Rev. Joy Heaton

Joy Heaton,
Pastor

God created us to love and be loved. First, to love God and second, to love each other. We encourage these loving relationships with God and others at Westhampton Baptist Church. It has been said that friends are the family we choose. This web site is an electronic glimpse of the friends we call family and the ways in which we are learning to love God and each other better. We would love for you to join us as we celebrate our journey of faith together.

Notes of Joy

A friend recommended a book entitled Three Simple Rules That Will Change the World by Reuben Job. The book is based on a simple guide for living outlined by John Wesley, an 18th century English priest and the Founder of the Methodist denomination. In fact the word "Methodist" means that the person is a Christian who follows Wesley's "method" for living. It might do us Baptists some good to consider what Wesley had to say. Here are his three rules:

First, do no harm. This directive means that we will guard our lips, minds and hearts as well as our actions so that no word or deed will injure or harm another person. It requires tremendous self-discipline, but in doing so, we will discover that we are treating everyone as we would want to be treated with respect and forgiveness. According to the book this rule for living emphasizes "that we stand on common ground with others, inhabit a common and precious space together, share a common faith, feast at a common table and have an equal measure of God's unconditional love."

“It is to find our moral direction, our wisdom, our courage, our strength to live faithfully from the One who created us, called us, sustains us and sends us to do no harm and always seeks to do good through us. Without this love for God, we cannot love others.”

Second, do good. Two words, but actually very profound. Doing good is a pro-active way to live so that our lives are centered around asking ourselves: What good can I bring to life? Can I comfort someone who needs consoling? Can I visit someone who is lonely? Can I share a hopeful word with someone in despair? How can I be part of a solution instead of part of a problem?

Finally, John Wesley states that we must constantly stay in love with God. This advice means living our lives from the inside out, practicing what we believe. "It is to find our moral direction, our wisdom, our courage, our strength to live faithfully from the One who created us, called us, sustains us and sends us to do no harm and always seeks to do good through us. Without this love for God, we cannot love others."

God has given me a great vision for Westhampton's next one hundred years - a vision that includes renewing a more vibrant ministry at the University of Richmond, a revitalization of the ESL ministry which has been so strong for many years, a rejuvenated youth ministry, a building project mission trip for the men, a more focused and spiritually-directed Caring Ministers effort, and a deep spiritual awakening for the church as a whole. All of these visions can become realities if we decide together to follow the advice to do no harm, do good and stay in love with God.

As we begin this new year, let's consider these three simple rules that will change the world and see where God takes us. I have a strong belief that we will grow in ways we could never imagine.