Special Guest Life Journal Entry from the Rev. Jorge Acevedo (Shared with us by Bishop Richard Wills): Ministerial stick-to-it-ness

The Reverend Jorge Acevedo is Lead Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Fort Myers, Florida.

December 10, 2007

Title: Ministerial Stick-to-it-ness

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:14-“Guard this precious thing placed in your custodyby the Holy Spirit who works in us.”

Observation: In both 1 and 2 Timothy, Paul’s tone is urgent and intense.At the end of 2 Timothy, Paul lets the cat out of the bag when heacknowledges that he is near the end of his life. Therein lies fuel forPaul’s urgency and intensity. The overall theme to both letters seems to bea strong admonition to not give up, but to stay faithful to the calling andministry given to Timothy. This swan song drips with ministerialstick-to-it-ness. Here Paul uses the metaphor of a guard. How ironic!Paul is in jail because he is an ambassador for Jesus. He is guarded nightand day. He knows what diligence looks like. Roman soldiers neither flinchnor fail. They stay on duty at all times. Paul tells Timothy to protect theprecious thing. It’s his ministry that needs constant diligence. Paulknows that without this diligence, Timothy could easily drift away orwhittle away his high calling for Jesus.

Application: It’s so easy for calling to become a career. Denominationalcategories can become rungs on a ladder. Like crabs in a crab pot, pastorscan degenerate into corporate robots fighting to be top dog. How sad! Myown lust for power, prestige, and prominence can win the day if I let it,but I’m charged with a higher calling. I see and hear my name spoken fromthe lips of the elder statesman, Paul, “Jorge, guard the precious gift ofyour calling and your ministry. Do not sell it to the highest bidder.Resist making your all a career. Lay it on the line every day. Be faithful.You stand in the lineage of women and men of God like Billy Graham, MotherTheresa, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Francis Asbury, John Wesley, Fanny Crosby, St.Francis of Assisi, St. Augustine, and Timothy. Remember your roots my son, stay faithful.”

Prayer: What a powerful word, O God. I’m humbled by your entrustment.Give me the grace of Jesus and the power of Your Spirit to faithfullydischarge the work of ministry. Amen.

Bishop Wills' Life Journal Entry for December 6, 2007: It Is Not About Me

December 6, 2007
It Is Not About Me

S: Philippians 2: 1-2
So how am I to respond? I have decide that I really don’t care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on. And I am going to keep that celebration going because I know how it’s going to turn out. Through your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants to do in and through me will be done (The Message)

O: Paul is referring to some of the people who still want to practice living a gospel which includes a deep dislike of Paul.

A: For me this morning, I am grateful for all the people who encourage me in my life as a Christ follower. I am reminded my life is not about me. My life is only about serving the Christ who redeemed me when I was far from God. My joy in that respect is complete.

It is only when I focus on myself and my own feelings that I can wander away from serving the God who loves me and who has made my life possible so could serve God with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind. It is up to me to stay focused on Jesus and not on myself. After all, it is not about me, nor is it about others, it is only about Jesus.

P: Father thank you for your love for me and the gift of Jesus in my life. I am so grateful for your will to be revealed to me in scripture. It is good to know that life is not about me but rather the joy of serving you.
Love, Dick

Y: I will focus on being a servant of Jesus this day. After all it is not about me.