BOB RAMBO
Hi! I’m Bob Rambo, Lead Pastor at Central United Methodist Church. A few months ago in Jackson, Mississippi, a group of white teens went looking for a black person to “mess with.” They found an auto worker named James C. Anderson, beat him up, and then ran him down with a pickup truck, killing him – a TERRIBLE crime.
The District Attorney in Hinds County pressed for the death penalty in this case. But the family of James Anderson shocked everyone by asking the state NOT to pursue the death penalty. James Anderson’s sister said that while they supported punishing those who did this to the full extent of the law, they wanted JUDGMENT to be tempered with MERCY. According to the family, they OPPOSE seeking the death penalty because “Our Savior Jesus Christ rejected the old way of an eye for an eye and taught us instead to turn the other cheek…. We can do no less….”
As children of God, we are called to be people of “mercy”. Mercy is not just compassion for those in need, but compassion for those who don’t deserve it. That’s how God loves us. That’s how we are to love and live with each other.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
BOB PEDEN
Jesus said, "The Father is looking for those who will worship him. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth."
Growing up, I loved to play hide-n-seek. Sometimes I liked to be found. Other times, I loved the seeking and discovery of those who were hiding.
I especially loved it when there was a surprise find -- they surprised me or I surprised them.
In worship, we can love the surprises, but we need to ditch the hiding! God wants us to seek, ask, and knock. He promises to help us find, to answer, and to open the door.
But we also need to be aware that God is seeking us too. And as the Father seeks us, the Holy Spirit draws us near and makes the joyous surprise of worship something precious!
As you seek the Father pray that He will find you and will use whatever it takes to bring you close to Him.
Jesus said, "The Father is looking for those who will worship him. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth."
Growing up, I loved to play hide-n-seek. Sometimes I liked to be found. Other times, I loved the seeking and discovery of those who were hiding.
I especially loved it when there was a surprise find -- they surprised me or I surprised them.
In worship, we can love the surprises, but we need to ditch the hiding! God wants us to seek, ask, and knock. He promises to help us find, to answer, and to open the door.
But we also need to be aware that God is seeking us too. And as the Father seeks us, the Holy Spirit draws us near and makes the joyous surprise of worship something precious!
As you seek the Father pray that He will find you and will use whatever it takes to bring you close to Him.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
JIM CAIN
GOOD MORNING!
My wife’s family had a hobby of putting together jigsaw puzzles. Her father often brought home puzzles of greater and greater difficulty. One night he presented his family with a puzzle of over one thousand pieces. Immediately they began working on it. After an hour, however, the family was frustrated. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t figure the puzzle out.
Suzanne’s father then discovered that the clerk at the hobby shop had accidentally switched the box top with the top from another puzzle. The picture they were looking at wasn’t the puzzle they were working on.
Often, we feel frustrated with ourselves because we don’t believe we live up to what others want from us or even what we think God wants from us. God created us to be different. We all have our own “box-top picture,” and the only way we can ever be successful in life is to be ourselves, allowing God to use us just the way we are.
GOOD MORNING!
My wife’s family had a hobby of putting together jigsaw puzzles. Her father often brought home puzzles of greater and greater difficulty. One night he presented his family with a puzzle of over one thousand pieces. Immediately they began working on it. After an hour, however, the family was frustrated. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t figure the puzzle out.
Suzanne’s father then discovered that the clerk at the hobby shop had accidentally switched the box top with the top from another puzzle. The picture they were looking at wasn’t the puzzle they were working on.
Often, we feel frustrated with ourselves because we don’t believe we live up to what others want from us or even what we think God wants from us. God created us to be different. We all have our own “box-top picture,” and the only way we can ever be successful in life is to be ourselves, allowing God to use us just the way we are.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Wesley
Hi, I’m Wesley Pepper from CUMC. When evangelist John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, was returning home from a service one night, he was robbed. The thief, however, found his victim to have only a little money and some Christian literature. As the bandit was leaving, Wesley called out, "Stop! I have something more to give you." The surprised robber paused. "My friend," said Wesley, "you may live to regret this sort of life. If you ever do, here's something to remember: 'The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!'"
The thief hurried away, and Wesley prayed that his words might bear fruit.
Years later, Wesley was greeting people after a Sunday service when he was approached by a stranger. What a surprise to learn that this visitor, now a believer in Christ as a successful businessman, was the one who had robbed him years before!
"I owe it all to you," said the transformed man. "Oh no, my friend," Wesley exclaimed, "not to me, but to the precious blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin!"
I pray this day that you experience God’s love in a real and tangible way.
Hi, I’m Wesley Pepper from CUMC. When evangelist John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, was returning home from a service one night, he was robbed. The thief, however, found his victim to have only a little money and some Christian literature. As the bandit was leaving, Wesley called out, "Stop! I have something more to give you." The surprised robber paused. "My friend," said Wesley, "you may live to regret this sort of life. If you ever do, here's something to remember: 'The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!'"
The thief hurried away, and Wesley prayed that his words might bear fruit.
Years later, Wesley was greeting people after a Sunday service when he was approached by a stranger. What a surprise to learn that this visitor, now a believer in Christ as a successful businessman, was the one who had robbed him years before!
"I owe it all to you," said the transformed man. "Oh no, my friend," Wesley exclaimed, "not to me, but to the precious blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin!"
I pray this day that you experience God’s love in a real and tangible way.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Jim Wall
Good Morning!
Just before I graduated from college, I had a date with Diane Baylis, the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. I picked her up in my old Pontiac, and we went to a movie and to the Davis Grill.
As we were returning to her house, I heard something knocking and pulled off the road at Highland Park under a large oak tree. I looked at Diane and said, “I don’t know what’s knocking.” She said, “Well, I can tell you it’s not opportunity!”
Three years later, I did have the opportunity to marry her, and I took it!
You may be like me. Sometimes I get a thought or urge to do something good, but I tell myself I’m too busy to get off track to do anything like that. But, I know it’s God knocking at my heart with a beautiful opportunity, and I need to take it! Is God knocking at your heart?
Good Morning!
Just before I graduated from college, I had a date with Diane Baylis, the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. I picked her up in my old Pontiac, and we went to a movie and to the Davis Grill.
As we were returning to her house, I heard something knocking and pulled off the road at Highland Park under a large oak tree. I looked at Diane and said, “I don’t know what’s knocking.” She said, “Well, I can tell you it’s not opportunity!”
Three years later, I did have the opportunity to marry her, and I took it!
You may be like me. Sometimes I get a thought or urge to do something good, but I tell myself I’m too busy to get off track to do anything like that. But, I know it’s God knocking at my heart with a beautiful opportunity, and I need to take it! Is God knocking at your heart?
Friday, November 11, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
GLENDA
Good Morning:
Today is Veteran’s Day. Where would our country be without all those brave men and women who spend their lives working and fighting to keep our country safe? There are not enough words to express to them how grateful we are.
Today, in honor of all those men and women, past and present, fly your flag . Shake a veteran’s hand. Send a veteran a card of thanks. Give to a Veteran’s organization. Find a way to say thanks. The newest way of saying thanks to a veteran without approaching them is to put your hand to your heart and then extend your palm outward towards them. You can use this sign whenever you catch a Veteran’s eye, even when you pass on the street or in an airport. So to all you Veteran’s out there, I say “Thank You!” Have wonderful day!
Good Morning:
Today is Veteran’s Day. Where would our country be without all those brave men and women who spend their lives working and fighting to keep our country safe? There are not enough words to express to them how grateful we are.
Today, in honor of all those men and women, past and present, fly your flag . Shake a veteran’s hand. Send a veteran a card of thanks. Give to a Veteran’s organization. Find a way to say thanks. The newest way of saying thanks to a veteran without approaching them is to put your hand to your heart and then extend your palm outward towards them. You can use this sign whenever you catch a Veteran’s eye, even when you pass on the street or in an airport. So to all you Veteran’s out there, I say “Thank You!” Have wonderful day!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
JIM CAIN
Christopher Wren, the architect who designed St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, wrote about the reactions of construction workers on the site who were asked what they were doing. Those workers who were tired or bored responded by saying, “I’m laying brick” or “I’m carrying stones.” But one worker, who was mixing cement, seemed cheerful and enthusiastic about his work. When wren asked him what he was doing, the man replied, “I’m building a magnificent cathedral!”
God did not create us to be bored or unfulfilled in our life’s work. In fact it is just the opposite. For Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
Christopher Wren, the architect who designed St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, wrote about the reactions of construction workers on the site who were asked what they were doing. Those workers who were tired or bored responded by saying, “I’m laying brick” or “I’m carrying stones.” But one worker, who was mixing cement, seemed cheerful and enthusiastic about his work. When wren asked him what he was doing, the man replied, “I’m building a magnificent cathedral!”
God did not create us to be bored or unfulfilled in our life’s work. In fact it is just the opposite. For Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
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