Bible Challenge 01/26 - 02/01

Greetings All.

This week we are finishing up the book of Acts and moving into the first epistle (letter) of the New Testament - Romans. The last segment of the book of Acts, in chapters 13-28, details the spread of the Gospel past the known areas of Jesus and the disciples, out to the uttermost parts of the earth as Paul travels all around the Roman world preaching to the Gentiles. This covers about 14 years from his first missionary journey to his release from the Romans.

With regard to Romans, most scholars believe that this book was written in Corinth at the end of Paul's second missionary journey there, somewhere around 55-56AD. The book of Romans is Paul's greatest theological legacy to the church. The longest by far of his letters, it's intent is to explain that salvation is offered through the Gospel (or good news) of Jesus Christ. Since Paul has not been to Rome at this point, he outlines the good news of Jesus thoroughly so that Paul's teaching will not be confused with other false teachers.

The Main sections of Paul’s argument that we will be reading this week are as follows:

•  God’s wrath revealed against the unrighteous (1:18-3:20) 

• God credits righteousness to all (3:21-5:21) 

• The gift of God’s righteousness results in righteous living (6:1-8:39) · God's righteousness in the case of Israel (9:1-11:36)

Here is the schedule:

26, Sunday: Acts 12-15

27, Monday: Acts 16-19

28, Tuesday: Acts 20-23

29, Wednesday: Acts 24-27

30, Thursday: Acts 28 - Romans 3

31, Friday: Romans 4-7

01, Saturday: Romans 8-11

May God add his richest blessings to the reading, the hearing and most importantly the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.

Friday Fives

1.Preaching Series - This Sunday, January 26th, we will begin a new preaching series based upon the hope we have as Christians and disciples of Jesus Christ. This series is based upon the writings of N.T. Wright and his book, Surprised by Hope. Over the next several weeks we will look to the hope we have for this world, the Resurrection, Heaven, Jesus' second coming, salvation, and the Church. I hope you will come, open your mind to the power of the Holy Spirit, and hear what is laid upon your heart. Bring a friend and join us for time of worship, celebration, and hope. I hope to see you all there!





2. Advent Conspiracy Update - WE DID IT! Thanks to the generosity of this congregation, we did it. We met our goal and will be able to partner with Belleview UMC to buy an Ark of Hope from Heifer International and we will be able to pack meals for children in Africa through Stop Hunger Now. I will begin to make the arrangements for our food packing date with Stop Hunger Now and will let you know when it will take place. Once again, thank you so much for partnering together to truly make an impact in the life of another person.





3. New Study - Beginning this Thursday, January 30th, we will begin a new study by Rev. Mike Slaughter, Dare to Dream. Have you ever wondered what your purpose is in this life? Have you ever struggled to discern what it is that God wants you to accomplish for the Kingdom?

Come and join us as we seek to answer these questions and more. Rev. Mike Slaughter has developed Dare to Dream to help people realize God’s dream for their lives, develop a mission statement based upon that dream, and then fully commit to the God-directed life mission they create. This class will be offered at 10am and 7pm, in the Fellowship Hall, each Thursday from January 30th - February 20th. For more information and to sign up, please pick up a registration form in the narthex or click here.





4. 2013 Apportionments - If you have been affiliated with the United Methodist Church for any amount of time, you may have heard this word. Basically apportionments are the share each annual conference and local church pay to support international, national, and regional missions. Our giving when combined with other churches, allow the United Methodist Church to accomplish something bigger than ourselves. We have 14 funds that we support with our apportionments and we have paid 100% of our obligations since 2003. I am happy to announce that we will continue that streak as we have met our obligation for 2013 as well! Thank you so much for your financial faithfulness to this church and the missions of our denomination.

If you would like to know more about apportionments, like the missions that are supported, please click here. It will take you to a document entitled, "A Guide to Apportionments". Here you can read more about this vital outreach ministry of our denomination.





5. Children's Home - On Saturday, March 15th, our District has been invited to the Annual Day Apart at the Florida United Methodist Children's Home. This is our opportunity to tour the campus, speak to the volunteers, and see how our financial and prayerful support is being utilized. The day will begin at 9am and will conclude with lunch on the campus at noon. I highly encourage anyone who is interested to attend. If you would like to carpool, please contact the church office and let us know so we can coordinate it. For more information, please click here.





Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

Dreams. We all have them. They can be those images and events that happen when we sleep. They can be those goals and hopes we have for our future and the futures of the people that we love. But they are there; bringing us comfort and providing us direction.

But the one thing about dreams is that they can be influenced. On any given day, whatever is weighing on my mind or circulating through my consciousness has a strong probability of influencing my dreams that evening. While I rest my mind will still ponder those thoughts and influences and turn them into images. Sometimes those dreams are pleasant, other times enlightening, and yet at times they can also be alarming. Those resulting feelings and learnings can also impact the dreams I have for my future and that of my family.

The influences that impact my dreams can come from experiences at church, interactions in my daily routines, conversations I have had, or stories I have read. They can alter my perceptions and also impact my reality. These influences can be political, philosophical, religious, or foundational. They change how I act, what I think, and what I believe. Consequently, these influences can be very powerful.

So that question that I want to pose to you, is where do your influences come from? Who or what do you allow to direct your dreams? Is it a famous figure, mainline doctrine or philosophy? Is it your Lord and Creator?

You see it is that last one we sometimes ignore. We will read all we can from our favorite author. We will listen to all we can from a trusted teacher, professor, or celebrity. We will accept with blind devotion the thoughts and ideas of another person, allowing that to shape our life, our actions, and even our faith. But how often do we take what we are accepting as truth and pass it through what we feel God is trying to tell us?

God has a dream for each of you. A dream for your purpose in this life and the life to come. A dream that will draw you closer to God as you experience all of the love, grace, and mercy that God has for you. A dream that will impact your relationships with others as you pass along that love, grace, and mercy to others.

My friends, I encourage you to think about your dreams and the factors that influence them. Is God part of that influence, all of that influence, or at times none of the influence? My hope for us all, is that as we answer that question God will be revealed to us, guiding and directing our dreams, so we can live out God’s dream for us with passion and with vigor!

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!

Getting Ready for the LordLuke 3:1-6

Last week we were incredibly fortunate to have Rev. Walter Edwards come and share with us. His wisdom and deeper understanding was a blessing as he walked us through this third chapter of the Gospel of Luke. Listen again to hear something new or for the first time and be renewed.

Bible Challenge 01/19 - 01/25

Greetings All!

This week we are finishing up the book of John (closing out our Gospel experience) and moving into the book of Acts, learning about the spread of the Gospel and the early Christian church.

No reflection on the Gospel of John would be complete without time and attention spent on these final words: "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But THESE are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:31). It is in these words that John finally explains the rationale behind what is included and not included within his Gospel.

Acts or Acts of the Apostles, is the second of Luke's major writings, showing how the disciples spread the goods news of the Gospel after Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension back to heaven. The key verse for this book is Acts 1:8: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is to come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth." These verses set the tone for all of the action in the book. The first major segment is chapters 1-7 where the action centers around the Jews in Jerusalem and Peter is the main figure. The timeline here is about 2 years from Pentecost through the stoning of Stephen. The second major segment is chapters 8-12 and they show the spread of the Gospel out from Jerusalem into the regions of Judea and Samaria. Here the central figure is Philip and his main audience the Samaritans. The timeline here is 13 years from Stephen's stoning to Paul's missionary journeys.

Here is the schedule:

19, Sunday: John 5-8

20, Monday: John 9-12

21, Tuesday: John 13-16

22, Wednesday: John 17-20

23, Thursday: John 21 - Acts 3

24, Friday: Acts 4-7

25, Saturday: Acts 8-11

May God add his richest blessings to the reading, the hearing and most importantly the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.

Friday Fives

1.Preaching Series - This Sunday, January 19th, we will be blessed to have Rev. Walter Edwards come and share the Word with us. Please come and enjoy his wisdom and reflection as he shares with us what God has placed upon his heart. I know you will enjoy this time of worship and fellowship.

2. Advent Conspiracy Update - WE DID IT! Thanks to the generosity of this congregation, we did it. We met our goal and will be able to partner with Belleview UMC to buy an Ark of Hope from Heifer International and we will be able to pack meals for children in Africa through Stop Hunger Now. I will begin to make the arrangements for our food packing date with Stop Hunger Now and will let you know when it will take place. Once again, thank you so much for partnering together to truly make an impact in the life of another person.





3. 2013 Apportionments - If you have been affiliated with the United Methodist Church for any amount of time, you may have heard this word. Basically apportionments are the share each annual conference and local church pay to support international, national, and regional missions. Our giving when combined with other churches, allow the United Methodist Church to accomplish something bigger than ourselves. We have 14 funds that we support with our apportionments and we have paid 100% of our obligations since 2003. I am happy to announce that we will continue that streak as we have met our obligation for 2013 as well! Thank you so much for your financial faithfulness to this church and the missions of our denomination.

If you would like to know more about apportionments, like the missions that are supported, please click here. It will take you to a document entitled, "A Guide to Apportionments". Here you can read more about this vital outreach ministry of our denomination.





4. Children's Home - On Saturday, March 15th, our District has been invited to the Annual Day Apart at the Florida United Methodist Children's Home. This is our opportunity to tour the campus, speak to the volunteers, and see how our financial and prayerful support is being utilized. The day will begin at 9am and will conclude with lunch on the campus at noon. I highly encourage anyone who is interested to attend. If you would like to carpool, please contact the church office and let us know so we can coordinate it. For more information, please click here.





5. New Study - Beginning January 29th we will begin a new study by Rev. Mike Slaughter, Dare to Dream. Watch this space and the website for more information.







Have a great week!

Midweek Moment

Each year I encourage all of you to join me in reading the Bible. In fact, I put up a reading plan each week with a schedule that will take you through the New Testament twice and the Old Testament once in a calendar year. I do this because I believe it is vitally important to spend time in Scripture on a very regular basis. It is in those moments with God, that we are in communion with our Creator and placing ourselves in a position to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Last week we I read a blog post from Fr. Richard Rohr as he talked about how he reads Scripture. It gave me the occasion to ask myself the same question. It is one thing, and an important thing, to read Scripture. But it is equally important how you read Scripture.

We are called to use the God given intellect we have to not only read what Scripture tells us, but interpret how that Scripture informs our lives. We are to take what we read and apply it to our lives in whatever context that may involve.

Fr. Rohr feels that “Without an honest and declared hermeneutic, we have no consistency or authority in our interpretation of the Bible.” If we are not taking what we read and passing it through a means or method for interpretation, we are not allowing the power of Scripture to wash over us and transform us.

For me, the all-encompassing love of God is a powerful hermeneutic. Everything I read in Scripture, I ask myself, how does this help me love more like God? I want everything I do, everything I believe, to flow from the love of God. Jesus even tells us the greatest commandment is love, “He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39, NRSV).

That means when I look to Scripture I am looking for love, for God’s love. I take those verses that speak of judgment and exclusion and seek to understand what value they have for me in my pursuit to love like Christ. That means there are some verses that were intended for a specific group, for a specific time, and not meant to be used for all of history. If what I read does not support Jesus’ call to love God and love all people, I chose to not spend much time with it.

Folks, as you read Scripture I encourage you to use your own hermeneutic. Do not read just to tick an item off your list, but read with an eye for interpretation. Read to see what it is God is trying to tell you. Read so that your faith journey may be strengthened and deepened. God is seeking you out, speaking to you through Scripture, do not miss that opportunity to speak and spend time with the One that loved you first.

Have a great week and I will see you soon!

Remember Your Baptism and Be ThankfulIsaiah 42:1-9 and Acts 10:34-43

This past Sunday in worship we took the opportunity to remember our baptism and the call that places on our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. I pray you found meaning in that time and renewed strength to answer God's call to be the light and salt of the earth.

Bible Challenge 01/12 - 01/18

Greetings All!

This week we are reading the entire book of Luke and moving through the first four chapters of the last Gospel, John.

The Gospel of Luke is the first of a two part book written by the same author. The first part is an account of Jesus' life and the second part, the book of Acts, is an account of the history of the early church. Luke was a physician who was a traveling companion of the Apostle Paul on several of his missionary journeys. He addresses the books of Luke and Acts to Theophilus, probably a Gentile who was either a new believer or someone seeking to learn about Christ. Luke elaborates on a lot of the information from Matthew and Mark, including more parables and more stories about Jesus' interactions with people that show his interest in the non-Jewish world and the poor. Other highlights in the book of Luke include: the parables about lost items (chap 15), Jesus and Zaccheus (chap 19), Jesus praying in the Garden (chap 22), the Crucifixion (chap 23), and the Resurrection (chap 24).

The Gospel of John, written by one of the disciples, is very different than the others and so is NOT considered as a synoptic or similar Gospel. While it does mention some of the same stories of people and healings and miracles, the timeline of Jesus' ministry is different than the others and John also includes large chunks of teaching (like chapters 6, 10, and 13-16) that explain who Jesus is that are not included in any other Gospels.

Here is the schedule:

12, Sunday: Luke 1-4

13, Monday: Luke 5-8

14, Tuesday: Luke 9-12

15, Wednesday: Luke 13-16

16, Thursday: Luke 17-20

17, Friday: Luke 21-24

18, Saturday: John 1-4

May God add his richest blessings to the reading, the hearing and most importantly the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.

Friday Fives

1.Preaching Series - This Sunday, January 12th, we will observe Baptism of the Lord Sunday. Baptism is such a holy time and because of that we have established it as one of our Sacraments of the Church. As such, we will spend our time together focusing on the power and importance baptism has in our lives. I encourage you to come and be a part of this special time as we remember our baptism and give thanks.





2. Advent Conspiracy Update - WE DID IT! Thanks to the generosity of this congregation, we did it. We met our goal and will be able to partner with Belleview UMC to buy an Ark of Hope from Heifer International and we will be able to pack meals for children in Africa through Stop Hunger Now. I will begin to make the arrangements for our food packing date with Stop Hunger Now and will let you know when it will take place. Once again, thank you so much for partnering together to truly make an impact in the life of another person.





3. 2013 Apportionments - If you have been affiliated with the United Methodist Church for any amount of time, you may have heard this word. Basically apportionments are the share each annual conference and local church pay to support international, national, and regional missions. Our giving when combined with other churches, allow the United Methodist Church to accomplish something bigger than ourselves. We have 14 funds that we support with our apportionments and we have paid 100% of our obligations since 2003. I am happy to announce that we will continue that streak as we have met our obligation for 2013 as well! Thank you so much for your financial faithfulness to this church and the missions of our denomination.

If you would like to know more about apportionments, like the missions that are supported, please click here. It will take you to a document entitled, "A Guide to Apportionments". Here you can read more about this vital outreach ministry of our denomination.





4. Children's Home - On Saturday, March 15th, our District has been invited to the Annual Day Apart at the Florida United Methodist Children's Home. This is our opportunity to tour the campus, speak to the volunteers, and see how our financial and prayerful support is being utilized. The day will begin at 9am and will conclude with lunch on the campus at noon. I highly encourage anyone who is interested to attend. If you would like to carpool, please contact the church office and let us know so we can coordinate it. For more information, please click here.





5. Thank You! - I wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful Christmas Cards, baked goodies, gifts and words of love you shared with me and my family this Advent season. It is truly my honor to be able to be your pastor and walk with you as we live out our faith together. Thank you again for your love and generosity. It means a great deal to me.





Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

It has been a true joy over the last several months to watch Davis grow. He is becoming more and more an active participant in our family activities. In fact, he is in the midst of a language explosion right now. His vocabulary is growing at a tremendous rate as is his ability to communicate his thoughts and feelings. But one of the best, and at times comical, areas of growth he has experienced is his ability to recognize himself in pictures. Whenever he sees himself he loudly exclaims, “That’s me!”

That behavior is in stark contrast to when he first arrived home. He could look at himself and there was just a blank expression on his face. But not now! If he sees a picture of himself and you do not acknowledge his discovery of “That’s me!” he will grab your face or tap your shoulder and make sure you understand that there is a picture of Davis in your midst.

But just as a picture bears the image of the person in it, our souls bear the image of God. As God created each of us, God impressed upon our very being God’s image. That means we are God’s; completely and utterly. It means we share a communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It means there is redemption for us, grace for us, and a plan for us. One of my favorite passages in Scripture comes from Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

As you begin this new year I want to encourage you to remember that. You are part of this creation, of God’s creation. You were intelligently designed and purposefully created for a reason. You have impressed upon your very soul the image of God, so that through prayer and discernment you can know God’s will for your life. You have that natural connection with our Creator so that you may enjoy a deep abiding relationship as you walk your faith journey together.

So the next time you look at a picture, of yourself or anyone else, look past the image contained on the paper and see God’s image. Remember that God is seeking you out and calling your name and that each of us has a place in God’s Kingdom.

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday,

How Valuable is Your Word?Jeremiah 31:31-34

Bible Challenge 01/05 - 01/11

Greetings All!

This week we are finishing up the Gospel of Matthew, and reading entirely through Mark.

The Gospel of Mark is believed to have been the first Gospel written, about 50AD, as the other three Gospels all quote it and Mark does not quote the others. The author is believed to be John Mark, the son of a Jerusalem widow whose home was a meeting place for early believers (Acts 12:12). Mark most likely recorded the events as he heard them firsthand from the disciple Peter. The book's non-Jewish flavor suggests it may have been written to believers in Rome. At the time Rome had begun persecuting Christians. This book is clearly meant to encourage suffering believers. Mark shows Jesus as the suffering servant who came to die as the Savior for the world (including non-Jews). Over 40 percent of this Gospel focuses on the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus' final week.

Here is the schedule:

05, Sunday: Matthew 17-20

06, Monday: Matthew 21-24

07, Tuesday: Matthew 25-28

08, Wednesday: Mark 1-4

09, Thursday: Mark 5-8

10, Friday: Mark 9-12

11, Saturday: Mark 13-16

May God add his richest blessings to the reading, the hearing and most importantly the living out of His Holy Word. Amen. 

Friday Fives

1.Preaching Series - This Sunday, January 5th, we will observe and participate in John Wesley's Covenant Service. This time will be filled with song, liturgy, the celebration of Holy Communion, and a time for us to enter into a covenant of purpose and direction together. I hope you will come and be a part of this moving act of worship as we re-dedicate ourselves and our lives to God, vowing to be all that God created us to be as we work together to build the Kingdom of God. Invite a friend and I hope to see you all there!





2. Variety Show and Dessert Bar - Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 18th, at 7pm as S.O.S. (Sisters of Soul) will host a Variety Show and Dessert Bar in the Fellowship Hall. I hope you will make plans to share your gifts in the show and be a part of the wonderful time that will surely follow.





3. Advent Conspiracy Update - WE DID IT! Thanks to the generosity of this congregation, we did it. We met our goal and will be able to partner with Belleview UMC to buy an Ark of Hope from Heifer International and we will be able to pack meals for children in Africa through Stop Hunger Now. I will begin to make the arrangements for our food packing date with Stop Hunger Now and will let you know when it will take place. Once again, thank you so much for partnering together to truly make an impact in the life of another person.





4. Thank You! - I wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful Christmas Cards, baked goodies, gifts and words of love you shared with me and my family this Advent season. It is truly my honor to be able to be your pastor and walk with you as we live out our faith together. Thank you again for your love and generosity. It means a great deal to me.





5. Children's Home - On Saturday, March 15th, our District has been invited to the Annual Day Apart at the Florida United Methodist Children's Home. This is our opportunity to tour the campus, speak to the volunteers, and see how our financial and prayerful support is being utilized. The day will begin at 9am and will conclude with lunch on the campus at noon. I highly encourage anyone who is interested to attend. If you would like to carpool, please contact the church office and let us know so we can coordinate it. For more information, please click here.




Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

A Prayer for New Year's Day - The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

—St. Francis of Assisi

 

May your new year be filled with blessing, the love of God, and a deepening of your faith!