Devotional 9-7-19

Philippians 4: 8-9

This week has been terribly sad week for Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church,

We have lost a great leader and friend in Mr. Frank Hanshaw to a terrible accident outside the family business.

Mr. Hanshaw has been part of my memories at JMUMC for as long as I can recall.  His presence and leadership have always been dedicated to doing what was right in all phases of his life but especially here at our church.  His example has been a guidepost for a lot of lives.  His impact will be present for a long time.

The scripture in Philippians offers a blueprint that I think Mr. Hanshaw would wholeheartedly endorse and offer a direction for us all to emulate.

May God comfort his family in this tragic circumstance and assist us all to remember his example.

Mike Bowen

Devotional 11-4-16

In my latest of edition of Readers Digest there is an excepted chapter from a book by Bob Odenkirk's book "A Load of Hooey" entitled, "How to Pick a Tatoo".

One of the first things Mr Odenkirk's emphasizes is three things:
1. Do not be in a hurry.
2. Do not be drunk.
3. Do not be drunk and in a hurry.

Tattoos are everywhere these days.  It's art and I get that.  I suppose there is a lot self expression in that art. 

They do have the ability to let people know how you feel about things but they are pretty much forever.  I am sure that errors in judgement or spelling can be most humbling.

I really appreciate the tattoos in people's lives that are not quite as physically visible.  The lives that bear the mark of life spent doing the right things and in service to Christ are the ones that mean the most to me.  I see those whenever I am at church and see the folks that are there.  Those are the most impactful works of art I see.  And that ink never fades.  It's eternal.

Mike Bowen

Devotional 7-19-12

Matthew 18: 21-22

Technology has taken things in my life and moved them from a leisurely pace to supersonic speeds and sometimes to my complete consternation and vexation.

One of the greatest inventions in my lifetime was the Ticonderoga #2 pencil. Not so much for the pencil end but for the wonderful brownish red device on the opposite end called the eraser.

I know computer keyboards have backspace buttons and delete keys, but to me it is not the same as rubbing a mistake off the page to the point of ripping through the paper product you were writing on. Additionally, you could make the mistake more than once which was a real big deal to someone whose strong suit was not arithmetic or much anything else mathematical.

I remember taking quizzes and tests when you were instructed to use a ball point device or other permanent marker. You want pressure?

I have thought about this too much but whenever I get a chance to speak with a younger person I know (whether they want it or not) that I know some mistakes in life are inevitable. But I encourage them to make their mistakes with a #2 pencil and not a permanent marking device. Tattoo is an art form, but it will sag at some point.

With God’s love and through the gift of Christ’s advocacy we have the universal solvent to cover our “mistakes” large and small. We are commanded by Christ himself to forgive others in multiples of 7 regardless of how much our natural instincts say differently.

Honestly, that seems a lot more practical than even the Ticonderoga #2.

Mike Bowen