Marion Sumpter

John 14:3

We gathered on August 28, 2009, at 10:00 AM to remember the life and death of Marion Sumpter. Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church was the location of our worship service. People came in compassion for Marion, who believed Jesus Christ to be the Son of God. The service, while speaking to the living, was held due to Marion and God.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 acknowledges that "dust (the body) returns to the ground, and the soul (breath) returns to the God, who gave it." We came in realizing the death of Marion's body, yet recognizing that "though she died, yet shall she live." This is stated because the human body met the cessation of life, but her soul was believed to be acceptable to the Infinite One - God.

While this truth may bring an image of life beyond death, it does not end grief felt given the lost of human life. What are we to do in response to death and dying? Here are four recommendations:

1. Communicate with ears of compassion. God hears prayers. By faith we embrace this divine blessing. In addition, human beings yearn for the compassionate ears of friends, relatives, associates, and others to listen with love and without unnecessary advice. Pure love of hearing in good times and in bad times. Death may be one of the worst times, even when loved ones appeared ready to die and cross over the threshold of eternity. Compassionate communication requires the art of listening to grief in others.
2. Respectful closeness with the touch of love. God's love is comforting. Seek the comfort of God through supportive and respectful people. Human touch offered in the right manner eases pain. Void of abuse. Void of persons entering the space of vulnerability. The touch of empathy may be assuring ... A touch that speaks volumes about care gives meaning in silent voice. Reaching out with touch in times of grief may yield empathetic love at its best.
3. Allow time to cry. Crying does not have to be bad. It may be healthy to cry in the safety of empathetic people. When crying without shame or undo stress, monitor the grief process in the comfort zone of persons who care.
4. Accept the reality of time. All things in time. Ecclesiastes gives a summary to time in the third chapter of the Old Testament text. It reveals a time to be born, a time to love, a time to plant, a time to sew, a time to build up, a time to war, a time to die ... a time of peace, a time to weep ... a time to mourn, a time to embrace ... a time to laugh ... a time to dance.

In waiting, we have and do not have. We have the assurance of eternal life, while we await the time of crossing over the way of death. Our time will come. When death comes, may life continue with God.

Marion Sumpter was remembered. May we be remembered ... too.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy and remember us, when death comes, and life continues. Amen.

Senator Ted Kennedy Died

Ecclesiastes 12:7

We will face death. The cessation of life is assured. Unless the Savior comes and raptures the people of God before our last breath, we will die.

The news media announced: SENATOR TED KENNEDY DIED. I recall being in my third grade class, when the announcement of the death of President John F. Kennedy came. I was watching the coverage of a victory speech by Senator Robert F. Kennedy, when moments later the news media reported that he had died from the violent attack on his life. On the morning of August 26, 2009, the announcement came that the final of four brothers born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kennedy had died. Each death different, yet similar. Joseph, the eldest son and first to face death, was killed in war. Teddy was the only one of the brothers to see life and death as a process born out in length of time void of death by human hands. He died of cancer, which is still an infectious ill to be conquered in human medicine. Like his brother, the Senator that fought for health care, civil rights, education, and fair treatment of all people faced the end of life.

I never stood in the office of his brothers. However, visiting his office was a high time during one of my visits to the Capitol. My younger daughter found in some of her Washington, DC experiences Teddy Kennedy to be the man of interest and intelligence often attributed to him. I was wounded and deeply sorrowed at the death of his brothers. I was young and so immature in faith, when learning of their demise. While human loss still saddened me in the death of "the lion of the senate" as he has been referred to, I rejoice in the mature belief that Senator Edward M. Kennedy conquered death, because he was not consumed by it. He lived until he died. Reports from his "loving wife" - Vicki states that until his final day, he arose out of bed each day. I believe in facing death on yesterday, his soul arose from the bed to live everyday in eternity.

Many will speak now of his immeasurable contributions. He will be laid to rest near his four brothers, who made their marks as to earn a place in Arlington Cemetery outside of Washington, DC. Fitting for each, for sure, and none having given more time in the capitol of these United States of America than Ted Kennedy. All tributes will be well deserved and prayerfully well made. I have read the remarks of two great leaders - The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. and President Barack Obama. In both I heard words of appreciation to the Kennedy legacy in the fight for human rights. I encourage you to read them both. They are historical statements of a historic life.

History cannot record the final story. The final story is beyond the time of history. History reports what has been "his story". What history cannot capture is the records of his eternity. We can only speak in hope of knowing for ourselves an eternity free of discord and filled with peace. I end in the same hope for the souls of all children of God, who came to believe and preceded us into everlasting existence. Live on Teddy Kennedy, live on!

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy and save our lives. Amen.

Solitude

John 6:15

Jesus in his wisdom went away from the crowd, and had time in solitude. What is solitude, and what happens in solitude? Those of us wanting to be like Jesus want to know about solitude. Solitude is a place. A place where personal awareness may be captured. A place where the experience of God may be personal. A place of communion. Feasting with the Holy in a place called solitude. For Jesus, according to John 6:15 there was a time of departure unto a mountain to be away from the crowd. He drifted away from the doing of things. Having met the physiological needs of people, Jesus sought to be in solitude, alone in holiness. How do I know he was in holiness, because holiness was in him. There is no place of unholiness for the Holy, when the Holy is in solitude.

Where do you go, when you desire holiness? The Word in John 6 reminds us that we are to follow Jesus for the right reasons. The reasons being spiritual more than physiological. Sure the Lord is able to provide for our needs of shelter, food, and clothing. We are taught that as the eye of God is on the sparrow, the Lord watches over us. Jesus lifts up unto us as a greater purpose for being in His entourage, which is feasting on the spiritual manna. He institutes a call to feed on him, and drink of his blood. The institution of the Eucharist in John 6 brings to our full awareness the responsibility of abiding in Christ and having Christ abide in us.

The Holy Table or holy rail or altar is a place of solitude. Partaking of the Holy Eucharist around the holy table is a place of communion. A place where God may be encountered or experienced in a way that leads to forgiveness and reconciliation. A spiritual awe comes through when you lay your burdens at the rail of communion, and pick up your food of reconciliation. It is there in holiness that you are fed that you may feed again. You are not required to be the preparer or the primary source of giving in solitude. In solitude you are cared for, so that you may come out of solitude and give care to the people of God.

Thus, solitude as personal as it is with God can never be rationale for solitary Christianity. No, no, no it is not a personal religion with no need for fellowship or discipleship. It is much more than a trip as a lone spiritual ranger or non-participant church pew warmer. Solitude is the place of fueling. It is the spiritual station that is as important to soul as the gasoline station is to an automobile. In solitude you are filled up not to stay at the station or hold on to the fuel. You are to come out of solitude filled and rekindled so that you may keep your charge to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Do you feel the need for rekindling? Do not go on vacation from God. God never vacations from you. Rather come into solitude, so you may be loved by God, in order to spread the love of God unto others. Any time you are feeling the need for more loving, journey back into solitude to be refueled, in order to go back out of solitude and love every body.

What happens in solitude may be a personal experience, but it is an experience where you come out sharing a personal witness of a personal encounter, which may change from self serving personals into life giving spirituals for all concerned. It inspires the love of every person, because in solitude your heart is strangely warmed that you may strangely love even the stranger among and strangest of the people of God. People come from every walk of life. They crowd into the city seemingly never to sleep. They are all around at all times, day and night. The challenge is to find solitude, and come out introducing God to the multitude.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, meet us in solitude, so that we may be strengthened to reach the multitude. Amen.

Bread of Life

John 6:24-35



Faced with opposition, Jesus states his claim for faith. Through faith persons are able to have their physical and spiritual needs met by the grace of God.


Picture the faces of those following Jesus to Capernaum, when Jesus called them out as following for wrong reasons. Jesus tells them to work for the bread that endures forever. Seeking signs of where and how to find the bread, the people had to be more amazed when Jesus announced: "I am the bread of life." (v.35)

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement and primary source of Wesleyan theology, believed in Jesus Christ. Wesley grounded his faith in the Jesus being the Son of God, who died for the sins of believers.

I am a believer, are you? I am into the what of life these days. I want to know what is being done, what the plans are, and what people believe. When it comes to the faith it is easy as breathing to state what I believe. It is because I live it, and pray it daily. I have written it in creative ways, but the origin is rooted in Church history. What I believe is deep in the "Apostle Creed", the historic confession of the Christian church.

My daily bread consist of faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore, I pray the Lord's Prayer, the Apostle Creed, the prayer of David, the prayer of Jeremiah, and personal prayers each morning and through the day as I pray. It feds my soul, when I read the Bible and talk to God. I feast on the Word. Being nourished in the word I pray throughout the day. Oh yes, Jesus is the bread of life. With the bread of life I have strength for the living of these days on earth, and manna for the eternal life. Praying in the name of Jesus is better than fast food. God hears and answers in a hurry. So, yes, I believe. Do you believe?

I believe in God, I believe in Jesus Christ, and I believe in the Holy Spirit. By believing I come to enjoy the fruit of the spirit. Love, joy, and peace propel me to the best of life. Come eat the fruit with me. Come and enjoy the refreshing water. No longer being spiritually dehydrated, we sing and shout to the glory of God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, fed us the spiritual food that we may believe. Amen.