Friday, June 28, 2019

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Senior Adult Minister and Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. When we begin new seasons in life, we envision specific outcomes. For example, newlyweds often share dreams of the quintessential home with a yard, treehouse, and a white picket fence. When we have our first child, we envision raising a young man or woman who loves God and people, is well-adjusted, and independent. Yes, at the onset of any new beginning, we envision how we would like things to turn out. We intend to make our dreams a reality, and in many cases, we succeed. But too often, life has a way of preventing these intentions from becoming a reality. Why? One likely reason is that we were pointed in the wrong direction before we have even started our journey. Or perhaps we started in the right direction, but somewhere along the way chose alternate paths in life that quietly and over time, actually lead us further away from our destination. To start in the right direction, we must look to God. If you’ve already headed down the wrong path, thanks to God’s amazing grace, it’s never too late to stop where you are and ask for His help to find a way out. And the only way to ensure we stay on a path guaranteed to take us where we should be and where God wants us to end up is to apply His Word to our daily lives and strive to be more like Christ every day. So do not lean on your good intentions to get you where you want to go. Lean on God to show you the way in all areas of life. Only then can you rest assured that you’re on the straight and narrow path headed in the right direction in life and guaranteed the promise of eternal salvation.

Thursday, June 27, 2019

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. Matthew 13:23 says “the one who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." If you keep a grain of wheat in your pocket, it will look exactly the same ten years from now. But place it in the right environment—some good ground, enough water and it will sprout into a living sheaf of grain! It's no different with the seeds of the fruit of the Spirit in our hearts! God has readily made available to us the seeds of success. He gives us the opportunity to live a life of much fruit! A life abounding in the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. But here they are – just seeds – sitting in our pocket waiting 'til we decide to plant them and allow them to become trees of plenty in our lives. Let's plant some seeds today and invite the Lord to water and nourish them so that we can produce fruit one-hundred-fold for the Kingdom.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

MATT Good morning! I’m Matt Farmer, Associate Pastor at Central United Methodist Church in downtown Meridian. Some pretty good people have founded religions over the centuries. One religious leader spent a good portion of his life trying to find truth—an admirable quest. Another religious leader was a teacher and a civil servant who drew up an honor code for his people—a respectable venture. No matter how good any originators of world religions may have been, they cannot in any way compare with the founder of Christianity. The major reason is simply this: They are all in the category of “good men,” while Jesus is in a category by Himself—the God-man. Jesus alone is Immanuel, God with us, the Living Word, the Savior, and the Messiah. His life was the only perfect one. Only Jesus’ death and resurrection provide life everlasting. Jesus is unique in all the world. He alone is worthy of our worship, adoration, and awe. He alone is the perfect Man. The Divine One. The provider of salvation. Don’t settle for anything—or anyone—less.

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

GLENDA Good Morning. If someone is holding a bee in their hand, what is in their eye? Give up? It's Beauty. You know that old saying “Beauty is in the eye of the BEE holder.” I know, kind of corny, but Peter talks about this in 1 Peter chapter 3 verses 3 and 4. He talks about how we should not let the outside of someone determine how we see them. He says we should look deep into someone's soul and see the love and the beauty inside them...“the inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God's sight.” You see, God doesn't care what we look like, he doesn't care what our outside appearance is at all. He looks at our hearts and he know who we are by what we store inside. I hope he sees someone to be proud of when he looks at me. What's in your heart? What do you think he sees when he looks at you? Think about that and have a great day!

Monday, June 24, 2019

SABRINA Several years ago, a noted scholar from Harvard created a list of the three greatest poets in history. Homer, Shakespeare, and the prophet, Isaiah. Isaiah speaks words of challenge and comfort – words that are accessible and metaphorical. Although we don’t know much about Isaiah, his poetry has echoed through the centuries in the church – both through music and message. Time and time again, Isaiah visits the theme that while we are often dismayed and distressed by our current circumstances, God does not leave us to our own devices. Rather, God can transform the former things. God can make creation new. Most people can identify with this idea especially in times of hardship. We all crave familiarity and find comfort in the routines and the dependable, all while realizing change is inevitable. God is ALWAYS creating the new in and through us. If today you find yourself in despair or longing for change, take these words to heart. Isaiah still speaks to us. Our fears, our despair, and our weariness can be transformed. Look for the new opportunities. Don’t overlook what God can do.

Friday, June 21, 2019

MATT Good morning! I’m Matt Farmer, Associate Pastor at Central United Methodist Church in downtown Meridian. Author Henri Nouwen, in his book, The Return of The Prodigal Son, suggests that all Christians, at some point in their walk of faith, are represented by each of the three main characters. At times, we are the wayward child in need of repentance and forgiveness. At other times, we are the big brother who wants to hold on to resentment and withhold forgiveness. But as we mature, we become like the father whose highest desire is to have all his children reconciled. Nouwen ends the book with these words: “As I look at my own aging hands, I know that they have been given to me to stretch out to all who suffer, to rest upon the shoulders of all who come, and to offer the blessing that emerges from the immensity of God’s love.” What role are you playing in your family story? Do you need the courage to repent and seek forgiveness? Or do you need the compassion to extend forgiveness? Wherever you find yourself today, Christ is there also giving you the strength to repent and the grace to forgive.

Thursday, June 20, 2019

SABRINA Vacation Bible School is once again upon us! Next week, June 24th – 28th, the halls of Central will be loud and chaotic – as the entire second floor of Central will be transformed into the ancient city of Athens where students will live among the citizens and experience life in the marketplace of Ancient Athens. Imagine leaving a life of privilege and power to face angry mobs, painful imprisonment, and chain-breaking earthquakes—all to spread the life-changing truth of God’s love. That is exactly what the Apostle Paul did. In an ancient “anything goes” culture, Paul shared the truth of God’s immeasurable love. The truths he shared with Ancient Athens still hold true today, and we want the children of our area to experience that truth. If you have a child, grandchild, friend, or neighbor who is 4 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!

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. Three thousand years ago, when Solomon dedicated the Temple to God, the priests offered up thousands of sacrifices. After the sacrifices were offered up – then the glory of God fell! The glory of God was so thick and heavy that the priests could no longer minister! Do you see the connection? First the offerings -- THEN the glory fell! Can we see this relationship still operating even today? I believe we can. When we offer our bodies as living sacrifices; our future, our plans, our possessions, and our lives, to the Lord—His glory begins to be revealed as His Spirit works in and through us. Called by Him to be more and more like Jesus, the people of God should be a people of sacrifice. Do you want to see the glory of God filling every aspect of your life? Then lay your life upon the altar in surrender to His perfect will – you will watch in amazement as He takes your offering and turns it to a beautiful testimony of His glory!

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

BOB We live in a web of relationships. Relationships with family members, friends, co-workers; enemies even. Some of these relationships are good and helpful. Others are not so good; some can even be harmful. We live in relationship with the things around us. Nature, our possessions, even sometimes those things which belong to others. But we also must include God in our web of relationships. Sometimes we have excluded God from our lives to the point that we are not even aware of His existence. Yet, He is there - on the very edge of our web. As we seek God and to know him better, we draw him closer and closer to the center of our web, until in perfect love, we and God are in the very same place. And note that though it seems we are drawing God closer to the center of our web, what we are actually doing is drawing the center of our web closer to Him. For the very essence of God is such that He does not move. Rather we conform our web, our lives to make Him the very center of all that we do and are.

Monday, June 17, 2019

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Senior Adult Minister, and Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. King David was bored. His army was at battle, but David had stayed home. He should have been leading his men on the front lines – but in his boredom, he lusted after another man’s wife. Yep, this is the same David described as “a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).” David knew Bathsheba was married. Her husband, Uriah, was not only busy fighting on the front lines but was one of David’s top soldiers. This knowledge, however, didn’t stop an ill-advised one-night stand that resulted in a pregnancy. Now, what was David to do? Like most people who mess up, David tried to cover it up. One wrong action leads to another; not fixing the “problem,” but only making it worse. In the end, David had Uriah killed in order to cover up his sin. One sin made worse by another. So, what can we learn from David’s story? The first lesson is the dangers of idleness and boredom. Think of teenagers who get into trouble with pornography, drugs, and drinking. Often this curiosity arises out of boredom. What about the ‘mid-life crisis?’ How many affairs have begun out of an idle curiosity when life seems a little mundane? But the most important lesson in David’s story is found in his response. When David finally stopped trying to cover up his sin, he confessed it to God. As soon as David was confronted with his sin and admitted his guilt, God immediately forgave him. Through David’s poor judgment, his biggest sin, we see God demonstrate incredible grace. God didn’t remove the consequences of his sin, but God’s forgiveness was instant. We’ve all messed up. We all have regrets, but the same grace that God offered David is available for you and for me. No matter our regret, our sin, God’s grace is waiting. Are you ready to be freed from the guilt of your past? Stop running from your regrets and run towards God. With a repentant heart like David, you can also experience God’s unconditional forgiveness today. The consequences of our actions will remain, but God will make us right with Him.

Friday, June 14, 2019

SABRINA The word character comes from a Greek term describing an engraving tool. Our character, like that of an engraving tool, is etched as a set of distinctive marks, drawing a picture of who we really are. Everyone has character...whether good, bad, sturdy, or shady. Have you ever seen river rocks shaped by water and wind? No single wave or burst of wind shaped the rock. It was a repeated force. So, it is with us. Everything we do, every thought, choice - good or bad, is a wave with ripple effects. It is never easy to see the immediate effect. It is in the consequence that follows. It forms the core of our character. With every decision a groove is cut. Our reaction in every crisis, cruelty temptation, cuts a pattern in our character. It is in those moments of decision your destiny is shaped. How is your character? If it needs some carving out, help is only a prayer away. God can change what we never could on our own. We only have to ask. Have a blessed day.

Thursday, June 13, 2019

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Senior Adult Minister and Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. From all I’ve seen and heard, divorce is one of the most painful experiences that a person can walk through. Very often people who face divorce feel hopeless. Sadly, many who turn to the church for help face rejection, feeling unwelcome. Many have shared their feelings of being outcast and shunned, even in the case where they were the spouse left behind. Sometimes this is simply their misperception, but sometimes it is very real. Tragically, the Christian army is the only army in the world known to shoot its wounded. Yes, Scripture teaches that God hates divorce, but just because He hates divorce doesn’t mean He hates the divorcee. He loves the divorcee. God hates divorce for many of the same reasons the divorcee hates divorce – most of all, for the pain and suffering it causes to so many lives. There is no doubt that divorce always results from sin, but it is not an unforgivable sin. Divorce is never what God wants, but Jesus teaches us that we have a God of second chances – a God of forgiveness. We all commit sins on a daily basis, yet God offers us forgiveness from those. When we trust in Christ and confess our sins to the Lord, we begin to realize He loves us and forgives us completely. We can find that total and complete healing in the person of Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

BOB You can read about Naaman in the book of 2nd Kings. He was a successful general in the Syrian army. But Naaman had a terrible disease - leprosy. Someone suggested the Hebrew prophet Elisha might be able to help him. So Naaman traveled for many miles to visit Elisha. When he arrived, Elisha would not even come out a speak directly to him. He just sent a message to Naaman to wash himself 7 times in the Jordan river. Naaman was insulted. Common sense told him that if washing could heal him the many baths he had already taken would have helped, and besides the Jordan was filthy. Nevertheless, he did what Elisha suggested and was instantly healed. At times, I am like Naaman. God wants me to do what? He wants me to go where? That doesn't even make sense! At some point, we have to decide who is going to rule our lives. Will it be God? Or will it be common sense? This is Bob Peden of Central United Methodist Church. I want to encourage you to trust God, even when He doesn't make sense.

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

MATT Good morning! I’m Matt Farmer, Associate Pastor at Central United Methodist Church in downtown Meridian. In the fall of 1982, Deborah Kiley set out with three other young people to deliver the 58-foot yacht, Trashman, from Maine to Florida. Off the coast of North Carolina, they encountered gale winds and mountainous seas that sank their boat. Enduring four grueling days at sea without food or fresh water, the crew clung to life in a rubber dinghy in shark-infested waters. In her book Albatross, Deborah recalls how one of the crew shouted curses at God for their dilemma. Despite her fatigue, Deborah silently recited The Lord’s Prayer and asked God to teach her through this crisis. Later, the same young man drank seawater, became delirious, and jumped overboard to his death. Eventually, the survivors were rescued by a Russian freighter. Each of us responds in different ways to a crisis. Centuries ago, Job was hit by one wave of bad news after another. At one point his wife told him to curse God and die. Job’s response was profound: “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10). The next time a crisis hits, recognize God’s sovereignty and do as Deborah Kiley did—ask God to teach you something through it.

Monday, June 10, 2019

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. In the book of Judges, the 7th Chapter, God tasks Gideon to lead Israel against their enemies, He wanted to show that a small army empowered by God was more effective than the largest armies. But notice how they fought – without weapons that an army would normally use. They fought with trumpets and lamps! They fought with weapons that the world would consider ineffective, yet triumphed mightily over their enemies. They shouted as loud as they could, sounded the trumpets, and broke the vessels that held the fire so that their lamps burst through with brightness. This breaking of the lamps of clay holds a powerful metaphor for us. If we too are "earthen vessels" holding the fire of God – the Spirit of God within us, then a "breaking" of the outer man is necessary for His inner light to burst through. Victory can come out of brokenness. Our light shines brightest when we live who really are with others

Friday, June 7, 2019

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Senior Adult Minister and Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. What does it mean to be “fishers of men?” It’s an unusual metaphor, but those first disciples connected with it immediately. As experienced fishermen, they knew what it took to catch fish: the right equipment, the right bait, the right location, and plenty of patience. And just like fishing, sharing our faith with others requires the right equipment and motivation, the right location and plenty of patience. Think of the right “equipment” in terms of the Word of God, prayer, the church, and most importantly, the faith to put belief into action – to share our faith journey with others. Just like fishermen need the correct bait to attract fish– Christians need the correct motivation. We need to attract non-believers and seekers, not repel. We do this through demonstrating compassion and concern for the lives of others. We show a genuine interest and care so that over time, we earn the right to be heard on matters of life, values, and even faith. Too many Christians spend the majority of their lives with other Christians. Just as fishermen don’t waste their time fishing in empty lakes, if Christians are going to share the good news of Christ with those who need to hear it – we must go to them! The fact is, not everyone is interested in Christ. Sometimes followers of Jesus face rejection or even hostility to faith conversations and give up. Don’t forget the patience and perseverance both God and others showed you before you encountered Jesus. If you’re worried about knowing what to say or when to say it– remember that we never go out alone. The Holy Spirit guides us when to speak, when to listen, and when to share parts of our story. We just need to be willing. Ask God for a boldness and a willingness to begin investing in the lives of those who don’t know Jesus. THIS is the greatest call followers of Jesus will ever know.

Thursday, June 6, 2019

MATT Good morning! I’m Matt Farmer, Associate Pastor at Central United Methodist Church in downtown Meridian. A missionary to the people of the Philippines was trying to explain salvation to a wealthy woman, but the woman didn’t understand that she couldn’t pay for it. So, the missionary gave her this illustration: “If you wanted to give your daughter a big, beautiful mansion as a gift, how would you feel if she said, ‘Mother, you must let me help you pay for the gift. You know, I work for the mission hospital and don’t make much money, but I think I can squeeze out $8 a month.’” The missionary continued by saying: “That’s what you are saying to God. You want to help pay for what Jesus has already paid for. A home in heaven is a gift. It is an insult to try to help pay for it.” All over the world devout, well-meaning people—rich, poor, and in-between—struggle to understand that Jesus paid it all. Convinced that they have to do something to earn God’s favor, they attempt to pay for salvation as best they can. God gave His Son Jesus as a sacrifice which means the bill for our sin was paid. There is nothing left to pay. We don’t need to buy something that has already been purchased for us. We merely need to accept the gift.

Wednesday, June 5, 2019.

BOB Good morning. This is Bob Peden of Central, A United Methodist Community here in Meridian. Have you taken time this morning to reflect on the events of this past weekend? Perhaps there is something that has happened or that you have done that has given you great pleasure. Then stop for a moment and give God thanks for that event. Perhaps you have done something for which you are sorry. Then stop and ask for God's forgiveness. Perhaps someone has come to your awareness that needs help. Then stop and ask God to be a part of providing that help. Or, perhaps, as mine often does, your mind is racing ahead to the coming week, and you are lost in solving the problems ahead or in figuring out how to get it all done. Then stop and ask for God's guidance and for strength and wisdom in living. In short take a moment this morning to let God know that you have noticed that he has noticed you. And know that God hears your thanksgiving, your praise and, your petitions…and that God desires for you to listen for His direction.

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

GLENDA Good Morning. Many, many years ago, a soldier found himself far from home in a foreign country and no Bible...but he did have a deck of cards. He discovered he could use those cards to do his Bible study each night and feel the comfort and love of God. You see, the Ace reminded him that there is only one God; the two reminded him that the Bible is divided into 2 parts (the old and new testaments); the 3 reminded him of the Trinity (God the father, God the son, and God the Holy Spirit). The 4 reminded him of the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. #6 reminded him that God created everything in 6 days, and the 7th, well, that's the day he rested and called Holy. #10 reminded him of the 10 commandments, and the King reminded him that Jesus is our King. Now, my point is that he learned those things as a child, hid those words in his heart, and was able to pull them out at a time when he needed them. He had a good foundation. Are you giving your children that good foundation? Have a wonderful day.

Monday, June 3, 2019

SABRINA Good morning! I'm Sabrina Williams, Director of Children and Family Ministry at Central. Do you know what the largest building in the United States is? Well, two friends were arguing over this fact when they found out that it was the Pentagon in Washington D.C. One friend told the other....”I told you so!” Being a studious man, he was proud of himself for having an opportunity to prove his academic superiority and didn’t let his friend forget it! Being right often feels good, but in being right, we often don’t act as we should. Being successful and proving our superiority is not everything. God doesn’t call us to be right, he calls us to be faithful to His calling. Our relationships with others are more important than being right. The BeATITUDES tell us a lot about what our ATTITUDES should be - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The next time that you find yourself in a position of having the opportunity to point out how brilliant you are, choose instead to be kind. Have a blessed day!

MATT Good morning! I’m Matt Farmer, Associate Pastor at Central United Methodist Church in downtown Meridian. Identity theft is a big problem in the age of credit cards and the Internet. It’s not hard for someone to retrieve your vital information and pose as you. If that were to happen, however, it would not change the essence of who you are. The thief would not steal your true identity—just some superficial information about you. Your identity goes much deeper than your ID numbers. In reality, you are who God says you are. Nothing really matters except whether or not you are identified as a child of God. That alone will dictate your eternal destiny, and that alone will indicate whether you can live life to the fullest. In 1 John Chapter 2, there are three identity qualifiers—truths that reveal we are followers of Christ: obeying His commands, walking as Jesus walked, and avoiding hatred toward others. Who are you? Do you know Jesus? If so, you will obey His commands, walk as He did, and love others. That identity is one that can never be taken from you.