WORSHIP
By ERIC FOLKERTH
Yo u ca n ’t m i ss i t Tr u st i n g G o d ca n p u t yo u o n t h e r i g h t pa t h
“T
rust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge God, and God will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Singer-songwriter David Wilcox tells a story in his live shows that he calls “bad directions.” Very often, Wilcox masterfully pushes everyday life events to their limits to reveal some deeper, metaphorical truth. His “bad directions” is a great example. Wilcox talks about being on the way to a gig somewhere, in the days before GPS. He’s in some small town, way out in the country. He stops to ask a local for directions, but the local doesn’t give him any street signs. The local guy points to the road ahead and says, “Turn when you see the big blue poodle … you can’t miss it.” Wilcox keeps driving, but as he does, he starts to worry. And he’s bugged by the deeper metaphor of bad directions. He says: “I’m thinking of myself, I’ve been driving now … I’m driving and driving … I have only one landmark to go by. And what if I missed it? You know when they say you can’t miss it, that’s the kiss of death.” “It’s just too much like life,” Wilcox continues. “Like as a kid when you’re asking people, ‘how do you know what is true love?’ They always say, ‘Oh you know.’ Well that’s like saying ‘you can’t miss it.’” Wilcox finishes, “And now I just imagine I’m 96 years old, still driving, and saying ‘No … I’m holding out for the big blue poodle … He said it was on the road here. I can’t miss it.’” One of the most challenging things for any person is to trust that we are on the “right path.” During March, Christians celebrate the holy season of Lent. Lent is the 40 days before Easter and is set aside as a time for us to ask ourselves: “Are we on the right path?”
“Is there where I want to be?” “What should I change in my life right now?” The biblical word “repentance” is often negatively connected with Lent. We tend to associate “repenting” with “feeling bad.” But the most literal definition of the word is “turning a new way.” It means to be on one path, going one way, and to decide to turn and go another way instead. It’s not at all clear that it has to always be a weepy, sad moment. (Although it certainly can be.) In Proverbs, the writer reminds us that if we trust in God, then “God will make straight your paths.” But even once we trust in God, we still can have our doubts and fears. We can worry that we’ve missed some sign or marker somewhere. Maybe we missed the big blue poodle! However, if we keep checking in with God, through regular prayer, meditation and a deep level of trust and faith, God assures us that He will always open a good path for us. It may not always be the path we wanted or expected out of life. We may often be surprised. But God walks with us. This March, check out the literal nature paths throughout our neighborhood. And as you walk them, meditate on how somebody took the time to make a good path that safely leads through the literal beauty of God’s natural world. Our spiritual path works the same. We always have the option to “turn in a new way,” toward God. And if we are trusting in God’s leading, we will find beautiful pathways that lead to goodness and life.
WORSHIP BAPTIST CLIFF TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH / 125 Sunset Ave. / 214.942.8601
Serving Oak Cliff since 1898 / CliffTemple.org / English and Spanish 9 am Contemporary Worship / 10 am Sunday School / 11 am Traditional GRACE TEMPLE BAPTIST Come to a Place of Grace!
Sunday Worship: English Service 9:30am / Spanish Service 11:00am 831 W. Tenth St. / 214.948.7587 / gracetempledallas.org
C AT H O L I C ST. CECILIA CATHOLIC PARISH / StCeciliaDallas.org / 1809 W Davis St. / Saturday - Bilingual Mass 5PM; Sunday – English Masses 7:30AM & 11AM; Spanish Masses 9AM & 1PM
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST EAST DALLAS CHRISTIAN CHURCH / 629 N. Peak Street / 214.824.8185
Sunday School 9:30 am / Worship 8:30 am - Chapel 10:50 am - Sanctuary / Rev. Deborah Morgan-Stokes / edcc.org
E P I S C O PA L CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH / ChristChurchDallas.org Sunday School: 11:15am /Mass: 9am & 10am English, 12:30pm Español Wednesday Mass: 6pm English, 8pm Español / 534 W. Tenth Street
METHODIST ADDITION-TYLER STREET CHURCH / Join us @tylerstreetchurch & study of
God’s Word / Contemporary Worship Anderson Hall Sat. 5 pm / Traditional Worship Sunday 10 am 927 W.10th St. 214-946-8106 Tylerstreet.com KESSLER PARK UMC / 1215 Turner Ave./ 214.942.0098 I kpumc.org
10:30am Sunday School/11:00 Worship /All are welcome regardless or race, creed, culture, gender or sexual identity.
N O N - D E N O M I N AT I O N A L KESSLER COMMUNITY CHURCH / 2100 Leander Dr. at Hampton Rd.
“Your Hometown Church Near the Heart of the City.” 10:30 am Contemporary Service / kesslercommunitychurch.com TRINITY CHURCH OAK CLIFF / Love God. Love Others. Make Disciples. Sundays 10:00 am / Worship & children’s Sunday School 1139 Turner Ave. / trinitychurchoakcliff.org
PRESBYTERIAN PARK CITIES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH/ 4124 Oak Lawn Ave Sunday Worship 9:00 & 11:00 A.M. To all this church opens wide her doors - pcpc.org
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
ERIC FOLKERTH is Senior Pastor at Kessler Park United Methodist Church. The Worship section is underwritten by Advocate Publishing and neighborhood businesses and churches listed. Call 214.560.4212 or email sales@advocatemag. com for advertising information.
MARCH 2022
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