Month: January 2008

After the sermon this morning, it was pointed out to me that I spoke of our being able to “do no harm” because Jesus did no harm and that just because Jesus can do something doesn’t necessarily mean that we can do something (e.g. walk on water, water to wine, etc.). I did not mean to imply that this applied to everything that Jesus did. A better formulation would have been that because Jesus commanded that we do no harm and set the example by doing no harm himself we know that it is possible. John Wesley believed that whatever God commands, God will give us grace to accomplish.

Job’s Wisdom for Living from a Lecture by Dr. Alyce M. McKenzie:

• Sometimes the path of wisdom lies in going against well meaning advice of others.
• We are not the center of the universe.
• The best motive for obedience to God is love of God.
• The presence of suffering does not mean the absence of God.
• God will not allow suffering to destroy our relationship with God.
• Offer help and comfort to those who are suffering. [Keep] our theories as to what they did to bring it on themselves [to ourselves].

As announced last Sunday I’ll be preaching a three part sermon series based on the book Three Simple Rules A Wesleyan Way of Living by Reuben P. Job. From the introduction:

“There are three simple rules that have the power to change the world. While they are ancient they have seldom been fully put to the test. But when and where practiced, the world of things as they were was shaken until a new formation, a new world was formed. The Wesleyan movement is a prime example of this new creation that is formed when these three simple rules are adopted as a way of living.”

This is a large claim for “three simple rules,” and I am often suspicious of simple solutions. But while the rules are simple, Job, and before him Wesley, would not claim that they were easy to follow or simple to implement. It’s not easy, but the world can be changed by these rules. We’ll begin talking about the rules and how to follow them this coming Sunday.

The 2008 Report of the Committee on Lay Leadership (previously the Nominating Committee) is now available for download on the “downloads” page of our website. This is the report that tells you who holds what church office and who is on what committee. You can find it here: http://www.coffeyvillefirstumc.org/Downloads.html

The Upper Room (of daily devotional fame) has long had a 24/7 prayer line at 1-800-251-2468. They now have a web form for the submission of prayer requests. When you submit a prayer request your prayer is e-mailed to the Prayer Center within 24 hours and submitted to Covenant Prayer Groups. You can submit a prayer by following this link:
http://www.upperroom.org/prayer_center/

I’m off to Independence First UMC for a meeting of the Montgomery County Long Term Recovery Organization. We’re still in desperate need of case managers for flood recovery. The positions are voluntary, but volunteers will be compensated for mileage. We need case managers to access funds available for flood recovery.

Jenny will be preaching this coming Sunday, the three Sundays after that I plan to preach a sermon series on “Three Simple Rules that will Change Your World.”

Thanks to all the folks who came to the parsonage open house. Elizabeth really appreciated your attendance.

The Upper Room had a great daily devotional on giving for January 2.

I thought I was getting better, but my body had a different idea, still I hope to make it in late this afternoon.