“It always seems impossible until it
is done.”


~Nelson Mandela
A NEW ATTITUDE
 
We’ve all heard it before: “A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You can’t go anywhere until you change it.”  We’ve also heard: “Your attitude determines your altitude.”  I have come to realize that the world reflects back to us the very attitude and persona that we project.  Study after study has proven that those persons with a good positive attitude are usually a lot happier in life, more successful, more fulfilled, and they accomplish a lot more than those who don’t have a good positive attitude.
Once per year, we are encouraged to go to the doctor to get an annual check-up and or a physical—to make sure our bodies are healthy.  Twice per year we are encouraged to go to the dentist to get a cleaning and an inspection—to make sure our teeth are in good health and to prevent any cavities from creeping in.  Even mental health professionals are now encouraging people all across the country to get regular mental health check-ups—to ensure they are mentally and emotionally healthy.  I think there is one more item that we need to add to the list and that is our attitudes.  Except your attitude is something that you need to do a daily (sometimes more) check-up on.
As your pastor, let me encourage you to begin to inspect your own attitude, daily. So many times, we are quick to judge those around us. And so many times, it is so easy to pick out the flaws that dwell in that attitudes of those around us.  But we also need to be able to look in the mirror and do some self-reflection and self-introspection.
Church—It is imperative that you and I as Christ-followers display to the world a good positive attitude.  When you and I walk into a room, the people present should be able to feel our positive aura and our Christ-like glow.  When you and I walk into a room, the people around us should feel a cool breeze blowing upon their hearts—easing their anxiousness.   
So, with all of that said, let us begin to get to work by first cleaning up our own attitude and then displaying a good positive attitude towards those around us.  We display a good positive attitude towards those around us by smiling instead of frowning.  We display a good positive attitude towards those around us by thinking positive thoughts about them and ourselves instead of negative ones.  And we display a good positive attitude towards those around us by honestly and sincerely wishing that best for them, just as we wish the best for ourselves.  So let me encourage you to get to work, immediately, on displaying this good positive attitude towards yourself and others.  You never know, with this new positive attitude, you may just change the entire trajectory of your life and the lives of those around you.    
I’ll leave you with the lyrics from a song by Patti LaBelle entitled A New Attitude (Feel free to sing along in your head):



I'm feelin' good from my head to my shoes
Know where I'm goin' and I know what to do
I tidied up my point of view
I got a new attitude


I'm in control, my worries are few
'Cause I've got love like I never knew
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
I got a new attitude.


I'm wearing a new dress (New), new hair (New)
Brand new ideas, as a matter of fact I've changed for good
It must have been the cool night, new moon, new slight change
More than to figure, but I feel like I should, yes
Somehow the wires uncrossed, the tables were turned
Never knew I had such a lesson to learn
I'm feelin' good from my head to my shoes
Know where I'm goin' and I know what to do
I tidied up my point of view
I got a new attitude.
Pastor Michael L. Sloan
        

May Newsletter 2021
Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.
~Joshua 1:6 (NLT)
Several years ago, late in the wee hours of the morning, I was sitting in my bed reading a book entitled If Life Is A Game, These Are the Rules written by, Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott.  As I sat there, listening to the silence that hovered over the two-bedroom apartment in Illinois that Michelle and I shared; I read these words:
Courage is finding the inner strength and bravery required when confronting danger, difficulty, and opposition. Courage is the energy current behind all great actions and the spark that ignites the initial baby step of growth. It resides deep within each of us, ready to be accessed in those moments when you need to forge ahead or break through seemingly insurmountable barriers. It is the intangible force that propels you forward on your journey (104).
Courage! Most of you have lived long enough by now to know that courage is the one thing that you need to survive in this life.  Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, peaks and valleys, highs and lows; and, life in the 21st century seems to be full of mass shootings, protests, national confrontations, global pandemics, swiftly produced vaccines, social isolation, and uncertainty about the future.  And the things mentioned in the preceding sentence are just the things seen on the surface.  Beneath the surface there is so much more—family disputes, angry, bitterness, depression, spiritual doubt, loss or change of employment (because of the pandemic), mistrust among our elected officials, and so much more.
Let us pause and be honest for a moment; Besides God, there is only one other thing to help us deal with the things that we are facing as a nation and as a church.  That one thing is courage.  It takes courage to continue to get up every morning, not being able to see the end from the beginning or middle—concerning this pandemic.  It takes courage, to take your mask off when you see a friend out in public who hasn’t seen your face in the past thirteen months.  It takes courage to walk into the grocery store (even with a mask on), when you don’t even know if the person standing next to you has COVID or if they have been vaccinated.  It takes courage to believe in a good God when there seems to be no good in sight.  It takes courage to stand true to your convictions when you are surrounded by people who don’t agree with you.  It takes courage to confront and attempt to conquer your own inner demons that you have been battled with for years. 
Nevertheless, in the midst of it all, God calls us and urges us to be courageous.  What barrier are you facing in your life right now that calls for you to put on the shield of courage and face it head on?  Whatever it is; be strong and courageous knowing that your courage is that intrinsic energy current propelling your forward.  Sometimes, you can even hear that still small voice of courage telling you to “Keep going!”, or “Try again!”, or “Don’t give up!”  When you hear that still small voice, just listen to it and at least attempt to be courageous.  After all, what do you have to lose?  And you may just be surprised by the end result. 
 
Pastor Michael L. Sloan

April 2021
“Things that at times appear to have no workable solution are often surprisingly resolved in ways we would never imagine.”
~Curtis C. Thomas
I remember when I was pastoring North Bridge Baptist Church in Illinois.  I was halfway through my doctoral program when the financial aid office called me and said, “Michael? I am sorry to tell you this; but you do not have any more financial aid available. If you don’t find another way to pay for your tuition, you won’t be able to return next semester.” 
I have to be honest; I was distraught.  I didn’t know what to do. 
But I remember kneeling down at my bedside one night, praying, “Lord: If it be your will for me to finish my doctoral program, please make a way.” 
A few months later, after wrestling within myself over the matter, I had decided that I would just dropout of the doctoral program.  One Sunday morning, after I finished preaching, I walked into my office and took a seat behind my desk to finish up some paperwork.  My mother walked into my office and sat down in the chair in front of my desk. 
She said, “You did good today, son!” 
Then she looked around my office at my books and blurted out, “How’s the doctoral program going?”
I responded, “Well, mom! I have run out of money so I won’t be able to finish. I am going to have to dropout.”
She went on to say, “No. Don’t dropout. I’ll write the check for your tuition every month, until it is paid in full.”
And let me inform you that my mother kept her word.  Every month she wrote a check to Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School until my tuition was paid in full.  For some, they would call this a coincidence; but as for me, I call this an act of God and an act of faith.  My mother had never asked me before how the doctoral program was going; but for some reason God placed it on her heart to do so that day. 
I few months ago, I was riding in the car, listening to the radio.  A song entitled Have A Little Faith in Me by John Hiatt came on.  The lyrics were as followings:
When the road gets dark
And you can no longer see
Let my love throw a spark
Have a little faith in me
And when the tears you cry
Are all you can believe
Give these loving arms a try [child]
Have a little faith in me.
It’s almost like I could hear God speaking to me while listening to this song, saying, Just have a little faith in me. 
Let’s be honest for a moment; life can be challenging at times.  It has its fair share of ups and down; peaks and valleys; and highs and lows.  As we are traveling this road of life, it can feel as if we are driving down a dark road with low hanging fog blocking our vision.  When you find yourself in this situation, let me encourage you to just have a little faith.  Have a little faith that all things will work together for the good.  Have a little faith that what’s meant to be will be.  Have a little faith that what doesn’t kill you just simply makes your stronger.  And have a little faith knowing that God will never leave you nor forsake you on this journey called life. 
Just Have A Little Faith;
 
 
Pastor Michael L. Sloan
 

FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK…                                                   January 2021
 
It is not how you start…but how you finish. FINISH STRONG
~Unknown
 
I remember when I started my doctoral program in the Fall of 2015; I started off strong.  I read every syllabus, thoroughly.  I read every book, every article, and attended every class—being on time and even staying late.  I was eager and passionate about my studies.  However, four years into my doctoral program, after I finished my course work and the only thing that I had left with was my dissertation, I was tired.  I had been in academia (pursuing higher education) since I was seventeen years old.  I remember sitting at my desk editing 175-page dissertation.  I honestly didn’t know how I was going to finish…until one day, my mentor called me on the phone and said to me, “Michael? Just edit one chapter per month until you are finished.  I will review each chapter after you edit it and we will continue this process until you are finished.”  I followed his advice and as you know, I graduated in May of 2020. 
Moreover, finishing well takes internal strength; finishing well, sometimes, requires for you to dig a little deeper into the bottom of your well of strength, wisdom, and courage.  Finishing well requires for you to push yourself beyond your normal routine and practices.  Finishing well requires for you to keep going even when you don’t think you have anything left in the tank.  Finishing well also requires for you to keep fighting even when you begin to wonder and think to yourself, “Is it even worth fighting for, anymore?” 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Friends—2020 has been a challenging year for us as a nation and for many of you as individuals.  An enemy known as the Coronavirus invaded our nation without our permission.  We have (and are still going through) major transitions in Washington, D.C.  And so much more.
However, I want to encourage you to finish the last portion of this year, strong.  You may feel like throwing in the towel; but don’t.  You may feel like packing your bags and running away; but don’t.  You may even feel like walking away from the faith; but don’t.  No matter what happens, keep the faith.  No matter what happens, keep pushing.  And no matter what happed, make sure you FINISH 2020 STRONG! 
I am going to leave you with the words from that ancient letter to the churches in the region of Galatia, “Let’s not become weary in well doing, for in due season [you] will reap if [you] faint not” (6:9).
 
Grace. Peace. Hope. Love.
 
Pastor Michael L. Sloan
 

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.
~Desmond Tutu
The Christmas season is absolutely my favorite time of the year.  I remember when I was a kid, my grandmother and I would drive around the neighborhood, just to view all the beautifully decorated homes.  I’ll never forget driving around at night and seeing all those beautiful lights and decorations.  I’ll never forget the school concerts where we would sing: We Wish You A Merry Christmas; Jingle Bells; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; It Came Upon the Midnight Clear; Joy to the World; O’ Christmas Tree; O’ Come, All Ye Faithfull; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and so many other wonderful songs.  Neither will I ever forget the anticipation and the eagerness that I sensed on Christmas Eve, of waking up on Christmas morning, to open all of my gifts.  I’ll never forget the warm embrace from all my aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives who I hadn’t seen all year long—they would drive from near and far for all of us to have Christmas dinner at my grandmother’s house.  But most of all, I’ll never forget the sense of hope that the Christmas season brought to my life and to the lives of my loved-ones and friends.     
The Christmas season brings about a renewed hope; a renewed hope for the future; and, a renewed hope for the impossible (or, for what appears to be impossible).  Have you ever noticed that about the Christmas season?  Pay close attention to the Hallmark movies around this time of the year—there is an underlying theme of hope in all of them.  Why?  Because the Christmas season brings about a sense of hope.  So, I said all of that to say this; let this holiday season bring about a renewed sense of hope in your life; a renewed sense of hope for the future; a renewed sense of hope for the impossible (or, for what appears to be impossible); a renewed sense of hope for broken relationships that need to be repaired; a renewed sense of hope in a dream that once died; a renewed sense of hope in yourself (that you will be able to overcome and conquer that bad habit that you have been wrestling with all year long); a renewed sense of hope in your faith; and, a renewed sense of hope in hope itself.  I don’t care how dark the night of despair gets; keep in mind that every dark night has a bright end. 
It is my prayer that God (through Christ our Lord) would give you a renewed sense of hope.  It is my prayer that this renewed sense of hope would come upon you, suddenly, when you least expect it.  It is my prayer that this renewed sense of hope would overtake you and lead you to do things that you never even thought was possible.  And when this divine urge moves you to do something; to fix something; or, to finish something…don’t second guess it, just do it—and, be led by the Spirit.   
Finally, I’m going to leave you with the words from that ancient letter to the Hebrews (11:1): Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 
Grace, peace, and renewed hope!  
Pastor Michael L. Sloan

FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK

On Wednesday, October 14, 2020, I sat behind my desk in my study, wrestling with my thoughts Hmmm…What topic should I write this newsletter on?  After wrestling for days, like a flash of lightning, the word endurance popped into my mind.  Endurance!  It is the power to withstand pain or hardships; the ability or strength to continue despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions.  William Barclay said, “Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.” 
Let’s face it—All of us have experienced the uphill battles of life; and, some of you are dealing with them right now.  Some of you are dealing with deep loneliness; some of you are dealing with aging (changes in your mind and body that you don’t quite understand); some of you are dealing with mental anguish because of COVID-19 and the uncertainty of the future; some of you, in your latter years, are still dealing with the residue from your childhood and teenage years; and, still there are others who are concerned for the wellbeing of your children and grandchildren. 
 
Let me simply encourage you with these words:
And let us not be weary in welldoing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9)
There was a soldier on the battlefield who had grown tired and weary; he put his weapons down on the ground and fell to his knees.  With the sound of bombs and explosive devices going off in the background, he wept, cried, and groaned, as he yelled, “Oh, God! Please help me!”  It was at that moment that the soldier felt a light touch on his shoulder.  When that hand touched his shoulder, he felt power, strength, and renewal that he had never felt before.  That hand upon his shoulder is what gave him the endurance to keep going when he wanted to give up.  When that soldier stood up and turned around, no one was behind him.  He was still there, alone. 
Like the young soldier, we all get tired and weary from the burdens that we have to bear.  But let me encourage you to keep fighting; keep moving forward; keep pressing toward the mark of the high calling.  It is only when we endure to the end that we can see that it was the footprints of the Divine leading us along those stony paths.  And, it is only when we endure to the end of the race that we are able to taste the sweet fruit of victory that we all long for.
Grace & Peace;
 
Pastor Michael L. Sloan

Soon you will be able to peak out of your windows and see the beautiful leaves turning from green to dark read, yellow, orange and brown; and then you will be able to see them as they fall from the trees and land on the ground.  This summer has gone by so fast.  I don’t know about you; but it seems to me that the days, the weeks, the months and the years just keep getting shorter. 
When I was younger, I was riding in the car with my dad and he said, “Son? The older you get the faster time goes.”  
I heard a university dean (when speaking to a student) say, “Time waits for no man [or woman].”
Just last week as I was listening to the radio (in the car), I heard someone say, “You can waste my money; but don’t waste my time.” 
Time—it is like a precious commodity.  It is one of those things that you really don’t realize how precious it is until you don’t have much of it left.  Some of you know this all too well. 
Therefore, let me encourage you NOT to put off what you should be doing today until tomorrow.  Let me encourage you NOT to wait to do the things that you’ve always wanted to do.  Let me encourage you NOT to hold off until “the right time.”  The time will never be right.  There will always be something standing in your way, making you feel as if the time is not right.  But the time is now.  The time is now for you to finish the book that you’ve been wanting to write.  The time is now for you to go back and finish some of those projects that you started years ago.  The time is now for you to repair those broken relationships with your siblings, your children, and friends.  The time is now for you to pick up the phone and call that relative that you haven’t spoken to in years.  The time is now.  Don’t wait!  Do all those things that you’ve always wanted to do, now! 
Don’t think too hard about it; just do it! 
Grace and peace!
 
Pastor Michael L. Sloan