Friday, March 30, 2018

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning, Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. Millions and millions of Christians around the world celebrate Easter every year. But for far too many of us, the story has become boring and rote. We have the basic facts down. Jesus was arrested. He was crucified. And three days later, God raised him from the dead. Yet, we miss something very important. We miss what turns Easter from a one-dimensional holiday to a multi-dimensional, life-transforming way of life. We miss that the story of the Resurrection isn’t just Jesus’ story — it’s our story as well. You see, you are a part of the Resurrection. Jesus’ death and Resurrection didn’t just prove there was life after death. The Resurrection proves you can have life after death, that there’s life beyond your grave. Jesus says, if you trust in him, death becomes a transition, not an ending point. One day your heart will stop. That will be the end of your body, but it will not be the end of you. God made you to last forever. I invite you to come to Central this Sunday and to hear the rest of the story.

Thursday, March 29, 2018

BOB Good Holy Thursday morning. This is Bob Peden of Central, a United Methodist Community in downtown Meridian. On the night when Jesus was betrayed and arrested, he went to the Garden of Gethsemane, taking with him James, John, and Peter. He had one request of them. Stay and keep watch with me as I pray. His request haunts us to this day. Will we stay and keep watch with Jesus. Tonight at 7 PM in the sanctuary at Central, we will spend an hour praying with Jesus. We will share in the bread and juice, His body and blood. We will sing a few hymns and hear the story of his betrayal, crucifixion, and death. Then, we will watch in silence as the pascal candle, representing Jesus's very life is extinguished. You are invited to join us this evening in the meaningful time of preparation for the coming Easter. Will you spend an hour this evening watching with Jesus?

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. Colossians 3:15-17 says “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Many believers look for a sense of peace as a sign to help them determine God’s will in their life. However, a peaceful feeling may not be enough evidence to verify that a person’s decisions line up with the Lord’s plans. It’s wise to ask ourselves, “Whose peace are we experiencing?” The Colossians text talks about letting “the peace of Christ rule in your hearts”. This kind of calm originates from Jesus Christ and is the deciding factor that determines whether your decisions fit with God’s will. To have God’s peace about a matter means your decision must be aligned with His will. The only way to determine this is by comparing your thoughts and choices with His Word. One of the reasons we often make choices without the guidance of Scripture is because we want a quicker method for finding an answer. The Lord doesn’t just pour His thoughts into our brain without our cooperation. Building steadily over time is the only way to internalize a foundation of God’s truth. With His instructions as your basis, you can make decisions with confidence, knowing you are following His will. Then, you’ll have a sense of oneness with the Lord, and His peace will guard your way.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

BENJI As we approach Easter, I pray that we do not lose sight of the incredible reason for this season. God left the resplendent glory of heaven to come here to earth, to show us the way, to pay a debt He did not owe; for us who had a debt that we could never pay. God offers us the gift of salvation and forgiveness of sins. He stands at the door of our hearts and knocks and patiently waits. We remember this Friday, Good Friday, the day that Christ paid it all for us – His crucifixion and death. The Gospel of Luke tells of one of the people crucified next to Jesus was a thief, and this man acknowledged Jesus and His coming kingdom, to which Jesus responded that He would be with Him in paradise. D.L. Moody points out the thief had nails through both hands, so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet, Christ offered him the gift of God; and received it. Know today that you are loved so greatly. Jesus rose from the grave to bring you life eternal.

Monday, March 26, 2018

GLENDA Good Morning: Over 2,000 years ago, people lined the streets to wave their palm branches and lay down their coats for a very special person who was entering their city. I'll bet I don't even have to tell you his name, but I will. His name is Jesus. You knew that, didn't you? Yesterday was Palm Sunday. It marked the beginning of the last week in Jesus' life. There was great joy when he entered Jerusalem. But by the end of that week, there was great sadness. Jesus died on the cross. Jesus died for you. Did you know that? He died so you and I might be forgiven and have eternal life. Remember this and have a wonderful day!

Friday, March 23, 2018

DENNIS Good Morning. I’m Dennis Gossett, with Central United Methodist Church. There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus who was appointed to serve on the Jerusalem Council. The Council made major decisions affecting every aspect of life in Israel. During his time of service, a concerning report was brought before the Council involving a dissenter from the Law who’s causing an uproar among villages stretching from Galilee to Jerusalem. He was told of all the good this person had been doing. However, he was claiming to be God’s Son, working on the Sabbath and encouraging people not to fast. This person was also speaking critically about the religious authorities. So, under the cover of darkness, Nicodemus sought out the miracle worker, Jesus of Nazareth. The Pharisee Councilman had made a choice to search for Jesus. The Lord has a funny way of causing so much stirring in the heart that people just go searching. And, the great thing is that it doesn’t take long to find the one who can bring about change in a person’s life. Central invites you to be with us on your own quest for truth. God bless.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. Often times when we find ourselves in prayer, we may expect or hope for some sort of physical sign. We see this represented a lot in our modern-day television and movies. However, this is not something that we should come to expect. Our understanding of God’s power is limited compared to what he is capable of. Don’t let yourself give up just because you don’t see a physical sign. A prayer for our circumstances can also result in an inner change that only the Holy Spirit can help us accomplish. Mark 11:24 says, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” We may grow weary because we’ve prayed but haven’t noticed God do anything, but when we think we haven’t seen God at work, He most certainly has been working.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

BENJI Hi! I’m Benji Riddle from Central United Methodist. It’s the middle of the week. It seems like the weekend will never arrive. It’s easy to settle into the notorious Wednesday Slump. Don’t lose heart, for Scripture speaks much about those who pursue endurance. J. Stowell points out that the Greeks had a race in their Olympic games that was unique. The winner was not the runner who finished first. It was the runner who finished with his torch still lit. I want to run all the way with the flame of my torch still lit for Christ. There may be all sorts of things trying to bring you down and draw you away from God, things at work, at home, or at school, but stay strong, and know that God is with you. Romans 15 offers this blessing from Paul to the church in Rome: May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, March 20, 20178

SABRINA It seems everywhere we turn, there are opposing views on everything. From religion and politics to sports and entertainment. Media has seemed to cause an escalation, in that the louder and angrier we make our stance against one another, the more attention we get. John 1:14 reminds us Jesus came in TRUTH and GRACE. While we should stand for those things we feel strongly about, it does not give us the right to degrade another person, whether Christian or not. Somewhere along the way, we have chosen to live out the untrue words we learned on the playground – sticks, and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me. Words DO hurt; they can breed animosity, hatred, and resistance to change. Listening to another person’s view, desiring to learn WHY they feel the way they do, validate their concerns – will it CHANGE their views and way of thinking? In most cases, probably not. We say we are speaking out of love, but often our words, tones, and actions say the opposite. We can stand for the truth we believe, but it is never okay to use it as an excuse to be unkind. Let us go into this day with an open mind, heart, choosing our words carefully and be part of the change our country so desperately needs.

Monday, March 19, 2018

BOB Good morning. This is Bob Peden of Central, a United Methodist Community. You have surely heard of Murphy's law. In summary, Murphy's law says, "Anything that can go wrong, will; and at the worst possible moment." I am sure that each of you can attest to the accuracy of this law. How we react to these situations though, says a lot about our character and about our relationship with God. If we say, "Everything will turn out alright eventually," we may be living in a dream world. If we react by saying, "How could God do this to me," our bitterness may turn us away from God. As Christians we should react by turning to God, praying for His guidance and realizing that our Father is at work ransoming our worst circumstances. Paul and Barnabas took a Murphy's law situation and turned to God, singing His praises so loudly they awoke the jailer and his family. How will you react, the next time everything goes wrong?

Friday, March 16, 2018

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning, the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. I’ve been thinking a lot about failure, especially in these weeks before Easter. Even as Jesus moved toward the cross with courage and strength, the men around him crumbled, plagued with regret and shame. As we look at our own lives, we realize that we are no different than those men. We do things we regret, make bad decisions, and hurt people that we love. We are faced with the same choices that the men in the Gospels faced. We see parts of ourselves in Pontius Pilate, Judas Iscariot and Simon Peter, each of whom displayed a different response to moral failure. So, what do we do with our failure? All of us are falling short somewhere in our life right now. The question is not how to avoid failure but what to do with it. I have choices and so do you. We can make excuses for our actions and deny our mistakes. We can hide from the Lord and our friends, too ashamed to let anyone in. Or we can turn to the Lord and repent. We can let God take away our guilt and shame, so we can walk in freedom and authenticity with others. This is the only way to find peace and to live at peace.

Thursday, March 15, 2018

SABRINA We have all been guilty of it. Life gets hard. From the moment our eyes open, until we close them at night, negative thoughts fill our minds. They even enter our dreams. Suddenly negative thoughts are running our life. Before we know it, we are sinking mentally, emotionally –spiritually. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us, “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.” When disappointment crushes our dreams, when people hurt or anger us, or when problems seem overwhelming, it’s easy to get caught in the rip-current of negative thoughts. And when we think negative thoughts, we feel negative feelings, leading to believing life is negative overall. When we intentionally change our thoughts, our life changes as well. Our situation may not change immediately, but our reaction to it will, and with that comes a peace that comes only from God. So, on this day, guard your negative thoughts, embrace the positive, and feel a peace that only God can give.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

BOB Good morning! This is Bob Peden of Central, A United Methodist Community in the heart of Meridian. How much courage would it take for you to leave everything you know and have and then follow Jesus without knowing the destination? Do you have that courage? A good young man with power and wealth faced this challenge. Jesus watched sadly as the young man walked away rather than answering the call to follow. He chose not to wriggle free of the bondage he thought gave him life and chose to remain religious rather than becoming a disciple. Do you have the courage to leave all that you have gained in order to follow Jesus? I pray that you and I would respond to Jesus’ invitation with, “here I am, let’s go.” Can we do that? Yes! Will we do that? Each one of us must each answer that question. But know that having the courage to leave everything and follow Jesus is possible for each of us. Will you have the courage to trust Jesus?

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

GLENDA Good Morning: Did you know that every follower of Jesus has been given certain gifts and abilities? Do you know what your special gift is? Walt Disney used to tell a story about a little boy. A circus came to town and was going to have a parade. The bandmaster needed someone to play trombone, so the boy signed up. He hadn't marched a block before the horrible racket coming from his horn caused two old ladies to faint, and a horse to run away. The bandmaster demanded, “Why didn't you tell me you couldn't play the trombone?” The little boy replied, “How did I know? I never tried before.” Many of us never find out what we can or cannot do because we never try! So, volunteer to blow your horn in the circus parade; volunteer to teach that Sunday School class; volunteer to do that one thing no-one else wants to do, and you make a discovery. You are gifted at it! You never know until you try. 1 Peter 4:10 tells us: “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” Have a wonderful day!

Monday, March 12, 2018

BENJI It’s finally here! Spring Break. And whether you are off to somewhere else for vacation, remaining here for a staycation, or you are from somewhere else and have come into the area for your vacation, there is no doubt that many of you are looking forward to this chance to take a break. With the kids out of school, there are many opportunities for families to grow closer together through recreation, relaxation, and even service to others. I encourage you, if you have a chance this week, to invest in those whom you care about and care for you. Take a moment to catch your breath and smell the roses. Put the phone away, and savor this time of rest. So, if you are staying around during the break, I hope it is restful and renewing for you. If you are here in the area for vacation, welcome and enjoy our slice of paradise, and if you are headed away for vacation, stay safe and don’t forget the sunscreen!

Friday, March 9, 2018

DENNIS Good Morning. I’m Dennis Gossett, with Central United Methodist Church. Do you feel rushed? I know in my own life, things pile up and time gets away from me quickly. Family, work, and other commitments are all demanding of our time. The unfortunate consequence to all of this is being emptied and never re-fueled. However, there is someone who really cares about our life situations. That person is Jesus Christ. He is always pleading with us to slow down. He invites us to intentionally take our time and focus on his words, and just listen. Often in life, it is very easy to lose our focus of the most important things in life. If we are not careful, we can end up chasing those things that are worthless. Our Lord says to us, “labor for the bread from heaven and not the bread that perishes.” Seeking God allows you and I to fill our hearts with desires borne in eternity. Do you desire to seek after the Christ-filled life? You are invited to Central UMC to journey with us, as we seek to go deeper into the nonperishable bread from heaven. God bless and have a great day.

Thursday, March 8, 2018

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. When I travel, I love to see the beauty of God’s creation all around. From mountains to rivers to valleys, streams, wildlife, and creatures, God’s creation is one to marvel at. It’s even more unique when you understand the delicacy of how each creation operates from lifestyle to anatomics and everything in between. Knowing these details enlightens my faith. God put so much intricate time and detail into his creation. He is more detailed than Bob Ross painting happy little trees on canvas. When you see a great painting – DaVinci’s Mona Lisa, a piece by Van Gogh, or a scene of American life by Norman Rockwell, do you have more awe of the piece of art than of the artist? Not likely. Yet, we do this all the time with God’s creation. If we honor the creation and forsake the Creator, we miss everything. The best way to appreciate creation is to know and appreciate the Creator.

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

BENJI We often expect the biggest and greatest thing to be what makes the greatest impact or cause the greatest change. But, it is the small, often unnoticed actions, words, or events that truly make the greatest impact – that set of chain of events that lead to something greater. The kind word spoken in passing that changes a person’s day for the better. An act of unmerited, random kindness that unexpectedly gives hope where there was none and peace in a time of conflict. In my own life, I have seen this truth come to life. I never imagined a simple, innocent question, spoken to a girl in my grade 15 years ago today, would lead to that girl one day becoming my wife. Don’t fret about not being influential or powerful enough to be able to cause global change, just trust in God and continue one step at a time, for even a small rudder can change the course of the largest boat.

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning, the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. God has written each of us into His story. We are part of something far greater than ourselves. God calls upon us to trust Him to weave that story together, so that, in the end that will never end, we will worship Him, slack-jawed at the sheer genius of His interwoven plot lines. But like the fictional characters in a novel who are clueless to the authors strategies, we lack the perspective to see how parts of our lives fit into God’s overall plan. Cancer, disabilities, accidents, and other losses and sorrows appear devastatingly pointless. How can these moments bring any good to our story or the story of God? Romans 8:28 says: “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Our part in this story is to trust the one that has created us in his image. The God that has come searching for us and to realize that when our story doesn’t look like a fairytale, that our God can make something wonderful from it.

Monday, March 5, 2018

SABRINA We’ve all been there. A friend receives a devastating loss or diagnosis. We are crushed, but want to avoid them because we do not know what to say. Words matter, but sometimes our presence matters more. In the book of Job, we find that when Job experienced great tragedy in his life, he had three friends who came to visit. They came intending to sympathize with him and comfort him. But when they realized how bad things were, they mourned with him; then sat with him in silence. They didn’t start out attempting to fix his problems but chose instead to simply be with him in his despair. We are a culture driven by what we can do. While doing has its place, let’s remember that “being” carries importance as well. Even counselors know sometimes the best thing to do is simply sit and listen. We don’t always have to have the right word to say or know the perfect thing to do. When words don’t work, we need to remember, our presence can be more than enough.

Friday, March 2, 2018

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning, the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. We all have giants that we face in life, things that may seem like insurmountable problems. It may be something we’re afraid of or something we’re under the power of. It may be something that seems to always loom large and never stop bothering us. Maybe you overcame this giant for a week or even a month and thought you had victory. And then it came back with a vengeance and brought you down. Giants defeat us again and again, because we face them in our own strength – and we lose. Ephesians 6:10 tells us to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might”. In other words, you can’t defeat your giants in your own strength. You can only do it through God’s strength. We rest in his strength when we face our giants, and we recognize that it is a spiritual battle. Turn your worries into prayers. Turn your fears into prayers. Turn your problems into petitions. Our God is greater than any giant that you face.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

GLENDA During World War 11, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific Island. The enemy was fast approaching, so he climbed up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly, he crawled inside one of the caves. However, he knew the enemy would search the area. He prayed for God to protect him. As he heard the voice of the enemy drawing closer, he noticed a spider weaving his web across the entrance to the cave. To himself he said, “Ha! What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent is a mere spider. God does have a sense of humor!” However, as they came closer, he prepared to make his last stand, but they glanced at the cave and then moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as though no one had entered in a long time. He prayed: “Father, forgive me. I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is much stronger than a brick wall.” The message here??? Put your trust in God. So, trust God and have a wonderful day!