Thursday, August 30, 2012

Thursday, August 30, 2012

JIM WALL



Good Morning!



Children have a tremendous capacity to be amazed and delighted by the simple wonders of life.  A baby carefully examines her toes and fingers, and a child laughs in amazement as she chases bubbles around the yard.



Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”  We know that God's universe is wondrous to behold, and when we pause to consider the beauty of a sunset or the majesty of a clear, starry night, we are awed.



Sometimes, the demands of everyday life cause us to become preoccupied, and sometimes we fail to appreciate the miracle of God's handiwork.  When we find ourselves caught in the trap of the daily grind, we must stop, be still, and ask God to restore our sense of wonderment. Then, like children - we can see the hand of God in every miraculous fiber of His creation.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

ASHLEY WREN



Hi, my name is Ashley Wren and, my family and I are members of Central United Methodist Church.  This coming Monday, September 3, we pause to celebrate Labor Day.  Labor Day is a United States Federal holiday observed on the first Monday of every September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.



In the third book of Colossians, Verses 23-24, the scripture tells us, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving."  


As a parent and a teacher, I think it is imperative to teach our children the importance of work and its rewards.  Although many of us are receiving a three-day weekend or day off of work and are looking forward to it, it's crucial that we demonstrate pride and satisfaction with our career or specific trade towards our children.  Our jobs are an extension of who we are, and our kids are watching and learning everyday.  I feel that we should encourage our children to do everything possible to match their giftedness, passions, and abilities in their chosen career.  Instilling a strong work ethic will not only help them, but will influence the future of our community.


We would love to see you this Sunday at Central United Methodist Church!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

OWEN WEDDLE



Good morning! I am Owen Weddle, Associate Pastor at Central United Methodist Church.



The start of college football is right around the corner. We are walking into another year of tail-gating on Saturdays and friendly banter amongst rival fans throughout the week. There is nothing that gets us so excited in the South as a great game of pigskin.  And the players put in incredible amount of time in the hopes of receiving the glory of victory and the praise of their fans. No matter how naturally gifted the athletes are physically, there was a lot of training that went into becoming a collegiate player.  Many of them have been playing the game since childhood.



The Christian life is much the same way.  The Apostle Paul says “Train yourself in godliness.” Following Christ doesn't mean you're perfect.  Even the best of us have many struggles. It entails making mistakes and learning from them daily.  We start off like children, but as we grow, we are able to perform at a higher level. And while the hard physical training receives the praise of fans, training in godliness receives the praise of God.



May God bless you throughout this day!

Monday, August 27, 2012

Monday, August 27, 2012

MARY WHITTLE



Good Morning!



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.”

Friday, August 24, 2012

Friday, August 24, 2012

OWEN WEDDLE



Good morning! I am Owen Weddle, Associate Pastor at Central United Methodist Church.



In the Old Testament, when Israel came to worship, they did two things: they would remember the great things God had done for them and then they would long to experience God's presence. It is like you remembering a dear friend, calling them up, and inviting them to come over for dinner.



That is also the patterns of the followers of Jesus. We remember how God saved us by raising Jesus from the dead, and long to experience God's presence again in our lives. We are constantly barraged daily by messages of fear and temptation to selfishness, but when we remember and experience God's presence again; we are re-energized by the presence of someone we love.



If you don't have a place you go to regularly worship, I invite you this Sunday to join us at Central to remember what God has done and experience His presence.



May God bless you throughout this day!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Thursday, August 23, 2012

ASHLEY WREN



Hi, my name is Ashley Wren, and my family and I are members of Central United Methodist Church.



Over the past 12 years, we have picked up and moved four times due to my husband's job.  That means four houses, four new communities, four schools, as well as four church families.  We have now been in Meridian two years, and from the moment we set foot here, we were welcomed with open arms.  Things rings especially true for Central United Methodist Church.  I certainly understand that new situations and visiting churches can be intimidating and often overwhelming.  However, our experience at Central made us feel right at home from the beginning.   Whether you are single or married, in your 20's or 80's, have children or not, come from a previous church home or denomination or none at all, enjoy a more traditional or contemporary service.... You will find a relaxed and satisfying place at Central. 



I would love to see you this Sunday at Central!!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

GLENDA


Good Morning:

Have you ever heard the song “Take My Hand, Precious Lord”? It was written by an African American named Thomas Andrew Dorsey. He started out as a blues pianist known as Georgia Tom playing in bars and living the kind of life that goes along with that kind of atmosphere. He lost both his wife and first child in childbirth. In his grief, he wrote that song, and thus Gospel music was born.



He wrote more of these gospel hymns, which were rejected by many churches who called it the devil's music. He formed his own publishing company and was founder of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses. Two things to note from this story: when things got tough, Thomas Dorsey turned to God, and he never gave up on his Gospel music. His songs were sung by many famous people, among them: Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Aretha Franklin, and Roy Rogers. He is known as the Father of Gospel Music. So when things get rough for you, do like Thomas Dorsey did, turn it over to God, and he will bless you. Have a wonderful day!