“FINDING GOD”

Jeremiah 29: 10-11 (The Message)

“This is God’s word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home.  I know what I’m doing.  I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”

GREETINGS!!! From 2008 GENERAL CONFERENCE of the United Methodist Church.

As the Conference continues, much work on behalf of the whole Church is being accomplished.  First, let me offer a word of thanksgiving for our faithful delegates and the work they have done in legislative sessions, plenary sessions, and other meetings and responsibilities they have had.  I also want to thank the members of our Conference who are serving as pages, monitors, marshals, visitors, or in any other capacity.

Worship has been inspirational and penetrating.  The work of decision making is in process.  Please pray for those representing you here from Wisconsin Conference and around the world.

I write at a time when few controversial issues have come before the Conference.  There are some still anticipated to be coming.

Being present at General Conference is an opportunity to see one vision of God’s realm in all its diversity of human color, culture, age and perspective.  There are people from urban and rural North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Philippines and other parts of our globe.  There are persons who are young, old, straight, homosexual, liberal and conservative.  As you might imagine, there have been differences of viewpoint, perspective and desire.  The questions of priority and in whom we trust flow through debate and deliberation.

Where do we find God in the midst of adherence to Roberts Rules and budget development?

Are we motivated more by money or by mission?

Are our choices based on fear of what we may lack in the future or grounded in a vision discerned that will allow us to be God’s people who change the world -- one life, congregation and community at a time?

I have found that it is necessary to look for God in the midst of intense activity, conversation, confrontation, contemplation and deliberation.  It is particularly necessary to look for God in the face of those we disagree with, dislike or don’t want to support.

But based on the spirit of this General Conference so far, it is evident that the General Conference body is seeking God.

I find God here, in the midst of all that is before us at General Conference.  God doesn’t always move in the ways we prefer, but God is moving.

Thanks be to God.

“When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.  When you come looking for me, you’ll find me.  Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.  God’s decree.”  Jeremiah 29: 12-14 (The Message)

In Christ,

Bishop Linda Lee