I don’t normally do this but this one I felt I need to post on my blog. Here is my weekly note that I send to the great people of @fumclgok

Word from the Pastor:
Did you know that on this day 2 years ago. The man in Black Johnny Cash passed away. I love his music. His album called My Mother’s Hymn Book is perhaps one of my favorite albums I own. I love the way Cash sings this Classic hymn in the video above. It sends chills down my spine during Lent.

The song Man in Black Cash sings that he wears black as a reminder of the pain and suffering that is going on in the world. He sings that he would love to wear a rainbow everyday. I would love for there to be a day where there is no more food pantry. That everyone in our mission field would be fed. We have our work to do.

You have helped a lot. This week alone we raised $198.96 in the Pastor’s challenge. That was in 4 days with no notice.That says a lot about you as a church. I may have taken a pie in the face on Friday but you know it was worth every penny we raised.  Our communion rail offering saw the most food and money we have seen since we kicked it off in the summer. You are doing great work church to fight hunger. Thank you!

Now it’s hard not to for get what happened 14 years ago. The world was shook by a terrorist act. I was sitting in the OCU cafe eating breakfast when the first plane hit. I thought at first it was a pilot error. Then the news was turned on when news about the other planes came in. The next thing I remember was the prayer service that was at the OCU chapel. People of all faiths came together and prayed for peace. That prayer service was a first for me. I had never prayed with Muslims, Jewish, and other faiths before. It was powerful. I remember the fear of the draft coming back in the dorms. I remember friends back home joining up. I remember my attempt to join the services only to be turned down because of my shoulders and asthma.

When that school year ended I went on my first Mission Trip to New York. I remember going to the site where the towers had stood and the erie feeling that they had as we overlooked the holes. I remember how people from NY who were at the site hugged some of us when they found out we were from Oklahoma. Saying they remember the OKC bombing event.

I won’t ever forget the impact the horrible event had on the world. Even still today 14 years after the event. I still pray for peace to come, I pray I can be vessel of Christ love for this hurting world that we live in. I leave you with Hymn No 431 in the United Methodist Hymnal “Let There Be Peace on Earth”

Let there be peace on earth,and
let it begin with me;
let there be peace on earth,
the peace that was meant to be.
With God our creator, children all are we.
Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me;
let this be the moment now.
With every step I take,
let this be my solemn vow:
to take each moment and live each moment
in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me.