Monday, February 11, 2019

MATT Good morning! I’m Matt Farmer, Associate Pastor at Central United Methodist Church in Meridian. The film, Saving Private Ryan, though disturbingly graphic, tells the gripping story of a World War II rescue squad sent to bring a soldier out of harm’s way. Mortally wounded and near death, the squad leader calls Ryan close and simply says, “Earn this.” Men had given their lives to save Him, and he needed to embrace the sense of indebtedness such sacrifice should incite. Ryan owed his life to those who had rescued him. Paul, likewise, felt indebted. Christ had sacrificed Himself to pay for Paul’s sins and set him free from judgment and death. Paul’s response? “I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.” Why was he indebted to them? The Greeks and barbarians hadn’t died for him, nor had the wise or the unwise. But Christ had. The sacrifice of the Son of God on his behalf was so overwhelming to Paul that he in turn felt an overwhelming need to share God’s redeeming love with everyone. We can’t earn God’s gift of love, but we have an obligation to share it with others who need Him.

Friday, February 8, 2019

BOB Good morning. This is Bob Peden of Central, A United Methodist Community in downtown Meridian. Angels are all the rage! Everywhere you turn there are angels being marketed, sold, talked about, written up in books, featured on television specials, or bumper-stickered. So, what do we make of all this angel mania? I'm not sure. But I am sure that one of the most important aspects of the ministry of angels, is worship. They show us who to worship – God. They show us how to worship – they bow down, they shout for joy with praise; they speak of the worth and glory of God and the Son. They are the original praise team. And when we worship, the angels are a part of our worship, or perhaps more accurately, we become a part of their unending worship. If you would like to worship in the presence of angels and indeed the Lord of the universe, I invite you to Central on 22nd and 23rd Avenues at 10th Street. Sunday morning worship happens at 8:30, 9:45 in the Fellowship Hall and at 10:55 in the Sanctuary. Everyone is welcome!

Thursday, February 7, 2019

GLENDA Good Morning: Isaiah 33:2 says: O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be our strength every morning and our salvation in the time of trouble. During the building of the Golden Gate Bridge over San Francisco Bay, construction fell badly behind schedule because several workers had accidentally fallen from the scaffolding to their deaths. Engineers and administrators could find no solution to the costly delays. Finally, someone suggested a gigantic net be hung under the bridge to catch any who fell. Finally, in spite of the enormous cost, the engineers opted for the net. After it was installed, progress was hardly interrupted. A worker or two fell into the net but were saved. Ultimately, all the time lost to fear was regained by replacing fear with faith in the net. Do you have a fear of falling or failing? The Lord is always right there to be our net – to catch us when we fall. He is our salvation in time of trouble and provides the perfect safety net. All we have to do is call on him. Have a wonderful day!

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

BENJI Good Morning, I’m Benji Riddle – Director of Youth Ministries at Central United Methodist. No matter how well together and collected we think our lives are, we must remember that all of us fail and fall at some point. There was this gracious lady mailing an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the country. "Is there anything breakable in here?" asked the postal clerk. "Only the Ten Commandments," answered the lady. As broken people, we are bound sin and break quite a few of these commandments, but First John gives us some very encouraging news: if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Take a moment today to seek forgiveness, the One who made you awaits to forgive and redeem you.

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

SABRINA Moms – Do you ever feel like a ping-pong ball bouncing between feeling like a good mom to a bad mom? My children are older now but, oh, how I remember those younger years. You send special snacks for teachers, then forget to pick up your child from his after-school practice. You fix dinner – meat, two vegetables, dessert, the works. Bedtime comes, and you realize you didn’t get the refill on your baby’s antibiotics. Let's be honest. The days where everything turns out right are sometimes few and far between. The truth is it is where most of us live. Anything I've done right as a mother was because of my constant dialogue with God – over lost pacies, socks, illnesses, oh my goodness, the teenage years. And it continues, even as your children grow into adulthood. As moms, I pray we’ll remember the truth of today’s promise in Ephesians 2:4-5, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ — it is by grace you have been saved.” You see, God’s grace is there to cover us, teach us, and even in the middle of a bad moment, interrupt us, redirect us and change us. Forgiveness is there. Love is there. A second chance is there. And then another one after that. Let's live in that truth today.

Monday, February 4, 2019

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Senior Adult Minister and Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. Mark 1:9-13 says: “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’ At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.” Baptism is a time when believers outwardly show what God is doing inside of them. God is at work and they want the world to know it. However, we don’t want there to be confusion. Just because you are baptized does not mean that you will not experience temptation. We see in the scripture from mark that Jesus experienced temptation following his baptism. We all struggle and make mistakes, however, we must learn from them and overcome them. We can’t allow them to rule over our lives. It is through the grace at our baptism that we overcome sin. May you come to find the grace and strength to overcome the power of sin in your life.

Friday, February 1, 2019

JOHN Good Morning! I’m John Branning the Lead Pastor of Central United Methodist Church. Did you know that on a rocket's journey, the most force is exerted at its lift-off? The amount of force that is needed to get that rocket off the ground is so fierce that it could easily blow the whole thing to pieces. Interestingly though, the further the rocket moves from the earth's gravitational pull, the less energy it needs to move farther along. Isn't it true with us as well? Whether it's breaking a habit, losing those first few pounds or learning something new, taking our first step into a new thing is the hardest part. That initial step always takes the most effort, the most energy. If we keep pressing on, however, it becomes easier and easier to move ahead! I hope you are not in a spiritual rut this morning where you are just going through the motions. Perhaps, there is something new God wants you to be doing! God wants us to get out of our comfort zones and take that first step of faith so that we can see just how truly awesome He is! We would love to take those next steps with you at Central. Come and reclaim the name with us.