First United Methodist Church - DeRidder, LA

It's not every Sunday that the people of God gather for worship and, as a part of that service, participate in the baptism of an engaged couple and their young boy, a baptism followed by the young couple exchanging marriage vows. As we concluded our Easter Revelations worship series by exploring the last words found in the book of Revelation, we found that, indeed, the text reminds the faithful the day of the Lord is coming soon. However, rather than presenting this as a dire warning to those who have not yet accepted the grace of God through Christ our Lord to get right or die, we saw it as a word of inspiration to the people of the church universal and eternal that there is still time to do all within our power to bring to a hurting world the unbridled joy of the assurance of God's peace.

One of the most common beliefs amongst men and women worldwide is a belief that going to heaven is all about the idea of reconnecting with friends and family - "I just can't wait to get to heaven so I can see ___________" again. Make no mistake about it; the hope all faithful should have is that their loved ones have developed faith in Christ to the extent that, paraphrasing the words of the Apostle Paul, "Death has no victory, death has no sting." However, we discover in some of the final words recorded in Revelation that hoping for heaven just to see loved ones again is at best incomplete, and pretty much not rooted in scripture.

The fourth installment of our Easter Revelations series draws us into the beginning of the conclusion of the book of Revelation. In these first six verses of chapter 21, Jesus provides John with a vision that radically transforms our faith along with our love of God, each other, and all creation. These six verses are, it could be fairly said, ones that, when we truly embody them, at the heart of our understanding - and living out - of the Christian faith. Jesus royally and majestically declares that all of the temporal stuff that consumes far too much of our time, efforts, attention, and devotion, are but temporary due to the coming reality that when Christ comes again in glory, all things are made new. Using the inconvenience of church members who are asked to sit in a different place during worship today, we see that if we have so much trouble simply giving up our favorite seat for a Sunday we cannot begin to imagine how hard it is for someone to give up their way of life and turn to Christ alone for fulfillment, satisfaction, identity, and purpose.

We continue our Easter Revelations series on this Graduate Recognition Sunday by dropping in on the portion of John's Revelation found in chapter 7, verses 9-17. Through the vibrant imagery of the worship of the Lamb, we are confronted with the reality that we can be shepherd or sheep, but not both. If we are not fully committed to being led by Jesus Christ, allowing him to be our shepherd, we put at risk the rewards we have been promised through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ our Lord. Drawing on the experiences of our graduating seniors (who are referenced in several places in today's message) we are challenged to ask ourselves if we have learned the vital lessons of the example of Christ and allowed ourselves to experience the absolutely unbridled joy that comes from joining with the church eternal, universal, and triumphant to sing the praises of our God and King.

In the second installment of our Easter Revelations worship series, we find ourselves in the fifth chapter of Revelation, observing all of creation worshiping Christ. Through the words of this passage, we are confronted with the question of who or what it is that we worship. We also continue our discovery of Revelation to be a story of grace, peace, hope, and salvation - far from the tawdry fear-mongering violent hatefest that is found all too common in people's understanding of the apocalyptic language of Revelation.

IF ONE LOOKS HARD ENOUGH, ONE COULD MAKE THE CASE NO BOOK IN THE BIBLE IS MORE OPEN TO SENSATIONALISM AND MISINTERPRETATION than Revelation. The apocalyptic nature of the text along with the graphical imagery leads one in many different directions, many of which can be terrifying if one is not familiar with the language and imagery of the day. Also, given the commonly-accepted (but simply inaccurate) understanding that Revelation is written as a series of events occurring chronologically to scare people into confessing Christ as Lord before he comes again, one can easily find themselves truly living in fear as certain things come to pass. Looking at Revelation from another perspective, however, finds one discovering not a graphic, scary, fear-mongering warning to 'turn or burn' sensational supermarket tabloid full of fodder that is designed to grab headlines. Indeed, Revelation is full of hope, joy, assurance, and salvation. This Sunday we begin a series where we will look at six portions of Revelation, discovering some essentials for being a faithful follower of the resurrected Christ. We see early in John's Revelation five verses that help us set the stage for diving into the glory of Christ's presence. Verses four through eight of chapter one remind us of some absolutely key concepts that, when we hold fast to them, put us in a position to where instead of living in fear of the second coming of Christ we live in hopeful anticipation for the fulfillment of God's work of reconciliation, redemption, restoration, and renewal between the creator and creation.

If not the most familiar story of the Christian faith, the story of the discovery of the empty tomb on Easter Sunday morning is in the top three. As we, yet again, approach this story on another Easter Sunday, is there anything new to discover? Well...yes. Understanding that scripture is twice-inspired - once when written, once when read - there is a small phrase in this middle of this passage that deserves a deeper look. "Then they remembered..." On this Easter Sunday, we are challenged to ask ourselves what it is that we remember about what Jesus promised us, along with looking at how it is we might improve our memory of scripture's sacred promises.

Maundy Thursday - One of those nights that is seared into the memory of every Christian for the same reason, right? Or is it? Jesus bring four words into the lexicon of the Christian faith that resonates almost 2,000 years later. "In remembrance of me." We draw from what is known as Paul's first letter to the Corinthians the challenge with which every Christian must wrestle in their faith journey...

PALM SUNDAY. A DANGEROUS HOLIDAY IS PALM SUNDAY. DANGEROUS BECAUSE, LIKE SO MANY OTHER DAYS OF SIGNIFICANCE ON THE CHURCH CALENDAR, WE CAN GET LULLED INTO THINKING THERE'S NOTHING NEW HERE. What a mistake that would be, and not simply because as people of the Methodist tradition we believe scripture is twice-inspired...once when written and once when read. As we enter Holy Week, we find ourselves with the masses welcoming Jesus in what is now known as the Triumphal Entry. We find ourselves with our palm branches and our cloaks, shouting Hosanna as we greet our Lord at the beginning of the week in which the faithful gather to celebrate the Passover. Or do we? Maybe instead we find ourselves as the Pharisees, trying to keep everything in order, prim and proper, in accordance with proper decorum. Maybe instead we find ourselves as others in town who aren't paying a bit of attention to everything going on. Luke's narrative of the events of that great day almost 2,000 years ago contains words that are every bit as essential to our faith today as they were when first recorded. As we eavesdrop on Luke's conversation with Theophilus (the one to whom he dictated what is now known as Luke's gospel) we discover a few absolutely crucial truths: Jesus prepares... Jesus knows... Jesus' presence... The truth cannot be...

OUR GOSPEL LESSON FOR THIS WEEK IS, LIKE SO MANY GOSPEL LESSONS, ONE THAT IS RIPE FOR SEVERE MISUNDERSTANDING AND EASILY USED TO WEAPONIZE FOR USE AGAINST A GROUP OF PEOPLE TOWARDS WHOM WE FEEL SUPERIORITY. In all honesty, present in the first eight verses of John's gospel are at least three different subjects on which one could preach - The well-known contrast between Mary & Martha; Judas' indignation at what he perceived to be wasteful use of precious resources; and Christ's words about the poor. (Not to mention his correction of Judas and the fact he's having supper at Lazarus' house.) As we come to worship our Lord and celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion this week, there are just a few highlights from this passage that help to inform our understanding of God's grace in Christ and our responsibilities, privileges, and/or opportunities as followers of Jesus: - We are called to bring to Jesus only...; - When we serve Christ, others in the room...; - For those who accept the call of Christ to do God's work, the reality about this work is...

IT WAS NOT A COORDINATED EFFORT, but is there any more appropriate sermon title for a Fifth Sunday Worship and Potluck than, "THERE'S PLENTY FOR EVERYONE?" This week we encounter one of the more well-known parables of Jesus, the one commonly referred to as the "Prodigal Son." Oftentimes painted as a 'feel-good' uplifting story of God's love for those who have abandoned him, the converse to that narrative is Jesus is being pretty harsh in this story to a few who 'know better' than he when it comes to God's love. In this season of Lent, as we find good news in the midst of the starkness of the Lenten journey, we discover some good news that has the ability to inspire us all to continue striving for holiness and faithfulness to Christ. Amongst this narrative, we will come to see: Jesus loves 'them people' and...; We are not coerced into a life of faith; God welcome is more consistent and constant than we might think; and, The blessings of being a follower of Christ are...

ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS ATTRIBUTES A CHRISTIAN CAN HAVE IS AN OVERABUNDANCE OF SELF-IMPORTANCE, as we see in this week's gospel lesson. Before we go much further, though, let's take a moment to be charitable in understanding why it is that we can so easily fall into this mindset. We measure ourselves against each other in so many ways, as a society and as individuals within the Christian community - and so many of these characteristics mirror one another. To wit: MONEY - We either have it and want to lord it over others - OR - we don't have it and think that if only we did then we would be able to call shots; POSITION - We either hold a high position in society or churches and want to use it as a way get our own way - OR - we think that if only we had it we could really make things happen; SENIORITY - We either believe that since we've been around a long time we have the right to tell others what to do - OR - we haven't been and think that once we do we can call the shots (Go check the parable of the laborers in the vineyard for more details about this fallacy); AND SO MANY OTHERS... In these nine verses from Luke's gospel we discover as part of our Lenten journey that comparing ourselves to others or simply taking things as they see without looking at the big picture can have grave consequences. One finds in these verses, among other things: Something ESSENTIAL to the Christian faith What must TRANSFORM our lives How not doing something KILLS our souls

IN THIS SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT, WE WILL ENCOUNTER VIA LUKE'S GOSPEL WHAT COULD, MOST ASSUREDLY, BE RECOGNIZED as a most misunderstood Jesus, a Jesus that, if we are not careful, is one we, too, could catastrophically misunderstand. One is challenged to find anywhere else in the gospels five verses that give us a full range of who Christ is, who the secular rulers are, and how these examples lay bare before us the challenges that lay before one who seeks to follow Christ faithfully. Leading up to this passage, Jesus has been going about engaging in some truly remarkable and quite unbelievable teachings - in the first thirty verses of this chapter, Jesus: Makes clear that following Christ is about leading a life that turns in a different direction to follow Him faithfully and fully (1-5); Challenges his listeners to have faith but also face reality (6-9); Gives the leaders of the faithful a more clear example of what sabbath-keeping is all about instead of being an excuse to ignore the needs of others (10-17); Exhorts his followers to not underestimate how much power even a little, seemingly insignificant amount of faith is truly transformative (18-21); Reminds them to guard against being too cocky with respect to their own salvation as well as to not be surprised at who really is faithful and who has had a false sense of assurance (22-30). Whew! Given all that, one can justifiably understand some of the religious folk being fearful of Christ's life when they bring him the message that Herod wants him killed. Jesus, of course, does not respond with fear, but instead, through his example, gives his followers examples that are as essential today as when first spoken. To wit, Jesus shows the faithful that we are to be people who: Have a faith that facilitates focus; Have a faith that brings to us the bigger picture; and, Have a faith that demands patience.

As we continue our Lenten Journey in the gospels on this First Sunday of Lent, we come to a passage from Luke that, at first blush, may seem rather familiar to some. However, as we know from our understanding of Christian tradition, every time we encounter the sacred texts, there is something different in our reading and understanding, for we are never the same person as we were the last time we encountered a text. This passage from Luke is often, and quite rightly, referred to as the temptation of Christ. Indeed, it is quite obvious the devil knows the sacred texts of the faith fairly well...but Christ shows that knowledge of the texts is not synonymous with understanding the words of faith. Understanding we are in a season of self-reflection, sacrifice, and prayerful study, this week the text will challenge us all to not reflect so much on the back-and-forth that Jesus has with the devil; rather, we may just discover our own need to be sure not to rest solely on knowing what the scriptures say (although that is VERY important) but also seek to understand the scriptures so that we may live more faithfully in Christ.

Today is one of the most important days in the life of the Christian, individually and communally, as we begin the holy and sacred season of Lent, which we will follow each day to Palm Sunday, through Holy Week, the poignancy of Maundy Thursday, the stark reality of Good Friday, and the unbridled joy of Easter Sunday. The ritual of tonight's service lends itself to the conflicting emotions of comfort and brutal honesty - comfort in knowing that we are engaging in a task that has it's roots in our faith going way back before Christ, where the wearing of ashes was a mark of contrition; brutal honesty in that we are confronted with the reality of our own unworthiness in the presence of God, for we have, as we pray during our communion liturgy, sinned against God in thought, word, and deed - by what we have done and by what we have not done. Ashes we use come from the burning of palms used during last year's Palm Sunday, and I can tell you preparing the ashes is a stinky mess. Stinky for obvious reasons, messy because if the right gust of wind hits while this burning is going on, one can wind up with all sorts of a mess on their hands. However, I think it's apropos in that confession and contrition are stinky and messy, for we are forced to deal with the absolute unpleasantness of sin. THE GREAT THING, THOUGH, is that even at our stinkiest and messiest, we are people of HOPE. While observing Ash Wednesday, and Lent as a whole, would not, I believe, be labeled as 'fun', it does point us to the joy of Easter. To observe a holy Lent requires holding on to hope, for Christ's life, death, and resurrection frees us from the bonds of sin and death to a life of peace. TONIGHT is also a great time to jump back into the life of the church, and a time to invite someone you know looking for a church home, for tonight we begin a transformational journey.

THIS SUNDAY IS ONE OF THE TWO MOST UNIQUE SUNDAYS OF THE YEAR IN OUR CONGREGATION, as we have the joy of jazz music provided by our friends from Beauregard's Courtesy. Along with this, and worshiping together in our 1915 Sanctuary/Fellowship Hall, this Sunday brings an end to our HATE: Enough is Enough worship series by looking at some of Paul's words written in what is known as the Second Letter to the Corinthians. These few verses provide us with a stirring reminder of the most essential characteristics we MUST exhibit if we are to be people who abhor, subvert, and seek to eliminate hatred in our lives and the lives of those within our sphere of influence. To wit: Because of the hope we have in Christ, we dare to be bold, not timid, in proclaiming the all-inclusive love of God. Because of the presence of the Holy Spirit, we have freedom to live as we are called, a freedom that can be found in no one or nothing else, a freedom that demands we live as those transformed in Christ. Because of God's mercy, we have all the motivation we need to endure whatever challenges may come our way, for with God's mercy we do not lose heart. In other words, given that we, along with the church universal, are observing Transfiguration Sunday, we know that one cannot be in Christ and not find themselves completely and radically transformed in thought, word, and deed.

A VERY PLAUSIBLE CASE CAN BE MADE THAT HATRED AND CONTEMPT ARE TWO SIDES OF the same coin, equal and complimentary in their capability to rip apart individuals, families, churches, communities, nations, and the world. They are also equal in their ability to mask themselves as something less sinister, less cruel, less evil, and totally justifiable for a 'good reason.' In his letter to one of the world's earliest churches, one that was not perfect, one that was in an environment where you could make the case the world was hostile to its existence, Paul was having none of the idea there are people who are more or less important in the body of Christ based off their roles, gifts, graces, or abilities. Indeed, Paul knew what is true now was also true then - when well-intentioned people of God seek to put themselves or others on pedestals, or create a hierarchy of who mattered more, the seeds were being planted for the destruction of the church and the faith of the individuals in the church. Why does this matter? Why did Paul spend so much time on this topic? In what way is it relevant to us today? The answer is multi-faceted and rather simple. Amongst other reasons, here are two for us to chew upon as we head into worship this Sunday: God loves everyone equally, because we are all equal in his sight. When we go about officially or unofficially establishing a 'pecking order' we are running counter to the essence of God's relationship with humanity. When we sort ourselves in a 'pecking order' of importance in relationship to others within the church - the body of Christ - or, for that matter, in any other avenue, we are focusing more on our importance rather than the supremacy of Christ. In other words, there is no place within the Christian faith or the church, for us to play or for us to allow others to play, the, "Do you know who I am?" card with respect to putting ourselves or others in categories where some are more important than others. For, when we do so, we are setting ourselves and others up for attitudes of contempt and resentment, which will ultimately lead, intentionally or not, to hatred - which is not at all compatible with Christianity.

ONE CAN BE FORGIVEN IF BY THE TIME THEY GET TO THE END OF A RATHER LONG DOCUMENT THEIR ATTENTION TO DETAIL HAS waned a little since there has already been so much to absorb. To do this with what we call Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, however, might just put us in position to miss some wonderful nuggets of truth, wisdom, and encouragement as we seek to live as God's faithful people. To do this would also rob us of some essential reminders that, if internalized and practiced, might go far in reducing the amount of hatred and violence (physical and rhetorical.) Through the first 11 verses of chapter 15, we are reminded that, at the end of the day, the church universal and local has but one central task - to tell and live out the story of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. It is really that simple. We tell the story so we will not forget. We do not have the pressure to write the story. We know the story is for all generations. We realize the story is not about us at all, and with that reality comes a sense of relief and joy.

THERE IS A CASE TO BE MADE THAT IN THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ONE WORD MORE THAN ANY OTHER HAS BEEN MISUSED AND ABUSED with truly horrific and unintended consequences. It's a four-letter word that probably has been the source of more hatred than anything George Carlin could have imagine. LOVE. Simply by seeing the word, chances are good there have been more than a few thoughts and images that have come to your mind. One of the more unfortunate things about how the Bible has been translated into English over the years is there are more than a few words in the original languages that have come to us in English as 'love.' In one of his most well-known passages, Paul dives into the idea of the greatest of the gifts is love. What is truly amusing about officiating weddings is so many people have the impression this relates to the love between a man and a woman as they establish life together as one in God's sight, when, in fact, there is not a marriage in the world that does not need as its foundation the love to which Paul is referring to here. As we move into the second half of our series on HATE:Enough is Enough, we explore 1 Corinthians 13, picking up what love should look like as we seek to live with ourselves and one another. Chances are good that if we all embraced the reality of love, rather than sentimental emotionalism that is so often attached to the word, ours would be a life of less hatred. Chances are good that if we all embraced the idea that love manifests itself differently in each of us because, as we discovered last week, everyone is different, and we might find ourselves a little more understanding of another, rather than allowing ourselves to get wrapped up in knots because someone is not operating exactly as we think they should, ours would be a life of less hatred. Chances are good that if we all embraced the idea that love is God-focused and not self- or other-focused, we might find ourselves more at peace with God, others, and, most of all, ourselves. Chances are good that if we embrace the idea that love is first and foremost an emotion, subject to the whims that everyone's emotions are in life, hatred will fester within our hearts and minds as we will be focused on feelings rather than reality. This is not to say that feelings are not important, but for us to truly love as God intends, we must be mature enough to see that love being a constant is PRECISELY what we need to withstand the emotional buffeting of the waves of life in a fallen world.

A VERY PLAUSIBLE CASE CAN BE MADE THAT HATRED AND CONTEMPT ARE TWO SIDES OF the same coin, equal and complimentary in their capability to rip apart individuals, families, churches, communities, nations, and the world. They are also equal in their ability to mask themselves as something less sinister, less cruel, less evil, and totally justifiable for a 'good reason.' In his letter to one of the world's earliest churches, one that was not perfect, one that was in an environment where you could make the case the world was hostile to its existence, Paul was having none of the idea there are people who are more or less important in the body of Christ based off their roles, gifts, graces, or abilities. Indeed, Paul knew what is true now was also true then - when well-intentioned people of God seek to put themselves or others on pedestals, or create a hierarchy of who mattered more, the seeds were being planted for the destruction of the church and the faith of the individuals in the church. Why does this matter? Why did Paul spend so much time on this topic? In what way is it relevant to us today? The answer is multi-faceted and rather simple. Amongst other reasons, here are two for us to chew upon as we head into worship this Sunday: God loves everyone equally, because we are all equal in his sight. When we go about officially or unofficially establishing a 'pecking order' we are running counter to the essence of God's relationship with humanity. When we sort ourselves in a 'pecking order' of importance in relationship to others within the church - the body of Christ - or, for that matter, in any other avenue, we are focusing more on our importance rather than the supremacy of Christ. In other words, there is no place within the Christian faith or the church, for us to play or for us to allow others to play, the, "Do you know who I am?" card with respect to putting ourselves or others in categories where some are more important than others. For, when we do so, we are setting ourselves and others up for attitudes of contempt and resentment, which will ultimately lead, intentionally or not, to hatred - which is not at all compatible with Christianity.

ONE OF THE MOST OVERLOOKED SOURCES OF HATEFUL BEHAVIOR is how we look at the roles each of us plays in life, and how we look at the roles others play in life. One of the major reasons we deal with such strong negative emotions that manifest themselves in hateful actions and attitudes is we miss one of the most fundamental beliefs that Christians hold - the role of God in making us who we are because of whose we are. In the first verses found in the twelfth chapter of First Corinthians, we discover the source of all the varieties of gifts that exist in humanity - the Holy Spirit. Today, we dive into these verses to discover that it is not by our work nor our merit that we have been given our specific resources and abilities, but the grace of God alone at work by the love of Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Why does this matter? Well, here are a few reasons: When we accept that our gifts, graces, and abilities come as the result of God's grace and not our self-importance, it gives us the humility required to live a truly faithful and obedient Christian life; When we accept that others' gifts, graces, and abilities come as the result of God's grace and nothing else, it gives us the grace required to appreciate that God works in others just as in us, and allows us to see not others, but God working through others; and, When we accept these truths it frees us from feelings of fear and self-loathing because we embrace the reality that God loves us and has given us a specific set of gifts to use for God's glory, and the freedom to live not by the world's standards but the grace of God alone.

The second installment of our HATE: Enough is Enough worship series finds us in the midst of a few short verse from Acts 8 that give us specific inspiration with respect to how we spread love in the world, understanding that love is the exact opposite of hate. In this week's message, we also hear this series is not about finger-pointing with respect to blame or responsibility to correct hatred, but hopefully a source of inspiration to live a life in which hatred has no room to flourish.

We begin a new series this week, HATE: Enough is Enough, by drawing upon words from the apostle Paul, whose past was the embodiment of one who would be considered by many faithful at the time as one who had done so much to destroy the church that grace was far beyond him. And, yet, we see from Paul's own words how grace is transformational even in those who may not fit the right profile. Through this, we begin a series about a Christian's witness in a world that seems to trade on hate by looking at how there is not one of us who is not a recipient of God's undeserved grace and through that reality are called to extend grace to others.

Our Christmas Eve homily explores three questions: Where Did it Go? How Did We Miss It? How Do We Get it Back? What is the 'it' referred to in these questions? Listen in and find out!

In the last of our "Told Ya So!" Advent series, we hear from the prophet Micah a challenge to our preconceived notions of where to look for a savior - a question that is just as relevant now than ever before because of the many ways in which we look for an escape from reality.

We start our Advent 2018 journey, and the new Christian year, by going deep into the biblical archive to mine wisdom from the prophet Jeremiah, who was charged with the task of bringing good news to a people of hopelessness and despair, deportation and destruction. The good news the prophet brought them had nothing to do with their current situation, but pointed them to a better day to come, a day where God will make everything right. We draw on these words as a reminder to find our hope no where else but in Christ.

In the final worship service of the Christian year, wherein we observe Christ the King Sunday which points us to the promise of Christ's second coming, we draw strength from a few verses in John 18 to ask ourselves the same question Pilate asked of Jesus - "Are you a King?" Much more important than Pilate's answer is ours - is Christ our King?

We conclude our season of reflecting upon A Disciple's Path with a simple yet vital opportunity if we are to be serious about living out our calling to be disciples of Christ - now that we have looked at our vows, it is time for us to commit to ourselves, God, and one another the promise to live as faithful disciples of Christ. Drawing from the powerful imagery found in Joshua 24, we, too, must choose this day whom it is we will serve...

The newest and final vow of membership one takes, a vow to support the ministries of our church with our witness, is in some ways one that seems obvious. However, there are many times and many ways in which our witness obviously is not supporting the ministry of the church (even times when we delusional think we are) both intentionally and unintentionally. Through this vow of supporting our church through the witness of our lives, we have the opportunity to embody some wise words from John's gospel. VETERAN'S DAY - Also included at the end of this podcast is the litany we prayed together on the 100th observance of Armistice Day, the end of World War I.

The imagery of Christ at the Last Supper with his disciples, lowering himself to wash their feet in spite of protests that they should wash his feet, not the other way around, is crucial to understanding that serving God and serving others is the essence of the Christian tradition and the life of a disciple. We discover in 1 Peter that serving the community of faith and the world as a whole reflects not only our role in the community of faith but God's role in designing us for serving in and through the community of faith.

"That's the MAIN thing going on at that church - just watch. They want your money and will talk about it all the time and browbeat you until you pony up." A sentiment that is heard rather frequently, to speak these words is to miss a great deal of Christ's teaching, because Christ openly and unapologetically discussed how people look at and use money is a direct reflection of their faith. In some of Paul's words to Timothy, we discover what may be some uncomfortable yet essential understandings about the role of money and giving as a reflection of our faith, our trust in God, and our understanding about how our giving is, like it or not, a statement of our priorities.

"Does it really matter if I skip out this week? After all, God knows my heart, and, besides there are plenty of other people so no one will miss me that much..." Making a vow to be present in the life of the church, the second vow one makes when joining a United Methodist congregation, very specifically answers that line of thinking, for we understand that being present is not about you, but about God. By the words found in Psalm 100, we discover that being present in the faith community speaks volumes about our understanding of God's grace and goodness, as well as our presence in creation.

(NOTE: OUR APOLOGIES FOR THE SLIGHT FEEDBACK IN THE RECORDING. WE ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THIS IS RECTIFIED BEFORE NEXT SUNDAY.) The very first vow a person makes when joining a United Methodist congregation is to support their church with their prayers. What is it about the role of prayer in the life of the disciple that would lead the church to make this the first vow of membership? Through some of Jesus' words found in the Sermon on the Mount, we will discover that a disciple's prayer makes some definitive and distinctive statements about their faith and their view of God's role in life.

We begin our A Disciple's Path season by coming to a common understanding of what is a disciple and how the path of a disciple's life is defined. Drawing from Luke's gospel, we come to realize A Disciple's Path has four distinct characteristics that bring challenge and comfort to any individual disciple as well as a community of disciples. DISCLAIMER: This week's podcast is an edited recreation of Sunday's message due to an issue with the original recording.

In the final installment of our Goin' Old School series, we look at John Wesley's third rule for the Methodist societies, which can be roughly translated into STAY IN LOVE WITH GOD. Through a few verses in James, we see some distinct characteristics that mark one who is pursuing God with all they have.

In the middle installment of our Goin' Old School worship series looking at John Wesley's three rules for the Methodists, we discover a rule that is kind of a, "No Brainer." Do Good. Drawing upon the words recorded in James' epistle, we see that doing good is maybe a little harder than we might otherwise think, especially when it comes to how we speak.

We are taking a three-week worship journey into our roots as the latest generation of the people called Methodist by looking at three simple rules our founder, John Wesley, had for his United Societies. In this first installment, we explore rule #1 - DO NO HARM - by wading through some wise words from the tenth chapter of Hebrews that challenge us in our desire to be faithful to Christ and His Church.

In the last installment of our, "It's Academic," worship series, we explore a few verses in the sixth chapter of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, wherein we discover Christians are to have a standard dress in which they live their lives, and are challenged to look at the parallels between a college football pre-game tailgate and our devotion (or lack thereof) to Christ.

We draw from the wisdom of the Proverbs this Sunday to be reminded of the basic essential of the faith that God is always going ahead of us to prepare a place for our success as disciples of Christ. Also, we are confronted with the truth that discipleship requires 'growing up' into the life of restoration, redemption, reconciliation, and wholeness that is found in Christ alone.

Ever feel as though we are all alone and/or no one could possible understand our situation? In the next-to-last installation of our "Be it Therefore Resolved..." series, we catch five brief verses from Hebrews that address the reality that we are, indeed, not the first, as in Christ God experienced the reality of full humanity and every emotion.

Drawing upon the old-fashioned party line that was reality for so many Americans in the 20th century, we see in this week's excursion to Mark's gospel that following Christ means that as we follow his example and his teachings, life will change and it will be noticed because encountering and embracing Christ is a transformative experience.

The first of two consecutive Sundays in the first chapter of Mark's gospel calls us to the reality that if we are truly serious about following Christ, many things in our lives will change...and this change comes about because our motives behind our actions are transformed as our souls are awakened to the presence and power of God's grace at work within us by love of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the second of our "Be it Therefore Resolved..." New Year's worship series, we find in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians the sometimes uncomfortable yet absolutely essential reality that as ones who have been given, by grace alone, God's eternal and relentless love through salvation by faith we have responsibilities that transcend our personal felt needs and wants.

In the first of our New Year's worship series - Be it Therefore Resolved: Beliefs and Truths that Can Transform Your Life in the New Year - we explore Ephesians 3:1-12 and discover that through Christ's life, death, and resurrection, ALL are invited and welcomed to share in God's creative and redemptive story, no matter where we have been or what may have been in our past!

Christmas Eve - the culmination of the Advent journey! We finish our "Why?" series by addressing the most fundamental question of all - "Why Him?" Why the one born in the most unlikely of circumstances to the most unlikely of people? Why would God go about saving the world in THIS way???

One of the great challenges for the faithful when Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday is the natural inclination to look at the morning and evening as the same day - but yet in order to get to Christmas Eve/Day we must journey through the Fourth Sunday of Advent, on which we light the candle of Love. A few verses from later in the first chapter of Luke's gospel illumine for us the great gift of Love that is incarnate in the Messiah.

The third installment of our "Why? A Worship Journey to Christmas" worship series leads us into the words of the Psalmist as found in Psalm 126, words about Joy that sometimes elude us in the helter-skelter of life. Remembering, Attention, and Attitude are central to our embracing and manifesting the joy found in Christ alone.

In the second of Why? A Worship Journey to Christmas worship series, as we light the candle of Peace we explore 2 Peter 3 and find that peace is far from the simple absence of violence...Perspective, Reflection, Manifestation, and Gift are some ideas that we discover from these timeless words as we await Christmas...

Our Advent worship series - "Why? A Worship Journey to Christmas" series with, "Why Hope?" Drawing from Christ's words in Mark 13:24-37, we see the rationale that an Advent wreath begins with the candle of hope, for finding hope in anyone or anything other than Christ has profound and lasting implications.

We wrap up the Christian year on Christ the King Sunday by exploring briefly Christ's words about the second coming as recorded in Matthew 25. Specifically, we come into realizing that Christ's coming in glory is a WHEN not IF scenario, that when Christ comes again it will be evident who has truly followed him, and how our attitude towards the marginalized of society speaks volumes about our sharing in the eternal reign of Christ.