A note from Pastor Travis 12/9/21

Dear FUMC Family and Friends,

Recently I saw a safety poster that was displayed to protect workers which read, “Things placed on a poor foundation might fall.” As I looked at the poster, I thought how true that is in all of our lives. When we build our lives on a poor foundation, it gives way, and our lives fall apart when times become difficult. Jesus talked about this in Matthew 7:24-26: 

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!” 

There are so many things upon which we can build our lives. The world embraces power and greed and tells us that anything we do to get ahead is acceptable. It claims that the ends justify the means. Yet, as people of faith, we understand that this is building our lives on sand. It is only in Christ that our lives are firmly grounded. The work of the church is to help us build our lives on a solid foundation of Christ. Through worship, study, and service, we place our lives on the sure footing of Jesus. This provides us with the sturdy support we need to face all of the difficulties and obstacles of life. It gives us the strength we need to build our lives higher and stand taller. It allows us to risk and to care. For we know that our lives are built on God’s grace.

We are in Advent, and we soon will be celebrating Christmas. Advent is important because it reminds us how much the world needs Christ as its foundation. In Advent we remember that there was a time before Jesus came into the world, and that people of faith longed for the Messiah to come. In this season, we are invited to reflect on how much we need Christ as our foundation, and what a difference Christ has made in our lives. Through this reflection, we rediscover the blessings of God’s grace, and this makes Christmas an even greater celebration. 

Happy Advent,

Pastor Travis