Friday, June 29, 2018

SABRINA I think if we are honest, we will all admit to judging the proverbial book by its cover - whether it be the multi-colored hair-style, body piercings seemingly free spirit, or “prim and proper clothing” complete with matching accessories “stuffy person.” We tend to be more comfortable with those who LOOK like us. We are reminded against this, however, in 1 Samuel 16:7, when God said to Samuel “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” We forget those profound words in the very first chapter of Genesis - “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Every single person we come in contact with today is made in the image of God. His image is imprinted on each and every one. As we go through today, let us remind ourselves of that and not miss an opportunity to connect with someone on a more personal level simply because of their outward appearance! Have a blessed day!

Thursday, June 28, 2018

BOB Good morning. This is Bob Peden of Central, A United Methodist Community. In the book of Exodus when Moses nears the burning bush, he is told to remove his sandals for he is on holy ground. The song Holy Ground says, "This is holy ground, we're standing on holy ground, for the Lord is here and where He is, is holy." We tend to think of holy ground as being some other place, but holiness is also here and now for each of us. At Central, we worship on holy ground. Not because the dirt under our building is any different than any other dirt around Meridian, but because where two or three are gathered together in the Lord's name - there He is also. And wherever the Lord is, is holy. We would welcome you to join us in worshiping the holy one. Emmanuel, God with us. Worship at Central happens Sunday morning at 8:30, 9:45 and 10:55. We also offer Sunday School for all ages at 9:45.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Clergy for Senior Adults Ministry and Choir Director at Central. The book of Ephesians tells us about wearing the armor of God to defend us against evil. Verse 12 says “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers and spiritual forces of evil.” The parts of armor are not physical parts but rather spiritual aspects of living faith: belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. These elements are preparing followers of Christ for sharing the gospel with confidence and honesty as well as defending their faith with boldness, yet peacefully. While we may not be physically wearing armor, we are spiritually wearing armor. Remember that armor is visible and provides protection for the one wearing it. Therefore, our armor of God must be visible, but just like real armor, without a proper fit and understanding of how to wear this armor, we still have vulnerable places. That’s not to say that the armor of God is not sufficient, but we are not sufficient unless we have the full armor of God at all times.

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

GLENDA Good Morning! One day in a Bible class, the professor had a huge dartboard drawn on the wall and lots of darts laying to the side. He told his students to draw a picture on the dartboard of someone whom they disliked or someone who had made them angry. The students had a grand old time throwing darts at the pictures they had made. When they stopped, the professor pulled the dartboard down and there was a mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covering his face. He quoted Matthew 25:40: "In as much as you have done it to the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me." What a powerful lesson those students learned that day. When we hurt others, talk about others, injure others in any way, we are also hurting Jesus. Let's remember that today and build each other up instead of tearing each other down. Have a wonderful day!

Monday, June 25, 2018

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Paul writes in Philippians 3:14. Of all the Israelites, perhaps no one strove harder to please God than Saul of Tarsus. Every area of his life conformed strictly to the Law. No one could accuse this respected Pharisee of lacking zeal. He was a man with a mission–mission to please and serve God. But on the road to Damascus, Saul’s life changed entirely. From now on, he would no longer try to please God himself. Instead, he would press on with the goal of knowing Christ. “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Philippians 3:8 (Saul (now called Paul) had a new mission—a mission that remained constant amid ever-changing circumstances. It didn’t matter whether he was preaching to a crowd or sitting in a damp prison. Paul now had one goal before which everything in his life bowed. Paul wanted to know his Lord. How about you? Is knowing Christ–fellowshipping, trusting, and depending on Him-the goal toward which you’re striving? Ask God to help you press on to know Him today.

Friday, June 22, 2018

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. In the end of Deuteronomy, Moses is giving his final thoughts and places a heavy emphasis on passing on the faith to your children. Moses recognized a constant battle we face today: the faith we have is never more than one generation away from extinction. Moses’ words in Deuteronomy play a key role in our faith. If we aren’t investing our energy into building our children’s faith, it will end. There is a lot of concern about a decline in faith in young people, especially in millennials. Haydn Shaw, in his book Generational IQ, reminds us that young adults have often dropped out of church in their late teens and returned when they start having children. He notes that millennials are waiting longer to marry and have children than young people did twenty years ago, which means they are also waiting longer to come back to church. So, don’t be discouraged, but also don’t be hindered from investing in your children’s faith! Moses is telling us in Deuteronomy to intentionally invest in children’s faith! And this doesn’t just imply your own, but all of God’s children. Intentionally sharing and living your faith is crucial so that your children and grandchildren know what you believe and how it shapes your life and so that they see a real and authentic faith in you.

Thursday, June 21, 2018

BENJI Good morning, and what a great one it is! I’m Benji Riddle – Youth Director at Central United Methodist. Though school got out a few weeks ago, today is the first official day of summer. The kids are out of school, and we find that some of us have a bit more freedom, so we use it for vacations and weekend getaways. But a lot time is spent in this day and age behind a screen. Now, more than ever, is the time to get out into God’s Creation, to revel in your surrounds that declare the majesty of God, and to play! Yes, play, with your friends, with your kids, with your grandkids, and if nothing else, take this chance if you haven’t already, to get to know your neighbor…pop your head over the fence and invite them to play. The legendary Youth Ministry guru, Mike Yaconelli, said, “Play is an expression of God’s presence in the world; one clear sign of God’s absence in society is the absence of playfulness and laughter.” Share God’s love and change this world – one game of checkers; one round of lawn darts; one glass of lemonade at time.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

SABRINA It seems as though every few months a new superhero movie has been released. We are captivated by these fighters for justice for whom courage seems to be a defining characteristic - whether leaping from tall buildings, being faster than a speeding bullet, or having the powers of a genetically modified spider. For those of us who fall into the “non-superhero status,” however, fear, more than courage defines us, allowing insecurity to seep in: we are not good enough, smart, funny, or eloquent enough. If we're not careful, we can let the voices that accompany fear define us. Looking through scriptures, however, we are reminded superheroes are regular people, born of God, not technology. Noah, Moses, Joshua, Daniel, David, and Mary, to name a few, were ordinary people, called by God. The truth is, we can easily let ourselves be defined by perceived inadequacies. We are reminded in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” God can use each of us - if only we are willing - sometime to lead, sometime to walk alongside, becoming a regular ordinary Superhero in God’s plan.

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

DENNIS Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. Have you ever considered what authentic Christian faith looks like? We all have heard of the many horrible examples of what it doesn’t look like? The writer of the Epistle of James understood faith to be not so much as what you feel but more about what you do. For James, faith is not a heavy or moralistic Christian duty. Instead, it is the Christian possibility and lifestyle. In both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, active faith is made very clear. For example, we read that God not only loves the poor, but that he cares for them. Jesus taught us to be imitators of God; to do as God does. It is like a child who will imitate what they see their parents doing. When my son was very little, he would do and say exactly what I did. Therefore, I had to be really careful and mindful of that fact. If we are to love God, we are to love and care for the poor and hungry too. Jesus said, “You will know my disciples by the fruit they bear.” He meant that we are to be known by our ethical behavior that is illustrated by life experience.

Monday, June 18, 2018

BOB Good Morning. This is Bob Peden of Central, A United Methodist Community here in downtown Meridian. God says to us in Exodus, "You shall have no other gods before me." The Apostle John repeats the commandment, "Children, you must stay away from idols." It is easy to think that in America today idols are not a temptation for us. Nothing could be further from the truth. We still have idols, and they're more sophisticated than mere graven images. Modern idols are those things we love more than God, including the obvious temptations like cars, fancy houses, and grand-sounding job titles. But we also idolize certain other things we've been taught to count supreme — good things like country and family and one's reputation. If we value anything more than God, it is idolatry, plain and simple. Therefore, seek after that which is good – but always keep the Lord your God first – above all things.

Friday, June 15, 2018

SABRINA The time is once again upon us! Vacation Bible School. Next week, June 18th – 22nd, the halls of Central will be loud and chaotic – as the entire second floor of Central will be transformed into the ancient city of Babylon. Students will hear the roar of the lions and have an opportunity to visit Daniel in the lion’s den and see Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace as they are reminded that God is always with them, through fear, loneliness, and in times of change. Students will also visit the Babylonian Marketplace each day and experience life during the time of Daniel. The sounds, sights, and tastes of Babylon will permeate the air! If you have a child, grandchild, friend or neighbor who is four-years-old through 5th grade, we invite you to join us. You can register on Monday morning at 8:45 or go to our website at cumcmdn.org and avoid the registration line! We hope to see you on Monday, June 18th!

Thursday, June 14, 2018

BOB Good morning! This is Bob Peden of Central, A United Methodist Community here in Meridian. An English composition teacher asked the class to write about an unusual event that happened during the past week. Little Johnny got up and read his essay. It began, "Daddy fell into the well last week..." "Oh, my!" the teacher exclaimed. "Is he all right?" "He must be," said the boy. He stopped yelling for help yesterday." We are surrounded – in the church, in the workplace, and in our community with people who are crying for help. How do we react to their cries? Do we simply wait for them to tire of calling out or do we respond to the cries of the needy? Jesus calls us to hear those who are in need. Indeed, he tells us that to do so is as though we cared for Him. Listen and respond in love to those around you who need your help.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

DENNIS Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. Did you know that Jesus is moved with compassion for all those people who live on the fringe of society; those who are marginalized, outcasted, and ostracized? However, compassion often receives a radical form of criticism, because it announces that pain and hurt must be taken seriously, and it is not to be accepted as normal or natural. But rather, it is abnormal and an unacceptable condition for humans. In Jesus’ time and culture, one of the most unbecoming qualities someone could demonstrate was compassion. After all, empires are never built or maintained on the basis of compassion. They are maintained by the rule or norms of law and people are expected to accommodate those norms, otherwise the whole empire would collapse. When Jesus pushed back against the rules with compassion, it upset his nation. He wasn’t simply acting out of an emotional response. Instead, he was criticizing the entire system for being numb to the hurt, pain, and injustice of others. Let me encourage you today to go against the grain and show compassion.

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. Evangelism is a powerful tool that we as followers of Jesus are called to use. The Great Commission found at the end of the book of Matthew commands us: “Go and make disciples of all nations!” What does this mean for us? Well, I will tell you that you cannot be successful with evangelism until you have mastered the art of building relationships. While the basic definition of evangelism is spreading the Christian gospel by preaching or personal witness, you cannot successfully preach or witness to someone until you have established a relationship with them. Think of how difficult it is to hold a conversation with someone you don’t really know. Your goal should be more than conversion. It should be about establishing a relationship with the person to then help them establish a relationship with Christ. Until Christians realize that conversion is not the end goal, we will continue to fail in our mission to make disciples. I challenge you to renew your mindset of evangelism. Build relationships to build their relationship with Christ—that in turn will cause the process to repeat itself with new Christ followers.

Monday, June 11, 2018

GLENDA Good Morning. Do you remember the story of Joshua? When he fought the battle at Jericho, he was given some unusual instructions by God in how to win the battle of Jericho. You see, Jericho had a big thick wall surrounding it. They first had to break through that wall. God told Joshua to march around the city for seven days. The priests were to go first, blowing their horns; then the Ark of the Covenant carrying the Ten Commandments; then the soldiers. At the end of the seven days, they were all to shout. Joshua didn’t question God’s strange instructions. He did just as God told him to do, and the walls came tumbling down. \What can we learn from this in the world we live in today? It is this: Even the impossible is possible when we trust God. Have a wonderful day!

Friday, June 8, 2018

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. We all struggle with spiritual discouragement and lethargy. Some days our circumstances threaten to overwhelm us, and we struggle just to pray. Many times, we just don’t feel like doing the things we know we should. For one reason or another, God sometimes seems far off and unreachable. King David faced times like these in his life. The Psalms are filled with verses that express his despair and feeling of abandonment. Yet, the Psalms also give us the key to living victoriously during the dark periods of life; and in Psalm 119, David says that in the moments of his greatest despair God was always present and unchangeable. Recalling God’s faithfulness and control over everything that touches us gives us strength to walk with God even when we feel like giving up in despair. The next time you feel spiritually drained or inadequate, remember that you have a choice. You can wrap yourself up in excuses and self-pity, or you can choose to draw your strength from an unchanging God.

Thursday, June 7, 2018

SABRINA Whether parent, grandparent, or friend, most of us have seen a chaotic few months. School programs, field trips, sporting events, and graduations. I am guessing some also found themselves in the same situation as I have - forgotten appointments, overlapping event times, running to one program only to realize you should have been at the OTHER program. While we all struggle, I think women take these stresses and defeats more to heart than men. It is a reflection of who WE want to portray to the world. With God, we’re never a bad mom, grandmother, or person. We might be having a bad moment or two-or-more, but a few bad moments do not define us. This is when God’s grace steps in. Not to excuse us from being more patient, organized, or responsible but to remind us we’re doing better than we think we are. Ephesians 2:4 & 5 remind us, “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ — it is by grace you have been saved.” God’s grace is there to cover us, teach us, redirect us and change us. Life is hard. God’s grace is abundant! Thanks be to God!

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

BENJI Good morning! I’m Benji Riddle – Youth Director at Central United Methodist. Remember that love is a verb. Love moves us to act. Love is a decision, a responsibility, it is something to be lived. Love, in and of itself, is a truly powerful force. So, whoever or whatever you love, do it and mean it, not because you have to. Stephen and Alex Kendrick, in their book “The Love Dare” wrote: Love motivated by mere duty cannot hold out for very long. Go out of your way to do something for someone else, without getting credit, without procrastination, but because you care, and do so expecting nothing in return. That is how God loves, for God IS love. He loved this world so much that he left heaven to die for us to set us free from the chains of sin, despite us being so unloving. So, go into this day knowing that there is nothing you can do to make God love you less.

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

DENNIS Good morning everyone. I am Dennis Gossett with Central United Methodist Church. Joy or sadness, war or peace, love or hate, purity or impurity, charity or greed; these all are the tremendous realities that make up our lives. But did you know that everyday things like relationships with other people, daily work, and love of our family can be done for the glory of God? Jesus taught that every hour of the day is useful and can lead to divine inspiration, doing the will of the Father, and even communication with Him through prayer. Every hour of the day can be used to glorify God by living as Jesus taught us to live. Living like this does not mean we have to shut ourselves off from the world or live a really strict lifestyle. What it does mean, however, is accepting the realities of this life. Working is one of these realities; parenthood, school, and family are all part of this life’s obligations; and you and I can serve Jesus while doing these everyday things. It is not as important as what you are doing, as it is why and how you are doing it. Remember, seek to give glory to God as you go about your day. God Bless.

Monday, June 4, 2018

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. This morning, I want to talk to you about your prayer life. The Bible offers so much guidance on prayer: “Don’t be anxious, but rather lift your prayers to God.” “Pray without ceasing.” “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed.” How often do you pray? Do you pray more now than when you were a child? When I was a child, we prayed constantly and regularly, but as an adult, it takes more willpower and dedication without a parent there to guide and encourage you. What kinds of things are you praying for? Praying for things that seem to go against the will of God may end you up somewhere you don’t wish to be. Think about things THAT are of the utmost importance and pray for those. Finally, what can you do differently in your prayer life? If you answer is nothing, I promise you are fooling yourself. Everyone can adjust their prayer life to be better. Dedicate yourself to constant and intentional prayer. Pray with others. Pray for others. Pray for yourself. “Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you.

Friday, June 1, 2018

BOB Good Morning. This is Bob Peden of Central, A United Methodist Community here in downtown Meridian. To paraphrase a song by Matt Redman; “When the things of this world fade, and I come before God seeking to bring Him something that will be of value to Him. I must bring more than songs, prayers, and praise with my lips for God searches me more deeply than that - God searches my very heart. So, when I come to worship, I must keep my focus totally on God - for worship is all about Jesus. If you are ready to come back to the heart of worship, I would invite you to join us at Central, because here it is all about Jesus the risen Christ present in our lives today. Worship happens on Sunday mornings at 8:30, 9:45 10:55. Come, and worship Christ the Lord.