Posted by sklein    0 Comment(s)    Add a Comment 
Mar 1 2017

When I went to the Holy Land I expected to find many churches and monuments celebrating significant events in Biblical history. However, I didn’t expect to find a church and other buildings celebrating temptation and failure.

We all have memorials to temptation and failure. Empty boxes of candy, fast food wrappers, and beer bottles bear witness to lost battles with temptation. Old stationary, e-mails, and bills represent the once-routine presence of jobs and relationships that later failed. Most of these memorials remain around due to lack of attention rather than to a desire to keep them, so it surprised me a great deal to find elaborate structures in Israel built to memorialize temptation and failure.

Mount of Temptation Restaurant (and gift shop)

Outside of Jericho we found the “Temptation Restaurant” (and connected gift shop). At the time I thought the name was surprisingly honest; however, I later noticed that it was the “Mt. of Temptation Restaurant” (and gift shop). The Mount of Temptation lies a short distance away and contains ruins of a Crusader-era memorial to the temptation of Jesus.

Crusader memorial to the temptation of Jesus

The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu sits in Jerusalem. Gallicantu means “cock crow” in Latin, and the church memorializes the place where Jesus’ disciple, Peter, denied knowing Jesus as a cock crowed in the background. Under the church lies a bare-rock holding cell where Jesus likely spent the pre-dawn hours alone, his disciples having abandoned him.

The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu

I left those structures with two ideas for how grand (and simple) memorials to temptation and failure might strengthen my faith. First, I can use them to remind me of my need for God and God’s forgiveness. Second, I can use them to remind me of God’s faithfulness in the face of my failures. Just as Jesus offered forgiveness to Peter, he offers it to you and me.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

Join me Sunday at Access for the final worship service in our Focus series. We’ll learn and practice a 4-part model for prayer that helps us find words to speak to God, and we’ll even make reverent use of M&Ms

Posted by fcollins    0 Comment(s)    Add a Comment 
Feb 17 2017

Our family began attending Access soon after it first began. We had already fallen in love with FUMCR and liked attending the traditional services.  But, we were curious about the different format and, frankly, the evening time slot was appealing during the summer. We attended Access more often than the morning services that summer, and, more than anything, that had to do with Rich. We really appreciated his academic but approachable teaching of the scriptures and his incredible approach to hands-on community service. We liked his silly sense of humor.  And we really liked that our pastor at our big church knew us by name.

I think that is why we return to Access.  We love going to the traditional service, and we love how comfortable we feel even in a large congregation. We love all of the opportunities that a large church can offer for community and involvement. But on those Sundays when we go to Access, we know that there will be people who call us by name and ask how Wes’s work and our kids are doing. And they trust us to help in their growth and ministry. Being made to feel known and valued is why we will continue to support Access.

Wes & Natalie Hendrix, FUMCR members and ACCESS attendees

Posted by fcollins    1 Comment(s)    Add a Comment 
Feb 17 2017

My mom and I had been members of the church for 11 years when we stumbled into Access. I had just returned from college and met Julie at a young adult summer bible study she led. After getting to know Julie, I decided I wanted to go try Access, but I didn’t want to go alone. My mom agreed to go with me to make me feel more comfortable and we have never looked back. We love the family atmosphere that Access provides for us. This community has been with us through a lot and that brings a smile to both of our faces quicker than anything. Rich and Julie are a beautiful extension of what Clayton provides at the pulpit every morning. We love Access and FUMCR!

Carrie & Martha Lammers, FUMCR members and ACCESS attendees