BOB RAMBO
Hi! I’m Bob Rambo, Lead Pastor at Central United Methodist Church.
Halloween will soon be here, with all its focus on things that go “bump” in the night. Halloween has also become one of the most profitable times for businesses as costumes and parties cater to the season.
As Christians, we look forward to the day AFTER Halloween – All Saints Day. We pause to remember those who have died and entered God’s presence – but we also give thanks that through the Holy Spirit, we are mystically “connected” to those who are no longer present in the flesh.
On Sunday, November 6th, we invite you to join us as we celebrate “All Saints Sunday.” We’ll remember those who have died in the past year, but we’ll also give thanks to God for those who have united with us in the journey of faith. On November 6th, join us at Central – where everyone is welcome.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Wesley
Newspaper columnist and minister, George Crane, tells of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. "I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me."
Dr. Crane suggested an ingenious plan "Go home and act as if you really love your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. Make him believe you love him. After you've convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb. "
For two months she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing, and sharing. When she didn't return, Crane called. "Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?"
"Divorce?" she exclaimed. "Never! I discovered I really do love him."
Her actions had changed her feelings. Motion resulted in emotion. The ability to love is established not so much by fervent promise as often repeated deeds.
Newspaper columnist and minister, George Crane, tells of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. "I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me."
Dr. Crane suggested an ingenious plan "Go home and act as if you really love your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. Make him believe you love him. After you've convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb. "
For two months she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing, and sharing. When she didn't return, Crane called. "Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?"
"Divorce?" she exclaimed. "Never! I discovered I really do love him."
Her actions had changed her feelings. Motion resulted in emotion. The ability to love is established not so much by fervent promise as often repeated deeds.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
JIM CAIN
I had walked too far, ending up in a neighborhood unfamiliar to me. A glance at my cell phone told me the battery had long since died. The streetlights came on, and I hurried from one pale pool of light to the next, desperately searching for some familiar landmark.
Finally, admitting I was lost, I approached a house where the movement of a curtain in the front window suggested someone was home. Hoping for directions or the use of a phone, I knocked on the door.
The man who opened the door appeared strangely pleased to see me, as though he had been waiting on someone he didn’t know. With a smile he ushered me into the dimly lit room. Responding to my confession of being lost he said, “So, then no one knows you’re here.” And as he finished talking I heard a key turn in the lock.
Do you ever feel lost and afraid in this world? In John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me”
I had walked too far, ending up in a neighborhood unfamiliar to me. A glance at my cell phone told me the battery had long since died. The streetlights came on, and I hurried from one pale pool of light to the next, desperately searching for some familiar landmark.
Finally, admitting I was lost, I approached a house where the movement of a curtain in the front window suggested someone was home. Hoping for directions or the use of a phone, I knocked on the door.
The man who opened the door appeared strangely pleased to see me, as though he had been waiting on someone he didn’t know. With a smile he ushered me into the dimly lit room. Responding to my confession of being lost he said, “So, then no one knows you’re here.” And as he finished talking I heard a key turn in the lock.
Do you ever feel lost and afraid in this world? In John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me”
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
jim wall
Good Morning!
A wise Bible teacher once said, “Sooner or later God will bring self-sufficient people to the place where they have no resource but Him – no strength, no answers, nothing but Him. Without God’s help, they’re sunk.”
He then told of a despairing man who confessed to his pastor, “My life is really in bad shape.” “How bad,” the pastor inquired? Burying his head in his hands, he moaned, “I’ll tell you how bad – all I’ve got left is God.” The pastor’s face lit up. “I’m happy to assure you that a person with nothing but God has more than enough for great victory.”
Are you in a position where all self-sufficiency is gone? As you turn your eyes on the Lord and put your hope in Him, you have God’s reassuring promise that you need nothing more.
Trust in God, and may God bless you this day!
Good Morning!
A wise Bible teacher once said, “Sooner or later God will bring self-sufficient people to the place where they have no resource but Him – no strength, no answers, nothing but Him. Without God’s help, they’re sunk.”
He then told of a despairing man who confessed to his pastor, “My life is really in bad shape.” “How bad,” the pastor inquired? Burying his head in his hands, he moaned, “I’ll tell you how bad – all I’ve got left is God.” The pastor’s face lit up. “I’m happy to assure you that a person with nothing but God has more than enough for great victory.”
Are you in a position where all self-sufficiency is gone? As you turn your eyes on the Lord and put your hope in Him, you have God’s reassuring promise that you need nothing more.
Trust in God, and may God bless you this day!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
BOB PEDEN
The letter to the Ephesians tells us that, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things.”
Many in today’s world, even many who call themselves Christians, specialize in the negative. Whatever the topic or occasion they can tell us what won’t work, where it is irreparably broken, why we can never get it right.
But the Bible instructs us to focus on what is right, pure, lovely or admirable in the world not that which is wrong, spoiled, ugly or despicable.
This is Bob Peden of Central United Methodist Church. I would suggest that in a day when so much around us trains us to find the negative in life, we Christians must aggressively think and pursue the character, the qualities, and the things of God's goodness.
The letter to the Ephesians tells us that, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things.”
Many in today’s world, even many who call themselves Christians, specialize in the negative. Whatever the topic or occasion they can tell us what won’t work, where it is irreparably broken, why we can never get it right.
But the Bible instructs us to focus on what is right, pure, lovely or admirable in the world not that which is wrong, spoiled, ugly or despicable.
This is Bob Peden of Central United Methodist Church. I would suggest that in a day when so much around us trains us to find the negative in life, we Christians must aggressively think and pursue the character, the qualities, and the things of God's goodness.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
BOB RAMBO
Hi! I’m Bob Rambo, Lead Pastor at Central United Methodist Church. On the opening weekend of the NFL season, during a game between the San Diego Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers, a stadium food server named Heather Allison was working the stands when she tripped. She spilled her food but also dropped all the money she had collected - about $1000 – which scattered everywhere. Allison, a mother of 4, was responsible for the money; but now it was blowing in the wind.
Now, if it starts “raining” money on YOU - what do YOU do? Human nature is to GRAB and STUFF our pockets. But fans who saw what happened shouted to the people all around: That’s the server’s money! Fans who saw others pocket the money told them: Give it back!
And people actually stopped watching the game to collect the money. Within 10 minutes, the entire $1000 had been collected - and the fans even kicked in an extra $170 to make sure she had enough!
The Bible speaks of “doing justice” as one of the things that pleases God MOST. To “do justice” is to do the right thing. Let’s “do the right thing” today.
Hi! I’m Bob Rambo, Lead Pastor at Central United Methodist Church. On the opening weekend of the NFL season, during a game between the San Diego Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers, a stadium food server named Heather Allison was working the stands when she tripped. She spilled her food but also dropped all the money she had collected - about $1000 – which scattered everywhere. Allison, a mother of 4, was responsible for the money; but now it was blowing in the wind.
Now, if it starts “raining” money on YOU - what do YOU do? Human nature is to GRAB and STUFF our pockets. But fans who saw what happened shouted to the people all around: That’s the server’s money! Fans who saw others pocket the money told them: Give it back!
And people actually stopped watching the game to collect the money. Within 10 minutes, the entire $1000 had been collected - and the fans even kicked in an extra $170 to make sure she had enough!
The Bible speaks of “doing justice” as one of the things that pleases God MOST. To “do justice” is to do the right thing. Let’s “do the right thing” today.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
JIM CAIN
GOOD MORNING!
The 7 sons of Sceva, a high priest, were traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” But once when they tried it, a demon replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.
The sons of Sceva were using the name of Jesus Christ as if the name alone had power, but they were NOT believers in Jesus Christ the person. They merely developed faith in His name. They believed the stories… but they didn’t have the faith in the PERSON.
Evil spirits didn’t cower at the name simply because it was said. It was the faith in the person behind saying the name that vanquished demons. For it says in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ”
Join us this Sunday at Central in either the 8 am or 10:55 worship services to hear the Word of God!
GOOD MORNING!
The 7 sons of Sceva, a high priest, were traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” But once when they tried it, a demon replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.
The sons of Sceva were using the name of Jesus Christ as if the name alone had power, but they were NOT believers in Jesus Christ the person. They merely developed faith in His name. They believed the stories… but they didn’t have the faith in the PERSON.
Evil spirits didn’t cower at the name simply because it was said. It was the faith in the person behind saying the name that vanquished demons. For it says in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ”
Join us this Sunday at Central in either the 8 am or 10:55 worship services to hear the Word of God!
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