Sunday, April 28, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Bible Challenge 04/28 - 05/04
Greetings All!
This week we finish up the last few chapters of Joshua and move through the books of Judges and Ruth as well. The book of Judges picks up the history of Israel after Joshua's death as God begins a new work in the leadership of the people through a series of leaders called judges.
You should recognize a few names here: Deborah (chapters 4-5), Gideon (chapters 6-7) and Samson (chapters 13-16). Samson's tale is one of romance, intrigue and what happens when we put what we want above what God wants for us.
Next up is one of the shorter books of the Bible and the first named after a woman - Ruth. Ruth's devotion to her mother-in-law is endearing and touching and how she is rewarded for her faithfulness is nothing short of amazing (listed in Jesus' genealogy!).
Here is the schedule:
28, Sunday: Joshua 22 - Judges 1
29, Monday: Judges 2-5
30, Tuesday: Judges 6-9
01, Wednesday: Judges 10-13
02, Thursday: Judges 14-17
03, Friday: Judges 18-21
04, Saturday: Ruth 1-4
May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His holy word. Amen.
Blessings,
This week we finish up the last few chapters of Joshua and move through the books of Judges and Ruth as well. The book of Judges picks up the history of Israel after Joshua's death as God begins a new work in the leadership of the people through a series of leaders called judges.
You should recognize a few names here: Deborah (chapters 4-5), Gideon (chapters 6-7) and Samson (chapters 13-16). Samson's tale is one of romance, intrigue and what happens when we put what we want above what God wants for us.
Next up is one of the shorter books of the Bible and the first named after a woman - Ruth. Ruth's devotion to her mother-in-law is endearing and touching and how she is rewarded for her faithfulness is nothing short of amazing (listed in Jesus' genealogy!).
Here is the schedule:
28, Sunday: Joshua 22 - Judges 1
29, Monday: Judges 2-5
30, Tuesday: Judges 6-9
01, Wednesday: Judges 10-13
02, Thursday: Judges 14-17
03, Friday: Judges 18-21
04, Saturday: Ruth 1-4
May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His holy word. Amen.
Blessings,
Friday, April 26, 2013
Friday Fives
1. Preaching Series - This Sunday we are continuing our preaching series entitled, Ashes to Fire, which we are doing in conjunction with Belleview UMC. Ashes to Fire is an intentional journey with Jesus from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week and Easter and on to Pentecost Sunday - from penitence to praise to power. This Sunday we will look to a few traits Jesus' asked his disciples to live out during their last meal together. I pray this time of reflection will be one that will draw you deeper into your faith journey as we look to the life of Christ and example of love that he modeled for us. I encourage you to invite a friend and I hope to see you there!
2. Bible Study - Grace. We talk as though we understand the term. The bank gives us a grace period. The seedy politician falls from grace. Musicians speak of a grace note. We describe an actress as gracious, a dancer as graceful. We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings, and premeal prayers. We talk as though we know what grace means.
But do we really understand it? Have we settled for wimpy grace? It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn, fits nicely on a church sign. Never causes trouble or demands a response. When asked, “Do you believe in grace?” who could say no?
Max Lucado asks a deeper question: Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace? Emboldened by grace? Softened by grace? Snatched by the nape of your neck and shaken to your senses by grace? God’s grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. A white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it. Grace comes after you. It rewires you. From insecure to God secure. From regret riddled to better-because-of-it. From afraid to die to ready to fly. Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off.
Let’s make certain grace gets you. We began last Thursday with the lesson, "A Grace Shaped Life". This week we turn to the lesson "Jesus Stooped Low to Take Our Place". We will meet on Thursdays at 10:30am and 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. For more details or to register, please visit our website by clicking here, or fill out the form in this Sunday's bulletin. I hope you will make plans to come as we make certain grace gets you!
3. Moving Forward - The next meeting of our new Moving Forward group will be Monday, May 6th, in the Fellowship Hall at 11am. You are asked to bring a bag lunch and a beverage, as the discussion will center around ideas for the upcoming months. This group is for all of the ladies of our church that have lost their spouse. This social group will give you the chance to share ideas, discuss your faith, and pray for each other.
4. May Newsletters - The May edition of the Sunshine Herald is available in the narthex for pickup. Please remember to to take yours to help cut down on postage. Also, we are combining our June, July, and August newsletters into one. If you have information you would like to include in the "summer" newsletter, please have it into the office by Sunday, May 26th. We will resume monthly newsletters in September. Remember, you can also view the Newsletter electronically on our church website. You can find it easily just by clicking here.
5. Upcoming Worship - We have two very important services coming up where we are asking for your involvement. On Sunday, May 19th, we are asking that you come to church wearing red and/or white to celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Then on Sunday, May 26th, we will observe Memorial Day and would ask that you wear red, white, and blue. Your participation will help to make these worship services more meaningful as we celebrate and honor these events.
Have a great weekend and I will see you Sunday!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Midweek Moment
Why? As a society we ask ourselves this question quite a bit. Why did that happen? Why is this happening? But probably the most often asked question, "why is this horrible thing happening to me?"
I imagine that this question is being asked with great frequency in the Boston area right now. Why did this happen? Why were these innocent people forced to suffer? The cruel answer to that question is we do not know. We do not know why the person that perpetrated these senseless acts of cruelty did it. We do not know why they felt it necessary to bring such horrific acts and suffering to the people in and around the Boston Marathon. Those same questions apply to the tragedy in West Texas. We do not know why that fertilizer factory was in the condition it was, opening the door for that explosion that has altered so many lives.
As people of faith, so many may ask you, how could God allow this to happen? What part of God's will was fulfilled by God allowing this to happen? I have often had that question posed to me. People will call me and ask me how could God allow this to happen. Some of the answers I hear given to these questions are, "It was God's will and we just have to have faith God knows best" or "God will never give us more than we can handle". I have also heard, "God is trying to teach us something by causing this or creating that." I am sure all of you have heard these phrases in some form or another. I was taught these as a child growing up in church. God was in control, God was all powerful, God would not let anything happen unless it was part of his plan. I believed all of them. Then my grandmother died. In trying to help me process her death, someone said to me, with the greatest and purest of intentions, God must have needed another angel in heaven. My immediate thought was how could God need my grandmommy more than me. How could God willingly take her from me. I was not angry at the person, nor was I angry with God. It was just that statement made no sense to me. God was love, God was not death. That helped open the door for me to shift blame away from God for all of the bad things that happen in this world.
Folks, we will all endure terrible things in this life. We will all endure unfair actions that deeply hurt and wound us. Please understand, God did not cause this. God does not give us cancer, disease, or end our lives at God's decision. This life was never promised to be fair. This life was never promised to be just. But what God does promise, is that when we are going through those terrible situations, God will go with us. When our heart breaks, so does God's. When we cry, so does God. God never wants bad or horrific events to happen to any member of God's creation. God is so powerful and full of wisdom, God will find better ways to teach us things, than create tragedy in our lives for the sole purpose of education.
God does not cause bad things, God redeems them. Somehow, some way, God will bring redemption into your life. God will find a way to take that horrific event, and bring some good out of it. God did not cause it, but God will redeem it. Let us be the agents of change to shift the blame for these events from God. Let us be the people that help others turn to God, rather than from God. Let us be the ones that lead people to the best source of help during difficult times, God Almighty. Let us be the ones that share what God truly is...love.
Have a great week!
I imagine that this question is being asked with great frequency in the Boston area right now. Why did this happen? Why were these innocent people forced to suffer? The cruel answer to that question is we do not know. We do not know why the person that perpetrated these senseless acts of cruelty did it. We do not know why they felt it necessary to bring such horrific acts and suffering to the people in and around the Boston Marathon. Those same questions apply to the tragedy in West Texas. We do not know why that fertilizer factory was in the condition it was, opening the door for that explosion that has altered so many lives.
As people of faith, so many may ask you, how could God allow this to happen? What part of God's will was fulfilled by God allowing this to happen? I have often had that question posed to me. People will call me and ask me how could God allow this to happen. Some of the answers I hear given to these questions are, "It was God's will and we just have to have faith God knows best" or "God will never give us more than we can handle". I have also heard, "God is trying to teach us something by causing this or creating that." I am sure all of you have heard these phrases in some form or another. I was taught these as a child growing up in church. God was in control, God was all powerful, God would not let anything happen unless it was part of his plan. I believed all of them. Then my grandmother died. In trying to help me process her death, someone said to me, with the greatest and purest of intentions, God must have needed another angel in heaven. My immediate thought was how could God need my grandmommy more than me. How could God willingly take her from me. I was not angry at the person, nor was I angry with God. It was just that statement made no sense to me. God was love, God was not death. That helped open the door for me to shift blame away from God for all of the bad things that happen in this world.
Folks, we will all endure terrible things in this life. We will all endure unfair actions that deeply hurt and wound us. Please understand, God did not cause this. God does not give us cancer, disease, or end our lives at God's decision. This life was never promised to be fair. This life was never promised to be just. But what God does promise, is that when we are going through those terrible situations, God will go with us. When our heart breaks, so does God's. When we cry, so does God. God never wants bad or horrific events to happen to any member of God's creation. God is so powerful and full of wisdom, God will find better ways to teach us things, than create tragedy in our lives for the sole purpose of education.
God does not cause bad things, God redeems them. Somehow, some way, God will bring redemption into your life. God will find a way to take that horrific event, and bring some good out of it. God did not cause it, but God will redeem it. Let us be the agents of change to shift the blame for these events from God. Let us be the people that help others turn to God, rather than from God. Let us be the ones that lead people to the best source of help during difficult times, God Almighty. Let us be the ones that share what God truly is...love.
Have a great week!
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Bible Challenge 04/21 - 04/27
Greetings All!
This week we finish up the last few chapters of Deuteronomy and move into the book of Joshua. This moves us out of the Pentateuch and into the next grouping of books, sometimes called the "Former Prophets."
While considered a "prophet," Joshua is also a historical book. It not only tells the story of Joshua's life and leadership of Israel, but also the story of the people of Israel from the death of Moses until the death of Joshua - as they move into and work on conquering the Promised Land. Some very famous stories are found here including the fall of Jericho which features one of Jesus' ancestors (Rahab).
Here is the schedule:
21, Sunday: Deuteronomy 28-31
22, Monday: Deuteronomy 32 - Joshua 1
23, Tuesday: Joshua 2-5
24, Wednesday: Joshua 6-9
25, Thursday: Joshua 10-13
26, Friday: Joshua 14-17
27, Saturday: Joshua 18-21
May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His holy word. Amen.
This week we finish up the last few chapters of Deuteronomy and move into the book of Joshua. This moves us out of the Pentateuch and into the next grouping of books, sometimes called the "Former Prophets."
While considered a "prophet," Joshua is also a historical book. It not only tells the story of Joshua's life and leadership of Israel, but also the story of the people of Israel from the death of Moses until the death of Joshua - as they move into and work on conquering the Promised Land. Some very famous stories are found here including the fall of Jericho which features one of Jesus' ancestors (Rahab).
Here is the schedule:
21, Sunday: Deuteronomy 28-31
22, Monday: Deuteronomy 32 - Joshua 1
23, Tuesday: Joshua 2-5
24, Wednesday: Joshua 6-9
25, Thursday: Joshua 10-13
26, Friday: Joshua 14-17
27, Saturday: Joshua 18-21
May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and most importantly the living out of His holy word. Amen.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Friday Fives
1. Preaching Series - This Sunday we are continuing our preaching series entitled, Ashes to Fire, which we are doing in conjunction with Belleview UMC. Ashes to Fire is an intentional journey with Jesus from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week and Easter and on to Pentecost Sunday - from penitence to praise to power. This Sunday we will look to the importance of both evangelism and love for other people as complimentary aspects of church life. I pray this time of reflection will be one that will draw you deeper into your faith journey as we look to the life of Christ and example of love that he modeled for us. I encourage you to invite a friend and I hope to see you there!
2. New Bible Study - Grace. We talk as though we understand the term. The bank gives us a grace period. The seedy politician falls from grace. Musicians speak of a grace note. We describe an actress as gracious, a dancer as graceful. We use the word for hospitals, baby girls, kings, and premeal prayers. We talk as though we know what grace means.
But do we really understand it? Have we settled for wimpy grace? It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn, fits nicely on a church sign. Never causes trouble or demands a response. When asked, “Do you believe in grace?” who could say no?
Max Lucado asks a deeper question: Have you been changed by grace? Shaped by grace? Strengthened by grace? Emboldened by grace? Softened by grace? Snatched by the nape of your neck and shaken to your senses by grace? God’s grace has a drenching about it. A wildness about it. A white-water, riptide, turn-you-upside-downness about it. Grace comes after you. It rewires you. From insecure to God secure. From regret riddled to better-because-of-it. From afraid to die to ready to fly. Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off.
Let’s make certain grace gets you. Join us beginning April 25th, as we dive into God's grace and seek to understand the power that lies within. We will meet on Thursdays at 10:30am and 7:00pm in the Fellowship Hall. For more details or to register, please visit our website by clicking here, or fill out the form in this Sunday's bulletin. I hope you will make plans to come as we make certain grace gets you!
3. Ocala Health and Rehab - This Sunday is our week to go and minister to the residents of Ocala Health and Rehab. I want to extend an invitation to all of you to come and join us, Sunday at 2pm. Ocala Health and Rehab is located just down the street from the church on the corner of Lake Weir Road and SE 24th Road. We begin with a few hymns, I give a brief devotion, and we wrap it up with a few more hymns and a prayer. It is a wonderful time of fellowship and spreading the love of Christ. I am sure you will enjoy it and be glad you participated! I hope to see you there!
4. May Newsletter Articles - If you have any information that you would like to have included in the May Newsletter, please be sure to have it into the church office by this Sunday, April 21st. You may write it up or type it up and drop it off, or email it by clicking here. Thanks for your help in making our Newsletter diverse and full of great information.
5. Thank You!! - From the bottom of our hearts and from the depths of our souls, Debbie and I want to say thank you for the amazing "Toddler Shower" you gave us this past Wednesday. While I was out of town and not able to attend, I have been able to look through the pictures, hear a few stories, and see the fantastic gifts you gave. We are so moved by the love you showed, the time you spent, and the support you have given us. We are so blessed to be a part of this family and to make you all a part of ours. Thank you!!!Have a great weekend and I will see you Sunday!
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