Bishop Dick Wills’ Life Journal Entry for January 28, 2008, Holy Boldness

S: Acts 4:11 (The Message)
By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole.

O: Peter and John were bold in what they said about Jesus: God raised him from the dead. This meant that in spite of what people did, in spite of perversity, hate, and mean spiritedness; God still ruled the affairs of the world and would finally demonstrate his love and the presence of his grace by raising Jesus from the dead.

A: As a Christ follower I need to participate in this kind of boldness. I need to always admit who I am: a person who has fallen short of God’s will and in need of his saving grace when I am out of God’s will.

As one redeemed by the grace of God, I need to stand ready to share this good news of what has happened and is happening in my life. People need to see this good news of redemption in how I live my life daily. And others need to know that they are loved by God in the same way I am loved by God. They need to know that God’s love for them means that some day God will redeem and restore all of us who know Jesus as Lord to full fellowship with himself.

For me, this means I can live with this boldness only when I seek and allow the Holy Spirit to fill my life. My time with scripture, reflection, and prayer each morning is the way I seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit so I can live the life of a servant of Jesus the very best I can. If the Holy Spirit is filling my life, then I feel certain nudges of the Holy Spirit throughout the day. And, if I follow those nudges, my life is pleasing to God.

P: Father thank you for your Holy Spirit and for your Son Jesus the Christ. May I reflect the kind of holy boldness of Peter and John in all I do and say this day. Love, Dick

Y: I will seek the Holy Spirit this morning and be available for God to use me this day.

Bishop Wills' Life Journal Entry for January 14, 2008

More Than Self

S: Luke 14:11
But if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself. (The Message)

O: Our road to be important is a journey of being a servant. The way to the throne is through the servant’s entrance.

A: Jesus has just told a story about not trying to sit at the best place of honor. Rather take the last seat and if you are important, the you will be moved to the head table. It is easy to expect to be treated important. But I must always remember I am a sinner from very humble roots who deserves no special attention. I am always to be a servant. Then if I remain in the spirit of a servant, I am available for God to grow me to be more than myself. More than myself means I can be led more by the Holy Spirit to do God’s Will.

P: Father, grow my heart as servant this day. Love, Dick

Y: I give up any sense of being important.

Upper Room Chapel Observes Christian Unity Week

NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 10, 2008 /GBOD/ -- The Upper Room Chapel (http://www.upperroom.org/chapel/about_chapel.asp) will join United Methodists and others across the globe in observing the 100th anniversary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, in a special worship service at 8:30 a. m. Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 1908 Grand Ave.

The Rev. W. Douglas Mills, an executive with the United Methodist Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, will be the speaker.

“We celebrate all that has been accomplished in the 100 years since the movement began in a chapel in New York state. Now a worldwide network of pastors and laity join in this prayer service, said the Rev. Tom Albin, dean of the Upper Room Chapel.

Also joining in this prayer will be hundreds of intercessory prayer groups related to the Upper Room Ministries’ Living Prayer Center (http://www.upperroom.org/prayercenter/). The center handles over 30,000 calls per month.

Taken from 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray Without Ceasing" is the theme of the 100th anniversary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which will be observed Jan. 18-25. (See related article at http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2429867&ct=4908515.)

Mills gives ecumenical leadership to the areas of church dialogue and interfaith relations and manages and staffs all of the United Methodist dialogues with other church communions, including those with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, The Episcopal Church, and the Roman Catholic Church.

In addition to ecumenical dialog, Mills provides leadership for the United Methodist work in interfaith relations, especially Muslim and Jewish encounters.

An ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, Mills has served a variety of appointments in New Mexico, Northwest Texas and North Carolina.

Mills taught nine years as a professor of Religion at Eastern New Mexico University, where he also served five years as chair of the Department of Religion.

He received his graduate degrees from Duke University Divinity School and Texas Tech University in systematic and liturgical theology and American religious history.

Bishop Dick Wills’ Life Journal Entry for January 1, 2008 – “God’s work is birthed out of rest”

A New Year
This year I will be using “The Message” as I read through the Bible and use my Life Journal each day. I try to read a different translation each year in order to keep fresh scripture and what God is teaching me. I am going to some public place (Starbucks etc.) to read the scripture for the day and to write in my Life Journal. I am hopeful this will allow me to be a witness for Jesus Christ in my own small way as I gradually build friendships with people in these public places. It is my prayer God will use me to invite someone to know Jesus as friend and Lord while inviting that person or persons to one of our United Methodist Churches.

S: Genesis 1:5
It was evening; it was morning – Day One.

O: God’s work is birthed out of rest.

A: I remember seeing a video where the speaker lifted this notion of activity being birthed out of rest. I must confess I had never thought of my day of work coming directly from rest. Yet, it is true.

When I am not rested I arrive at work tired and easily distracted. I have difficulty concentrating on my work and I find little things really disturb me. But when I have had a good night’s rest, I can approach each new day as a special opportunity God has given me to serve the Lord. When I begin my day rested, I find I am more aware of the ways the Lord would use me. I also am less troubled by little irritations when I am rested.

This year I am going to do my best by beginning my day with a good night’s rest. Activity is birthed out of rest.

P: Father thank you for this past year. I pray you will use me this year in any way you desire. Let not my desires get in the way of your Will for my life. I pray I can be well rested and live as your servant this day and every day this year. Love, Dick

Y: I will give up staying up late to make sure I get rest each evening.