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First United Methodist Church      113 W. Central Ave.     Van Wert, Ohio      419-238-0631

 

 

      Sometimes when we stand at the "windows" of our lives our view is blocked by "stones" that seal off our vision of the world around us.  Those stones may be prejudice, or ignorance, or apathy, or greed, or misunderstanding, or any of a host of other factors.  They block us from experiencing the joy and fulfillment that God intends for us to find in the life He has given us.  Fortunately God is in the business of rolling away stones.  He rolled away the biggest one from the tomb in Jerusalem and resurrection changed the world.  He can roll away the stones in our lives too, and reveal to us the wonders of His grace. 

     There is a stone on the sill in our kitchen window.  It came home with me from Juarez, Mexico after our 2005 mission trip.  I brought it from the site where we built a one room, cement block home for a family of five that had been living in a cardboard shack.  Mom and dad both held down jobs while trying to raise a family in those conditions.  Hundreds of such families would never be able to save the money to buy a decent house without the ministry of Operacion Hogar, Pastor Jose Louis Ramos, and the "missionaries" from places like Van Wert, Ohio who give of themselves to serve others.  That stone in my window reminds me of the work we did there in the name of Christ.  It reminds me that there are hard working people all around the world who desperately need someone to take action in the name of Jesus Christ. It reminds me of how limited my vision is sometimes.

    I think it is important that we recognize the windowstones in our spiritual line of sight and ask God to roll them away.  I think it is important that we expand our vision.  When the stones are rolled away resurrection takes place, and the real ministry of the church begins.

Dillon Staas, Senior Pastor


Please direct questions or comments about this web site to dstaas@wcoil.com
Copyright © 2008 First United Methodist Church       113 W. Central Avenue      Van Wert, Ohio 45891      419-238-0631