SABRINA
Recently in a conversation concerning someone gravely ill, a friend reminded me...“You know Sabrina, we are all terminal.” As I contemplated that very sobering statement, I began to think past the initial gloom of “being terminal,” and to seriously think of how differently we might live our lives if we truly lived it remembering our life on this earth is but a brief moment in time. My guess is that our lives would change dramatically. Time spent with family and friends would be more important than work and accumulating things. Time to watch the sun rise and set would take precedence over surfing the net.
I challenge you to begin living with the realization that we have no way of knowing what the future holds, but we do have the ability to live each day enjoying the many gifts and blessing that God has given us for this day, all the while knowing that when our time on earth is done, we still have eternity with God. Go and have a blessed day.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
JIM CAIN
GOOD MORNING!
Dylan was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the house towards the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and carrying a baseball and bat. “I'm the greatest hitter in the world,” he announced once he was outside. Then he tossed the ball into the air, swung at it, and missed. “Strike one!” he yelled. Undaunted, he picked up the ball and said it again; “I'm the greatest hitter in the world!” he tossed the ball into the air again and missing it yelled, “Strike two!”
Dylan then paused for a moment to examine his ball and bat carefully. He spit on his hands and rubbed them together, straightened his cap, and said, “I'm the greatest hitter in the world!” Again he tossed the ball up in the air and swung at it. He missed yet again. “Strike three! Wow!” he exclaimed. “I'm the greatest pitcher in the whole world!”
Our attitude determines how circumstances impact our lives. If we can't change our circumstances, we can always change our attitudes. Let me encourage you to do this, you'll be glad you did!
GOOD MORNING!
Dylan was overheard talking to himself as he strutted through the house towards the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and carrying a baseball and bat. “I'm the greatest hitter in the world,” he announced once he was outside. Then he tossed the ball into the air, swung at it, and missed. “Strike one!” he yelled. Undaunted, he picked up the ball and said it again; “I'm the greatest hitter in the world!” he tossed the ball into the air again and missing it yelled, “Strike two!”
Dylan then paused for a moment to examine his ball and bat carefully. He spit on his hands and rubbed them together, straightened his cap, and said, “I'm the greatest hitter in the world!” Again he tossed the ball up in the air and swung at it. He missed yet again. “Strike three! Wow!” he exclaimed. “I'm the greatest pitcher in the whole world!”
Our attitude determines how circumstances impact our lives. If we can't change our circumstances, we can always change our attitudes. Let me encourage you to do this, you'll be glad you did!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
BOB RAMBO
Hi! I'm Bob Rambo, Lead Pastor at Central United Methodist Church.
In two weeks, Central will welcome Dr. Ben Witherington III of Asbury Theological Seminary. He will teach Friday March 23rd and Saturday March 24th on “The Book of Revelation.” Lay people and pastors are welcome. Call our church office or visit our website to register for this event.
On Sunday, March 25th, Dr. Witherington will preach at our 8:30 and 10:55 worship services. He will do this despite the recent death of his 31-year-old daughter, Christy. In our worship on March 25th, Dr. Witherington will share of his own grief and the hope that has sustained him through faith in Jesus Christ.
We invite everyone to join us for the Revelation event and for worship on March 25th - but especially those who have struggled with grief. It will be a time of healing and hope for those who are there.
Make it great day!
Hi! I'm Bob Rambo, Lead Pastor at Central United Methodist Church.
In two weeks, Central will welcome Dr. Ben Witherington III of Asbury Theological Seminary. He will teach Friday March 23rd and Saturday March 24th on “The Book of Revelation.” Lay people and pastors are welcome. Call our church office or visit our website to register for this event.
On Sunday, March 25th, Dr. Witherington will preach at our 8:30 and 10:55 worship services. He will do this despite the recent death of his 31-year-old daughter, Christy. In our worship on March 25th, Dr. Witherington will share of his own grief and the hope that has sustained him through faith in Jesus Christ.
We invite everyone to join us for the Revelation event and for worship on March 25th - but especially those who have struggled with grief. It will be a time of healing and hope for those who are there.
Make it great day!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
JIM WALL
Good Morning!
The Bible tells us as Christians to “care for one another” by using the gifts God has given each of us by His grace.
One of the ways we can care for and serve each other is to listen. Listening is not the job of a talented few, but the privilege and responsibility of us all.
Someone needs to tell you something today. It may be a deep confession of failure, an expression of faith, an old joke, or a comment about the weather; but it needs to be said.
The person could be a child or a senior adult. Are you ready and willing, for Jesus' sake, to lend an ear?
Hear this poem by De Haan:
A caring heart, a listening ear
A thoughtful word, a gentle tear
Will help to lift the heavy load
Of weary souls along life's road.
Good Morning!
The Bible tells us as Christians to “care for one another” by using the gifts God has given each of us by His grace.
One of the ways we can care for and serve each other is to listen. Listening is not the job of a talented few, but the privilege and responsibility of us all.
Someone needs to tell you something today. It may be a deep confession of failure, an expression of faith, an old joke, or a comment about the weather; but it needs to be said.
The person could be a child or a senior adult. Are you ready and willing, for Jesus' sake, to lend an ear?
Hear this poem by De Haan:
A caring heart, a listening ear
A thoughtful word, a gentle tear
Will help to lift the heavy load
Of weary souls along life's road.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
BOB PEDEN
Each moment of our lives is crowded with eternal significance, yet our eyes are often blind: we expect only what is predictable. We miss God's grace in the moment, the Father's gift in the simple, and Heaven's glory in the ordinary. We lose the Lord's presence in the sunrise, his joy in the smile of a child, his whisper in the wrinkles of the aged, and his glory hidden in a spider's web.
So, when John tells us his story of Jesus turning water into wine, he wants to do more than tell us history. Yes, what he writes is true, but even more he wants us to know it is truth -- authentic to real life. Each encounter with Jesus tells us, not just what he did, but also what he longs to do now… in us… among us… through us. The unpredictable Savior wants to show us how water can become wine.
This is Bob Peden of Central United Methodist Church. My question for you this morning is: Where in your life is God waiting to turn the ordinary into something extraordinary?
Each moment of our lives is crowded with eternal significance, yet our eyes are often blind: we expect only what is predictable. We miss God's grace in the moment, the Father's gift in the simple, and Heaven's glory in the ordinary. We lose the Lord's presence in the sunrise, his joy in the smile of a child, his whisper in the wrinkles of the aged, and his glory hidden in a spider's web.
So, when John tells us his story of Jesus turning water into wine, he wants to do more than tell us history. Yes, what he writes is true, but even more he wants us to know it is truth -- authentic to real life. Each encounter with Jesus tells us, not just what he did, but also what he longs to do now… in us… among us… through us. The unpredictable Savior wants to show us how water can become wine.
This is Bob Peden of Central United Methodist Church. My question for you this morning is: Where in your life is God waiting to turn the ordinary into something extraordinary?
Friday, March 2, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
BOB RAMBO
Hi! I'm Bob Rambo, Lead Pastor at Central UMC. Alexandra Levine, a doctor in Los Angeles, tells of being a young intern in medical school. She was assigned to follow a “resident” around during visits. A patient on her floor had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. She came into the hospital healthy and vivacious; but when they did surgery, there was nothing they could do.
The next day the “resident” told the patient: It's cancer. We really couldn't do anything, so we just opened and closed. The woman laid there in bed in disbelief and repeated: Let me get this straight: you just opened and closed? Opened and closed? Then the woman shooed them away saying: I don't feel like visiting.
That night this woman - vivacious and healthy before surgery - DIED. Alexandra Levine says: I'm absolutely convinced she died because all hope had been taken away from her.
Hope - the conviction that despite our present circumstances, the future will be better - is ESSENTIAL for survival. As Christians, we hope because we believe the future is in the hands of a good and gracious God.
Today - may you be filled with HOPE.
Hi! I'm Bob Rambo, Lead Pastor at Central UMC. Alexandra Levine, a doctor in Los Angeles, tells of being a young intern in medical school. She was assigned to follow a “resident” around during visits. A patient on her floor had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. She came into the hospital healthy and vivacious; but when they did surgery, there was nothing they could do.
The next day the “resident” told the patient: It's cancer. We really couldn't do anything, so we just opened and closed. The woman laid there in bed in disbelief and repeated: Let me get this straight: you just opened and closed? Opened and closed? Then the woman shooed them away saying: I don't feel like visiting.
That night this woman - vivacious and healthy before surgery - DIED. Alexandra Levine says: I'm absolutely convinced she died because all hope had been taken away from her.
Hope - the conviction that despite our present circumstances, the future will be better - is ESSENTIAL for survival. As Christians, we hope because we believe the future is in the hands of a good and gracious God.
Today - may you be filled with HOPE.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
SABRINA
This is the blanket that I was brought home from the hospital in. It was wrapped around me during my baptism. It held each of my children as they were baptized...and now has held each of my grandchildren. It is a tangible reminder of God's presence in my life days after I was born and in the lives of my family today.
At Central, we have a prayer shawl ministry that allows some of our members to use their talents and gifts, making shawls to be given to people in times of both joy and grief. We have recently expanded our ministry, working in conjunction with Lifeline Children's Services, crocheting and knitting baby blankets to be given to babies and their families at the time of adoption. We have also committed to make 1000 blankets that will be given to children in a China orphanage through Lifeline. These children, are unfortunately, for the most part, labeled unadoptable, and will spend their days in a place where they will be loved and cared for...but without a family. It is our hope that one of these blankets will serve as a tangible reminder that someone does love and care for them...God loves them, and people, though far away, care for and have prayed for them.
If you would like to be a part of this mission endeavor, please contact me at www.cumcmdn.org, or by phone 601-693-1521.
This is the blanket that I was brought home from the hospital in. It was wrapped around me during my baptism. It held each of my children as they were baptized...and now has held each of my grandchildren. It is a tangible reminder of God's presence in my life days after I was born and in the lives of my family today.
At Central, we have a prayer shawl ministry that allows some of our members to use their talents and gifts, making shawls to be given to people in times of both joy and grief. We have recently expanded our ministry, working in conjunction with Lifeline Children's Services, crocheting and knitting baby blankets to be given to babies and their families at the time of adoption. We have also committed to make 1000 blankets that will be given to children in a China orphanage through Lifeline. These children, are unfortunately, for the most part, labeled unadoptable, and will spend their days in a place where they will be loved and cared for...but without a family. It is our hope that one of these blankets will serve as a tangible reminder that someone does love and care for them...God loves them, and people, though far away, care for and have prayed for them.
If you would like to be a part of this mission endeavor, please contact me at www.cumcmdn.org, or by phone 601-693-1521.
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