Tomorrow I officiate the funeral of a friend who died of cancer at the age of 48.
Puts General Conference happenings in perspective, doesn’t it? What is it for you? Returning home to family challenges? Preparing a sermon when your own heart is weary and troubled? Ministering to people you love who are dealing with brokenness, illness, miscarriage, or some other tragedy? Chances are you have something that breaks the General Conference bubble and returns you back to reality.
Up to this point in my General Conference updates, I’ve largely stuck to passing on the information. Let me be pastoral for a moment and do my best to encourage you.
No matter what plan you favored, there are some affirmations I believe we can all cling to and find hope:
- God is still on the throne – Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation. (Lamentations 5:19)
- Jesus still loves everybody and didn’t come to condemn but to save – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16)
- The Holy Spirit is still at work giving life and transforming people – The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. (Romans 8:11)
- The Triune God is still calling us to be ambassadors of Jesus in this world – So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
- The Bible is still authoritative, and we need to wrestle rigorously with it all – All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
No matter how you feel after the results of General Conference, I pray that you not only take comfort in these truths but also let them challenge and convict you to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world that is still lost, lonely, hurting and in need of a savior.
Pastor Andy Adams 
Amen.
Very well said. I think everyone, no matter what side, can say Amen to this post. Blessings!
God Moment! This event today showed me that God is still here. He shows up in ways that only he could orchestrate. I was just a piece. It hit me only after I had finished the whole Scout evening and was walking out of the church and paused.
Today: 26 February 2019
On this day regarding the decision that was made at 2019 General Conference.
Cub Scout Pack 4118 was honoring one of our key leaders with the God & Service award.
It was originally scheduled for 24th, but for reasons outside anyones control the award was not delivered in time.
Sherry was awarded the Adult Boy Scout / Methodist Religious Award (God & Service Award).
Sherry identifies with the LGBT community. She is working on her recovery in this arena and this weekend is attending a training event to foster her desire to start her own recovery ministry in her new location.