Lon's Lessons

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Written by Lon Lorton Lon Lorton

Here's "Lon's Lesson" for today, 07.10.20.  Do you ever wallow in self-pity from perceived mistreatment at the hands of another person or group of people?  Then you know how it can cause bitterness leading to "heartburn."  Jesus has the antacid.

A Letter from Lon

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Written by Lon Lorton Lon Lorton

Dear Friends in Christ,

I knew one day this letter would be written; I just never knew what the circumstances might be.  After nineteen years of ministering with the church family we’ve come to love here in Madisonville, God has impressed on Pat’s and my hearts that it is time to retire.  He has allowed for so many good and meaningful memories - I have truly been blessed to serve with you as pastor.  The reality is that in a few short weeks, I will be 68 years old, and God has convinced me of some things over the past several months.

At First Presbyterian Church, we provide many opportunities for personal spiritual growth, outreach, and evangelism.  For those who are active in the church, I feel very good about where we are.  And yet, there are many more beyond our building we could be and should be reaching.  In order to follow Christ’s mandate to “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation”  (Mark 16:15), I firmly believe it’s time for fresher ideas and perspectives to rise up, building on what has been done to date.

Retirement is not an easy decision for me to make.  In all my years of ministry, I have had very few days I did not want to “get up and go to work in the morning.”  Although the decision has not been easy for Pat or me, our feeling that God is leading us through the process has made it simpler to understand.

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