision. Psalm 68:10-11 is an incredible piece of scripture. The number 68 is a miracle that keeps getting more miraculous. Put them together and you have our church, an example to other churches, a light of hope for the needy in the downtown, and a growing sanctuary of joy. Do not stop proclaiming the Lord’s announcement, do not stop telling the community about God’s work here, do not stop inviting people to church, do not stop anything you are doing, because it is working!
Riding the wave of the Incredible Holy Spirit,
Rev. Garrett
The Greatest Commandment
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father.” – John 15:12-15 (NRSV)
What friends do you have that you love with the greatest love? How have you experienced the love of those who are willing to sacrifice themselves for you? What does it mean to be willing to die for your friends? Jesus laid down his life for us, his friends, would you lay down your life for him? Are you Jesus’ servant, or are you his friend?
The following story I received by e-mail years ago:
There was a family that was experiencing a small tragedy. One of their two sons had acquired an illness that required a marrow transplant. Of course, the medical personnel had all the family members tested to see who had the proper type of blood. It turned out the older brother of the sick boy was the perfect match. So the father sat the older brother down and told what they needed to do in simplest terms for the young boy. The father told him that his little brother was very very sick and that he needed to show his little brother how much he loved him by having surgery. The doctors need to take a little piece of him and put it in his little brother's body so that he doesn't die. The young boy thought about it for a couple seconds, and then he said he would do it.
So the older brother went through surgery. It was a success, and his little brother was recovering quickly. After the relief and joy passed over and the family was just sitting around relaxing, the father noticed his older son looking a little down and depressed. He took his son aside and asked him why he wasn't happy- his brother was getting better. His son said that he was very glad that his brother was getting better. So the father asked again, why are you so sad? The boy said, "When is it time for me to die?"
That's when the father realized what the boy actually had on his mind. His older son believed in his heart of hearts that he had to give up his own life so that his little brother who he loved could live.
We do not always have to give up our life for those we love to live; we just have to love in such a way! Loving in this way forces our hearts to overflow with gladness and joy, and touches the lives of those around us. Loving in this way changes attitudes and perspectives. Loving in this way is truly following the command of Christ. Jesus loves you as a friend! As his friend love others the same way, be willing to sacrifice yourself for your friends in need just because you love them. That is what love does!!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Friday, September 5, 2008
God's Love is All You Need
Who loves you like this? Who do love in this way? Do you believe God loves you this way? How must you love better to ensure that you become more like Christ? What would our lives be like if we loved the way that love truly is?
I received the following story from an e-mail:
A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups, and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy."Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies.""Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat of the back of his neck, "these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money."The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?""Sure," said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle. "Here Dolly!" he called. Out from the doghouse and down ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in an awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up...."I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt.The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands."With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup. Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy."How much?" asked the little boy."No charge," answered the farmer, "There's no charge for love."
There is no charge for love!! God loves you just the way you are, even if he wants you to get better. As Christians in a loveless world we must begin loving this way too; loving others the way they are. There is no charge for our love, and when we love others as God loves us our love will never end! Each of us has been hurt and wronged, each of us has experienced jealously and pride. Today choose to love and put the rest aside and we will make the world a better place!
With Hope and Joy,
Garrett