Friday, September 13, 2019

MATT Good Morning! I’m Matt Farmer, Associate Pastor at Central United Methodist Church in Meridian. Why would a prison inmate escape from prison the day before his scheduled release? That’s what a Rhode Island prison spokesman wondered as he answered questions from reporters. He said, “For the life of me, I don’t know what possessed him to leave with only one day of his sentence left to serve.” Once captured, the escapee would be arraigned on charges that could land him back in prison for up to 20 years. Most of us probably would wonder about the shortsightedness of this inmate. But we might not be as conscious of our own nearsighted approach to sin. We might not see the absolute mindlessness of pursuing a few moments of selfish pleasure in exchange for lasting regret. Jeremiah pointed out the folly of such actions. In the fifth chapter of his prophecy, he reminded us of how much we should respect God’s power and that short-term pleasures will bring long-term losses. Sin thrives on self-deception and doesn’t look ahead to the result. May we always look to God for the help to do what makes sense—for today, and for tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

BOB Good morning! God's word assures us that not even one sparrow falls that he is not aware of it. And that we should therefore not worry for we are worth more than a whole flock of sparrows to Him. In a universe so vast, what is our little planet? In a planet so diverse and so full of life, what are simply everyday people? Among all the billions of people alive and who have lived before us, what significance do I have? Jesus reminds us that our significance is great – not because we are so important, but because we are known personally by God. So, rest assured that God is aware of and cares about what is going on in the world and your individual life this day. This is Bob Peden of Central A United Methodist Community in downtown Meridian. I assure you; we don't have to be afraid; we are known and loved by the One who is and was and is to come!

Monday, September 9, 2019

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Senior Adult Minister and Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. Today at Central, we are beginning our first ever Senior Adult Vacation Bible School and I am so excited about it! If you are hearing about this for the first time and are age 55 or over, please consider joining us! We will meet today, tomorrow, and Wednesday from 9 AM until noon. There is no cost to attend, and there will be some fun and exciting times! Our VBS is entitled For the Bible Tells Me So and will focus on the need to Guard the Gospel as it’s described in 1st Timothy. Our guest bible teacher is Rev. Tommy Artmann. In addition to the bible teaching, there will be some activity sessions, food, fellowship, and worship! There is an optional lunch served each day for a cost of $10. Registration is not required ahead of time, so come and join us! Senior Adult VBS is completely free! We will collect a love offering that will go to support the efforts of Senior Adult VBS and will take up mission items to be donated to local missions in Meridian. For more information about Senior Adult VBS, contact our church office at 601-693-1521 and ask to speak to me, Rev. Tim Wise. Come join us for our first ever (and what I hope to become many more) Senior Adult VBS.

Friday, September 6, 2019

SABRINA T-shirts, mugs, bags, key chains, power bands, all with inspiring “be like Jesus” messages - they are everywhere. We sport them proudly. But have we LOVED like Jesus? In John 13, we see HOW we are called to love like Jesus. “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” This is more than just wearing a cool T-shirt or posting a meme on social media for a current issue. Jesus displayed His love by showing up where love was needed. Jesus was saying, “Now that you know what My love looks like, include My love in your interaction with others, show up where love is needed, don’t try to be Me, but REFLECT Me in the way you treat others.” Our faith will be most evident behind-the-scenes as we bring a meal to that neighbor in a hard place or when we choose not to reply unkindly to that person on social media who disagrees with our point of view. It’s giving sacrificially to help those who are oppressed. It’s forgiving. It’s kindness. It’s mercy. When we love as we’ve been loved by Jesus, it’s more than a meme.

Thursday, September 5, 2019

BOB Good Morning! This is Bob Peden of Central, A United Methodist Community. Pascal, the remarkable 17th-century mathematician, physicist, and religious philosopher once wrote, "The sole cause of man's unhappiness is that he does not know how to stay quietly in his room." He might well have been writing about our time. We seem to be continually talking, by phone, by cell phone, by email, Facebook, Twitter, however. And if we are not talking, then we have television, radio, or music playing. Even when we pray; we often have music playing in the background. But Jesus knows the importance of being quiet and of being alone with God. He made time for aloneness during His life on earth, and he encourages us to do the same. Time when we are not even talking to, or listening to God, but rather time to just sit quietly in His presence. Perhaps you have already spent this time today. If not, then find some time to stay quietly in the presence of the Almighty.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Senior Adult Minister and Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. Coming up next week at Central, we will host our first-ever Senior Adult Vacation Bible School entitled For the Bible Tells Me So! I am excited about the opportunity to offer this for adults age 55 and over. If you are an adult over the age of 55, I invite you to join us at Central on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, September 9, 10 and 11 from 9 AM until noon. Rev. Tommy Artmann will be leading us in a lesson on 2 Timothy and teaching us about how to guard the gospel. We will also take part together in worship throughout the day and have activity sessions. For activities, we will have yoga, centering prayer, communion bread baking, worship history, crafting, painting lessons with Marsha Iverson, and more! Senior Adult VBS is completely free! We will collect a love offering that will go to support the efforts of Senior Adult VBS and take up mission items to be donated to local missions in Meridian. For more information about Senior Adult VBS, contact our church office at 601-693-1521 and ask to speak to me, Rev. Tim Wise. Hope to see you next week!

Monday, September 2, 2019

MATT Good Morning! I’m Matt Farmer, Associate Pastor at Central United Methodist Church in Meridian. The climax of the United States Declaration of Independence is not the glowing words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident.” It is the list of names at the end of the document—men who were willing to stake their fortunes, sacred honor, and their lives on a few convictions that changed the world. Jesus changed the world with a few who were willing to die for what they believed. He began with only 12 men whom He chose to be with Him. These individuals were special because they learned from Him in person and He sent them out with the good news of the gospel. But God’s plan for ministry was not limited to these 12; it also included a larger group the New Testament calls disciples. They were the multitude of listeners and learners, men and women who heard Jesus gladly. God’s method is still to use people—people who are willing to be His instruments for change in the world. If you are willing to be used of God, there is no limit to what He can accomplish through you.