Ordinary Time: Monday, November 19, 2007

Today, we will just a Gospel Lesson. Blogging this week will be shorter; I've got a couple of surgeries, and then there won't be any the end of this week; we're going to spend Thanksgiving with my family, and they don't have internet access there. I hope I can survive! :)

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 17:1-13

In this passage, we see Jesus in all of his heavenly glory. We see Him as He truly is. We see Him as He was before creation and as He is now. Part of what is so beautiful about our faith is the reality that God is close to us, that God wants to know us, that God wants to walk with us each day; to be our friend.

But, we need to also be careful to remember that He is still God. He is still other than we are. He is still mighty and strong and the creator of the universe. He is personal, and He is almighty.

And this knowledge of the almighty strength of God makes it more amazing that this powerful and mighty God wants to be our friend; wants to be in relationship with us, wants to walk with us and talk with us. Today, remember the almighty power of our God! And remember that our is also close as our next breath.

Pictures from Ripley FUMC

There is a new blog where we will post pictures of things happening around Ripley FUMC. Our picture blog can be found by clicking here.

Good Stuff

I'm not a MSU fan, but this is funny.

Ordinary Time: Thursday, November 15, 2007

Old Testament Lesson

1 Chronicles 10:1-14

We see in Saul a life start off with such potential become wasted. If you remember from when Saul was named king, he was an obvious choice. He was tall, good looking, strong, all the things that you would want in a king. Except, his heart was not in it, and his heart was not with the Lords.

David, if you remember, was not an obvious choice. He was the runt of the littler, if you will. But, his heart was with the Lord, and he was the one that because the great king.

Quite often, where our heart is, that is greatest concern, and the most important thing. So was it for Saul, so was it for David, so is it for us.

New Testament Lesson

Revelation 19:1-10

So much of what we see in Revelation is about the worship of God. It is about the saints laying before the lamb and worshiping Him, giving Him honor and glory and praise. That is what eternity will be like. Should we not begin that worship today? Should not our entire lives be an act of worship to God? Everything we do today, can and should be done to the glory of God. For our lives are a gift to us, and in turn, we live our lives as a gift to God. Today, may we give to God everything that is His.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 16:1-12

One of the things that I like most about the disciples is that they just don't get it about half the time. The Lord will say something, and they will be like, huh? What are you talking about? That gives me hope. If the very ones that walked and talked in the flesh with Jesus didn't always understand and didn't always get it the first time, maybe I shouldn't feel so bad if I don't either.

Today, remember that the disciples weren't perfect, and the Lord did great things with them. He can, and will, do the same with us.

Ordinary Time: Wendesday, November 14, 2007

Old Testament Lesson

Nehemiah 7:73b-8:3, 5-18

In this passage the Law is read, and the people are taught it. They are taught what the Law is, what it means, and what they are to do. But, aren't these the people of the Law? Wasn't the Law given to Moses? Didn't they used to have the Temple and all the things that go with the Law?

Yes, but they had forgotten. They had forgotten about the Law, and forgotten how to follow the Law. Sometimes, you have to be reminded of what you know is true.

Today, the same is true for us. We have to reminded sometimes. Reminded of what God wants us to do, but reminded of who we are. We are His, the Sheep of His pasture. Sometimes, life can make us forget who we are, and whose we are. Today, remember. Remember that you are called by His name and you are His. Remember.

New Testament Lesson

Revelation 18:21-24

We see here that even Babylon the great is fallen. The Bible tell us in Proverbs that it is the pride that goes before the fall. Sometimes we can get so sure of things and too confident in our own strength that if we are not careful, the fall awaits us. Babylon was great and powerful, but no thing and no one is greater or more powerful than our God.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 15:29-39

Here in this moment, it did not look like the people had enough to eat. Yet, through the grace of Jesus, and the power of God, provision was made in ways that no one thought possible. The Lord looked upon the people, had compassion and love for them, and He fed them. He gave them what they needed for that moment.

So in our lives. Instead of bread from heaven, He give us grace for the moment. And just as the was enough food to meet the needs of each that was gathered, so is thereenough grace to meet each of our needs.

New Essays

Each week I submit an article to the local newspaper here in Ripley. Sometimes they are run, sometimes not. I decided it might be a good idea to put them on my blog as well. So, from now on, each Tuesday, I'll post a different essay related to something that's going on in my life. I hope you enjoy them!

The Leaves

It’s been busy in the Stoddard household recently. We’ve birthdays and practice and sickness and preparation and all kinds of stuff. The stuff that everyone knows and everyone endures and that leaves everyone tired and haggard at the end of the day. You walk around sometimes so busy and so consumed by what you are doing and you look up and say, “Man, what happened today.”

We’ve all been there. We’ve all been busy. We’ve all spent so much time working on something and wondered, where did the time go?

Today, I was worrying about my schedule. I was thinking about all the things that I need to do and the lack of time that I have to do it in. And then I stopped and looked out the window. I could see the most beautiful leaves. I saw red and yellow and orange. I saw wonderful color all around.

And then I stopped and thought to myself, how long have the leaves been like that? How long have the leaves been changing? Days? Weeks? Months? I honestly couldn’t tell you.

And that got me to thinking about priorities. Sometimes we spend more time looking at the worries of life than we do looking at the beauties of life. How many of us spend more time worried about different things: time, schedule, finances, whatever; than we do focusing upon the things that truly matter?

The laughter of a child. The joy of families gathering together in the time of the year. The spirit and life within our wonderful town? The grace of God? The leaves?

It is so easy to focus on things that are important, but not the most important. It is so easy to get consumed with the responsibilities of life than we can miss the very reason for life. We are here to live and love and to serve. We are not here to miss the point of living.

But, we get busy and we forget. I had a pastor that once told me, “Andy, if the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.” Sometimes we get so busy living life that we forget to actually live life.

Today, may each of us live life to the fullest. And may we notice the leaves.