Wednesday, February 1, 2006

"KEEP YOUR FORK" An old but powerful Story!

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order," she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.

"What's that?" came the pastor's reply.

"This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."

The pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

"That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked.

"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor.

The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story, and from there on out, I have always done so. I have also always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement.

In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming ... like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!' So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?". Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork the best is yet to come." The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye.

He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question "What's with the fork?" And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her.

The pastor told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right.

So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.

Have a blessed Week
Jeff

Monday, January 2, 2006

E-VOTIONAL AND ANNOUNCEMENTS


“For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11

This is week two of our series on planning and goal setting for 2006. This week, and next week, we ask you to do some “purposeful daydreaming”. God will help you. Begin by praying the following prayer: God, please show me the plan you have for my life and my family. Thank you for having dreams for me just like I have dreams for me own children. Amen. Now, consider your life in twenty years. Think of where you will live, your health, your marriage and other significant relationships, and your financial situation. Do you have close friends? Will you be caring for parents? What will your children be like? The setting for your daydream could be Thanksgiving dinner, or a vacation, or just a normal day, whatever you choose. This vision can then serve as a means for you and your spouse to set your goals in terms of how you spend your time, how much money you save, and what you choose to teach your children.

Jeff and I have constructed a vision for our future personally and also for our church. We believe that in twenty years Christ United Methodist Church will have 1000 people attending worship weekly and at least one “daughter congregation” in Cabot. Christ Church will have wonderful programming for children and families. We believe over the course of 20 years God will call 25 of our members to become pastors. We believe we will have a sister relationship with churches in third world countries, and that we will have mission trips that go to work alongside our brothers and sisters in other countries. In Cabot our church will be known as a church that cares about people, offering assistance to unwed mothers, the poor and the elderly. These are just a few of our dreams and we plan what our church is doing this Spring with those goals in mind.

Work on your own dreams and talk them over with your spouse. Next week we will talk about specific areas of goal setting, beginning with goals for parenting.
Unitl then... Blessings!
Jeff