Archives for The Church Category\
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
There is a lot of fear going around these days.
There is fear about tomorrow, about grades, about homes, about jobs, about the future and some fear overshadows all those and then some for some people. The nation is in crisis and nobody can seem to find a way to help us out of it. We are running scared in the world … all because of the power of money.
Don’t get me wrong, I like money and I can find so many uses for it; enough uses in fact to run out of it before I know it. Yet how we view money and the power we give money has been the issue for us in this country and the world. We have allowed money to right next to God (sometimes higher than God). I shared in my Sunday sermon that our life is not measured by the amount of our possession. This is not my word but the words of Jesus. That puts a whole new spin on the power of money.
We do not need to stand in fear but instead to stand in faith. We need to let our faith conquer not only our fear but our issues with money and how it has taken control of our lives. Faith finds ways where money says … sorry we are in a recession … sorry we have cut the budget …. sorry you have lost you job but there is not enough money to go around …. sorry we are forclosing on your home – faith say, my life is not measured in the amount of my procession.
In those moments we in faith turn to the faith community to our brothers and sisters and say, please help. We belong to a community of the compassionate and committee. This community of faith cares for each other and the entire world. We are the hands and feet and heart of Jesus.
That being the case we stomp out fear and offer faith, even in the darkest of times Never forget no matter how fearful it seems … God is still God and God still loves you and me and will provide a way.
Keep the faith!
Posted in Feelings, Spiritual Insight, The Church | 6 Comments »
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
I’m headed to the Kingdom … not the Kingdom of God that you would usually expect me to talk about but the Kingdom of a big mouse named Micky. Yes, my wife and I are taking our poor deprived daughter for her first visit to Disney World next week. At age 12 Katie has never been to the Magic Kingdom. I know; how has she survived?
As we get ready for our trip I have found the Mouse knows how to do it. We have received in the mail information especially prepared for the Everhart Family, in it was a DVD to help us plan our trip. Sweet uh? The DVD tells us all about the hotel we have chosen and how we might make all these plans prior to our arrival; no waiting, no standing in lines, no “sorry no room for you”. Wow, all before we get there. They even are offering to set us up on a meal plan. I like meal plans.
They have noticed that we are interested in a meal with the Princesses of Disney and helped us book a time for Katie to eat with her heros (a real princess meeting the fake princesses … a must you know) We will have special seating and time with four of the most powerful princesses in animation.
Do we need help getting around? You know at 49 I might have limited mobility. Do you need to get tickets to Space Mountain, Tower of Terror and other hot rides before you get there? They are ready to help me … uh I mean Katie get to her ride on time.
The mouse can teach us Christians some things. Being prepared for the coming of the people is vital. Having the welcome mat out before they even come is so important. Making the experience something they will never forget because of ease and friendliness makes all the difference in the world.
Hey we are smarter than an old mouse … aren’t we? Let’s make it our aim to make our church the door way to the Kingdom of God and in so doing welcome the people with joy, laughter, and love. We got more to offer than old mouse!
If I don’t write next week it might be because I’ve converted to the love of the Mouse but don’t count on it!
D
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Tuesday, January 19th, 2010
Last week the poorest nation in the world experienced yet another kick in the teeth, an earthquake. This earthquake was reported to be 7 on the scale! The people of Haiti are facing not just days and months but years of hardship and trouble. Is your heart broken for them?
It is easy to forget about the needs of others as we sit here worrying about our own economy and hoping to get our 401K back up to its past glory. It is easy to close our eyes and ears to the media coverage of the needs of these homeless men and women and children when we have to find our own job or trying to sell our home without to much of a loss due to the economy. It is easy for our heart to focus on ourselves and our needs in a tough day.
But my friends, these are our brothers and sisters we are hearing about, seeing torn asunder, these are OUR children left without family or food or home or clothing. These people of Haiti are not the enemy but the broken and the poor in need of a loving heart. Is your heart broken yet?
My heart breaks not only for the lose of the people of Haiti but for the loss of many who were there to bring hope and love to them. I think of the president of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) who died while in a meeting to stop poverty in Haiti. I think of Courtney Hayes, a grandchild of my members Zack and Laura Hinton there to help as a medical personal who is still missing in the rubble of the Hotel Montana. You see it isn’t something far away and happening to others; it is happening to all we love and care about. Is your heart broken yet?
I invite you to a season of praying for the heart of the people of Haiti. I invite you to cry tears of love for our sisters and brothers and seek God’s face on their behalf. I invite you to send a donation to UMCOR (100% of your gift will go to the people of Haiti and to the rebuilding of their lives). These people that the UMCOR president and Courtney care so much about are who we will be helping.
Is your heart broken? Mine is and I hope you will join me in reaching out in love to our brothers and sisters with love.
Posted in Feelings, The Church | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
OK here we go!
Yes, another adventure in life. I am now going to try and do video blogging at the suggestion of my good friend and IT guru Jamie. Why you ask? Because we are trying to do anything that will allow us to celebrate and share the unconditional love of Jesus Christ with all who can hear; with all who are curious, with all who might stumble upon this medium as they are surfing the web.
It is our hope to catch people’s attention. Yes, to catch their attention and invite them to our church but more so to catch it and invite them to consider Jesus Christ as friend, as, helper, as Lord, and as Savior. Whatever it takes to get that up and running I am willing to do it.
I know I’m not much to look at (I’ve seen myself on our TV broadcast) but it isn’t about me, it is about Jesus and what I can do to help other people see Him and know just how powerful His love is toward them.
Hey, this is why we started going on TV, started an Internet Church by way of USTREAM, started Children’ Church and why we started the 942 Connector meeting in The Rodgers Center Gym at 9:42 each Sunday … to attract people to Christ. It has its fun moments and it has it frustrating moments. But again it is not about us … it is about Jesus and getting the word out there the He loves you unconditionally.
I hope you will pray for me as I attempt this weekly video blogging and keeping up this blog and all the new techno stuff I’m trying to learn. I hope you will pray for the new adventures our church is stepping into. I hope to see you on the adventure with me!
Grace and peace today to each of you.
Dana
Posted in New Beginnings, The Church | No Comments »
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
It is a blessing to have a great many judges in our congregation; men and women who daily have to render a verdict over anothers life, because of their actions or the actions of another. The judges I know are extremely wise and full of grace and love. They take very seriously the task placed upon them by the people of our community. One even described her position as one who cares for those who can’t always care for themselves. I’m proud of these judges and honor them! I’m glad I’m not a judge, I don’t believe I have the strength to render the tough and the gracious verdicts. I’m glad it rest in the hands and hearts of these men and women.
I’m glad ithat in spiritual things I’m not a judge either! Jesus tells us in the Bible that we are not to judge anyone; judgement belongs to God and God alone. Yet, so many times I see my self holding that gavel and bringing down judgement on another. “He looks strange” “She is dressed wrong” “Their children need discipline” “He’s no better than me” and on and on I go.
When I look into the mirror or even the mirror of my soul I know that I have no right to judge any man or woman, any boy or girl. I am surrounded by sin, I play in sin, I breath sin — in fact there are moments I seek sin out. Yes, I sin daily and stand in need of the mercy and grace of the only judge of life. There are many times I simply do the wrong thing or say the wrong word or even give the wrong look, unintentionally but still it is there. I have fallen short of the man I know God wants me to be.
Jesus promises us that if we tell him about our failures and short comings, about our journey into sin He will advocate with the Father God — the judge, and there will be mercy and grace for us. The Judge drops the gavel and says “innocent; go and sin no more”
If God can do that for me I know I “walk” because of His love. And when I “walk” I can not stand in judgement of my fellow man or woman EVER! Mine is only to encourage and point them to the Judge of mercy and grace. I am so tired of a religious faith that condemns instead of loves, that judges instead of showing the same grace shown.
I want to open my arms wide to those who are burdened and worn and like Jesus I want to say “come and let me show you true mercy and grace … true love … a true judgement.” I have a lot to work on. What about you? Is this a struggle in your life?
The verdict in Christ is always “ innocent”. Let’s leave the judging to those elected and to the One proclaimed by Christ.
Posted in Spiritual Insight, The Church | No Comments »
Thursday, August 6th, 2009
I’m am so pumped by our church’s study of Bishop Robert Schnase, “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations.” I’m praying that everyone at McDonough First UMC gets as pumped as I am. This has such a great potential for our church
On this first week we have looked at Radical Hospitality. We discovered we are doing some pretty awesome things in the area of hospitality. We have our PIE Team, Our welcome booklets, our welcome letters, our time of greeting and so much more. I’m very proud that we are doing so much. In fact we are doing a lot more than most churches.
But what are we doing that is Radical? Are we inviting guest (strangers) to sit with us? Are we encouraging a newcomer to visit our small group because it is the best small group? Are we meeting people on the street, in the store, at the lunch table and inviting them to come and be loved, to “feel the love inside and out” that McDonough First UMC has? Stepping out of boxes, comfort zones and encouraging better yet loving people where there are at, can we do that?
The United Meodist Church say we are here to Make disciples for Jesus Christ and the transformation of the world. We do that with Open Heart, Open Minds, and Open Doors. As we celebrate Jesus under that banner can we open our heart to the wanderer and the seeker? Can we open our minds to a different kind of person sitting beside us at worship and holding their hand in prayer? Can we open our doors (of church and life) to let them and be servant to them?
Pretty radical. Pretty Jesus … I’m pumped to be like Jesus
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