LAKE JUNALUSKA

Most people can't even pronounce Jun-a-lus-ka, let alone tell you where it is located. However, for United Methodist it represents 'heaven on earth' near Waynesville, NC, a part of the Great Smokey Mountains.



Each summer Annual Conference is held for members of Western NC. While business sessions can sometimes be tedious this year's debate about relocating to Greensboro brought about lively debate. In the end the delegates voted 2-1 to remain at Lake J. I am glad they voted in favor of staying at Lake Junaluska.



While housing, parking, and meals can be problematic, the spiritual dimension is immeasurable. For minister's children it is one of the constants in their lives. For life-long Methodists it is foundational. For visitors it is a welcoming respite.



The highlight of the weekend for me was Angie Hollar's ordination service. As Angie's friend and mentor, I can not think of a single person who embodies the spirit of Christ and possesses the gifts for ministry more so than Angie. As I bid farewell to the Lake on Sunday, I came back renewed and confident in my own call to ministry. Junaluska is good like that! It is a place that can offer you peace and perspective in a often too busy world.



The Lightshine choir of FUMC will be attending Music Week at Lake Junaluska , June 20-25. Have fun y'all! The Terrace will never be the same! But do me a favor, while you are there, hike to the cross, sit and look out over the Lake, and spend some time in personal reflection and prayer. Toss out those things in your life that are keeping you from walking close to Christ and breathe deep the spirit of God in your heart.

GRADUATION

"Well it's that time of year when the band plays familiar strains of Pomp and Circumstance, Chorus members sing the alma mater, color cladded students process in step, speakers make their way to the podium, diplomas are awarded and tassels turn.

It has happened for decades and yet each year when I prepare for our Senior Sunday,it is emotional and a time to reminisce. I usually tell the seniors that most of Graduation
is a blur! I mean I can't tell you who gave the Commencement address at Pfeiffer University. And the only reason I recall my high school speaker is because it was ME!

I graduated in 1976 which was the bi-centennial year so everything we received that year had an American flag on it! And the senior class decided it would be a great year to break
tradition, never my favorite thing to do. So instead of distinguished Shelby High School graduates in black robes w/ gold stoles, the females wore bright 'Yeller' rain slickers, technically our robes. I think that is the very moment I decided I did not like other people deciding what I
would wear.

So back to that speech I gave... it was on Faith. Faith in God,Faith in country and faith in my fellow man. Ironic, don't you think? Or maybe it was just the beginning of many 'aha moments!'

Congratulations Class of 2010, I look forward to hearing your personal reflections on Graduation. If you wait 34 years to write about it (like I did), you will need to send it to me in Large Print!

SENIOR DINNER ADDRESS

What kind of world do you want? Think anything, let's start at the start - history starts now!

The song, World by Five For Fighting, says 'be careful what you wish for . . .'

Back in August you were wishing your Senior year would hurry up and start.

In October we were wishing Hannah would HURRY and get to the church so we could depart for Valle Crucis.

And parents let's be honest, there have been times that you too have been wishing for this moment.

Well be careful what you wish for.

Because it looks a little different today, doesn't it? There are mixed feelings about this moment and that's exactly how it is suppose to be.

On our fall retreat we watched a video entitled "God's Chisel." Among other things, it reminded us that each of us is God's masterpiece. Fast forward to Youth Sunday and William and Jay reminded us again how SPECIAL we are.

But the song we used in the video goes a step further and suggests it is our responsibility to build a masterpiece fashioned by Gods' example. Will we be able to call our creation good and Holy? Will we be able to take what we do each day and make sure it contributes to our Master's design?

When you came in tonight, I hope you noticed the pool which looks similar to a swim meet. There is a Start and Finish line. However, could you tell which was which? I used this image because it is so tempting to look at graduation as crossing the Finish line. After all that is what we do, isn't it?

Swim a lap, get out of the pool, get a ribbon.

Even our church life is marked by many "finishes." Like Annabelle today, we are baptized at an early age, go through conformation, and then we join the church like last weeks Confirmands did.

In our school life it is much the same. Finish high school, cross the stage, get a diploma.

But sometimes it's easy to become so goal oriented and so focused on our dreams that we overlook the simple things that we should be enjoying in everyday life.

The next two weeks are going to be FAST AND FURIOUS. Do not fail to thank your parents. Give thanks to a God who loves you in spite of those things that need chiseling. Look around at the people, your friends and give thanks for them.

In this life, there is no such thing as a finish line. Once you accomplish one dream, God will toss you another. When you face an obstacle there will be another challenge. The currents of history only move in one direction and that is forward.

You have lived through tough economic times , natural disasters, war... we have gone through it before and we will get through it again.

HISTORY STARTS NOW!

It is not realistic to only live in the high moments, most of life is routine. So the question is, What kind of world do you want today? And each day after that you ask the question again.

Just like a swim meet, get out of the water, get back in and start at the start.

What steeple will you choose? What place will your faith hold now? Here I'm not just talking to the Seniors. Historically parents wander too at some point. So you have refocus, find a reason and get back in the water.

As Christians God challenges us to taste every moment and to Live it Out Loud. This is the time to be more than a name or face in the crowd - don't just blend in. History starts now for you too.

Each of us have different talents, different dreams and different destinations. Yet we all have the power to build a masterpiece. Let's start now to LIVE OUT LOUD!