2022 September 25

Day 94° Mostly sunny this morning then becoming partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 90s. South winds around 5 mph becoming east this afternoon.
Night rain chance 20% 73° Mostly clear in the evening then partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the lower 70s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

The F.R.O.G. adult Sunday school class grows stronger every day.
Today Pastor Michele came to talk to us about the Methodist Church and the transitioning of the United Methodist Church as it splits into the UMC and the GMC Global Methodist Church.
Many churches are already voting on whether or not to disaffiliate themselves from the UMC organization.
What is the schism about? As I understand it, the Book of Discipline (the law and doctrine of the UMC) states, “all persons are of sacred worth.” and “shall be eligible to attend its worship services, participate in its programs, receive the sacraments, upon baptism be admitted as baptized members, and upon taking vows declaring the Christian faith, become professing members in any local church.
However, “While persons set apart by the Church for ordained ministry are subject to all the frailties of the human condition and the pressures of society, they are required to maintain the highest standards of holy living in the world. The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.”
No UMC funds may be used to “promote the acceptance of homosexuality or … not to reject or condemn lesbian and gay members and friends” I read that as “no money given to EITHER proponents OR opponent of homosexual rights.” UMC ministers may not perform gay weddings nor use church properties for gay weddings. The schism is from those who possibly want to make these rules tougher and those who wish to relax them. There will soon be rewording of the Book of Discipline.

Today’s Cross Tracks Church Worship Service.

Luke 16:1‭-‬13 The Passion Translation Jesus taught his disciples using this story: “Once a very rich man hired a manager to run his business and oversee all his wealth. But soon a rumor spread that the manager was wasting his master’s money. So the master called him in and said, ‘Is it true that you are mismanaging my estate? You need to provide me with a complete audit of everything you oversee for me. I’ve decided to dismiss you.’ “The manager thought, ‘Now what am I going to do? I’m finished here. I can’t hide what I’ve done, and I’m too proud to beg. I have an idea that will secure my future. It will win me favor and secure friends who can take care of me and help me when I get fired!’ “So the dishonest manager hatched his scheme. He went to everyone who owed his master money, one by one, and asked them, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ One debtor owed twenty thousand dollars, so he said to him, ‘Let me see your bill. Pay me now and we’ll settle for twenty percent less.’ The clever manager scratched out the original amount owed and reduced it by twenty percent. And to another who owed two hundred thousand dollars, he said, ‘Pay me now and we’ll reduce your bill by fifty percent.’ And the clever manager scratched out the original amount owed and reduced it by half. “Even though his master was defrauded, when he found out about the shrewd way this manager had feathered his own nest, he congratulated the clever scoundrel for what he’d done to provide for his future.” Jesus continued, “Remember this: The sons of darkness interact more wisely than the sons of light. Use the wealth of this world to demonstrate your friendship with God by winning friends and blessing others. Then, when it runs out, your generosity will provide you with an eternal reward. “The one who faithfully manages the little he has been given will be promoted and trusted with greater responsibilities. But those who cheat with the little they have been given will not be considered trustworthy to receive more. If you have not handled the riches of this world with integrity, why should you be trusted with the eternal treasures of the spiritual world? And if you’ve not proven yourself faithful with what belongs to another, why should you be given wealth of your own? It is impossible for a person to serve two masters at the same time. You will be forced to love one and reject the other. One master will be despised and the other will have your loyal devotion. Your choice between God and the wealth of this world is no different. You must enthusiastically love one and definitively reject the other.”

I was glad to hear Pastor’s take on this parable as it has always bothered me that the deceitful servant was praised for being shrewd.

After church we stopped at Golden Chick for lunch. Ella got broasted chicken with coleslaw and some kind of nugget (corn or ocra). I got southern fried catfish and dirty rice. I also ordered a side of hot wings, which are, I believe, a new Menu item. Our leftovers came home with us for our supper Before we left we had a small cup of ice cream.