E-Connection Article

An Article Written for the UMConnection

Christmas 2006 found our assistant pastor, Tony Scoglio, in
critical condition with a life threatening infection. As I write these
words, his earthly life hangs in the balance of God’s will and human
technology.

I thank God his eternal life has been secured through his faith
in Jesus.

As the New Year begins, we are being bombarded with self
improvement schemes: new diets, gym memberships, exercise
equipment and resolutions.

It seems that in today’s world many people are not very happy
with themselves. They seek to make changes to their lives. They
have a void and they try to fill it with all sorts of temporal things.
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon wasn’t always at peace. He seemed to
have it all; yet, he eventually came to understand that nothing mattered
more than knowing God.

Philosophers have tried to explain the meaning of life. Pastor
Tony’s illness has put it all in proper perspective for me.
If Tony’s sickness is unto death, it will not matter where he
lived, what vehicle he drove, whether his TV was a plasma or flat
screen, which iPod he owned or didn’t, or how fast his Internet
connection speed was.

Tony and I have reminded each other (as he lies in his hospital
bed) that our relationship with Jesus is what really counts. Life
isn’t about what we accomplish or accumulate or the titles we
hold. Life is about our relationship with Jesus and how we share
Jesus with others through our life’s work and example.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 reads, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it
with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is
neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”
Solomon had much and did much. If the things of the world
become our focus, we can count on being miserable. Solomon had
it all but found that things do not bring peace. Only a relationship
with God can satisfy.

At times, we fall back into the rat race of life, even when our
intentions are good. I found myself drained and overwhelmed
when I tried to cover Tony’s job and mine.

Pastors are notorious for thinking their work somehow gives
them special dispensation, because they are serving God. It
doesn’t.

All of us should work well at what we do while keeping our
eyes set on Jesus.

What will 2007 bring? The world around us is ever changing.
With the execution of one tyrant, another will rise. The economy is
always in flux. Some of us will lose the physical battle and die.
How will we grow in our discipleship journey in the face of
these changes? Will we work hard for things that are temporal,
things that will not follow us to the grave? Will we continue the
cycle of unhappiness? Or will we concentrate on those accomplishments
that bring us closer to Jesus and others too?

We must join together, as we resolve to be disciples and to
grow other disciples and Acts 2 churches in the coming year.
These will pass the test of time.

Rev. Ray