Wednesday, June 30, 2010

GOOD MORNING!
JIM CAIN


A lone shipwreck survivor washed up on a small deserted island. He prayed daily for God to rescue him and everyday he looked to the horizon for help, but none was forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.

One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his hut in flames, the smoke billowing up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. Stung with grief and anger he cried, “God, how could you do this to me!” 

Early the next morning, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. “How did you know I was here?” he asked the ship’s captain. “We saw your smoke signal,” was the reply.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work in our lives even when things seem their worst.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

REFLECTIONS #7


WTOK TV: 06/15/10

AIR DATE: 06/29/10

BOB PEDEN



One of the members of our Praise Band, Lee Santillano, has
 written a song we sing at Central called “Jesus in Me.” In the
song, Lee describes a few of the places he sees Jesus. He sees
Jesus in the beauty of a bird taking to the air, in the grace of a
dancer moving across the stage, even in the ordinary goodness
of life; hot dogs, apple pie.

In the chorus Lee sings: “I share the blessing of my King, See
the good in everything' Cause in the light that's where I want to be. I hope

that you see it too. See His light come shining through And in all that you
see, I hope you see Jesus in me.” That is my wish too. That in everything
 I do, and say and am - you would see Jesus in me. This is Bob Peden of
Central United Methodist Church. Come join with us. We are a
church trying our best to live, individually and together as a church,
so that others might see Jesus in us.

Monday, June 28 2010

Good Morning!
MR JIM WALL

Now is a great time to be alive. Discoveries that have taken place within our lifetime are both wonderful and terrifying. The possibilities of what man can yet do seems unlimited, but the value of any new discovery will depend upon how it is used; for destructive or constructive purposes, to hurt or to heal, to hinder or to help.

Fifty years ago, no one could have thought of how wonderful and yet how destructive computers and the internet could be. How we respond to any new discovery will depend upon how strong our desire is to love and serve others.

It seems as though each day we awake to a new world that pays little attention to the covenant love of God through Jesus Christ or the calling of the Holy Spirit. What are we going to do about that?

Friday, June 25, 2010

Good Morning
BOB PEDEN

God loves you. I don’t quite know why.
To be honest with you, I cannot imagine
why God loves me. But I am certain that
He does.

God loves me because I am - not for what I can do
for Him or because of who I am. God loves
me in spite of the fact that I turned away
from Him - fought against Him - tried to
do everything my own way. God just
kept on loving me  Anyway. And God
loves you just the same as he loves me.

No matter who you are, what you have
done, what you have said, just because you exist. Nothing
can separate you from the love of God.

This is Bob Peden of  Central United Methodist Church.
We are a church that is doing our very best
to love you just the way God does. I
don’t promise we are anywhere near God’s
perfect love, but we are trying.

If you would like to know
more about God’s love and more about
loving others, you are invited to join us on
22nd Avenue in Downtown Meridian.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Good Morning!
MS SABRINA WILLAMS

How many times do we complain that we just cannot find time for devotion and quiet time? There are other activities and goals that preoccupy us in life, such as our jobs, church life, hobbies, money, and having fun. However, consider this thought: when you are at the end of your time on this earth, what will you have received from it? What will you take with you? Will it be that successful career? The hobby that took all of your time? Will it be the wealth that you accumulated?

I am not saying these things are not important to pursue; rather, they are just a means to do what really is important, and that is, building relationships! Career, material accumulation, activities, money, and having fun are not the goals in life; they are only portions of the means to the goal. The reason for, and meaning of life is the development and then deployment of our faith through relationships-with God and then with others! So this morning, I encourage you to spend some time with God...and then do something for someone else…develop....then deploy! Have a blessed day!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Good Morning
REV BOB RAMBO

Hi! I’m Bob Rambo, Lead Pastor at Central United Methodist Church.

This week at Central, we’re in the midst of an annual summer “ritual” – it’s called Vacation Bible School! Each morning, kids and volunteers are gathering to sing, play, eat, and [MOST IMPORTANTLY] learn together about God and God’s love for us.

As a pastor, I’ve seen many Vacation Bible Schools through the years. I’ve also noticed that not every church is able to offer them anymore. These days there are also debates about whether VBS is even “effective” in teaching faith to children.

But when you welcome children with a smile and a warm heart, when you give them cookies and Kool-Aid and you show them in words AND actions that there is a God who cares – that’s a good thing.

Whether you are young or old, if you don’t have a place where you feel the welcome and love of God – then I invite you to visit us at Central, where everyone is welcome.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Good Morning!

MR JIM WALL

We are all children of God who depend on God’s goodness. We take for granted the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and are unaware that we live constantly in the midst of abundant blessings. Most of us are so used to seeing people who are depressed, discouraged, and needing to be loved. Yes, there are social agencies in Lauderdale County that do all they can to help people in need. I pray that God will forgive us for the excuses we make as we let people wander aimlessly without hope or help.

May God sensitize us to go beyond our homes and churches to share the good news and to be Christ to others.

Each week, pray that God’s Holy Spirit would lead you to someone in need. May God bless you.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Good morning!
REV AMY ROLLER

I just returned from a conference full of Methodist clergy and lay people. For one of the worship services, our Bishop gave a challenging yet encouraging sermon.

She shared about her friend who was dying of cancer. Her dear friend said, “I’m not afraid of death, I just don’t want to miss anything.” She challenged us to not miss out on anything in this life or in the eternal life that God has promised.

As we go about our daily lives, how much do we miss? Perhaps we miss out on the joy of relationships, because we are too busy. Maybe we miss or ignore the simple blessings that God gives because we’re not attentive. We probably miss out on opportunities to share the love of Christ with others for many reasons. I pray that we live in such away that we will all experience the abundance of life that God longs to give us now and eternally.

So go today, being attentive to God’s presence, and miss none of the blessings and opportunities that come your way.

Friday , June 18, 2010

Good morning!
MS SABRINA WILLAMS
Tis the season...no...not Christmas..Vacation Bible School. Beginning at 9:00 this coming Monday morning, we, at Central United Methodist Church, invite children, ages four through 5th grade to join us for a week as we explore the wonderful world God has given to us, through our cosmic adventure Galactic Blast.

Students will study the story of Creation, Elijah, The Woman at the Well, The Blind Beggar in Jericho...Students will also learn facts about earth, the moon, the stars...and take action on what we can do to take care of our planet, because we are reminded in Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it."

If you would like more information on VBS, please visit our web site at www.cumcmdn.org.

If you do not have a church home, we also invite you to join us for worship on Sunday mornings. We have contemporary worship at 8:30, and our traditional worship begins at 10:55. Sunday school begins at 9:40. Come, join us, and find yourself among friends at Central. Have a blessed day!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Good Mornning
REV BOB RAMBO

Hi! I’m Bob Rambo, Lead Pastor at Central United Methodist Church. It’s Thursday – and the weekend is almost here. Many of us will spend the weekend working in the yard, perhaps cooking out, maybe even traveling to get away or visit friends.

It’s tempting to use the weekend to “re-charge” so we can make it through another work week – but usually we cram so much into the time it leaves us drained and worn out. God invites us to remember the Sabbath – a day of rest to stop our labor and hurried rushing about. And amazingly, when we slow down, we often gain fresh perspective on life. And most importantly – Sabbath invites us to remember and worship the God who made us.

So this weekend – have some fun! But don’t forget the Sabbath. If you don’t have a place to observe Sabbath, why not join us at Central – where everyone is welcome.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Good Morning!
REV AMY  ROLLER


In William Young’s novel, The Shack, the main character, Mack, has gone through a family tragedy and is led to a shack where he encounters God. What he finds is not what he expects. He finds Jesus but also finds God in the form of “Papa”, a black woman, and the Holy Spirit in the form of a mysterious character, Sarayu.

There’s a scene of them all gathered for a meal in the kitchen. We see an image of God, the Trinity, sitting around a table, laughing, eating, and fellowshipping, and Mack is drawn into this divine community.

Our sense of community as Christians comes from the fact that the very essence of God is community. God is Trinity, 3 persons, so the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are actually in relationship with each other.

The relational life of God draws us into community with God and with other Christians. God created us to be in community, so go today, and draw others into relationship with our God.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Good Morning!
REV JIM CAIN


My Sister-in-law was taking a flight from Birmingham out to Wyoming to see her in-laws.

Being early, she purchased a pack of cookies from the snack shop and settled down in the waiting area to read a novel she had in her purse. While reading, she noticed the man sitting next to her was eating a cookie. Looking down she was surprised to see her package of cookies had been opened and the man was eating them.

Though outraged that the man would open her cookies and start eating them, she said nothing sitting there quietly, munching on her cookie when to her amazement the man took another cookie. Now furious, Jackie took all the cookies from the package and ate them.

Later that day, she reached into her purse and found, much to her own dismay her unopened package of cookies lying at the bottom of her purse. Embarrassed, she realized that she was guilty of the very thing she thought the man had been doing to her. Jumping to conclusions opens ourselves up to mistakes or as it says in Matthew 7:1, “Do not judged lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”

Monday, June 14, 2010

Good Morning:
MS GLENDA THOMAS


Do you sometimes feel that God has put you in a difficult position or given you a job that you are not sure you can do? Well, rest assured that if God has led you to it, He can get you through it! He has prepared you, and he has provided everything you need to accomplish what He has set you out to do.

Remember, Abraham had to leave his comfort zone to receive an inheritance that was greater that what his earthly father could provide. He had to trust and depend upon God every step of the way.

Moses depended on God to show him how to lead his people out of Egypt.

When Joshua entered the Promised Land, he had to fight battles to gain what God promised him and his people. Joshua had to depend upon God for every unique strategy for victory along the way.

In each story of these Bible heroes, trust in God was the key. So when you are faced with hard choices and difficult decisions, put your trust in God.

Have a wonderful day!

Friday, June 11,2010

Good Morning:
JIM WALL

I have the privilege and honor of sharing communion, each month, with Clovis Wright and his daughter, Annie. Clovis is 80 years old, and he and Annie are both retired ministers. One day, after sharing communion, Clovis said, “I want to sing!” so, he headed off to another room on his power chair pulling this oxygen tube he was wearing behind the chair.

Soon he was back with a hymnal that he gave to Annie. As the three of us began singing, I couldn’t help but watch Clovis. He sat in his chair with the oxygen tubes behind his ears, hands propped on a waling stick, tapping his foot with his eyes looking to heaven. He sang all the hymns from memory. I thought, “This man really loves God.” Then I prayed, “God help me to inspire others as Clovis has inspired me today.” Is there anything special you want to do today?

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Good morning!
MS SABRINA WILLAMS



“Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me.” There is rarely a funeral you attend when this beautiful scripture found in Psalm 23 is not read.

I watched, months ago, as my mother walked through that valley. There was a transformation as the valley became a quiet peaceful serene place where there would be no more sickness..no more pain. Since that time, it seems an extraordinary amount of friends and other family members have watched those they loved the most, walk through that valley into eternal life with God.

The valley of the shadow, however, remains all too painful for those left behind. What makes this valley so difficult is that everyone grieves differently. Grief comes at different times, in different stages for everyone. It comes in waves, it comes at unexpected moments, it can be debilitating.

This morning, if you find yourself consumed by this type of grief, don't be afraid or ashamed. You grieve because you loved...and you were loved, and now there is a physical and emotional chasm within your life.

Do know, that the God who walked with your loved one, walks also with you. God also provides you with friends and family who will both share in your grief and give you comfort and joy in the days ahead. Embrace both your beautiful memories and those who still walk with you...and you will begin to find peace and healing

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Good Morning
REV BOB RAMBO

Hi! I’m Bob Rambo, Lead Pastor at Central United Methodist Church.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Do you see the silver lining in things or do you only see the dark clouds?

The story is told that in the days of the Old West, cattle ranchers offered a bounty for a pack of wolves that had been attacking their cattle. Two adventurous bounty hunters soon set out looking for the beasts. After long days of searching, they fell asleep exhausted one night only to wake up and discover they were surrounded by 50 wolves!

The first bounty hunter said: We’re going to DIE! But the second said: Are you kidding? We’re RICH!

Life is full of difficulty and opportunity. How we deal with life’s challenges often depends on OUR perspective. But even the most difficult challenge can be an opportunity for God’s grace to work in our lives.

May you face this day’s challenges with grace – and discover the opportunity in each of them!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Good Morning.
REV BOB PEDEN


Have you read the book of Jonah lately? Most people get caught up in the God provided a great fish that swallowed Jonah for three days and then spit him out on the beach part of the story and miss out on the real point of the story. Which is that God’s grace is for all people, even, or is it especially, those people we hate the most. And that he expects us to be the ones to carry the message of His love and grace to them. Today as in Jonah’s day it is easy to get caught up in the us versus them mentality that leads us to hate others, so that, like Jonah, even if they repented and turned back to God we would not like them at all. But that can lead us to ignore Jesus’ final words to us, “Go into all the world, teaching them to obey everything that I have told you.” If we are His friends, we will do His will.

Monday, June 7, 2010

GOOD MORNING!
REV JIM CAIN


Brother Jack was dying. He sent a message for his IRS agent and his lawyer (both church members), to come to his home. When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room, Jack held out his hands and motioned for them to sit on each side of the bed. The preacher grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled, and stared at the ceiling. For a time, no one said anything. Both the IRS agent and the lawyer were flattered that their preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moments.

However, they were also puzzled because the preacher had never given any indication that he particularly liked either one of them.

Finally, the Lawyer asked, "Preacher, why did you ask the two of us to come?"

Brother Jack mustered up some strength, and then said weakly, "Jesus died between two thieves, and that's how I want to go, too.”

Who do you surround yourself with in your daily life?

Proverbs 27:17 states as, “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

Friday, June 4, 2010

Good Morning!
REV AMY ROLLER


We can hang out anywhere and be in community: things like Rotary club, work, school, and the gym can all be places of community. However, Christian community is something different.

Christian community is not about being with others, or just being friends or neighbors. Nor is Christian community about simply “going to church,” sitting in pews, or attending a Sunday school class.

We can attend church all our lives and still never truly invest our hearts in Christian community.

What’s distinctive about Christian community is that we are following Jesus together. We are a community together on a journey of discipleship, being transformed to the likeness of Christ,

It is God’s Holy Spirit who ties us together, and we seek to love each other with the love of Christ.

So I invite you to come be a part of the Christian community of Central United Methodist Church. Come worship this Sunday at either 8:30am or 10:55am.

May God bless you today.

Thursday June 3, 2010

Good morning!
REV BOB PEDEN

We seem to live in a “dog eat dog” world; A “get ahead at all costs” society; A "don't look back because the competition is gaining on you" culture of self-promotion. But the Bible tells us in the book of James to “humble ourselves before the Lord, and He will lift us up.”

Humble ourselves? That almost sounds obscene in this world. Humility is a forgotten virtue. Often confused with weakness or timidity, humility is really about knowing our proper place in the world without flaunting it.

This is Bob Peden of Central United Methodist Church saying, that only God can exalt in a permanent way. The key is to know our place before him and let him put us in the place he chooses.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Good Morning:
GLENDA THOMAS,

A few weeks ago I told you that Psalm 118 is the center of the Bible and tells you how to be in the center of God's will. It tells us primarily to put our trust in God. It shows us the importance of developing a steady confidence in God's love.

As we turn more and more to Him, relying on His Spirit and trusting in His guidance, we find that our lives begin to come under control. When we look to God in all things, we become less likely to focus only on ourselves and more on the needs of the world around us.

Trusting in God is the key to true happiness. We need to give praise and thanks to God for all things, for as the psalmist says in Psalm 118, "The Lord is good and His steadfast love endures forever." Have a wonderful day!

June 1, 2010

GOOD MORNING!
Rev. Jim Cain
Not too long ago, my wife and I were taking a trip. We had checked all the airlines and found that our best deal was going to be flying out of the airport in New Orleans, LA.

While we were standing there checking in, four people were standing over in the corner squalling and weeping like there was no tomorrow. A man was hugging an older woman and a man and telling them goodbye. Then the man left with a younger woman, and went over to the entrance of the chute that went up into the airplane. He held this young woman, and they squalled and looked at one another. Then he, with his head down, disappeared up the runway. Then the three people joined one another and started squalling, they even had my wife and me crying they were carrying on so.

About this time the man stuck his head around from the opening of the entranceway and waved at the group saying, “I’ll see ya’ll Tuesday!”

Sadly, many of us spend more time and energy preparing for short trips or vacations than we do preparing for where we’ll spend all of eternity.

Have you thought about where you will be when you die, if not let me encourage you to do that today!