JOHN WESLEY’S DIARY

Dear Friends,

Someone kind of jokingly summarized a month or so of John Wesley’s preaching schedule from the late 1700s.  Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was routinely kicked out of churches in England because his notion of the extravagant nature of the grace of God was considered just too radical.  Here then, is what someone has called “A page from John Wesley’s diary”:

Sunday Morning, May 5.  Preached in St. Ann’s.  Was asked not to come back anymore.

Sunday p.m., May 5.  Preached at St. John’s.  Deacons said, “Get out and stay out.”

Sunday a.m., May 12.  Preached at St. Jude’s.  Can’t go back there either.

Sunday p.m., May 12.  Preached at St. George’s.  Kicked out again.

Sunday a.m., May 19.  Preached at St. somebody else’s.  Deacons called special meeting and said I couldn’t return.

Sunday p.m., May 19.  Preached on the street.  Kicked off the street.

Sunday a.m., May 26.  Preached in meadow, chased out of meadow as bull was turned loose during the service.

Sunday a.m., June 2.  Preached out at the edge of town, kicked off the highway.

Sunday p.m., June 2, afternoon service.  Preached in a pasture, 10,000 people came out to hear me.

So, what is the point we should get out of summarizing and highlighting these diary entries of Wesley?  Well, it could be to persist, be determined, never give up, hold on to what you believe and are called to do -- and it is all those things.  And it is also, I think, to share and offer everywhere we can and to everyone we can the radical grace of God, this unconditional love that we have neither earned nor deserve, even though the rest of the world may not understand or accept it.

Grace and Hope to you,

Pastor Duane