BOB RAMBO
Hi! I'm Bob Rambo, Lead Pastor at Central United Methodist Church. Recently our family went to the beach for vacation. While there, I was invited to go deep-sea fishing. We traveled about 20 miles offshore, and on this particular day, the waves were 5 feet high. They tossed our boat around pretty good. In fact, of the 9 passengers who went fishing that particular day, 5 got sea-sick [fortunately, I wasn't one of them].
If you've ever been sea-sick or suffered from motion sickness, you can sympathize with the queasiness my companions felt that day. But this kind of unsettled feeling can happen in other areas of our lives, too. In the Book of James, we read: If you need wisdom… ask [God] and he will gladly tell you. But … be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Life can be volatile at times; it can make us queasy and leave us weak-kneed. But God is trustworthy and we can rely on him - today and every day.
Have a great day!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
JIM WALL
Good Morning!
A child writes this note to God:
Dear God, I wish you would not make it so easy for people to come apart. I have to have three stitches and a shot! Love, Janet.
I, too, wish that people would not come apart so easily. But, unfortunately, we can't get stitched for emotional wounds and a doctor can't give a shot of faith.
We know how to care for physical needs, but what about our emotional and spiritual needs?
Trusting and believing in God along with belonging to a Christian church family promotes spiritual and emotional health. The Bible says we are joined together in love. We are not on our own anymore when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. And, hopefully, the love that surpasses all understanding will keep us together always.
Good Morning!
A child writes this note to God:
Dear God, I wish you would not make it so easy for people to come apart. I have to have three stitches and a shot! Love, Janet.
I, too, wish that people would not come apart so easily. But, unfortunately, we can't get stitched for emotional wounds and a doctor can't give a shot of faith.
We know how to care for physical needs, but what about our emotional and spiritual needs?
Trusting and believing in God along with belonging to a Christian church family promotes spiritual and emotional health. The Bible says we are joined together in love. We are not on our own anymore when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. And, hopefully, the love that surpasses all understanding will keep us together always.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Monday, August 29. 2011
JIM CAIN
GOOD MORNING!
“BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” 1Peter 1:25
During the height of the hysteria surrounding America's entrance into WWII, this story began to make the rounds as a true encounter between a navy vessel and a civilian
“We recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.”
“No sir, this is the aircraft carrier Enterprise. We're a large warship of the U.S. department of the navy. Divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.”
“Well sir, we recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision. This is a lighthouse. Your call.”
God's laws are like the lighthouse. Some say they're outdated and old fashioned. They can say what they want and ignore the warnings, but that doesn't make them go away. God's word will last forever. You can either heed its warnings or ignore them and be crushed against the jagged coastline of life. It's totally your call.
GOOD MORNING!
“BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” 1Peter 1:25
During the height of the hysteria surrounding America's entrance into WWII, this story began to make the rounds as a true encounter between a navy vessel and a civilian
“We recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.”
“No sir, this is the aircraft carrier Enterprise. We're a large warship of the U.S. department of the navy. Divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.”
“Well sir, we recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision. This is a lighthouse. Your call.”
God's laws are like the lighthouse. Some say they're outdated and old fashioned. They can say what they want and ignore the warnings, but that doesn't make them go away. God's word will last forever. You can either heed its warnings or ignore them and be crushed against the jagged coastline of life. It's totally your call.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
BOB RAMBO
Hi! I'm Bob Rambo, Lead Pastor at Central United Methodist Church.
Last month Congress voted to raise the national debt ceiling and keep our country from defaulting on its loans and obligations. The agreement came about because the House of Representatives and the Senate agreed to a legislative “compromise” - both political parties GOT something they wanted and both parties GAVE UP something they wanted.
Sometimes - as in politics - compromise is a necessary thing. “Compromise” isn't always a “bad word”. But there are other times when we're asked to make compromises just to be accepted by others. Long ago in the land of Babylon, 3 friends - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - were asked to compromise their faith in God in order to be accepted. However, they refused to compromise their faith, even though it meant life would be harder for them.
Today, we need to remember that SOME things can be compromised - but other things are non-negotiable. Do you know the difference?
Have a great day!
Hi! I'm Bob Rambo, Lead Pastor at Central United Methodist Church.
Last month Congress voted to raise the national debt ceiling and keep our country from defaulting on its loans and obligations. The agreement came about because the House of Representatives and the Senate agreed to a legislative “compromise” - both political parties GOT something they wanted and both parties GAVE UP something they wanted.
Sometimes - as in politics - compromise is a necessary thing. “Compromise” isn't always a “bad word”. But there are other times when we're asked to make compromises just to be accepted by others. Long ago in the land of Babylon, 3 friends - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego - were asked to compromise their faith in God in order to be accepted. However, they refused to compromise their faith, even though it meant life would be harder for them.
Today, we need to remember that SOME things can be compromised - but other things are non-negotiable. Do you know the difference?
Have a great day!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
BOB PEDEN
If I say that I have faith in my doctor, what image does that bring to your mind? Am I saying that I believe that his diploma is real, that he really is certified to practice medicine? Or am I saying something more?
Suppose that one day I come to you with a terrible cough. I tell you that my doctor says that I have strep throat and has prescribed a certain medication. I proclaim the praises of this doctor, repeating again what faith I have in him. But when you ask me if I'm going to take the prescribed medicine, I reply, “What for? That stuff won't do me any good.” What would you think of my “faith” at that point?
True faith is more than an intellectual exercise. Faith affects not only beliefs, but actions. A faith that is not acted on is no faith at all. Or as the Bible says, “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
This is Bob Peden of Central United Methodist Church. If we truly believe in God, we will do what He has told us to do. If our lives are not lives of obedience, they are not lives of faith at all.
If I say that I have faith in my doctor, what image does that bring to your mind? Am I saying that I believe that his diploma is real, that he really is certified to practice medicine? Or am I saying something more?
Suppose that one day I come to you with a terrible cough. I tell you that my doctor says that I have strep throat and has prescribed a certain medication. I proclaim the praises of this doctor, repeating again what faith I have in him. But when you ask me if I'm going to take the prescribed medicine, I reply, “What for? That stuff won't do me any good.” What would you think of my “faith” at that point?
True faith is more than an intellectual exercise. Faith affects not only beliefs, but actions. A faith that is not acted on is no faith at all. Or as the Bible says, “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
This is Bob Peden of Central United Methodist Church. If we truly believe in God, we will do what He has told us to do. If our lives are not lives of obedience, they are not lives of faith at all.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
JIM WALL
Good Morning!
God sometimes uses sharp setbacks to get our attention focused on Him and to redirect our lives. A man once walked down a windy street in a small northeastern town, unaware that ahead lay a high voltage wire which had been blown form its pole. A witness, seeing what was about to happen, tried to yell at the man, but he was unable to get his attention over the howling wind. So, he decided upon more drastic measures. He spotted a nearby rock and hurled it directly at the chest of the man approaching the wire. Stunned, the man looked up just in time to see the wire and avoid certain tragedy.
Has God seemed to deal you a low blow? Perhaps he is hoping to draw your attention to some need not now being addressed in your life.
Look for God's leading in all things and seek God's will in all matters affecting your life.
Good Morning!
God sometimes uses sharp setbacks to get our attention focused on Him and to redirect our lives. A man once walked down a windy street in a small northeastern town, unaware that ahead lay a high voltage wire which had been blown form its pole. A witness, seeing what was about to happen, tried to yell at the man, but he was unable to get his attention over the howling wind. So, he decided upon more drastic measures. He spotted a nearby rock and hurled it directly at the chest of the man approaching the wire. Stunned, the man looked up just in time to see the wire and avoid certain tragedy.
Has God seemed to deal you a low blow? Perhaps he is hoping to draw your attention to some need not now being addressed in your life.
Look for God's leading in all things and seek God's will in all matters affecting your life.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Tuesday, Augest 23, 2011
SABRINA
If you are a woman, particularly one who works in the downtown Meridian area...never quite knowing what to do during your lunch-time, let me invite you to come and join LILIES (Ladies In the Lord in Every Situation).
Lilies meets at Central United Methodist Church for lunch on Thursday of each week to study God's Word and to develop friendships with other women who are seeking to become all that God designed us to be.
Our fall study begins this week and is based on Priscilla Shirer's book And We Are Changed.
Following our time of study, we pray for each other and for our families. LILIES
is committed to growing in the Lord and to becoming the women God designed us to be.
You may bring your own lunch or we have a sign-up for a light lunch that is provided at the church. For more information about the noontime lunch study, please visit our website at www.cumcmdn.org
If you are a woman, particularly one who works in the downtown Meridian area...never quite knowing what to do during your lunch-time, let me invite you to come and join LILIES (Ladies In the Lord in Every Situation).
Lilies meets at Central United Methodist Church for lunch on Thursday of each week to study God's Word and to develop friendships with other women who are seeking to become all that God designed us to be.
Our fall study begins this week and is based on Priscilla Shirer's book And We Are Changed.
Following our time of study, we pray for each other and for our families. LILIES
is committed to growing in the Lord and to becoming the women God designed us to be.
You may bring your own lunch or we have a sign-up for a light lunch that is provided at the church. For more information about the noontime lunch study, please visit our website at www.cumcmdn.org
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