Honor Indeed!

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country's cause."  Honor indeed! The United States of America has a rich tradition, borne by men and women whose sacrificial military service has strengthened a nation and preserved its citizen's freedom.  Gratitude is an appropriate response to such service, yet it seems at times we forget the burdens of freedom so many have been willing to bear.  Veterans Day calls us to pause in the busyness of our often self-absorbed lives and remember the debt we owe to those whose faithful service has ensured the liberty we too often take for granted. 

 

This Sunday morning we will pause in our morning worship service to give thanks for and recognize those who have served our nation so faithfully.  I will be continuing the series of messages from Deuteronomy 6 on the great commandment, focusing this week on the theme of legacy.  Moses challenged his people to pass along the truths of what they had learned and how they had been blessed.  That is indeed a theme worth pursuing as we reflect on God's faithfulness and that of others.  We will also have a very special guest at Church Family Night this Wednesday.  Since Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, we have invited Chaplain "LTC" Jim King, whose Army career has spanned more than twenty-seven years, to be our special CFN guest.  Colonel King will share about his work and calling as an Army chaplain, as well as his connection to our ministry partner, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.  This is a fitting way for us to honor Veterans Day and give thanks for those whose service makes such a difference.  This is the second of our Chef's Choice Mission Nights and Sandy Milam will be preparing a military themed meal, so if you don't have a standing reservation, make one for this special evening.  Dinner will be served from 5:30-6:15 and Chaplain King will speak around 6:30.

 

Be part of these special celebrations as we honor those who bravely bear our country's cause.

 

Jim Abernathy

The Wonder of God

On autumn afternoons, I enjoy turning into our neighborhood  and driving past the tot lot where the vibrant colors of the season glow in the late afternoon sun. The tot lot is the community plot in our subdivision where the children play and seasonal picnics are held.  It borders the Lake Braddock football stadium and is often walked through by neighbors on their way to Friday night games.  But on late October afternoons, it is transformed into a glowing palette of yellow, orange, red, and gold as the colors of the season come to life with the setting sun.  This narrow corridor of trees holds little attraction for me most days.  It probably has more to do with the rush and hurry of my own distraction than anything else, but the wonder of this natural phenomenon draws me out of my routine to pause and appreciate it's wonder.  Simple things are indeed powerful!

 

What get's your attention these days?  If you said threats of war, presidential politics, uncertain economic times, I understand, for those and other issues like them are hard to ignore.  I have learned, however, that wonder and appreciation are treasures of the human experience that must not be overlooked in the midst of the noise and threats of daily life.  I am also learning that one must intentionally seek wonder, otherwise the heaviness of the world can become overwhelming. 

 

Amidst the worry and fear of his day, Jesus encouraged his followers with these words from the Sermon on the Mount. "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry..."  Look around you and witness the wonder of God. Such beauty is good for the soul.

 

Trunk or Treat will be held at Westwood tomorrow from 4-5 p.m.  It will be a fun time of costumes and candy, providing another opportunity to welcome our community.  I look forward to seeing you for worship this Sunday as I begin a special series of messages taken from Deuteronomy 6 focusing on the great commandment.  The preschool choir will be singing and that is always a blessing, so invite a friend and join us as we gather to worship the living God.

 

Jim Abernathy 

God at Work

Cindy and I are on the road again. Like several parents in our church this fall, we are heading to parent's weekend to see how our student is doing.  Clayton is in his senior year at the University of Kentucky, so this is the last time we will participate in this special weekend. The last time we participated in this event was his freshman year, and we were talking along the road today about how quickly these years have gone.  Wednesday evening, I sat with a few young parents at CFN and heard their stories of laughter and wonder as their young children are growing up before their eyes. I encouraged them, as others have done for me over the years, to enjoy these moments for they pass so quickly. 

 

Somewhere along the line this weekend, I'm sure I will look at Clayton as he interacts with his friends or as I am sitting across the dinner table from him, and will suddenly be lost in some past experience that will be remembered as if it happened just yesterday. These glimpses of days gone by serve not only to remind me of how Clayton has changed over the years, but also how I have changed.  And yes, God has been at work through it all.  Amidst all the changes, that has made all the difference.

 

Remember the Westwood women's retreat this weekend and the Reverend Beth Willetts as she leads the retreat.  Keep all these folks in your prayers. Also, check on friends and neighbors this weekend in the midst of the storms.  Being a good neighbor brings blessing to you both.

 

Jim Abernathy

Hospitality Opens Doors

Cindy and I went to the grocery store last evening in preparation for guests who would be arriving during the night.  Six college students were coming for the weekend...Clayton and five of his buddies from the University of Kentucky.  We had secured air mattresses from friends so everybody would have a place to sleep and completed the appropriate cleaning Cindy thought necessary to prepare for guests, though I was sure these six wouldn't be bringing their white gloves to check for dust.  So the grocery store was the final act of preparation.  On the way to the checkout I began to protest that we had enough food to feed an army. Cindy refreshed my memory about the eating habits of college young men and I reluctantly agreed, sliding my debit card through the reader, completing the transaction. My bank account was significantly lighter and I sighed in resignation, knowing that in 48 hours the food and the young men would be gone.

 

We enjoy having guests from time to time.  Cindy loves to cook, Max always welcomes everyone with the same enthusiastic bark, and I enjoy hearing the stories of life that so often accompany these encounters.  Hospitality is a blessing given and received.

Over the past fourteen years I have come to appreciate hospitality as one of Westwood's greatest gifts.  To welcome others in Jesus' name and to make them feel at home in worship, fellowship, and ministry is a treasure indeed.  Many folks visiting for the first time have told me over the years how welcoming Westwood is.  I am grateful for the hospitality you share and am convinced that your kindness and openness to others make Westwood a warm and inviting community of faith.   Let us continue to open our doors and our hearts to all who come, for in doing so, we also welcome Christ.

Join us for worship this Sunday as we celebrate Music Dedication Sunday at Westwood. Our choirs will be sharing special music and I will be sharing a message entitled, "What Does Wisdom Look Like," based on the third and fourth chapters of James.  Invite someone to join you for this special Sunday.

When it's all said and done, hospitality opens doors not only for the guest, but also the host. May our hearts and minds be open to welcome all who come. The blessing we offer is also one we receive.

Jim Abernathy

"Do You Believe This?"

I heard a minister say this past week that death should not be in the vocabulary of a Christian. The context of his comment was a funeral service and his point was that our hope in the eternal Christ overcomes death.  Resurrection is at the heart of our faith for it reminds us, as the Apostle Paul said, that Christ makes all things new.  But death cannot be denied.  To ignore its effect on our human experience is to diminish so much of what we hold dear.  The death of a friend or loved one wounds us deeply, for even though by faith we have hope in the risen Christ, we must continue in this life apart from someone who has meant so much to us.   To deny the reality and depth of that pain would be to deny the value of human life bestowed by the Creator.

For more than three decades I have walked with families through the valley of the shadow of death. The unique nature of each relationship and person involved has made no two of these experiences exactly alike.  Today, September 11, reminds us that death can come suddenly and senselessly. But whether it comes in an act of war, the result of a tragic accident, illness, or the final breath of old age, death is a solemn and undeniable experience of life that impacts us all. 

So how do we live in its aftermath...how do we walk through this valley...how do we move forward in the shadow of our losses? Jesus knew the painful reality of death. In John 11, Jesus learns that his friend Lazarus is ill and while he makes his way to his friend, Lazarus dies. The dead man's sisters greet Jesus with tears and brokenness. Moved by their grief, Jesus wept. The heavy burden of grief was known in the heart of the Christ.  "I am the resurrection and the life," he told Lazarus' sister, Martha. "The one who believes in me will live, even though they die." Jesus did not deny death, but in the midst of its burden and brokenness, he offered hope. Through his own tears, he offered his grieving friends the assurance of resurrection. Then he asked Martha a very pointed question; "do you believe this?"

Today, in the midst of painful remembrances, the same question comes to us.  Yes, death is a part of our vocabulary, but so too is comfort and hope in the resurrected Christ.  In answer to Jesus' question...yes, I do believe, and therefore, even in brokenness, there is hope. Thanks be to God!

Jim Abernathy

Changing Seasons of Life

You have seen the signs now for several weeks, declaring the annual ritual of return as students, teachers, and administrators prepare for the first day of school.  These back to school signs remind us all that summer is coming to a close and the routines of the school year are about to begin.  There is a mixture of melancholy and anticipation as one season comes to a close and another begins. 

 

Life is a continuing season of transition. The passing of time brings changes physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  There are new, transformative experiences that cause us to view and experience life differently, as well as cherished traditions that remind us of what we treasure and hold dear.  

 

Faith is foundational in the midst of these changing seasons of life.  The Psalmist writes in Psalm 62:6, "Only God is my rock and my salvation—my stronghold!—I will not be shaken".  No matter the season or stage of life's transition, that which is constant in every change is the promise of God's presence.  On that rock we build our lives. On that rock we find courage and strength.  On that rock, though all about us changes, we are not shaken. That is the good news, our hope in an ever changing world.

 

After a wonderful month of August Sundays, we return this Sunday to our regular schedule of Sunday School at 9:45 and worship at 11. Thanks to so many people who made our August Sundays at Westwood such a blessing.  As you return to Sunday School this week, let your teacher know how much you appreciate him or her and celebrate the connection you share with your class.  Then join us in worship at 11 as we welcome our choir back from summer break, Olga from her month away visiting family in Russia, and many of your friends who have been traveling this summer.  Bibles will be presented to rising first graders, we will celebrate communion, and I will bring a message entitled, "Choosing Your Name," taken from Proverbs 22. With the return of Church Family Night on the 9th at 5:30, our fall program will begin, challenging us anew to honor the Lord as we gather in community for worship, service, and fellowship.

 

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we gather to worship the living God, the rock of our salvation.

 

Jim Abernathy

Final August Sunday at Westwood

Friends,

A blessed Friday morning to you. Please check the Westwood Express, sent Wednesday, for our continuing prayer list.

This Sunday is our final August Sunday at Westwood.  We have had a wonderful month of worship and fellowship. In this Sunday's service, Lana Crist will provide special music, Rebecca Larson will be sharing about her sense of calling to serve as Director of Preschool and Children's Ministries, I will be bringing the series of messages entitled, "What Can I Give Him," to a close as we focus on the heart, looking at Matthew 6:19-21, and the service will close with a called church conference to vote on the personnel committee's recommendation to call Rebecca Larson.  The service will be followed by a time of fellowship in Whitten Hall and a fifth Sunday mission project as we pack weekend food packs. It will be a busy but wonderful day. I look forward to sharing it with you!

Jim Abernathy