Eighteenth Sunday after PentecostOctober 4, 2009UMH=United Methodist HymnalTFWS=The Faith We Sing*Please stand as you're able, or stand in your heartsChoral Call to Worship Where Children Belong TFWS #2232Prelude Tell Me the Stories of Jesus UMH #277Call to Worship (adapted from Psalm 25)Leader: We are God’s people, called to know and demonstrate the love, mercy and justice of our God.People: To you, O God, we lift up our souls.Leader: When the days...
Fantasy Football has always intrigued me just a little. Simply explained—you put together your own team of professional, real players and compete with others’ teams each week. Your success, or lack of, is defined by players’ performance in their real games. I tried building a team about 8 years ago. Yea, we didn’t do so well. I didn’t have the time and know-all about players’ ability, etc. So, while I like the idea of a fantasy football team, I’m not...
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:a time to be born, and a time to die;a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;a time to kill, and a time to heal;a time to break down, and a time to build up;a time to weep, and a time to laugh;a time to mourn, and a time to dance;a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;a time to seek, and...
If you ever catch your preacher reading their sermon it’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with that. In twelve years I’ve heard a few sermons. Quite a few have been given by someone reading word for word a prepared manuscript. Just as many have been given by someone who had no use for notes, an outline or anything pre-prepared. In all these sermons, however, I don’t know I’ve ever questioned someone’s sincerity based on their preferred method of sermon delivery—to...
In the sermon yesterday I spoke briefly on the idea many have that the book of Esther is a novella. Novella made me think of soap opera and in my preparation I remembered an old song from….hold on…. Carman. No, his music isn’t my first choice for anything, but was one of my first exposures to Christian music. The song was The Soap Song. It's funny:Also, as far as I can recall, yesterday was the first time I have sung Lift Every Voice and Sing during a...
Here are some pictures on my computer you might enjoy. Take a moment to laugh; it'll do you well. I don't know where I got them from. So, if you know let me know.When Are You Due?Rejection!The Proper Way to Weigh YourselfHow Spock Got His EarsThe ColonelLife is Sw...
From Galveston to Irving. No, we're not talking about me. Did you hear about the guy who escaped from the Galveston prison hospital? He made the news in Dallas when he--I believe--robbed a woman in Oak Cliff. Then he was caught in an Irving park.By TANYA EISERER / The Dallas Morning Newsteiserer@dallasnews.comAuthorities captured a 21-year-old state prison escapee in Irving this morning.Joshua Barnes escaped Saturday from a prison hospital in Galveston,...
I received in the mail last week the latest edition of The Witness (SWTX Conference Newspaper). It was like getting a letter from home. There was an article entitled Why Do Men Avoid Going to Church Today? The article raised many of the same issues you find in most relating articles. I thought I would share with you the reasons for lack of male worshipers (men in church?). These were a part of an article from Dean McIntyre, director of music resources...
September 27, 2009UMH: United Methodist HymnalTFWS: The Faith We SingChoral Call to Worship Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus UMH #349Prelude His Eye Is on the Sparrow TFWS #2146*Call to Worship (adapted from Psalm 124)Leader: Think of the times in life this week you knew God was with you.People: If God had not been with us surely we would have stumbled all the more.Leader: Praise be to the Lord who has not let us fall.People: Our help is in the name of the...
People have often asked me if the stories I use in my sermons are real stories. Yes, they are. Some have wondered how much I embellish the account I tell. Well, that’s between me and my God. No, I’m kidding; the stories I tell best/easiest are the ones that are true to me. If something seems a little memorable---that’s why I’m telling you the story!Yesterday’s sermon had one such story. I suppose I could see where someone might think the story with Slim...
Some would suggest if you’re not uncomfortable preaching you’re not challenging your church. The equivalent statement, I suppose, for those who don’t preach would be if you’re not uncomfortable listening you’re not being challenged. Agree or disagree?There are times, as a pastor, when you feel it necessary to say what needs to be said. In the Methodist church the Administrative Council is an appropriate place to address issues in the local church. I’ll...
Happy Birthday Brittani. I used to be able to hold her in my palm. Today she's 11, and that wouldn't be so easy today. Love 'ya B-gi...
All I have to do is type the title of the article: How will chocolate look in the futureYou know you want to check it out. It's an article from The Monitor (McAllen). It reminded me of a fundraiser we had at Edinburg FUMC once, "Chocolate Lovers' Delight." That was a great time!Stay blessed...j...
As promised, here is my first weekly Order of Worship. This order is what our church will use the following Sunday. We follow the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). Over the last six weeks or so we've had special inclusions in our services (baptism, etc); I've waited until I knew we didn't have anything outside of our usual service elements to post these. However, I can't promise you won't find some of those in the near future. You should be able to make...
I’m thinking about changing the name of the blog. Here are some possibilities--in somewhat descending order:easy like Sunday morningnew places againjohn 1:6unorganized religionhere we go againanother john I need your help. What would you sugge...
Yesterday our church wrapped up our short, two-week time of testimony (Give God the Praise). In the end only two people shared, me and our Lay Leader. Three others who originally signed up were unable to share. I’m sure, though, we got the point across. We don’t have to be brought from up from the pains of drugs, alcohol or devil worshiping to claim to have a testimony; though those might be worthy of the name. Our “answer” (1Peter 3:15) can be our testimony....
What do you think of this song? Here are the lyrics:No one laughs at God in a hospitalNo one laughs at God in a warNo one’s laughing at GodWhen they’re starving or freezing or so very poorNo one laughs at God when the doctor callsAfter some routine testsNo one’s laughing at Godwhen it’s gotten real lateAnd their kid’s not back from that party yetNo one laughs at God when their airplaneStarts to uncontrollably shakeNo one’s laughing at GodWhen they see the...
It is both liberating and difficult to consider how the Bible’s regard for humanity and religion differs from our modern interpretations. In contrast, it is easy, often convenient to forcefully assimilate scripture into our agendas and opinions. Itching ears and eager mouths can cloud God’s promises and prevent us from seeing life and faith how God intended. There is great reward, socially and personally, in attempting to peel back the limitations we place...
Starting next week I plan to add a new, not novel, element to this blog. Every Wednesday (shall we prayer) I will post a sample order of worship. It will include hymns, call to worship and prayers. I prepare a Worship Plan for our choir members and I to follow and use to prepare for each Sunday service. Of course, textweek offers these already—very good ones, too. There's probably no chance of me getting so ahead of my work I will be able to prepare these...
Since I began full time ministry I have made every effort to be completely honest about my faith. So, when I didn’t know, I said, “I don’t know.” When I didn’t have the know-how I stepped aside and watched another take control. If I told you, “I understand your struggle” I meant it. You see this faith stuff can be difficult. Don’t have the impression your minister has all the answers. Every sermon I’ve written was first preached to me. Only when I figured...
As I’m sure is a common tradition for many church preschools, Nathan’s school has chapel time throughout the week. One of the traditions is a birthday blessing. All children who had a birthday during the previous month are asked to come to the altar railing, kneel and receive a birthday blessing. The minister kneels with each child and asks their name and how old they are. She announces the name and age to the entire group and prays for them.We had already...
It has been about four weeks I’ve noticed our family has recycled more items than we have thrown away. Irving makes available blue recycling bags for household items; there is a weekly pickup. This has helped us get into the recycling mode. Yes, I’ve even caught myself taking products (paper, can, etc) out of the trash to put into the recycling bag.Gloria helps and we’ve got the kids thinking along the same lines. She uses the reusable bags for shopping (of...
Here is a short story we used in a recent class. We used it as a discussion starter about how our perspectives influence our use/interpretation of the Bible. I found a link to it here.What do you think? An English lady, while visiting Switzerland, was looking for a room so she asked the schoolmaster if he could recommend any. He took her to see several rooms and, when everything was settled, the lady returned home to make the final preparations to move....
I’ve learned a lot my first year at Perkins. Mostly, what I have taken away has little to do with factually information and more to do with theological skill. Anybody can pick up a commentary and find out facts—something I’ve done a lot of so far. There’s nothing harmful with that. Little by little I find myself learning more how to think through issues theologically. Yes! That is one of the goals of seminary. The question I’m wondering about myself...
