Posts
Friday, April 28, 2006
No Bloging Today
Sorry no bloging today. My little girl is sick and we are just hanging out. We'll talk again Monday!
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Welcome Fesser!
Take a moment and go check out a new blog, Into the Wild, Blue Yonder. This blog is by a good friend Ron Fesser a United Methodist pastor and Reserve Air Force Chaplain.
Where do Methodists live?
Check out this map showing the population of Methodists across the US. In Mississippi, the lowest one of darkest counties on the East part of the state, that is Kemper county, home of Coy UMC where I pastor.
Our county is one of few counties in Mississippi where a large number of the population is Methodist. But at Coy, a good many people (probalby at least 40-50%) come from Neshoba county, with a few others from Winston, Lauderdale, and Noxubee. Our location has a lot to with that, as we are right on the edge of four counties.
In the reguad, calling us a Kemper County church is correct, but also a little misleading.
Any way, here's the map.
Hat tip John
Our county is one of few counties in Mississippi where a large number of the population is Methodist. But at Coy, a good many people (probalby at least 40-50%) come from Neshoba county, with a few others from Winston, Lauderdale, and Noxubee. Our location has a lot to with that, as we are right on the edge of four counties.
In the reguad, calling us a Kemper County church is correct, but also a little misleading.
Any way, here's the map.
Hat tip John
Easter: Thursday, April 27, 2006
Old Testament Lesson
Exodus 16:10-22
We see in this text that the people are to gather only enough manna for that one day. Why just enough for that one day? Wouldn’t gathering enough for two days be prudent? Aren’t we to plan ahead? Yes, we are to plan ahead, the Word says we must first count the cost before we do anything, but this is different.
It is different because this is a matter of trust and of faith. God wants the people to learn that they must trust Him for their everything and that should learn to depend upon Him for their provisions every day. Each day, God will provide. He doesn’t want to them to doubt. He knows that the road they face ahead will be long and hard, and they must learn to trust Him to take care of them.
Jesus told us to do the same thing. “Give us this day our daily bread.” Many of us pray that prayer on Sundays and each day of our lives. We have to ask God each day for our daily bread, trusting in Him to provide. And of course we are talking about more than bread, but every part of our lives.
Today, do you trust Him for the daily things of life? To you trust that He will give you what you need? Has He failed us before? Why would He start now? May He give us our daily bread today.
New Testament Lesson
1 Peter 2:11-25
We see in this passage the Christian must have a proper view of themselves. Because we are free in Christ, we are sometimes tempted to think that we are free to do whatever we like. That is not Christian freedom. Christian freedom means that we are free to do what is right. Part of what is right is a proper understanding of authority.
We all have authority over us. We all have a boss; we all have someone we report to. And, even if we didn’t, we all have God’s authority over us. We must learn to submit ourselves in a Christian way. Christ humbled Himself, even to death on a cross. In the same way we are not to think too highly of ourselves, rather we are to live lives of respect for each other, and for those that have authority over us.
But, who is our ultimate authority? God. He is the one that has the power of live and death, He is the one that is over all. So, let us as Christians live lives of respect and honor for all, submitting ourselves to God and His will.
Gospel Lesson
John 15:12-27
We see Jesus speak to the previous point of submission in this passage, where He says those famous words, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” We are to lay down our lives for those that we love. As a pastor, I am to lay down my life for my church. As husbands we are to lay down our lives for our wives, and as wives we are to lay down our lives for our husbands.
Love does not exalt its self, but rather submits itself. Love serves. Today, is there someone in your life that you love?
When was the last time you told them you loved them?
When was the last time you did something nice for them?
When was the last time you willing “let them have their way”?
When was the last time you laid down your life for them?
Jesus says that there is no great love than this. Today, let us not just talk about love, let us live love. And in the same time, when was the last time we laid down our lives for God and His will? Friends, it is not just enough to talk about it, let us live it.
Exodus 16:10-22
We see in this text that the people are to gather only enough manna for that one day. Why just enough for that one day? Wouldn’t gathering enough for two days be prudent? Aren’t we to plan ahead? Yes, we are to plan ahead, the Word says we must first count the cost before we do anything, but this is different.
It is different because this is a matter of trust and of faith. God wants the people to learn that they must trust Him for their everything and that should learn to depend upon Him for their provisions every day. Each day, God will provide. He doesn’t want to them to doubt. He knows that the road they face ahead will be long and hard, and they must learn to trust Him to take care of them.
Jesus told us to do the same thing. “Give us this day our daily bread.” Many of us pray that prayer on Sundays and each day of our lives. We have to ask God each day for our daily bread, trusting in Him to provide. And of course we are talking about more than bread, but every part of our lives.
Today, do you trust Him for the daily things of life? To you trust that He will give you what you need? Has He failed us before? Why would He start now? May He give us our daily bread today.
New Testament Lesson
1 Peter 2:11-25
We see in this passage the Christian must have a proper view of themselves. Because we are free in Christ, we are sometimes tempted to think that we are free to do whatever we like. That is not Christian freedom. Christian freedom means that we are free to do what is right. Part of what is right is a proper understanding of authority.
We all have authority over us. We all have a boss; we all have someone we report to. And, even if we didn’t, we all have God’s authority over us. We must learn to submit ourselves in a Christian way. Christ humbled Himself, even to death on a cross. In the same way we are not to think too highly of ourselves, rather we are to live lives of respect for each other, and for those that have authority over us.
But, who is our ultimate authority? God. He is the one that has the power of live and death, He is the one that is over all. So, let us as Christians live lives of respect and honor for all, submitting ourselves to God and His will.
Gospel Lesson
John 15:12-27
We see Jesus speak to the previous point of submission in this passage, where He says those famous words, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” We are to lay down our lives for those that we love. As a pastor, I am to lay down my life for my church. As husbands we are to lay down our lives for our wives, and as wives we are to lay down our lives for our husbands.
Love does not exalt its self, but rather submits itself. Love serves. Today, is there someone in your life that you love?
When was the last time you told them you loved them?
When was the last time you did something nice for them?
When was the last time you willing “let them have their way”?
When was the last time you laid down your life for them?
Jesus says that there is no great love than this. Today, let us not just talk about love, let us live love. And in the same time, when was the last time we laid down our lives for God and His will? Friends, it is not just enough to talk about it, let us live it.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Easter: Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Old Testament Lesson
Exodus 15:22-16:10
We see in this text the Lord perform miracle after miracle for the people, but yet they still doubted, they still grumbled. They desired the certainty of captivity instead of the uncertainty of faith. This new journey into the Promised Land would require that the people trust God. And He would provide for them, but they had to first trust.
The Lord gave them water to drink and food to eat, yet they still doubted. They had seen Him rain plagues upon the people of Egypt, yet they still doubted. They had seen Him part the Red Sea and bring them across, yet they still doubted. And now, they had seen Him give them water and bread, would they still doubt?
We know the answer, yes they would. The Lord had done so much for them, yet they still doubted. How about you and me? What has our God done for us? Do we still doubt? Have we seen and felt Him work in our lives? Do we still doubt? We need to trust in Him today, for the same God that did all of these great things in the Bible is the same God that leads you and me today.
New Testament Lesson
1 Peter 2:1-10
This passage ends with that great statement, once you were no people, know you are the people of God. What a great statement. To those that are God's children, there is no great example of grace than that. We once were not much, but now we are the people of God. We once were lost, but now we are found. We once were separated from God, now we are at peace with God.
And it is God that has has made it this way. He has longed to make us His people. Not because we are perfect, not because we are blameless, but because He loves us. It is His that is the motivating force behind all of this. Today, know that you are loved by God and called by God. Today, won't you follow His lead?
Gospel Lesson
John 15:1-11
Jesus Christ is the vine and for us to produce any fruit, we must stay rooted in Him. When we depart from Him, we fail. When we depart from Him, we wither and die. When we seek to produce good fruit apart from Him, it will not work.
So often we think that we can just "will" a good Christian life. That we can just work hard enough to be who we should be. That we can do it, and then we are plagued with guilt when we find that our best intentions are not good enough. We can never be who we are supposed to be apart from Jesus. Apart from the vine, the branches will die.
But, when we are grounded to Jesus, when we are plugged in, when we remain in Him; He can do great things through us. Today, are you living by your own strength, or by His? Or you living by your power, or by His power? Apart from Him, we can do nothing, but by Jesus Christ working through us, great things can happen.
Exodus 15:22-16:10
We see in this text the Lord perform miracle after miracle for the people, but yet they still doubted, they still grumbled. They desired the certainty of captivity instead of the uncertainty of faith. This new journey into the Promised Land would require that the people trust God. And He would provide for them, but they had to first trust.
The Lord gave them water to drink and food to eat, yet they still doubted. They had seen Him rain plagues upon the people of Egypt, yet they still doubted. They had seen Him part the Red Sea and bring them across, yet they still doubted. And now, they had seen Him give them water and bread, would they still doubt?
We know the answer, yes they would. The Lord had done so much for them, yet they still doubted. How about you and me? What has our God done for us? Do we still doubt? Have we seen and felt Him work in our lives? Do we still doubt? We need to trust in Him today, for the same God that did all of these great things in the Bible is the same God that leads you and me today.
New Testament Lesson
1 Peter 2:1-10
This passage ends with that great statement, once you were no people, know you are the people of God. What a great statement. To those that are God's children, there is no great example of grace than that. We once were not much, but now we are the people of God. We once were lost, but now we are found. We once were separated from God, now we are at peace with God.
And it is God that has has made it this way. He has longed to make us His people. Not because we are perfect, not because we are blameless, but because He loves us. It is His that is the motivating force behind all of this. Today, know that you are loved by God and called by God. Today, won't you follow His lead?
Gospel Lesson
John 15:1-11
Jesus Christ is the vine and for us to produce any fruit, we must stay rooted in Him. When we depart from Him, we fail. When we depart from Him, we wither and die. When we seek to produce good fruit apart from Him, it will not work.
So often we think that we can just "will" a good Christian life. That we can just work hard enough to be who we should be. That we can do it, and then we are plagued with guilt when we find that our best intentions are not good enough. We can never be who we are supposed to be apart from Jesus. Apart from the vine, the branches will die.
But, when we are grounded to Jesus, when we are plugged in, when we remain in Him; He can do great things through us. Today, are you living by your own strength, or by His? Or you living by your power, or by His power? Apart from Him, we can do nothing, but by Jesus Christ working through us, great things can happen.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Easter: Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Old Testament Lesson
Exodus 15:1-21
The battle had just been won, and the people celebrated. Their celebration was not focused on themselves, but rather on what God had done. He was the one that was victorious. He was the one that had won the battle. He would go before the people as they went into the Promised Land.
Quite often, we come to God in the bad times, asking for mercy, or strength, or hope, or peace. What about in good times? Do we take credit for the good that happens and lay the blame for the bad upon others? It should be the other way. And good that happens in our lives, God deserves the credit. He is the one that is strong and mighty, He is the one that is to be praised.
New Testament Lesson
1 Peter 1:13-25
We are to be holy. There are too many biblical statements about holiness for us to believe that God doesn’t care about our sin. There are too many warnings about sin for us to think that it is alright if we allow a little sin into our lives. The text today tells us to Be Holy as our Father is Holy.
We cannot make excuses. Today, are you chasing after God’s holiness? Now, we are not yet what we shall be, but we must be striving toward what God wants to make us. We must not be content in our sin, content in our disobedience, content in our lack of faithlessness. How do we do this? Guard your minds (v 13), stay away from the old sins (v 14), and stay bound to Jesus Christ.
The moment we feel temptation coming, we must go in prayer to God. We cannot allow temptations to lie upon our minds and our hearts, and we must stay away from the old sins. Is there something in life that continually causes you to enter into sin? Then stay away from it. We must be holy, as God is. And that holiness is true life. Our sins lead to death, now and eternal, but holiness, God’s life, it leads to life right now, and in the life to come.
Gospel Lesson
John 14:18-31
Peace is what He has left with us. He had promised to give us peace and strength through the power of the Holy Spirit. Today, in what areas of your life is there no peace. . .
No hope. . . .
No joy. . . .
He came that we may have life. Today, what area of your heart, or your life, is there no peace? Today, give that to Him, and receive His peace.
Exodus 15:1-21
The battle had just been won, and the people celebrated. Their celebration was not focused on themselves, but rather on what God had done. He was the one that was victorious. He was the one that had won the battle. He would go before the people as they went into the Promised Land.
Quite often, we come to God in the bad times, asking for mercy, or strength, or hope, or peace. What about in good times? Do we take credit for the good that happens and lay the blame for the bad upon others? It should be the other way. And good that happens in our lives, God deserves the credit. He is the one that is strong and mighty, He is the one that is to be praised.
New Testament Lesson
1 Peter 1:13-25
We are to be holy. There are too many biblical statements about holiness for us to believe that God doesn’t care about our sin. There are too many warnings about sin for us to think that it is alright if we allow a little sin into our lives. The text today tells us to Be Holy as our Father is Holy.
We cannot make excuses. Today, are you chasing after God’s holiness? Now, we are not yet what we shall be, but we must be striving toward what God wants to make us. We must not be content in our sin, content in our disobedience, content in our lack of faithlessness. How do we do this? Guard your minds (v 13), stay away from the old sins (v 14), and stay bound to Jesus Christ.
The moment we feel temptation coming, we must go in prayer to God. We cannot allow temptations to lie upon our minds and our hearts, and we must stay away from the old sins. Is there something in life that continually causes you to enter into sin? Then stay away from it. We must be holy, as God is. And that holiness is true life. Our sins lead to death, now and eternal, but holiness, God’s life, it leads to life right now, and in the life to come.
Gospel Lesson
John 14:18-31
Peace is what He has left with us. He had promised to give us peace and strength through the power of the Holy Spirit. Today, in what areas of your life is there no peace. . .
No hope. . . .
No joy. . . .
He came that we may have life. Today, what area of your heart, or your life, is there no peace? Today, give that to Him, and receive His peace.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Blogger Troubles
Blogger was having some problems with their servers today, that is why my thoughts were delayed. But, all seems well now.
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