obedience isn't easy, but it is everything

The following was orginally written for and published under my"Inspiring Word" column in the January issue of our uzine, The Encourager. To view the whole magazine go to our website at www.uchurch.tv and click on "News & Calendar."

This June, I hope to be ordained as an Elder in the United Methodist Church. I say “hope” because I still have a few interviews left to complete before a final recommendation is made to the Bishop by the Board of Ordained Ministry. It has been a long journey for me. As the end is now in sight, I find myself reflecting more over the long process I have journeyed through to reach this destination.

It was in 1998 that I first began to feel a call to ministry. I took the first steps in the process that year with the pastor of my church in Austin, Sue White. Over the next few years, I began to complete the early requirements in the process – two years of church leadership, a discernment process with a district lay leader, another discernment process with an Elder, the filing of countless reports and documents. In 2001, I began a three year 96 hour Master of Divinity program. After graduating, I began work here at University and entered into a time of “probationary membership” in the order of Elders. I completed a battery of psychological and intelligence tests. I was probed and prodded to determine spiritual, emotional, and physical fitness. Every other month I spend two days being reviewed and analyzed by a committee of Elders. I have submitted hundreds of pages of theological and doctrinal responses for examination.

This year marks ten years of working toward this goal. One third of my life – my entire adult life – has been moving steadily in this direction. I have been filled at times with frustration, anger, hope, joy, and everything in between.

Ten years after perceiving God’s call to ordained ministry – here I am. Here I am on the verge of completing one great chapter in my life. As this chapter comes to an end, I can’t help wondering – what new beginning does God have for me next?

Through this long process, I have learned the need for continued obedience. Even when the way seemed closed, when the path was unclear, when I felt like giving up, God desired my obedience. Even in the worst moments of the journey, I knew that I could not withdraw or shrink from my responsibilities. Jesus Christ saved me. My life is no longer my own.

As I think about my own life, I can’t help but reflect on our church’s journey. For the last four or five years, we have been unified together by a common goal. We have been united in moving toward faithfully executing God’s plan for our congregation. Some among us have spent years and thousands of hours working to bring the church’s vision to fruition with the completion of the new North Campus. Some among us have made deep financial sacrifices in obedience to God’s call. So much of our hopes have been bundled together in this project. So much of our talk, time, and hope is now culminating as the new facility prepares to open. It has been a time of learning, sacrifice, frustration, joy, and everything in between.

I remember the first few meetings of the Building Committee. I’m not sure that any of us really knew what lay ahead. We certainly never suspected that God would do so much – back then our plans were much smaller than his plans.

As this chapter of life comes to a close for the people of University United Methodist Church, I can’t help but wonder – what new beginning does God have for us next?

One thing I know with certainty: Now is the time for us to begin anew. This new year, this new chapter lived together, marks a holy moment for the people of God. Now is the time for us to release anything that divides us. Now is the time for the whole people of God to look beyond their own interest and opinions. Instead, let us look toward the God who is pointing us in new directions and speaking new life into our church life.

It is an exciting moment for us all. We have the opportunity to begin anew. Won’t you prayerfully consider the glorious future God is calling us toward? Won’t you choose to be obedient to his will? Won’t you live out your promise you made to God when you joined this church to support University United Methodist Church with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, and your service?

Christ is counting on University to change our community, our city, and our world. Christ is counting on you to embrace the new life and new beginning we receive when we become his body. The time is now – Come: Let us journey together!