December 31st is an Occasion (David Jeremiah)

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid . . . for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

To many people, today's just another day; and to the Lord, it's but a passing instant. But for us, December 31st is an occasion to entrust the past to God's keeping and the future to His service.

In his final message to the Israelites, Moses told them to be strong, courageous, and mindful of God's presence as they crossed Jordan and entered the Promised Land. "He will not leave you nor forsake you," Moses said. The New Testament applies those words to us in Hebrews 11:5, so we can claim them as a promise of our own for the New Year.

God may have something new for you in 2008, but perhaps it seems foggy just now. Maybe your family isn't on board, or you don't have the details worked out. But remember: The Lord repeatedly led individuals into new territory in the Bible, and not once did He fail to show them the way. So be strong and of good courage. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

I am well, but weak; and for another year of service I need that the right hand of the Lord may be laid upon me, and that He should say to me, "Be strong: fear not." - Charles Spurgeon

Emmanuel. He is with us. God came near. (Max Lucado)

It’s Christmas night.

The midnight hour has chimed and I should be asleep, but I’m awake. I’m kept awake by one stunning thought. The world was different this week. It was temporarily transformed.

The magical dust of Christmas glittered on the cheeks of humanity ever so briefly, reminding us of what is worth having and what we were intended to be. We forgot our compulsion with winning, wooing, and warring. We put away our ladders and ledgers, we hung up our stopwatches and weapons. We stepped off our race tracks and roller coasters and looked outward toward the star of Bethlehem.

More than at any other time, we think of him. More than in any other season, his name is on our lips.

And the result? For a few precious hours our heavenly yearnings intermesh and we become a chorus. A ragtag chorus of longshoremen, Boston lawyers, illegal immigrants, housewives, and a thousand other peculiar persons who are banking that Bethlehem’s mystery is in reality, a reality.

For a few precious hours, he is beheld. Christ the Lord. Those who pass the year without seeing him, suddenly see him.

Emmanuel. He is with us. God came near.

Soon life will be normal again. But for the moment, I want to savor the spirit just a bit more. I want to pray that those who beheld him today will look for him when the gifts are history and carols are quiet. And I can’t help but linger on one fanciful thought: If he can do so much with such timid prayers lamely offered in December, how much more could he do if we thought of him every day?

For after all, the One who came that Christmas morning so long ago, still comes. He comes every time a seeker turns his face heavenward and says “Yes!” to the Savior. A Savior sent by a God who “so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16).

A Star in the Sky

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39.

Here is what we want to know.

We want to know how long God’s love will endure . . . Does God really love us forever? We want to know . . . how does God feel about me when I’m a jerk?

I want to know how he feels about me when I snap at anything that moves, when my thoughts are gutter-level, when my tongue is sharp enough to slice a rock. How does he feel about me then?

Can anything separate us from the love Christ has for us?

God answered our question before we asked it. So we’d see his answer, he lit the sky with a star. So we’d hear it, he filled the night with a choir; and so we’d believe it, he did what no man had ever dreamed. He became flesh and dwelt among us.

The Least of These.... (David Jeremiah)

Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. Matthew 25:40

Courtney Steever is a missionary to the poor in Kolkata (Calcutta), India. The needs are limitless: "Some days it just seems too overwhelming," she says. "Often I get tired of the frequent tugs of little hands on my sleeves asking for rupees as I walk down the street . . . . Need is around every corner, under every bridge, down every street—yet it's so easy not to see."

Courtney and some workers from the Missionaries of Charity visited the Sealdah Train Station to search for the destitute and ill. She stopped to give a hard-boiled egg to a young man covered in rags, to wrap the wounds of a woman. They came upon a dying man lying on the ground, covered with flies and his own waste, and took him to the Sisters of Charity home where he lived only a few hours. But he died with a measure of dignity, surrounded by people who cared for him. When Courtney wonders if her work makes any real difference, she remembers that man. It made a difference, for a few hours, to him.

Your cup of water will not quench the thirst of all the world's poor, but it will quench the thirst of the one to whom you give it.

Keep Jesus Christ in your hearts, and
you will recognize His face in every
human being. John Paul II

Rest? At Christmas? (Max Lucado)

“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter.” Exodus 20:9-10

God knows us so well. He can see the store owner reading this verse and thinking, “Somebody needs to work that day. If I can’t, my son will.” So God says, Nor your son. “Then my daughter will.” Nor your daughter…“I guess I’ll have to send my cow to run the store, or maybe I’ll find some stranger to help me.” No, God says. One day of the week you will say no to work and yes to worship. You will slow and sit down and lie down and rest.

Still we object…“What about my grades?” “I’ve got my sales quota.” We offer up one reason after another, but God silences them all with a poignant reminder: “In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.” God’s message is plain: “If creation didn’t crash when I rested, it won’t crash when you do.”

Repeat these words after me: It is not my job to run the world.

Are you Like a Child? (Max Lucado)

“You must change and become like little children. Otherwise, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

Bedtime is a bad time for kids. No child understands the logic of going to bed while there is energy left in the body or hours left in the day.

My children are no exception. A few years ago, after many objections and countless groans, the girls were finally in their gowns, in their beds, and on their pillows. I slipped into the room to give them a final kiss. Andrea, the five-year-old, was still awake, just barely, but awake. After I kissed her, she lifted her eyelids one final time and said, “I can’t wait until I wake up.”

Oh, for the attitude of a five-year-old! That simple uncluttered passion for living that can’t wait for tomorrow. A philosophy of life that reads, “Play hard, laugh hard, and leave the worries to your father.” A bottomless well of optimism flooded by a perpetual spring of faith. Is it any wonder Jesus said we must have the heart of a child before we can enter the kingdom of heaven?

The Manger of My Heart (Renee Swope)

CAROLINE WARD SENT ME THE EMAIL BELOW:

Recently a sister in Christ and new friend, Renee Swope, shared this prayer on her blog that she wrote several years ago. Renee is with Proverbs31 Ministries, an organization "Bringing God's Peace, Perspective, and Purpose to Today's Busy Woman."

It is also the ministry through which I have answered a calling from God on my life. In the near future I will begin what Proverbs 31 Ministries calls a "Gather and Grow" group for women.

Ladies, you will be hearing more about that later. In the meantime, take a few moments, men and women alike, to read the following prayer. It has helped to change my perspective on Christmas. Enjoy!

Caroline Ward

The Manger of My Heart

This Christmas, Lord, come to the manger of my heart.
Fill me with your presence, from the very start.
As I prepare for the holidays, and gifts to be given,
Remind me of the gift You gave,
when you sent Your Son from Heaven.

The first Christmas gift, the greatest gift ever,
You came as a baby born in a manger.
Wrapped like the gifts I find under my tree,
Waiting to be opened, to reveal Your love to me.

This Christmas, Lord, come to the manger of my heart.
Search me and know the most intimate parts.
Reveal to me if I have ever hung a sign within,
Claiming it off limits, implying "no room at the Inn."

Restore to me the wonder that came with Jesus’ birth,
when He left the riches of Heaven
and wrapped Himself in rags of earth.
Emmanuel, God with us, Your presence came that night.
As angels announced, "Into your darkness,
God brings His Light."

"Do not be afraid," they said, to shepherds in the field.
Speak to my heart today, Lord, and help me to yield.
Make me like those shepherd boys, obedient to your call.
Casting distractions and worries aside,
to You I surrender them all.

Surround me with Your presence, Lord,
I long to hear your voice.
Clear my mind of concerns and all the holiday noise.
Slow me down this Christmas, let me not be in a rush.
In the midst of parties and planning,
I want to feel Your hush.

This Christmas, Jesus, come to the manger of my heart.
Invade my soul like Bethlehem, bringing peace to every part.
Dwell within and around me,
as I unwrap Your presence each day.
Keep me close to You, Jesus.
It’s in your wonderful Name I pray.

© 2003, Renee Swope ~ www.ReneeSwope.com



http://reneeswope.blogspot.com/2007/11/christmas-prayer.html

A HEAVENLY AFFIRMATION (Max Lucado)

Each of us has a fantasy that our family will be like the Waltons, an expectation that our dearest friends will be our next of kin. Jesus didn’t have that expectation. Look how he defined his family: “My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what God wants” (Mark 3:35).

When Jesus’ brothers didn’t share his convictions, he didn’t try to force them. He recognized that his spiritual family could provide what his physical family didn’t. If Jesus himself couldn’t force his family to share his convictions, what makes you think you can force yours?

We can’t control the way our family responds to us. When it comes to the behavior of others toward us, our hands are tied. We have to move beyond the naive expectation that if we do good, people will treat us right. The fact is they may and they may not—we cannot control how people respond to us.

I can’t assure you that your family will ever give you the blessing you seek, but I know God will. Let God give you what your family doesn’t. If your earthly father doesn’t affirm you, then let your heavenly Father take his place.

God has proven himself as a faithful father. Now it falls to us to be trusting children. Let God give you what your family doesn’t. Let him fill the void others have left. Rely upon him for your affirmation and encouragement. Look at Paul’s words: “You are God’s child, and God will give you the blessing he promised, because you are his child” (Gal. 4:7, emphasis added).

[And] don’t lose heart. God still changes families.

From He Still Moves Stones
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 1999)
Max Lucado

"There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us"

Richard Sibbes in The Bruised Reed

Forgives us all, Forgives us still...

Many find Jesus’ teaching on enemy love and forgiveness a stumbling block to faith. Because we find it too difficult to practice, we dismiss it as unrealistic and utopian. We should think again, and we should pray that it is not unrealistic, because this congruence of Jesus—the consistency between his teaching on forgiveness and his action on the cross—is really our only hope. It is all that stands between us and the consequences of our monumental frailty. Thank God today that Jesus died as he lived, because with those words, “Father, forgive…” he forgives us all, and he forgives us still.

- Peter Storey in Listening at Golgotha: Jesus’ Words from the Cross

In the End, We'll Win (David Jeremiah)

He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death . . . and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15 (NIV)

Monday night football is played mid-afternoon in Hawaii due to the time zone, so the local TV station delays its telecast until 6:30 p.m. Native Hawaiian, Lyle Akaki, admits that when his favorite team is playing, he is too excited to wait for the delayed airing and listens to it on the radio in real time. Then, he watches it on television later that night. If his team won, it influences how he watches the game: Fumbles or interceptions aren't a problem because he thinks to himself, "That's bad, but it's okay. In the end we'll win."

As Christians, we have no reason to fear death. The game has been played, the Lord has won, and the Bible promises us that "we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection" (Romans 6:5b NIV).

We worship a God who went to battle with death and emerged victorious. As a result, we have a hope that extends beyond this life and promises an eternity spent with our loving Savior.

"I've read the last page of the Bible. It's all going to turn out all right."

Billy Graham

Charles Swindoll on Trying to Earn Acceptance

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:7

"Imagine coming to a friend’s house who has invited you over to enjoy a meal. You finish the delicious meal and then listen to some fine music and visit for awhile. Finally, you stand up and get your coat as you prepare to leave. But before you leave you reach into your pocket and say, “Now, how much do I owe you?” What an insult! You don’t do that with someone who has graciously given you a meal. Isn’t it strange, though, how this world is running over with people who think there’s something they must do to pay God back? Somehow they are hoping God will smile on them if they work real hard and earn his acceptance; but that’s an acceptance on the basis of works. That’s not the way it is with grace." Charles Swindoll in The Grace Awakening

Praise and Hope (David Jeremiah)

But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. Psalm 71:14

See if you can find one Christian, just one, who is filled with praise for the Lord—but is hopeless. Or, see if you can find one who is hopeful about the present and future but never praises the Lord. Hope and praise seem to go together in the Christian life—and why shouldn't they? For the Christian, to have hope is consistent with having faith in a gracious God, meaning He is worthy of praise. One flows naturally from the other.

The psalmist combined these two elements when he found himself in the hand of "the wicked . . . the unrighteous and cruel man" (Psalm 71:4). In spite of his dire situation, he said he would continue to hope and would praise the Lord "more and more" (verse 14). The more the psalmist hoped, the more he praised; and the more he praised, the more he hoped! It was a self-perpetuating cycle with each virtue stimulating the other. What about you? If you find yourself hopeful but lacking praise, check the object of your hope. If you're praising but lacking hope, check the object of your praise.

Praise keeps hope alive while hope becomes a reason for praise.

"Be not afraid of saying too much in the praises of God . . . . All the danger is of saying too little." Matthew Henry

One appointment that none of us will miss.... (Max Lucado)

“Teach us how short our lives really are so that we may be wise.” Psalm 90:12

In a life marked by doctor appointments, dentist appointments, and school appointments, there is one appointment that none of us will miss, the appointment with death. “Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God” (Heb. 9:27 tev). Oh, how we’d like to change that verse. Just a word or two would suffice. “Nearly everyone must die…” or “Everyone who forgets to eat right and take vitamins must die…” But those are not God’s words. In his plan everyone must die, even those who eat right and take their vitamins.

Exercise may buy us a few more heartbeats. Medicine may grant us a few more breaths. But in the end, there is an end. And the best way to face life is to be honest about death.

Evidence of Hope (David Jeremiah)

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:17

If you have ever had to practice football twice a day in 100 degree heat, endure nine weeks of military basic training, or live with nausea for six weeks of chemotherapy, you were likely told, "Hang in there. You can do anything for a short period of time." The difference between "temporary" and "permanent" can seem like the difference between life and death.

The apostle Paul knew the difference between the two. There were many occasions in his Christian life where he felt terrible, but he never lost heart (2 Corinthians 4:16). In fact, his favorite phrase was "but not": Hard-pressed, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed (verses 8-9). Paul knew that every difficulty was temporary. Even if it lasted his whole life, he still saw it as temporary compared to the hope of eternity. If he ever lost hope, it was only for the moment. His permanent perspective was eternal hope in the goodness and purpose of God.Have you learned to separate the temporary from the permanent in your life? That distinction is evidence that hope is alive and well.

The future is as bright as the promises of God. Adoniram Judson

Proud????

"Prostitutes are in no danger of finding their present life so satisfactory that they cannot turn to God: the proud, the avaricious, the self-righteous, are in that danger."

---C.S. Lewis

Making the Impossible Possible (Max Lucado)

“God can do things that are not possible for people to do.” Luke 18:27

God always rejoices when we dare to dream. In fact, we are much like God when we dream. The Master exults in newness. He delights in stretching the old. He wrote the book on making the impossible possible.

Examples? Check the Book.

Eighty-year-old shepherds don’t usually play chicken with Pharaohs…but don’t tell that to Moses.

Teenage shepherds don’t normally have showdowns with giants…but don’t tell that to David.

Night-shift shepherds don’t usually get to hear angels sing and see God in a stable…but don’t tell that to the Bethlehem bunch.

And for sure don’t tell that to God. He’s made an eternity out of making the earthbound airborne. And he gets angry when people’s wings are clipped.

More on Humility?

Beautiful is the moment in which we understand that we are no more than an instrument of God; we live only as long as God wants us to live; we can only do as much as God makes us able to do; we are only as intelligent as God would have us be.

- Archbishop Oscar Romero

Jesus and Humility (Max Lucado)

"He gave up his place with God and made himself nothing.” Philippians 2:7

God grants us an uncommon life to the degree we surrender our common one. “If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life” (Matt. 16:25 NLT).

Jesus did. He “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men…He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death” (Phil. 2:7-8).

No one in Nazareth saluted him as the Son of God. He did not stand out in his elementary-classroom photograph, demanded no glossy page in his high school annual. Friends knew him as a woodworker, not a star hanger. His looks turned no heads; his position earned him no credit.

“He gave up his place with God and made himself nothing.”

God hunts for those who will do likewise—people through whom he can deliver Christ into the world.

Random Quote (Pascal)

People never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction. - Blaise Pascal

He will rejoice over you with gladness...(Max Lucado)

“He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love.” Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV

Suppose you dwell in a high-rise apartment. On the window sill of your room is a solitary daisy. This morning, you picked the daisy and pinned it on your lapel.

But as soon as you’re out the door, people start picking petals off your daisy. Someone snags your subway seat. Petal picked. You’re blamed for the bad report of a coworker… More petals. By the end of the day, you’re down to one…You’re only one petal-snatching away from a blowup.

What if the scenario was altered slightly? Let’s add one character. The kind man in the apartment next door runs a flower shop. Every night on the way home he stops at your place with a fresh bouquet. Because of him, your apartment has a sweet fragrance, and your step has a happy bounce. Let someone mess with your flower, and you’ve got a basketful to replace it!

God hand-delivers a bouquet to your door every day. Open it! Take them! Then, when rejections come, you won’t be left short-petaled.

from A Love Worth Giving by Max Lucado

The Faith in Princess Baugh by Brad Baugh

The post below is by Brad Baugh. Brad and Veronica Baugh are new to Jasper and to FUMC. I am allergic to cats but could not be more pleased at getting to know them. (But maybe not hanging out with the cat.......) Thanks Brad from sharing this:

Ashley, at four years old, was at that age where she felt she just needed a pet to take care of. My dad, having nursed several strays back to health, had been blessed with an abundance of friendly felines that had made his residence their home. At any rate, being a good grandfather, he decided to bring us one of his friendliest companions so that my little girl could have her very own kitty. Unfortunately, this cat was a young tom cat, probably 2-3 years old, and did not take too well to being suddenly relocated.

"Buddy", as he was called, immediately bolted upon being let out of his carrier. We coaxed him back with some fresh food and water. Our daughter was disappointed at not being able to hold and pet her new kitty, but we assured her that he was just nervous and would calm down with a little time and some space. He did calm down and allowed us to pet him. However, after a few days, we only saw him late in the evenings or early morning. Then he disappeared altogether. My daughter seemed to take it well. She was sure he was just playing in the woods behind our house, intending to come back soon. Before long, Buddy was no longer mentioned and was assumed forgotten.

About two months after Buddy’s vanishing, Ashley’s preschool had a representative from the Humane Society come to visit to talk about animal rescues. My wife, Veronica, took the unused cat food and other supplies with our daughter to donate to the Humane Society. Quietly explaining the donation to Ms. Sharon, Veronica hoped the exchange would go unnoticed by Ashley. As children are prone to do, she overheard the discussion anyway, and informed all who were listening that she, in fact, had a cat named Buddy. To which her teacher, apparently unknowing of Buddy's true fate, replied, "Yes, sweety, we pray for your cat every day."

Veronica was floored, as was I when she relayed the day's events to me that evening. But that is not the end of the story.

The very next day, I walked in from work to find a full house. Some friends had come over with their two children who were about the same age as ours. All four children, two at 4 years old and two at about 1 year old, were hovering over a cardboard box in the middle of the kitchen floor and my two little girls were squealing with delight. When I looked into the box to see what the fuss was all about, I saw a cute little calico kitten staring back at me with a mix of fear and hope in her eyes. Our friends had been on their way to our house to visit and happened to pass by a large dog playing with something. They quickly realized that the something was a tiny kitten, about 4 weeks of age, and that it was about to become a scooby-snack. They stopped and managed to persuade the dog to give up his toy.

And now here she was. I was not thrilled at the prospect of having to raise this kitten. At only four weeks old, she would require a lot more work than I was prepared to invest in a pet. After negotiating with my wife, she agreed to perform the necessary "mothering" jobs, such as encouraging the kitty to go the potty. After some further contemplation, I decided that this little kitten just might be God’s answer to my little girl’s prayer. Who could argue with that? We took the kitty to the veterinarian the next day for de-worming and a check up (she was too young for any shots).

Princess Baugh, as she was named by our oldest, has turned out to be a great blessing. Our daughter has learned to take care of something other than her self. It is wonderful to see both my daughters doting over the little fuzz ball. Princess has adapted quite well to life in our home. She knows to stay just out of reach of the hands of our one year old when she has that mischievous look in her eye. She is quite content to be cradled and carried around the house in the arms of our oldest. She pounces on your feet from behind the legs of the table and wrestles with your toes. She curls up on your lap when she has played herself out. She seems happy to be a part of our family, and our family seems to be all the happier for her addition.

There are several lessons that I have learned from these events. The first is that one should never underestimate the power of a child’s prayer. And it follows that one should never underestimate the importance of teaching a child to pray. At our home, we pray with our oldest daughter every night before bedtime. I encourage her to feel free to pray about anything she wants to take to God. We give thanks, we ask questions, we ask for healing and help. Much of the time, she simply repeats after me. Sometimes, however, she gets excited and whispers, "Daddy, let me say something!" She will then proceed to bring something to God that at times I had no idea was even on her mind.

Another lesson that I took from this kitty "cat-astrophe" is that blessings often do not come in the form that we expect. If our hearts are not open, we may miss them altogether. Had I not recognized God’s hand in the perfect timing of these events, or had I agreed with the part of my mind that railed against the work and aggravation of raising a kitten that should still be nursing its mother with its siblings, I would have missed the blessing God had intended for us. I would have missed the joy brought to my two daughters. I would have denied my oldest daughter the wonder of having a prayer answered.

Indeed, since Princess has come into our family, I have noticed that my daughter’s prayers have changed somewhat. She has begun to interject more with her own requests and to give thanks for more little blessings. Most important, though, is the change in the tone of her prayer. She prays with more confidence as if she has suddenly found a little bit of faith in what God can do in her life. Maybe we should rename Princess and call her Faith instead. Or maybe, we could call her Princess Faith Baugh, or just Princess, for short.

Brad Baugh
October 11th, 2007

Carried Through the Valley (by Cheri Russell)

These thoughts on the "valleys" of life are by Cheri Russell:

"Anyone who questions me about the source of my joy always gets the same answer, "It's a God thing." Just as one tends not to appreciate good health until a bout with some physical demon, I believe our joy experience is in direct proportion to the darkness we have weathered and survived. How profoundly reassuring to have walked through that valley, nay, been carried through that valley in the arms of a loving God, to stand victoriously on the other side! How empowering, how joyful!!! In hindsight, I wouldn't give up any of those valleys. How else might God have blessed me with such profound peace, assurance, and joy without them? God can take even the greatest tragedy and turn it into a blessing ... watch for it. "

Cheri (thisischeri@aol.com)

Don’t know what to say? (Max Lucado)

“Everything that was written in the past was written to
teach us, so that…we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 NIV

Encourage those who are struggling. Don’t know what to say? Then open your Bible...

To the grief stricken: “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Heb. 13:5 NIV). To the guilt ridden: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1 NIV). To the jobless: “In all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom. 8:28 NIV). To those who feel beyond God’s grace: “Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).

Your Bible is a basket of blessings. Won’t you share one?

Parent’s Night Out will be this Friday night

GAME NIGHT!!!

Parent’s Night Out will be this Friday night, November 30 from 5:30 until 9:00.

We will have pizza and play games. The finale for the night will be
watching the movie “Polar Express” We will have hot chocolate and
graham crackers as a snack during the movie. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite board game or card game to play (no poker games, please). Cost will be $5 per child.

Oh yeah, don’t forget to wear your pajamas!!!

It’s us who put him there. (Max Lucado)

“After Mary saw Jesus, she went and told his
followers, who were very sad and were crying.” Mark
16:10

Tears represent the heart, the spirit, and the soul of a person. To put a lock and key on your emotions is to bury part of your Christlikeness!

Especially when you come to Calvary.

You can’t go to the cross with just your head and not your heart. It doesn’t work that way. Calvary is not a mental trip. It’s not an intellectual exercise. It’s not a divine calculation or a cold theological principle.

It’s a heart-splitting hour of emotion.

Don’t walk away from it dry-eyed and unstirred. Don’t just straighten your tie and clear your throat. Don’t allow yourself to descend Calvary cool and collected.

Please…pause. Look again. Those are nails in those hands. That’s God on that cross. It’s us who put him there.

Honest Doubt

This is written by Sky Lowe-McCracken. He is the pastor of Reidland United Methodist Church, located in the suburbs of Paducah. Original post is at: http://revdsky.blogspot.com/2007/11/honest-doubt.html


It may come to a surprise to you that your pastor occasionally has his doubts and weaknesses. Let me be the first to say that I certainly do. The first time I buried a teenager I was angry with God. When a tornado went through the parish I served, I doubted God. And there are days, even now, when I wonder if I’ve been faithful to the grace I’ve been given. Theological doubts, weakness in ability and faith, doubting of faith and self-confidence – these are real. And as I have read the spiritual giants and eminent divines of the faith, I realize that they had their doubts too.

John Wesley had this struggle all of his life. Not even a year after Wesley’s heart-warming Aldersgate experience, he wrote these words on January 4, 1739:

"My friends affirm that I am mad, because I said I was not a Christian a year ago. I affirm I am not a Christian now. Indeed, what I might have been I know not, had I been faithful to the grace then given, when, expecting nothing less, I received such a sense of forgiveness of my sins as till then I never knew. But that I am not a Christian at this day… For a Christian is one who has the fruits of the Spirit of Christ, which… are love, peace, joy. But these I have not."

It is very easy for those who take up the cross of Christ and practice radical discipleship to get discouraged, for this reason: any intentional attempts at practicing radical discipleship will bring opposition. And sometimes, the battles within the Church are harder than the ones outside of the Church.

Do our doubts in faith mean something is wrong with us? Hardly. One of the ways our faith is made stronger is through self-examination. And the good news is that not only Scripture, but also the experience of those saints who also dealt with struggle are instructive for us. It is a pipe dream to think that life will not have struggles – that’s simply not realistic. But it is realistic to expect God to be walking with us in our struggles.

In fact, God holds us in the palm of His hand - and doesn't let go.

Respond to it?? (Max Lucado)

“With one sacrifice he made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:14

We would have scripted the moment differently. Ask us how a God should redeem his world, and we will show you! White horses, flashing swords. Evil flat on his back. God on his throne.
But God on a cross?

A split-lipped, puffy-eyed, blood-masked God on a cross?

Sponge thrust in his face? Spear plunged in his side? Dice tossed at his feet?

No, we wouldn’t have written the drama of redemption this way. But, then again, we weren’t asked to. These players and props were heaven picked and God ordained. We were not asked to design the hour.

But we have been asked to respond to it.

How to Be Free (David Jeremiah)

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Kenneth Hart, a psychology professor at the University of Windsor (Ontario, Canada), studied sixty-six recovering alcoholics. The individuals had one thing in common: They were all angry with someone. Teaching forgiveness, Hart found, is one way to break the cycle that causes recovering alcoholics to relapse. If they release their anger through forgiveness, they no longer have a reason to use alcohol as an escape. One of the former addicts said, "Forgiveness is more for yourself than for the person you're forgiving. For me to forgive that person sets me free."

This therapy of freedom through forgiveness is totally biblical. God is free to love us because He has forgiven our sins committed against Him. God's anger toward sin has been propitiated (turned away) by the death of Christ (1 John 2:2). Paul writes that we should forgive one another as God has forgiven us. Think how the world (your world) would change if all personal anger were immediately released through forgiveness.

If there is someone you have not forgiven, you are not yet free. Find freedom today by releasing the anger that holds you captive—forgive just as God in Christ has forgiven you.

Forgiveness is God's command. Martin Luther

"Far too Public" (David Jeremiah)

I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life. Psalm 119:93

Abolitionist William Wilberforce once wrote, "I must secure more time for private devotions. I have been living far too public for me. The shortening of devotions starves the soul, it grows lean and faint. I have been keeping too late hours."

At the time he wrote this, Wilberforce had fallen victim to the busyness of a demanding political position. Fortunately, he understood that having a vibrant, active relationship with the Lord was something entirely different than simply going through the motions of being a Christian, and he was determined to feed his famished soul.

When we are not feeding our soul from God's Word and drinking from the Living Water, we are starving ourselves of the most fundamental necessity of our Christian walk, the very nourishment we need to show signs of life.

Take some time to examine your relationship with the Lord. Is it alive and well or underfed and weak? In either case, staying in fellowship with the heavenly Father will keep an active spiritual walk healthy and breathe new life into a malnourished soul.

"Feed on Christ, and then go and live your life, and it is Christ in you that lives your life, that helps the poor, that tells the truth, that fights the battle, and that wins the crown." - Philips Brooks

Is there any sin you are not capable of committing?

We all readily agree that God forgives sin, that Jesus brought salvation from sin, but we have a very hard time seeing ourselves as those who need forgiveness and salvation. We watch the evening news or read the newspaper and decide that we really are not so bad after all; the things we may have done—may have done!—are not anything compared to what other people are doing.... We will never have an accurate picture of ourselves and our fallen human condition until we understand that there is no sin we are incapable of committing.... [But] God has come to bring the people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. We are forgiven as soon as we grasp the fact that we need forgiveness.

- Mary Anna Vidakovich

Giving Permission (by Andy Bryan)

This article was written by Andy Bryan (Methodisct minister from KC at: http://entertherainbow.blogspot.com/2007/11/giving-permission.html

Here's one of my favorite parts of Bishop Schnase's book:

• "First, congregations should give ready permission to those who have the energy for and interest in new initiatives. They ought to reduce the number of hurdles, the layers of organizational reporting and approval seeking, especially by persons who have no particular interest in volunteering themselves. Leadership, vision, planning, soliciting help, and participation must come from those who feel called and eager. Cultivating a permission-giving, rather than an approval-seeking, environment in a congregation has huge implications not just for the planning of missions but for beginning new Bible studies, support groups, and other ministries."

How is the congregation where you hang out a permission-giving rather than an approval-seeking environment? I'm running a poll to that effect - vote today!

We are trying here in Northtown to become more permission-giving, but not everybody agrees as to what exactly that means, especially when it comes to communication and accountability. I sometimes find myself speaking what seems almost like a completely different lanugage than some in the congregation. I want to convey the idea that a lot of what happens in our congregation may not be known by everyone, and that's okay. As long as what is happening is accountable to the mission of the congregation, it's all good. That's a hard thing to understand for some people.

When a small group of a half a dozen people wants to do some ministry project, and they put it together, organize it, implement it, and generally make it happen, we want to celebrate it and give God thanks for the energy and initiative this little team has taken on behalf of Christ. What we don't want to do is add so many layers of reporting and approval that it bogs the whole thing down and it loses effectiveness, fruitfulness, and impetus.

And it may require that I admit I don't know exactly what's going on, too! I have often heard myself answering inquiries with, "I don't know" when someone asks, "Hey, what are So-and-So doing with the This-and-That?"

"I don't know," I'll say, "But I know So-and-So, and I trust that whatever they're doing, it's going to be pretty cool!" The key, as with so many things, is the development of loving, grace-filled, trusting relationships among fellow disciples. Minus the development of those relationships, you really can't do much.

But when we are truly seeking a relationship grounded in the love and grace of Jesus Christ, when we live in that love and grow closer to one another and to God all the time, when we put aside our need to know and control what's going on and release ourselvews from that paralyzing tendency, God will truly amaze you at what might just happen.

COMMENTS ARE WELCOME BELOW!!!!

Do You Doubt (Max Lucado)

“Anyone who doubts is like a wave in the sea, blown up and down by the wind.”James 1:6

Doubt. He’s a nosy neighbor. He’s an unwanted visitor. He’s an obnoxious guest. He’ll pester you. He’ll irritate you. He’ll criticize your judgment. He’ll kick the stool out from under you and refuse to help you up. He’ll tell you not to believe in the invisible yet offer no answer for the inadequacy of the visible…His aim is not to convince you to confuse you. He doesn’t offer solutions, he only raises questions.

Had any visits from this fellow lately? If you find yourself going to church in order to be saved and not because you are saved, then you’ve been listening to him. If you find yourself doubting God could forgive you for that, you’ve been sold some snake oil. If you are more cynical about Christians than sincere about Christ, the guess who came to dinner?

I suggest you put a lock on your gate. I suggest you post a “Do Not Enter” sign on your door.

God’s Help is Timely (Max Lucado)

“We will find grace to help us when we need it.”Hebrews 4:16 NLT

God’s help is timely. He helps us the same way a father gives plane tickets to his family. When I travel with my kids, I carry all our tickets in my satchel. When the moment comes to board the plane, I stand between the attendant and the child. As each daughter passes, I place a ticket in her hand. She, in turn, gives the ticket to the attendant. Each one receives the ticket in the nick of time.

What I do for my daughters God does for you. He places himself between you and the need. And at the right time, he gives you the ticket. Wasn’t this the promise he gave his disciples? “When you are arrested and judged, don’t worry ahead of time about what you should say. Say whatever is given you to say at that time, because it will not really be you speaking; it will be the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:11, emphasis mine).

God leads us. He will do the right thing at the right time.

Not in some things...

This post was written by Greg Hazelrig. He is a United Methodist pastor in the Mississippi Conference.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Not in some things...not in most things...not in the good things that happen in our lives...but in "ALL" things God works for the good of those who love him.

In the midst of our personal trials, we may not think anything good can happen. But if we will look close enough, we will see that God even uses these times. It may be to build our character or strength. I remember one of the Star Trek movies where someone "playing" God told Captain Kirk that he could take away the things from his past that caused him pain. Kirk replied that he didn't want his past pains taken away. These were the things that brought him character and made him who he was.

We would not be who we are today if it were not for the good and bad things that happened in our lives. We are strengthened by trials and tribulations that we've overcome. And this is just a sample of how God "can" work for good in all things.

Other times that seemingly have no upside to them are times of disaster. We all remember 9/11. This was a terrible event in the history of our nation. But afterwards our nation banded together and you didn't hear about political parties and other kinds of disputes. We were all on the same team, even if only for a short while. How did God work good in this? Church attendance rose in the weeks following this event. I know that many of those who started coming after 9/11 have long since quit coming again, but you and I will never know how many came back and stayed and how many found a deeper relationship with God because of it. And God works for good.

Lets not forget tragic natural disasters like the earthquake I read about this morning in Chile or the devastating hurricanes that hit our Gulf Coast within the last several years. Where was God through events such as Katrina? I saw Him in the aftermath where people learned that they could make a difference. He was there when neighbor helped neighbor (even if that neighbor was someone they'd never met). People learned how to care for others and feed others and pray with others. Many learned how to be a Christian, maybe for the first time. And so the love of Christ has been shared throughout our lands. And God works for good.

We can see God working good in ALL things if we will only look close enough. He didn't make 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina happen. He didn't start the fires that swept through California earlier this year. He wasn't trying to test us, punish us, or see how we would react. But in these events He does see us through and works good for all of us who love Him and are called to live according to His purpose.

Today you may be going through trials of pain in your life. This pain could be physical or mental or emotional. But whatever kind it might be, know that God is with you and that He can even bring good out of whatever you're going through. May God bless you in whatever circumstances you live. And may there be more good ones that bad ones. And may you see the good that God does in your life through both.

More from Wednesday Night

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN TO THE FUN ON WEDNESDAYS!!!


SHE SAID "APPLE JUICE"

Upcoming Christmas Musical

Scenes from Practice for the Upcoming Christmas Musical:

Commander Matthews

Commander will be having rehab at:

Ridgewood Health Care

201 Oak Hill Rd.

Jasper, AL 35504

Room 113.

He Understands (Max Lucado)

“God even knows how many hairs are on your head. So don’t be afraid.” Matthew 10:30-31

Why did Jesus grow weary in Samaria (John 4:6), disturbed in Nazareth (Mark 6:6), and angry in the Temple (John 2:15)? Why was he sleepy in the boat on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:38), sad at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35), and hungry in the wilderness (Matt.4:2)?

Why? Why did he endure all these feelings? Because he knew you would feel them too.

He knew you would be weary, disturbed, and angry. He knew you’d be sleepy, grief-stricken, and hungry. He knew you’d face pain. If not the pain of the body, the pain of the soul…pain too sharp for any drug. He knew you’d face thirst. If not a thirst for water, at least a thirst for truth, and the truth we glean from the image of a thirsty Christ is—he understands.

And because he understands, we can come to him.

Prayer Request from Diane Fender

Prayer Request from Diane Fender

"Bob, Would you please add to the prayer list my mother, Myrtis Hanson and Ken's mother Sue Upchurch. If anyone has a minute and is at Ridgeview visiting Merle could I ask if they would stop by and say hello to Ken's mother. She is in room 159 and misses her friends at her home so much.. Just to go by and say hello we are praying for you would be great. She is away from her church family and sister. We are the only outsiders she gets to see each day. Thank you so much. Diane"

Bulletins and Prayer Lists

The Post Below is from a United Methodist lay speaker and associate member of The Order of St. Luke The Physician (an interdenominational healing order). He states that it needs to be shouted from the highest peaks that God is not out of the miracle business. The original post can be found at http://brothermarty.blogspot.com/

Bulletins and Prayer Lists

I've had occasions to be at 4 different churches in the past month within a 30 mile radius of my home church and I found a common denominator in each of these churches...a prayer list in the bulletins. To my surprise and pleasure, I found some of the same names on these prayer lists at each of the different churches. I really shouldn't be too surprised as we are in a rural area and there are a lot of ties that go beyond local communities. Still, I was awed by each church listing the names of those needing prayer in their bulletins.

I have made it a habit of asking a congregation if they pray for each individual by name every day when saying their prayers. To my astonishment, nearly half of the people I ask do, literally, pray for each individual by name every day. They keep their Sunday bulletin with their bibles and bring it out when it's time for prayer.

The joy that comes on Sunday morning when asking for praises and concerns is in the dynamics of people saying, "You can take 'such and such' off the prayer list - she's better". It isn't uncommon for our church to erupt in applause along with "Praise God" when we remove someone from the list.

I'm especially moved by a healing I've seen take place in one individual who's name is on multiple churches' prayer lists. He has been lifted up in prayer, daily, by at least 500 people that I can surmise, although it may be even more. I've witnessed his change from a feeble, cancer-stricken 80 year old shadow of a man, to a strong, healed warrior for Christ. When I saw him at a funeral yesterday, he shook my hand. It was with such power that I thought I was shaking hands with a lumberjack...and the sparkle in his eyes was like a reflection of heaven. I shared with him that I'd seen his name on numerous prayer lists in a couple of counties and he said that he felt the prayers of everyone, and that God has made him a humble, grateful person in the process. Awesome!

Something I have trouble understanding is this: The bigger the church, the smaller the prayer list. The church the next town away has about 300 members and only 10 people on their list. Our church with 35 attending members, has roughly 50 people on our list. Likewise at the other small churches I've visited recently.

It truly is an awesome experience to see and share with others the power of intercessory prayer. It's 7:21 AM and my wife has the bible, the Upper Room, and the bulletin. She just asked, "Ready for devotional?" Time to pray and lift up the names of those we know of who need all the prayer they can get. Please pray for someone today.

Christ to his Neighbor (David Jeremiah)

He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he. Proverbs 14:21

Mamie Adams always went to a branch post office in her town because the postal employees there were friendly. She went there to buy stamps just before Christmas one year, and the lines were particularly long. Someone pointed out that there was no need to wait in line because there was a stamp machine in the lobby. "I know," said Mamie, "but the machine won't ask me about my arthritis."

The human touch of kindness is our species' distinguishing mark and something many go without due to all of the world's technological advances. Just like Mamie, many people would rather sacrifice the modern-day convenience of a machine in order to receive a friendly greeting from another living, breathing human being. Jesus understood the importance of kindness and took great care in being kind to everyone, especially the downtrodden and unsaved. He knew this was the key to opening the hearts of those who otherwise might never respond to the love of Christ.

Make it your goal to be kind to everyone; you never know who might be in need of the human touch of kindness.

It is the duty of every Christian to be Christ to his neighbor. Martin Luther

High Level Discussion of Doughnuts at Church

J. Michael, Bryson and Coleman discussing doughnuts at church.....

Patience replaced.... (Max Lucado)

“Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do.”James 1:4

Sometime ago our church staff attended a leadership conference. Especially interested in one class, I arrived early and snagged a front-row seat. As the speaker began, however, I was distracted by a couple of voices in the back of the room. Two guys were mumbling to each other. I was giving serious thought to shooting a glare over my shoulder when the speaker offered an explanation. “Forgive me,” he said. “I forgot to explain why the two fellows at the back of the class are talking. One of them is an elder at a new church in Romania. He has traveled here to learn about church leadership. But he doesn’t speak English, so the message is being translated.”

All of a sudden everything changed. Patience replaced impatience. Why? Because patience always hitches a ride with understanding. “A man of understanding holds his tongue” (Prov. 11:12 NIV). Don’t miss the connection between understanding and patience. Before you blow up, listen up. Before you strike out, tune in.

Parent's Night OUT!!!!!

Capt. Chris Pearson

Here is the address for Capt. Chris Pearson. He is Dan McLaury's Son-in-Law serving in Iraq. (In very dangerous conditions even by Iraq standards) He also has the added problem of being an LSU fan like Dan has so we need to pray for that also. You can also email him at cpears1@lsu.edu

I know he would appreciate some small packages!!

CPT Chris Pearson
A Co 1-15th 3rd BCT 3rd ID
APO AE 09308 - 5956

NO MORE (Max Lucado)

“The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command.”

I Thessalonians 4:16

Have you ever wondered what that command will be? It will be the inaugural word of heaven. It will be the first audible message most have heard from God. It will be the word that closes one age and opens a new one.

I think I know what the command will be. I could very well be wrong, but I think the command that puts an end to the pains of the earth and initiates the joys of heaven will be two words: “No more.”

The King of Kings will raise his pierced hand and proclaim, “No more.”

The angels will stand and the Father will speak, “No more.”

Every person who lives and ever lived will turn toward the sky and hear God announce, “No more.”

No more loneliness.

No more tears. No more death.
No more sadness. No more crying.
No more pain.

Passionate Worship (Long but worth the read...)

In his newly published book, Five Practices of a Fruitful Congregation, Bishop Robert Schnase highlights the practices that shape and sustain a vital church: radical hospitality, passionate worship, intentional faith development, risk-taking mission and service, and extravagant generosity.

Schnase writes, "People are searching for worship that is authentic, alive, creative, and comprehensible, where they experience the life-changing presence of God in the presence of others" (p. 33).

Unfortuantely many people think of worship as the "be kind to God hour" (my words) in which worship gets planned around the rest of our schedule for the day. Studies show that the time of a service is more important than style in most parishioners choice of worship service. But Schnase states, "We don't attend worship to squeeze God into our lives; we seek to meld our lives into God's" (pp. 33-34). In worship we give God the worth due him, and in return God gives to us what we need in the way of identity, formation, discipleship and calling to service.

Worship is communal in character. Private devotional time is not an adequate substitute.

Corporate worship is indispensable for Christians as we have been called as a people. Worship must be passionate, for it is the most likely place that people will come to the realization that they need to be in relationship with God, that they need to become part of God's people. "Worship is the most likely point of first contact the unchurched have with a congregation, and in some churches, many visitors do not find genuine warmth, a premium on excellence, or a message presented in a form that engages them. When a congregation loses touch with the purpose of worship, people come and go without receiving God" (p. 37). Passionate worship creates a "mindset of expectancy." It is in worship where people come to realize that God wants to be in relationship with them. As they offer their best, God offers his best in return.

"Passionate worship is not restricted to any particular style..." (p. 39). What makes worship passionate is how it is offered. One should not assume that so-called "contemporary" worship is naturally passionate, and "traditional" worship is naturally dull. Moreover, passionate worship cannot only take place in a sanctuary setting; it can also happen in a gymnasium. "Worship leaves people challenged, sustained, and led by the Spirit of God" (p. 39).

Passionate worship must be not be poor in quality. Poorly offered worship, whether it is found in the music or the preaching, makes it difficult for people to enter into the presence of God for a life-changing experience. Thus those persons involved in worship and its planning, must be intentional about worship, and must not take a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants approach. "When worship is a high priority, Passionate Worship is evident" (p. 41).

Context is critical in passionate worship. There is no "one size fits all" style or pattern that will fit every congregation. Some people will connect with less formal worship, where others will find vitality in formal expressions. Some will find guitars and drums to be a worshipful expression in song; others will prefer the pipe organ. The important point here for Schnase is that "[w]orship wars erupt when church leaders force a dramatic change of style in music and liturgy upon an existing service. Nobody can make country-and-western fans enjoy rap music, or rock 'n' rollers appreciate Mozart. Nor can traditional organists, choir members, and worshipers be forced to give up the music and liturgy that has helped them connect to God their whole life. Traditional worship forms and music can be improved, enhanced, and deepened in a thousand ways, but people cannot be forced to change their taste in music" (p. 45).

The solution to this is not to exhange the style and form of the one service, but to offer an additional and alternative service. If more traditional folk cannot be expected to change their taste in music, neither should they expect younger folk who like modern sounds to have to change theirs in order to come to church. Schnase observes that one hundred years ago all persons from every generation listened to the same music and shared the same culture. This is no longer the case. Thus the church must offer alternatives to attract those whose music tastes and culture are different without taking away the current traditional forms that have spoken to many generations throughout the years.

Schnase ends the chapter: "The motivation for enhancing the quality of worship is not only about deepening our own faith but also allowing God to use us and our congregations to offer hope and life and love to others. God works through us to change the world. Worship is God's gift and task, a sacred trust that requires our utmost and highest" (p. 56).

MIGHTY TO SAVE

We are singing this song on Sunday. The Lyrics are below.




MIGHTY TO SAVE LYRICS

Everyone needs compassion
A love that's never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
A kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations

My Savior
He can move the mountains
My God is Mighty to save
He is Mighty to save
Forever
Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender

Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus

Our God is More Merciful Than That

THE WORDS BELOW WERE WRITTEN BY:

Matt Judkins a United Methodist pastor serving in the Oklahoma Conference . http://catchingmeddlers.com/

On Saturday, I went to our ministerial alliance meeting. We met out at a church about 15 minutes from town, because they were having their monthly men’s breakfast. We drove out into the country and found the church sitting next to an old cemetery just about a mile off of the lake. We walked in to a hearty breakfast. The biscuits and gravy were delicious, the coffee was stout, and the bacon was cooked crispy, which in my opinion is the only good way to cook bacon.

After the breakfast we preachers, and that is what we’re usually called, broke off into another room to carry on the business of the day. There were only eight of us there that day. Southern Baptist, Freewill Baptist, Church of God, two Community Churches, and two men from another community that I didn’t know. We took care of the business of planning our upcoming Thanksgiving service with the usual conversation.

After that, a few of the preachers left and the real conversation began. Several of the men took turns sharing how God was at work in their lives, oftentimes sharing how they had led someone to the Lord. Finally, one of the men who I’ve really come to respect started to share. In order for you to understand this story more deeply, you need to know this preacher is a “whoopin’ and hollerin’” sort of preacher. He’s sort of baptist, but doesn’t really belong to any denomination. He doesn’t have any kind of degree whatsoever, and he probably couldn’t quote a theologian if he had to. But he shared a story that has been on my mind ever since.

He began to share about a man named “Catfish.” Catfish was a friend of his, but he was not a churchgoing man. His wife had went to my preacher friend’s church for many years, but Catfish never would darken the doors except occasionally on a Sunday night. Catfish got cancer. My friend went to see him several times in the hospital. Each time, before he left the hospital, he told us how he’d ask Catfish if he was right with God. To this, Catfish always replied, “The Lord’s Spirit don’t strive with me anymore, because I denied him and missed my chance.” This happened twice. The third time, when my old friend returned, Catfish was in bad shape - just waiting to die. They began the same conversation they always had about various things from the weather, to fishing, to how the doctors thought he was doing.

Before leaving, my preacher friend reached out to hold Catfish’s hand. He said, “You know what I’m going to ask. I want to know if you’ve made your peace with God.” Again, Catfish said, “The Spirit don’t strive with me anymore. I’ve missed my chance.” My friend then told us, “Right then, I tightened my grip on his hand just a bit…and I looked him in the eye.” In a quiet trembling voice he shared with us the words he spoke to Catfish, “I said, my God is more merciful than that.” At this, he said, Catfish broke into tears. In that moment, he knew a merciful, forgiving, and loving God - a God who doesn’t give up. He made a commitment to Christ right then and there, with his wife and my friend sharing tears with Catfish by his bed.

I don’t think I’m anywhere close to describing the power this simple story had for me in that moment; maybe you had to have been there to hear the aching love of God present in those seven simple words. But I do know this. If our theology of evangelism, salvation, and God’s work can’t embrace the story of my preacher friend and Catfish, then we just might need to take it back to the drawing board. I know a whole lot of sophisticated seminary-type folks like myself who think we know quite a bit, but I wonder if we could have helped Catfish in a moment like that. Thanks be to God; someone did.

Election Day

This is an article written by Rev. Chris Roberts of Grace United Methodist Church in Kokomo, Indiana. Original article is found at: http://pastorchrisroberts.blogspot.com/2007/11/election-day.html

At the church I serve two members are running for Mayor. One is the Democratic candidate and the other is the Republican candidate. Both are respectable men who are passionate about making the Kokomo community the best it can be. While I have cringed at a few of the commercials and ads I have seen and heard from these two men, mostly it has been a clean and honest campaign.

These two men have differing political views and opposing opinions on a number of issues, like taxes, education, labor, how to run the local government and perhaps other polarizing social issues (that have not become an issue, Thanks be to God! because they are not extremely important in a mayoral race). While they have these differences I am encouraged to see them in the pews on Sundays.

This is a testimony to true Christian unity. While two people may stump and run on different platforms of government and issues, they sit side-by-side in worship of the one true God. Since the beginning, the Christian faith has been inclusive of people with lots of opinions on lots of issues. While we are not going to argue over the basics of the faith (such as the Creeds), let’s join John Wesley when he said, “Think and let think.” In the parking lot, we can disagree about the war, governmental programs, legalization of marijuana, who is going to win Survivor, who is best suited to be the next mayor (or President), or any number of divisive issues, but when we get around the Table, we are unified about worshipping Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When we all get to heaven our pride and polemics will disappear in the greatness of the God of All Creation. None of the social, economical, political, and national issues will be important as we encircle the Trinity and worship for all eternity. None of our political or national allegiances will matter.

As for today’s election, I pray for both of these men and their families. Both of them will remain strong leaders in our community. I hope both of them will get more involved in their church family and continue to take their faith more seriously than their politics. For their willingness to serve the community, I am grateful. I look forward to worshipping with and working along side these men (and their wonderful wives) for years to come.

Generosity vs Stewardship.

THIS ARTICLE BELOW WAS WRITTEN BY Kim Matthews a Methodist who writes at: http://sandpipersthoughts.blogspot.com/

I've written before about the Five Fruitful Practices of Congregations. One of them is extravagant generosity. Today I ran across an article by Robert Schnase, who wrote the book, and is also the Bishop of the Missouri Conference. He is discussing the differences in the terms stewardship and generosity. He visited the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, which is one of the large UM churches in the world, by membership. Their Executive Director of Stewardship recently had a title change to Executive Director of Generosity.

I wonder about that. What is implied in each word? What do we hear when we hear the words themselves? Which is a truer representation of what we are to do with the gifts God has given to us.

First, stewardship. I think it implies that we are stewards and that the "talents" we are managing are not our own. One would never expect a steward to be generous, because generosity implies ownership. If you have a financial advisor and you give him control of a certain amount of your money, you expect him to be a good steward, to use that money as you instruct him to do. When you ask for the money, it is still yours, and generosity of the money manager's part is not required in order for him to return it to you. He is your steward.

I think that there is a benefit of using that word. It does hammer home to us the idea that all that we have belongs to God. We do not have ultimate ownership of it, whether it is our time, or talents or gifts or our service. It all belongs to God, and we are to use it as he instructs us to.

Generosity is something else. We can really only be generous with something that we own. Schnase argues that generosity implies to many people a larger definition than stewardship. He believes that in our society, we have equated stewardship with money, while generosity can still apply to gifts, to time, to talents. He says that generosity is an aspect of character -- we are generous. We can choose to be generous. He also says that this word is more readily understood by "unchurched" people. Stewardship is an "insider" word, while generosity is not.

In truth, whatever it is called, I think giving to God's work needs to be done as a response to God's grace. It needs to be inclusive of more than just our money, but of all that which we have been given by God. I'm not sure which words defines that better, but I do think that we need to work on this concept in our churches.

The word extravagant? That one I like!

Opportunity in every difficulty.....

"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity.The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." Winston Churchill

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses,in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

Jesus Burped? (Max Lucado)

“God will show his mercy forever and ever to those who worship and serve him.” Luke 1:50

For thirty-three years he would feel everything you and I have ever felt. He felt weak. He grew weary. He was afraid of failure. He was susceptible to wooing women. He got colds, burped, and had body odor. His feelings got hurt.

To think of Jesus in such a light is—well, it seems almost irreverent, doesn’t it? It’s not something we like to do; it’s uncomfortable. It is much easier to keep the humanity out of the incarnation. Clean the manure from around the manger. Wipe the sweat out of his eyes. Pretend he never snored or blew his nose or hit his thumb with a hammer.

He’s easier to stomach that way. There is something about keeping him divine that keeps him distant, packaged, predictable.

But don’t do it. For heaven’s sake, don’t. Let him be as human as he intended to be. Let him into the mire and muck of our world. For only if we let him in can he pull us out.

God Uses the Common (Max Lucado)

“Those who try to keep their lives will lose them. But those who give up their lives will save them.” Luke 17:33

Heaven may have a shrine to honor God’s uncommon use of the common.

It’s a place you don’t want to miss. Stroll through and see Rahab’s rope, Paul’s bucket, David’s sling, and Samson’s jawbone. Wrap your hand around the staff that split the sea and smote the rock. Sniff the ointment that soothed Jesus’ skin and lifted his heart…

I don’t know if these items will be there.

But I am sure of one thing—the people who used them will.

The risk takers: Rahab who sheltered the spy. The brethren who smuggled Paul.

The conquerors: David, slinging a stone. Samson, swinging a bone. Moses, lifting a rod.

The caregivers: Mary at Jesus’ feet. What she gave cost much, but somehow she knew what he would give would cost more.