From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zeke Pummeled But Not Demolished “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed…so we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed each day” 2 Corinthians 4: 8-9, 16 Where do you go and what do you do when everything falls apart? When you’re stressed? When you feel despair, hopelessness, sadness, anger? We all have our places, those places that serve as our own personal bunkers to wait out the storm, to regroup, to re-evaluate life and direction. As I type this, folks continue to recover from the tornadoes that struck not far from Wesley. Likewise, the river continues to rise and more roads continue to be closed. Literally, there are people who are living this verse from 2 Corinthians. For me, it is one for those that I have committed to memory. I did this because it holds special meaning for me and has been a protection in times of despair. As I prepare to attend Annual Conference, these verses will be a place I can abide if things get difficult. I hope and pray for each one of you- for your lives, that God’s presence in your lives will be clear, that each of you might know the love of God, and that our church might be one where love abides with power. As people of faith, let us abide in the truth that God is with us every step of the way. As people of faith, let us not allow of circumstance to determine the arc of our lives and faith. As people of faith, may we be tenaciously loving, exceedingly gracious, perplexingly holy, abidingly steadfast, and peacefully followers of Jesus. -Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter June 2019
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