FRIENDS AND GUIDES
When the Spirit of truth comes,
he will guide you into all truth…
…He will tell you about the future.
John 16:13 (NLT)
Dear friend,
Do you ever feel particularly blessed, like you’re living the movie Invasion
of the Body Snatchers (1956, 1978), except it’s a good thing? Do you ever
feel as if someone must have taken over your body and be living inside
you because how else could something so wonderful have happened to you?
As we celebrate Confirmation Sunday 2024 that’s exactly how I feel.
How did I get to be the pastor of such a marvelous church family which
has these 4 absolutely amazing youth being confirmed this Sunday? How could
that have ever happened to me? Someone must have taken me over!
Yes… I put in a lot of hard work along the way, and still do…
yet it’s not nearly enough for me to stop there.
I have indeed been taken over by the presence of loving Holy Spirit in my life,
by the example of Jesus and those radical, world transforming ideas of love
he brings and by God who created me to be the best I can be.
I’ve been taken over, and I couldn’t be happier about it!
I’ve also been taken over by the love of people who never gave up on
me, by friends and guides, by people I could count on to tell me the truth,
even when it was difficult to hear. I’ve been taken over by people who
pushed me into difficult places outside my comfort zone
because it was only there I could keep becoming me.
Now comes the most amazing part. According to those 4 youth being
confirmed, who walked this confirmation journey with 4 mentors, a group
process leader, their families, our amazing church family and me…
although they may not express it exactly like I have here…in truth,
they feel the same way. They’ve been taken over too!
In their way I’ve heard more than one of them say “I wasn’t sure I
wanted to do this, yet now, I’m glad I did.” They know this journey has
changed them and their future and they’re happy about it. Wow!
If it hasn’t happened to you recently, I hope you feel completely taken over
by God’s Spirit of love, truth and endless possibility sometime soon.
You might begin by joining us for worship this coming Sunday morning.
There’s going to be a lot of Spirit present in our sanctuary at that time. If
you’re not careful (and please don’t be) that Spirit might just take you over too.
Speaking of getting by with a little help from our friends, check out the
video above, released just hours ago, by Ringo Starr and titled Gonna Need Someone
and the video by the prayer, released on April 4 of Paul McCartney performing Let it Be
with the Eagles at the Hollywood Bowl in memory of a beloved friend.
Blessings to you, my friend and guide,
Pastor John
he will guide you into all truth…
…He will tell you about the future.
John 16:13 (NLT)
Dear friend,
Do you ever feel particularly blessed, like you’re living the movie Invasion
of the Body Snatchers (1956, 1978), except it’s a good thing? Do you ever
feel as if someone must have taken over your body and be living inside
you because how else could something so wonderful have happened to you?
As we celebrate Confirmation Sunday 2024 that’s exactly how I feel.
How did I get to be the pastor of such a marvelous church family which
has these 4 absolutely amazing youth being confirmed this Sunday? How could
that have ever happened to me? Someone must have taken me over!
Yes… I put in a lot of hard work along the way, and still do…
yet it’s not nearly enough for me to stop there.
I have indeed been taken over by the presence of loving Holy Spirit in my life,
by the example of Jesus and those radical, world transforming ideas of love
he brings and by God who created me to be the best I can be.
I’ve been taken over, and I couldn’t be happier about it!
I’ve also been taken over by the love of people who never gave up on
me, by friends and guides, by people I could count on to tell me the truth,
even when it was difficult to hear. I’ve been taken over by people who
pushed me into difficult places outside my comfort zone
because it was only there I could keep becoming me.
Now comes the most amazing part. According to those 4 youth being
confirmed, who walked this confirmation journey with 4 mentors, a group
process leader, their families, our amazing church family and me…
although they may not express it exactly like I have here…in truth,
they feel the same way. They’ve been taken over too!
In their way I’ve heard more than one of them say “I wasn’t sure I
wanted to do this, yet now, I’m glad I did.” They know this journey has
changed them and their future and they’re happy about it. Wow!
If it hasn’t happened to you recently, I hope you feel completely taken over
by God’s Spirit of love, truth and endless possibility sometime soon.
You might begin by joining us for worship this coming Sunday morning.
There’s going to be a lot of Spirit present in our sanctuary at that time. If
you’re not careful (and please don’t be) that Spirit might just take you over too.
Speaking of getting by with a little help from our friends, check out the
video above, released just hours ago, by Ringo Starr and titled Gonna Need Someone
and the video by the prayer, released on April 4 of Paul McCartney performing Let it Be
with the Eagles at the Hollywood Bowl in memory of a beloved friend.
Blessings to you, my friend and guide,
Pastor John
Would you pray with me?
O God,
thank you for the example of Jesus
which speaks to my mind and to my heart,
as a friend,
the truth of the future you created for me
and for everyone.
O God,
thank you for the voice of Holy Spirit,
which speaks to my mind and to my heart,
as a guide,
through the voices of people who care for me,
friends and guides
you have placed along my life’s journey.
Help me to listen and to be inspired
by their loving presence walking with me.
Help me to follow their direction.
Forgive me when I don’t,
then help me back on the road.
Amen.
____________________________________________
O God,
thank you for the example of Jesus
which speaks to my mind and to my heart,
as a friend,
the truth of the future you created for me
and for everyone.
O God,
thank you for the voice of Holy Spirit,
which speaks to my mind and to my heart,
as a guide,
through the voices of people who care for me,
friends and guides
you have placed along my life’s journey.
Help me to listen and to be inspired
by their loving presence walking with me.
Help me to follow their direction.
Forgive me when I don’t,
then help me back on the road.
Amen.
____________________________________________
Become the Love you Seek!
JOURNEY on The Way
SEE the Face of Jesus
in All People
BECOME a Light of Peace,
Justice & Revolutionary Love
Sign Up for PJ's Place
If you wish to receive Pastor John's weekly e-mail, PJ's Place, please contact
Pastor John at jwhite3646@charter.net with a request to be put on the mailing list.