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Grandma

I wanted to share something that I wrote for my Grandmother’s memorial service. I think it clearly expresses even more what a great woman of God she is.

Hi my name is Bradley Alexander and I am one of Mary K’s grandsons. As I stand here this morning I find it difficult to honor someone that did so much for so many people. Where do you even start? Mary K or Grandma was like a connection magnet. She loved connecting. From early on in her life she was deeply connected with God and his son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior and even was known to say that doing ministry to and with the least of these was a deep connection she had as well and we all have.

She was deeply passionate about her faith and living out that faith. She was actually very passionate about connecting with her family and it was always too soon when we had to depart. Definitely feeling that today. She revitalized our family reunion years ago and it has been going to decades under her leadership. Grandma always loved connecting with people, she just did. She loved being around people at church, teaching Sunday school, being with family on holidays like thanksgiving and christmas.

The deepest that Grandma gave us though was something else entirely. She connected all of us to who she saw us to be. She would always tell me when I lived with Grandma and Granddad while I attended Texas Wesleyan University that I was so capable of doing many great things, it was just about showing up and seeing yourself for who you really are. Before the Texas Rangers ever used the phrase Never Ever Quit Grandma used it frequently by the way she lived her life and loved the people in her life.

Grandma, I love you and thank you for all that you did for me and I promise that I will always seek to do what you taught me. To Love God, To Love People, Speak from the Heart always, and to speak the truth at all times even when it hurts. Even further I promise to follow the recipes as written in our family cookbook.

I love you Grandma!

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A New Project

Last year I began a new journey towards being a certified youth minister in the United Methodist Church, I am very proud that this journey continues this year, but a new one has recently begun within the last month.

I have begun a journey in writing my first book.

I am very excited about this journey, but I need your help. First of all I need your prayers as I engage in the writing process I ask that you pray for God to speak through me, not me speak for God, but that God speaks through me.

The impetus for this book is the desire that Youth Workers in the United Methodist Church are trained in what it means to be a Youth Worker in the United Methodist Church. People in ministry that are skilled wesleyans who know their Wesleyan Heritage and Wesleyan Theology and can speak passionately about them both and can teach youth in their youth ministries how to engage in this heritage and theology as well.

We are United Methodists and we need to not just know these things, but know them exceedingly well! So, the second part of the help I need. My book entitled: Wesleyan Distinctives: A Practical Look is a look at the six core parts of our Wesleyan Heritage and Theology. Specifically they are as follows:

Prevenient Grace
Justification & Assurance
Sanctification & Perfection
Faith & Good Works
Mission & Service
Nature & Mission of the Church

I need you all to help me speak for you and with you. So, what are the questions, doubts, struggles that you have had with this heritage and theology. What do you want talked about in our world in the context of our theology?

Thank you so much in advance for your help in this new project!

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Hope in the Storm

“I’ve said these things to you so that you will have peace in me. In the world you have distress. But be encouraged! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33

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For the 2015 Graduates

It’s official High School Graduation season has begun. So I have some words that Iwould like to share. They are not completely my words, but words from John Wesley. The founder of the Methodist Movement. Wesley had three simple rules that he dedicated his life towards. 

The 3 Simple Rules they are called. 

Do No Harm. 
Do Good. 
Stay in Love with God. 

They are simple in wording, but not simple in application, but they are important and as you embark on the next part of your journey I pray that no matter where you find yourself that you do these things. 

I pray that you laugh uncontrollably, play with your food, take leaps of faith, put your whole self in, let go of your worries, flip out, let your hair down, and wipe out. We pray that you will feel alive as you take a joy ride, but above all else I pray for two things. 

  • “Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.” “Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can. -John Wesley
  • As you do this always BE who you are, SEE what you have, and DO what matters to God. 

Now we (the church community you are a part of) are sending you into the world wherever it may lead you. You are Christs representatives so I leave you with this final word. 

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)

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Praying for Texas

This week Texas all over the place received a lot of rain, if you didn’t already know. At one point it was 4 inches of rain an hour. That’s ridiculous. It has been terrible to see the images of people displaced in Houston, Wimberly and around the southern part of the state and they have been on my mind a lot this week. If you have a moment today I would encourage spending some time in prayer for them. Also be in prayer for many people that were evacuated (850 homes) in the Palo Pinto area because they had to drain some of that water as well. 

Lots of people are displaced all over Texas. 

So if you have a home that you go to tonight be thankful, but also pray for those without.