Monthly Archives: June 2013

The Central Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church opened with a beautiful Worship Service on Sunday, June 9, and concluded today, Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at Arborlawn UMC in Fort Worth, Texas. It was business as usual it seemed for most people, but for me 2 things made it special, my commissioning and meeting up with school friends and colleagues.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013, was a very joyous, meaningful, heartfelt, and spiritual moving day. It was the most amazing evening for me, thus far, as I got commissioned as Provisional Elder of the Conference. I didn’t feel so much a sense of accomplishment as I did feel God led and that I am where I am because that’s where God wants me to be. Yes, a sense of my calling being affirmed was what I felt.

Bishop Mike Lowry preached a very relevant and brilliant sermon. The entire service was beautiful and I truly appreciated the Bishop’s message. His sense of humor and thought-provoking style was splendid. The best captured phrase that seemed to have made its round in Twitter was “If you want to make God laugh, tell her your plans.” How true on so many levels.

I was so ecstatic and grateful that all of my family, which included 7 brothers, their wives and children, were present to witness and to share the special evening. One of my brothers could not make it but was represented by his son. And, I was very happy that my oldest brother was present and stood with me as I got commissioned.

I am grateful to the friends who also came to show support. And to the family and friends who were not present, I appreciated your thoughts and prayers.

I give thanks to God for my family and all the wonderful people I have met throughout the years. Your love, friendships, encouragements, and prayers have helped me come this far, and I thank you.

But now that Conference is over and I have been appointed to 2 churches, I need to attend to my responsibilities of leading God’s people which includes writing a sermon for this Sunday and every Sunday thereafter. Whoa!! Am I really not ready as the Bishop conveyed last night in his message? Whether I think I am ready or not, I do firmly believe in my response to one of his examination question, “With God’s help, I will.”

On top of that, I have 3 weeks to find a place to move to, as I close on my home the 1^st week of July. Yikes! Time to get busy! But, confidently and faithfully, I do believe that with God’s help, I will! Amen!