Wednesday, January 31, 2018

DENNIS Good Morning. I am Dennis Gossett for Central United Methodist Church, and I hope that your NFL team is going to the Super Bowl. Many of you will put in a lot of time and effort planning your Super Bowl parties, in hopes that your team wins. If not, well it can be very discouraging can’t it? But isn’t that a lot like life! No matter how long and hard we plan, we can still walk away feeling unsatisfied. Jesus gives a sermon on top of a mountain that may give us a hint as to why discouragement creeps into our lives. In just 12 verses, he tells the crowd where their priorities must be. Jesus is calling us to reorient our lives to a way of living that is preparing us for the Kingdom of God and away from the kingdom of this world. He tells us to be “poor in spirit, meek, seek after righteousness, be merciful, pure in heart, and be a peacemaker.” Things such as these prepare a soul for a place where eternity dwells. All other things are shallow and empty in comparison. Just like the upcoming Super Bowl, life will be over too soon. I invite you to come and visit us at Central for encouragement on your journey to the Kingdom that is not of this world.

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Good morning, this is Bob Peden of Central, a United Methodist Community in downtown Meridian. You have heard it said – probably said it yourself. “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” But two of my favorite people in the Bible are Simeon and Anna whom we meet in the early part of the gospel of Luke. Though they both were advanced in years they were eagerly looking forward to the coming of a new king who would save all people. They were expecting something new. And God met their expectations. Anna and Simeon are proof that you may not be able to put new wine in old wineskins, but new wine can be put in open hearts! Jesus brings that new wine to all who are passionate to honor him and follow him. It's a matter of the heart, not age! It's a matter of faith, not experience! Be ready for the new thing God is doing in your life today.

Monday, January 29, 2018

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. As Christians, we are called to be faithful stewards of our wealth and our talents. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells about three servants who were given different amounts of money according to each one’s ability. Make sure you get this part: Jesus was demonstrating that while we all do not have equal abilities, we should have equal opportunities and responsibilities. After time had passed, the giver of the money came back to see what the servants had done with it all. The first two servants had doubled their wealth and earned the givers praise, and he increased their responsibility. The third servant hid his wealth out of fear, neither increasing or losing his wealth. The giver was disgruntled and took what the third servant was given and gave it to another servant. So, what is Jesus teaching us? First, we are all unique and not created identically. Second, Jesus knows what we are capable of and entrusts us with those abilities. Third, God doesn’t compare us to one another, but rather he judges us based on what we do with what we are given. If we aren’t willing to manage it well, he will take it from us. So how are you doing with what God has entrusted to you?

Friday, January 26, 2018

DENNIS Good Morning, I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. On an ancient lake shore in a distant land, fishermen were casting their nets, hoping that today would be a good day. It was just like any other. The sun was shining, and the gulls were singing. Going through the motions of their trade, two sets of brothers heard a call upon their lives. There, on that distant shore, was a humbled looking man waving his arm and saying, “Follow me.” Immediately, they dropped their gear and followed. What was it about the call that made these brothers leave everything behind and follow? Well, the man’s invitation was being made directly to their hearts. It was not drowned out by the sounds of life: the waves, the gulls, or the chatter of other fishermen. With just a motion and a simple invitation, the unassuming man on the beach spoke volumes. This same humbled Lord is calling you also, saying “Follow me.” His words can speak over the distracting noises in your life. If you will listen, then you will hear the invitation that says, “Come and follow me.” I invite you to Central as we prepare ourselves to follow. God bless.

Thursay, January 25,2018

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. Despite the world’s greatest efforts, God is still present everywhere and in everything. They try to take Christ out of the government, schools, Christmas and still, he just won’t go away. Have you ever thought how Jesus overcame two impossibilities: a virgin’s womb and an empty tomb? Jesus came into the world through a door marked “no room,” and he escaped the clutches of death by leaving through a door marked “no exit.” That first Christmas there was no room for him in the inn, and continually at Christmas and all times of the year, the world tries to rid itself of God, Jesus, Christ, and all things relating to him. Then the world tried to get rid of him by killing him and placing him in a sealed tomb to shut him out once and for all. God removed that stone and proved that Jesus can’t and won’t be shut out of our lives or out of HIS plan. One day, Jesus is going to intrude on history again. The way to be ready is to have an invitation waiting for him. The question is: will you shut him out or welcome him in?

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning, the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. When you think of what it means to be kind, I don’t doubt a very specific person comes to mind. If you’re lucky, maybe a few people come to mind. Regardless of whom you picture, the reason you think of someone instead of something is because kindness is something we experience tangibly. It is the outward expression of an inward gratefulness. You can feel thankful or feel grateful, but you don’t feel kind. You are kind or you’re not. We live in a world that is consumed with conversations of fear, evil, and hate. Maybe we need to combat that with true kindness that comes from a heart that has been transformed. You and I will be remembered for the things that we do and what we do not do. Therefore, let us be remembered as a people that were filled with true kindness that was due to being a follower of Jesus. That is a legacy that we can all be proud of.

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

SABRINA Many of you are sitting at the table or getting ready for work – with a cup of coffee either in your hand or nearby. A friend recently shared this analogy, and I think it is worth sharing! You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you, or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere. WHY did you spill the cup of coffee? Our first response, is “because someone bumped into me. Wrong answer. You spilled your coffee because there was coffee in your cup! Had there been tea, you would have spilled tea. Whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out. Therefore, when life comes along and shakes you (which WILL happen), whatever is inside you will come out. It’s easy to fake it, until you get rattled. So, this morning, ask yourself, what is in YOUR cup? When life comes along, what will spill out of YOUR cup? Joy, gratefulness, peace, and humility, or anger, bitterness, harsh words and reactions?

Monday, January 22, 2018

BENJI From the playgrounds of our childhood, to the breakrooms at our jobs as adults, we will all find ourselves in locales where we must, at some point, use our voice and stand up for ourselves. Admirable as this may be, it is even more commendable to stand up for those without a voice. There are segments of our society who are vulnerable, people of all ages, shapes, races, social and financial means, and levels of ability. People who find themselves without an advocate. May we be people who use whatever influence we are blessed with to the good of not only ourselves, but to others, especially those who suffer, who have their humanity stripped from them, and who can’t speak up for themselves. We have been commanded to love God with all that we are, and to love others as we love ourselves, even those who are just hard to love. Consider if God showed us the same level of grace we extend to others how condemned we would be. Let’s use our voices and influences to advocate for those who cannot stand for themselves and see humanity restored, one life at a time.

Friday, January 19, 2018

BOB Good morning. This is Bob Peden of Central, A United Methodist Community here in Meridian. Here is a wonderful thought from Max Lucado: “It's quiet. It's early. For the next 12 hours, I'll be exposed to the day's demands. It's now that I must make a choice. And so, I choose... I choose love. I will love God and what God loves. I choose joy. I choose peace. I will live forgiven. I choose patience — rather than complain that the wait is too long, I'll thank God for a moment to pray. I choose kindness — for that's how God has treated me. I choose goodness. I choose faithfulness. Today I'll keep my promises. My wife will not question my love. I choose gentleness. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself. I choose self-control. I will be impassioned only by my faith and influenced only by God. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When this day is done, I'll place my head on my pillow and rest.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

SABRINA With a new year often comes a desire for things to change. We often find an element of discontent as we look back on the past. We may long for the bigger bank account, the nicer house, car, or to be more in control of our lives. We forget that what our HEARTS long for can’t be satisfied by what our LIVES long for. The temporal cannot satisfy the eternal. Does this morning find you in a season that feels heavy right now? Do you find yourself forfeiting God’s invitation to abide while stalled in the loneliness of the wait? We are so prone to searching for home in containers not made to carry its calling – whether in place or people, title or position, acceptance or belonging, wealth or fame – we instinctively seek to satisfy by human means. That discontent – it is because we are made in the image of God, and, therefore, our deepest needs are filled by eternal means. If this morning finds you wanting to make changes in your life, here these words from David, found in Psalm 121 “I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from which comes my help. My help comes from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” He then finishes reminding us, “The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and forever more.” Go into this day, knowing and believing in God’s presence – in this world, in this day, in your life.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning, the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. In the Old Testament a story is told of Queen Esther and a choice she had to make. When Mordecai sent word to her about the great danger their people were facing, she could have simply tried to save herself. She could have kept quiet. Just hoped for the best, or turned the other way. But she and Mordecai both knew that God had given her great purpose in her position. She was wise, she made a plan, she didn’t stay stuck in fear or worry, she prayed and fasted, and asked for their people to do the same. She was willing to act, to follow God’s lead, to save the lives of her people, even if it meant she might lose hers. Though our current situations may look different than what Esther faced, we might still be struggling with great fear or uncertainty. The future may look dark. A hard diagnosis or recent loss may have sent us spiraling. Yet, often God places us in positions of influence, or in strategic locations, with great purpose in mind. Many times, the places where we find ourselves is not really “all about us.” It’s about Him. It’s about His bigger plan.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. Confession is an important part of our relationship with God and to ourselves. James 5:16 says: Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. Confession is an important step for us because it is a part of getting ourselves right with God. We want God to see us as forgiven children, but how can we be forgiven if we don’t ask for it? At Central, each time we take part in the breaking of bread and taking of the cup through communion, we offer a prayer of confession. We confess many general things to God such as not loving Him with our whole heart, failing to be an obedient church, not fulfilling God’s will, breaking his law and some other things. While this seems very generic, it is a time that we become vulnerable and open to God about our sins. Although he already knows them, it is a time when we can accept the things we have done. Remember when you are working on your faith, confession is a necessary part of your spirituality. You are confessing to God what you have done and accepting it for yourself.

Monday, January 15, 2018

GLENDA
Good Morning! This is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day...a day set aside to honor one of the most well-known Civil Rights activist in our country. I have a few little-known facts about him that I'd like to share with you. He was named Michael King, Jr. at his birth, but at the age of 6, his father had his name legally changed to Martin Luther King, Jr. He was incredibly smart. He skipped ninth and 12th grades and entered college at the age of 15.
There are over 900 streets named after him spanning over 40 states. King was the youngest person to ever receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He was arrested nearly 30 times trying to defend the civil rights of his peers. And a really fun fact about him...he was an avid Star Trek fan. The most important fact about him, to me, is that he wanted Civil Rights for all people. The best way to honor him today is to go out and find something to do for someone else. Celebrate his life and have a wonderful day!

Friday, January 12, 2018

DENNIS
 Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. The one thing we will never be able to do is to attend our own funeral. We will be there all right. It’s just that we won’t be there – be there. The Apostle Paul tells us we must host our own funeral, behold ourselves being laid in the ground and buried and then keep coming back to the cemetery and visiting the tombstone in order to remind ourselves. He writes, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Paul knows the secret to life is to die before you die. He wants us to attend our own funeral. There is actually a technical term for this phenomenon called Baptism. There are many metaphors and meanings for Christian baptism, but there is really only one: death and resurrection. “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” If ever there were a verse that needed to jump off the page and into our days, this is it. In an out of control world, we must remember there is hope through Christ. We don’t have to live in such a way that causes pain and heartbreak. In fact, we can choose a different life. What’s your choice?

Thursday, January 11, 2018

BENJI
 Have you ever noticed how small ten or twenty bucks is at a store or restaurant, but so much when the offering plate comes around or when you are asked to give to charity? An old story goes that a man had grown up needy but then amassed great wealth later in life and never wished to be parted with it, even in the afterlife. He was a pious and good man, living righteously before God, so the Lord told him he could bring one carry-on through the Pearly Gates. He withdrew all his money and decided against a check or cash, so he spent all he had on gold bars and coins and filled a suitcase completely with the precious metal. When his time came and he arrived at the gates of heaven, the angel at the gate wished to see what he had brought. When he opened his case, the angel exclaimed “You could bring anything and you brought pavement? When we one day walk those streets of gold, wealth and possessions will be left behind. So why do we hold so tightly now? Exercise extravagant generosity this week, think of others beyond yourself and see the peace it brings.

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

SABRINA
 A short time ago, my husband, Rick, had a health scare that required a procedure neither of us saw coming. It happened fast. Our three children were there. I was strong, carrying on conversation and laughing. But as they phoned from surgery one of the grandchildren asked his mother why B’s hand was shaking? I was embarrassed. They should see and feel my strength, not my fear. It later occurred to me that more than anything in this world, I have wanted my children to know of God’s presence and power in their life, yet I was afraid to let them see it in my own. When we keep our needs hidden from our children, how will they know our true source of strength? If we don’t allow our children to help bear burdens of those closest to them, how can they learn to live out this biblical principle? If they haven’t seen our reliance on God, will they forget who can rescue them from their lowest moments? As you enter this new year, are you currently in line for the Super Mom or Dad Award? Take it from a Mom who has had it wrong for many years - it just took a nine-year-old to make it clear - If we pretend to have it all together, have all the answers and strength, how will our children, no MATTER their age, know Who really holds US together? It’s just my thought for the day! Have a blessed one!

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

BOB
 Good morning! This is Bob Peden of Central, a United Methodist Community here in downtown Meridian. A quote often attributed to Frank Outlaw says, "Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." Though we seldom stop to think about it, there is no doubt that the thoughts we have, lead inevitably to what we become. Therefore, we should be careful of what we think, say, do - for that is who we are. The Apostle Paul said, "Think on these things . . ." "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable anything that is excellent or praiseworthy." Watch your thoughts.

Monday, January 8, 2018

JOHN
 Good Morning! I’m John Branning, Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. The old sailor looked at the skies and saw a dark storm coming. As the sea became rough and choppy, the old sailor calmly lowered the heavy-chained anchor link by link, battened down the hatches, and went to bed for the night. He knew the storm would be rough, but he had faith in the grasp of the anchor. He knew his boat would be there in the morning. Like that sailor, we have an "anchor" for our lives that can help us stand fast through the storms of life. It's called hope. In biblical terms, hope is closely allied with faith. The writer of Hebrews tells us that, faith is "the assurance of things hoped for" (Hebrews 11:1). Hope, therefore, is the object upon which we direct our focus and energies. To the Christian, hope is the knowledge that we are being changed for the better as we trust in God's promises. It is the conviction that no matter the circumstances, God's plans for our lives are "for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope". This is our anchor as a follower of Jesus. Live today with hope and faith.

Friday, January 5, 2018

SABRINA
 2018. We now live in a 24/7 technology-driven world. Work is as close as this device, as are constant text and reminders about everything imaginable. A month’s worth of calendar dates is a swipe away. But God reminds US in Exodus 23:12 when He told Moses and the Israelites, “Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work so that you may be refreshed. This is a reminder that God doesn’t see rest as a sign of weakness or laziness, but as a mark of reverence. To observe a day of rest is to announce, “God knows what I need more than I do. If He says to rest, I will rest.” And, as we do, our bodies and minds are refreshed. The key to TRUE rest is to face today and its issues and no more. Meet them with God’s strength. Don’t start tackling tomorrow’s problems until tomorrow. We don’t have tomorrow’s strength yet. Just simply enough for today. If you do not have a church home, I invite you to join us at Central this Sunday as we welcome in 2018. And remember, we no longer have yesterday, we do not yet have tomorrow - we only have today.

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Bob
 Good morning! This is Bob Peden of Central, a United Methodist Community here in downtown Meridian. Stephen (Grel-lay) who died in 1865 in New Jersey, left these immortal lines: "I shall pass through this world but once. Any good that I can do or any kindness that I can show any human being, let me do it now and not defer it. For I shall not pass this way again." Although it is possible to pass again through some geographical region of the world that might interest us, it is not possible for us to repeat the journey through life. Each moment presents its opportunity and then it is gone. Carpe diem - seize today - take hold of the opportunity to do good for and with those around you, today. Be a blessing to those with whom you come in contact. "I shall not pass this way again." It is a solemn truth of life that we need to consider.

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

BENJI
 It’s a new year and the kids are up getting ready for school again, and we are up readying ourselves for work and whatever the rest of this week and this year have in store for us. It’s the natural feeling to want to do and be better at this time of year, hence the flurry of resolutions and agreements with ourselves. We want to reach the next level, achieve something greater, and make a bigger impact. But as any gym owner will tell you, it’s not too long before we give up on those dreams and settle in for another year of discontent. We do this because we try to push ourselves and expect it all to be easy. My wife is an incredibly perceptive person and said this to me: "If your wanting to get to the next level, stop waiting for the easy way elevator...its broken. Take the stairs, one step at a time." Whatever you set out to achieve this year, take it one step at a time, ask for God’s blessing and seek guidance in God’s word, have someone else keep you accountable, and enjoy life as God grants you peace.

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

DENNIS
 Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. The Apostle Paul once wrote that we all have a “life we once lived” and we all “used to walk in these ways.” It’s good, from time to time, to take stock of the changes in our lives. Can you think back to the “ways” you used to walk in the “life you once lived?” How would you describe the ways you walk in today? Often, we tend to deal with the same issues that keep coming up again and again. I am referring to those unpleasant things like anger, lust or greed. We are also often unaware how our ways are hurting other people. Only by God’s grace are we able to recognize it. Did you know God wants to share his nature with you, which is love? It is God’s desire to deliver his children from such things, because he knows that we cannot manage them by ourselves. See, any form of sin cannot be managed. With God’s help, we can begin to live a new way. Now, this does not happen overnight, and it can be a slow process, but we must trust that the cross we are bearing is taking us to a place where this undesirable trait will soon die. So, be of good courage. God is with you. Amen.

Monday, January 1, 2018

GLENDA
 Good Morning: It's time to say, "Happy New Year" once again. New Year is the most ancient of all holidays. It was the Romans who first used January 1 as the beginning of the new year in 153 BC. Symbolically, New Year signifies a renewal of life—discarding the old and worn out in exchange for a chance to revamp, rejuvenate, and start all over. Yesterday was an ending. An ending to the year 2017. It could be an ending for those things in your life which are holding you back from having all the good things God thinks you deserve. Today would be a good day to think about those things, turn them over to God, and ask him to help you throw them away. Let today be the start of a brand new you. That's possible when you start your New Year with God at your side. Happy New Year!! Happy New You!!!