I did not know Mr. Weems, but I do know his son Shawn who attends our church. I had just a short conversation with Shawn as I went to visit and pay my respects to Shawn, his wife Trish, the extended family and of course, his mother Mary. Shawn was in good spirits and at peace in knowing that this is how his Dad Harry would have wanted to leave this world and have his homecoming with his Savior and Lord.
Shawn stated that he had a great relationship with his father, and that they did many things together and that he would miss the advice that he often sought from his Dad. He went on to say, that he only wished he had gotten one last piece of advice from him before he went to be with the Lord. However, we both quickly agreed that Shawn had gotten something much better – Shawn had a lifetime of advice from a wonderful and close relationship he had with his Dad. Harry has left, but his legacy, wisdom, and spirit will live on through his son Shawn.
Shawn also stated that his Dad in these latter years had “mellowed” and kindled a much closer and intimate relationship with his Savior. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8) and that is exactly what happened with Harry and is a great testimony of the love our Savior has for His children.
Shawn and Trish are an incredible couple and as a pastor, I find these things to be the hardest to deal with personally. It is something that always has a profound effect and someone you know is feeling great pain and loss of someone they love very much. My thoughts and many prays go out to the Weems family and ask God’s peace to overwhelm them.
Obituary: Harry Weems 01-20-2010
Mr. Harry Weems, age 74, Jonesborough, laid down his body and went to be with the Lord Wednesday, January 20, 2010. Mr. Weems was a native of Washington County and son of the late Wilbur & Helen Worley Weems. He was also preceded in death by a grandson, Michael Bennett and one brother, Worley Weems. He was member of Jonesborough United Methodist Church. Mr. Weems was a Manager of Jonesboro Insurance Agency for 30 years. He was a volunteer fireman and refereed for TSSAA. He was co-chairman for the original Jonesborough Days Committee and a member of Emmaus Community. He was also a member of Civitan Club. Survivors include his wife, Mary Graybeal Weems, Jonesborough; three children, Renee Bennett, Carol Weems, and Shawn Weems and wife, Trish, all of Jonesborough; one brother, Lew Weems, Knoxville; two sisters, Sharon Hutchens and Thea Smith, both of Jonesborough; three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Willie Weems; and several nephews and nieces.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
To Be or Not to Be - Resolutions
Some of you have asked about my New Year resolutions or commitments that I have made to Christ. As I taught on Sunday morning, many do not keep their commitments for a number of reasons. One reason is because they are not meaningful or challenging enough. What I mean by that is it must be something you believe important enough to follow through with and that other activities will not overshadow them. Remember this is a commitment to Christ and is focused on Him first and foremost not what we might want more for ourselves. Secondly, it must be a commitment that can easily be measured. In this, it’s important that you don’t set the goal too high to where you are quickly discouraged. I once had a goal to read the Bible through 4 times in one year. However, I didn’t make it, but I didn’t quite and was able to read it through almost 3 times. Obviously, I received a great blessing from that.
What is important is that we follow through with our commitments and that means they have to continually be put before you as a reminder. Many people today are IT savvy and imbed their commitments into their calendar on Outlook. I use both technology and the old school way. I have automatic pop ups on my calendar to remind me of daily, weekly, and monthly goals, but also use my daily journal that has my goals written out in 05 lead pencil. If you are really serious about your commitments you will also make yourself accountable to someone else. Share with someone what your commitments are. In many instances you don’t have to be to specific if it’s a personal matter and they might just ask you if you have been faithful in what you allow yourself to look at (TV, computer, etc.).
Remember these commitments you have to the Lord have been prayed over and have been determined to be important. Because of this, it’s always best to prioritize these commitments. For me, that means I do them first before other things. In other words, many of my commitments are spiritual in nature, thus they are done first before other things. Practically what that entails is I get up early and give the first part of my day to the Lord.
Many of you are probably wondering how do we determine what our resolutions, priorities and goals will be. Here I think it’s best to partner with the Holy Spirit of God and ask some questions in regard to four major areas: Spiritual, Emotional, Physical, and Relational. This is hard work and often can’t be done in one sitting. Here are just a few questions that I have asked the Holy Spirit over the last 3-4 weeks in helping to determine my resolutions and might help you with the process:
Q 1: What am I doing in my devotion time that needs to change and get better?
Answer 1: I need to get back to reading the Bible through each year.
Action Plan: Find or develop a reading plan that will keep me on track that includes readings from both NT and OT along with a daily Psalm and Proverb.
Answer 2: I need to memorize/meditate more Scripture.
Action Plan: Use book “Scripture Memory Made Easy” by Mark Water.
Q 2: Do I exercise enough?
Answer: No.
Action Plan: Exercise at least three times each week for 30 minutes.
As you can see this is not an easy process but it will make a difference. I will leave you with this reminder that permanent change is inward and temporary change is outward.
That’s simple. If we’re going to be the person that we need to be and that God wants us to be, the first thing that we are going to have to understand is the real change that is lasting and for eternity is an inward change. And that outside change, what we are, flesh, at best it’s just a few school years. Isn’t it amazing how much we spend on the outward and how little we spend on the inward?
What is important is that we follow through with our commitments and that means they have to continually be put before you as a reminder. Many people today are IT savvy and imbed their commitments into their calendar on Outlook. I use both technology and the old school way. I have automatic pop ups on my calendar to remind me of daily, weekly, and monthly goals, but also use my daily journal that has my goals written out in 05 lead pencil. If you are really serious about your commitments you will also make yourself accountable to someone else. Share with someone what your commitments are. In many instances you don’t have to be to specific if it’s a personal matter and they might just ask you if you have been faithful in what you allow yourself to look at (TV, computer, etc.).
Remember these commitments you have to the Lord have been prayed over and have been determined to be important. Because of this, it’s always best to prioritize these commitments. For me, that means I do them first before other things. In other words, many of my commitments are spiritual in nature, thus they are done first before other things. Practically what that entails is I get up early and give the first part of my day to the Lord.
Many of you are probably wondering how do we determine what our resolutions, priorities and goals will be. Here I think it’s best to partner with the Holy Spirit of God and ask some questions in regard to four major areas: Spiritual, Emotional, Physical, and Relational. This is hard work and often can’t be done in one sitting. Here are just a few questions that I have asked the Holy Spirit over the last 3-4 weeks in helping to determine my resolutions and might help you with the process:
Q 1: What am I doing in my devotion time that needs to change and get better?
Answer 1: I need to get back to reading the Bible through each year.
Action Plan: Find or develop a reading plan that will keep me on track that includes readings from both NT and OT along with a daily Psalm and Proverb.
Answer 2: I need to memorize/meditate more Scripture.
Action Plan: Use book “Scripture Memory Made Easy” by Mark Water.
Q 2: Do I exercise enough?
Answer: No.
Action Plan: Exercise at least three times each week for 30 minutes.
As you can see this is not an easy process but it will make a difference. I will leave you with this reminder that permanent change is inward and temporary change is outward.
That’s simple. If we’re going to be the person that we need to be and that God wants us to be, the first thing that we are going to have to understand is the real change that is lasting and for eternity is an inward change. And that outside change, what we are, flesh, at best it’s just a few school years. Isn’t it amazing how much we spend on the outward and how little we spend on the inward?
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