Matthew 23:29-31 New Living Translation
 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed, and you decorate the monuments of the godly people your ancestors destroyed. Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.’ “But in saying that, you testify against yourselves that you are indeed the descendants of those who murdered the prophets
 
“Fear will drive men to any extreme; and the fear inspired by a superior being is a mystery which cannot be reasoned away. Being immeasurable, it is unbearable when there is no presumption or guarantee of its benevolence and moral responsibility: in other words, when it has no official status. The legal and conventional superiority of Herod and Pilate, and Annas and Caiaphas, inspires fear; but the fear, being a reasonable fear of measurable and avoidable consequences which seem salutary and protective, is bearable, whilst the strange superiority of Christ and the fear it inspires elicit a Shrek of ‘Crucify Him’ from all who cannot divine its benevolence. Socrates has to drink the hemlock, Christ to hang on the cross, and Joan to burn at the stake, whilst Napoleon, though he ends in St. Helena, at least dies in his bed there; and many terrifying but quite comprehensible official scoundrels die natural deaths in all the glory of the kingdoms of the world, proving that it is far more dangerous to be a saint than to be a conqueror.” -B. Shaw

​Galatians 5:22-23 New Living Translation
 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
 
There are many different avenues to explore when learning to live in Christ Jesus. Jesus taught parables to help us understand what it meant to follow him. All of the epistles at some point or another explain how we are to be imitators of God. With so many avenues out there; it can become an overwhelming endeavor to figure out what it means to live a life in Christ.
 
Paul saw this in the Galatian church. In chapter five, he gives them a long list of behaviors and attitudes that are not fitting for disciples of Christ. We as parents give our kids a list of things not to do or say. Sometimes we say “Stay away from this and you’ll turn out all right.” However too many restrictions without hopeful yeses create more than boundaries; they create identity, belonging, and purpose dead ends. The no’s declare a boundary, but they don’t provide a hopeful way forward toward a new vision of living.
 
Paul’s list doesn’t end with all the “no’s”, he understands that these people need a hopeful way forward. In a turnaround, Paul lists ways of behaving that are indicative of followers of Christ Jesus. He qualifies these behaviors not as fruits of individual action, but as the fruit of the Spirit.
 
The behaviors that come from the Holy Spirit, not from the individual are ways of living that are a result of being connected with God. For thr first two-thirds of this chapter, Paul is drawing our attention to how our selfishness disconnects us from God. Then he quite simply says if you put aside your selfishness, then the Holy Spirit can do theses amazing things through you.
 
So let me ask you to ponder on this: What will you need to do to live with the fruit of the Spirit more instinctually?  

Greetings, my Brothers and Sisters in faith. How many of us, on this shared spiritual journey, struggle each morning to start on the right foot seemingly. Some days, there seems to be insufficient coffee, tea, or our favorite soda to get us going. We rush around as if we will be late, even when we know we will be early or right on time. How many of you start your day in prayer? I don’t mean a prayer as we rush to work, school, and other activities. I mean, truly start your day in prayer.
 
Jews begin each day with Modeh Ani, a short, two-line prayer that opens by referring to God as the eternal and living king. The prayer speaks of sleeping as a minor type of death in which the soul leaves the body to spend the night with God. The prayer thanks God for returning the soul to the body, enabling the individual to live another day. This prayer is generally said when one first awakes while still in bed. 

Here is the prayer: 
מוֹדֶה אֲנִי האשה אומרת: מודָה לְפָנֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם שֶהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְחֶמְלָה, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ:
 I am thankful before You, living and enduring King, for you have mercifully restored my soul within me. Great is Your faithfulness.

So let us not forget who we are, children and people of the Most High. Allow us to begin our days with this beautiful prayer. Let us start our days with a focus on God, leaning on him for all that we will need each day.

Matthew 6:16-18 New Living Translation
And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

I have been asked in the pasted, what is the season of Lent in the church? Lent is a season of reflection and sacrifice. Lent is also a time of life and promise. So many people begin the Lenten journey to Easter with the custom of giving up something they feel is holding them back from a more profound and more vital faith in their lives. For some of us, it’s something silly like Girl Scout cookies (even if they are your favorite.)  But for far more many than you think, it’s something much deeper, pulling them away and holding them back from a faith and life they can only dream of. We give up things during the Lenten season to remind ourselves of the suffering and pain that we know Jesus will experience at the end of the season when we observe Holy Week and the crucifixion. We also give up things to be reminded of our dependence on God. The primary purpose of “giving up” stuff in Lent is to bring us closer to God, prioritize God, put God in our minds and lives, and make God the focal point. There is no need to tell everybody what you’ve given up for Lent–if you’ve given up anything. Keep it secret. It’s between you and God. 

I want to challenge all of you to something. I challenge you to pick up one of the many books out there that speak over the writings and/or theology of John Wesley. Read a little every day during this season of life. Grow in your understanding of the founder and the methodist movement. Then, choose to seek to understand what it means to you to be a Methodist. As we spend this time growing in our faith and understanding who we are, we are bound to see how Christ impacted John’s life and how he speaks to us today. I leave you with this final thought from scripture. 

2 Peter 3: 17-18 New Living Translation
 You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen. 

​What a beautiful time of the year it is. As the leaves start changing colors, It reminds me that Thanksgiving is approaching. I am thankful for many things in my life, from being the pastor at such a tremendous, loving, caring, and passionate Church to the four girls who bring such joy to my and my wife's lives. To say that I feel God's blessings in my life is an understatement. It reminds me daily of what and who I am: a believer in God and a follower of Christ Jesus!

In the book of Psalms‬ ‭95:1-3‬ ‭NRSV it reads:‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
   "O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with Thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods."

So I have some questions for you to think about. 
1.    Are you giving your thanksgivings to God the Father?
2.    Are you truly thankful for the blessings he has placed in your life?

Both of these questions can be answered quickly at first, but I encourage you to give each of them some serious thought. Giving God all your thanksgivings is much more than just telling him "Thank You" for the good in your life. Even the storms in our lives can produce things we are truly thankful for. 

Take a look at the news, and it won't take you long to see as much negativity as one can stomach. It seems to me that there is much more of a focus on the things that are negative and divide us (as individuals and as a country) than things that can bring us together. Now, don't get me wrong; there are good stories of positive things happening all around the world, yet that's not what seems to be "newsworthy " all too often. 

Being thankful for the blessings God gives can be found all over our lives and even in King David's life. David writes in Psalms‬ ‭28:7‬ ‭NRSV:‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him."

David knows that he has his moments of weakness, yet he knows and trusts in God. That's a trust in God some of us have a hard time finding in our own lives. Have no fear; the more you study God's word and spend time with him in prayer, the more you will find yourself like King David, trusting fully in God and not on yourself or in others.

​What a busy time of the year it is. Kids and young adults returning to school usher in a time known as "fall." I don't know about you, but fall seems to go by so fast. Before we know it, football season is over, and basketball is taking the forefront of our local sports season.
 
 As the leaves turn beautiful shades of red, yellow, orange, and even dark green, it reminds me that we often don't see the seasons changing because we are so busy with everything we are involved in. There is an old saying I'm sure most of you have heard: "Stop and smell the roses."  Let me ask you this: with all that is happening in our world today, when was the last time you just stopped and smelled the bouquet of flowers (wild and/or at home) that seemed to fill the air with sweet aromas. At the end of the day, I can't help but stop at the garden just outside the back doors. I pray, of course, while I'm there. With my eyes closed, I can understand why the gardens in Jerusalem in Jesus' day and even today are such popular places. If you listen closely, you can hear our Heavenly Father's still, small voice calling your name. 
 
I remember the First time I heard "In the Garden" as a child. It wasn't some well-known singer who sang it the first time. It wasn't in the church I grew up in, either. It was a little old lady who lived down the street from my grandparent's house in Plainville, Connecticut. She was sitting on her front porch, like most people did in the late 80's, as I rode by on my bike. She wasn't singing too loud, but I could still hear her. I asked my grandmother about it when I returned to my grandparent's house. She looked at me and smiled as she softly sang it to me in the living room. I sat next to her chair on the floor. From that moment on, I fell in love with that hymn. It is one of my all-time favorite hymns to sing, and I even sit and listen to it. 
 
Do you know who wrote it? His name is Austin Miles. He wrote the hymn from 1912 to 1913. There's a beautiful story behind his writing, and I look forward to sharing it with you all on September 29th in worship service. But here is a little bit of it to hold you over till then. 
 
Austin Miles was a pharmacist who served as editor and manager at Hall-Mark Publishers. His great-granddaughter said he told her how he wrote this beautiful hymn in a cold, dreary, and leaky basement in his home in Pitman, New Jersey. He speaks of how he was in that place as he usually was when reading his beloved Bible. He was reading the Book of John Chapter 20 when he came to verses 11-18.
 
Before he could even think, the picture of that text came to life. He could see Mary standing there in the early morning. He could see how she interacted with Christ, not knowing it was him at first.  He could see the smile on her face and the joy in her eyes as she ran back to tell the disciples what had happened and what she had seen. He wrote that hymn that day, and many still sing it. I can't tell you how many times it has helped me remember who I am. A beloved child of the highest God.
 
We all need that reminder from time to time, don't we? So let's do this, stop and smell the roses. Look for a quiet place outdoors where we can go and be in the beauty of God's creation.  Read your Bible there, sing a few hymns if you like, and listen because God is still calling and wants to walk with you, talk with you, and make sure you know you are his own. He wants to share the joy he has as you are both there, in this place where no other has ever known.

Jesus told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20 New Living Translation

"Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!"
Matthew 10:7-8 New Living Translation

Over the last week, these two passages have impacted my life more than they have in the past, or so it seems. I have felt like there is more to be done. More than just what we already do as a church in our community. When we look at all we do as a church and as a congregation, it never ceases to amaze me just how much we do. We live out all that Jesus has commanded us to do.

The Hymn "Freely, freely," found on page 389 in our hymnals, has its roots in these two scriptures. We sing, "He said: 'Freely, freely, you have received, Freely, freely give; Go in My name, and because you believe Others will know that I live.'" But have we let it impact our lives the way Jesus has meant it to? Have we freely accepted the gift he has given to us? Or have we just said we believe and act as if we genuinely care about those we are interacting with as a church body? I can only speak about what I know and what I have seen. This church changes lives; it has helped many in our community in different ways. We have fed the hungry, helped with clothes, and found shelter for those in need. We have helped in many ways, and we hold faithful to the teachings of Jesus.

Let God's love flow through you to this world. Be the light God has made you to be. Never give up hope for a better day. Remember that God has called the broken and the lost people to hope and forgiveness—many blessings.

​Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let's talk about grace in our lives.
 
Depending on who you ask, grace will have a different meaning. Grace, at least to me, is a journey of brokenness, forgiveness, growth, and understanding that God saw fit that we would be his people. For us believers and followers of Christ Jesus, our holiness begins from Christ's actions on the cross. Our lives are meant to be different from the rest of the negative actions of the world. We are called to have no other God but Yahweh. We should love God and each other just as he has loved us. Jesus showed us what it means to uphold these two great commandments through his actions and teachings. Our relationship with God will be reflected in our actions in this world. 

With Jesus's death on the cross, we know God's prevenient grace for the world. This grace carries us through life until we hear salvation's good news through Jesus. Then, we are met by justifying grace at the foot of the cross. This grace helps us accept God's pardon and gift for us. As we grow in both knowledge and faith, we encounter sanctifying grace. This grace leads us to holiness until we hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." 
​
Our entire lives as believers are a walk of faith. We will stumble, but with the help of God and others, we will get back up again. God created us in his image and is the Holy One, so we are also holy as we accept Christ as our Savior.

​Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As many of you may know, I use technology a lot in my day-to-day life. I use many different apps (both on my phone and my tablet). Let me encourage you to use one of the apps I use. It is the "You Version" Bible app. On this app, I have been working through a four-day plan called "Marked by Joy." I want to share one of the daily devotionals with you.

                First, you will need to read Matthew 21:33-46

Jesus' best sermons were stories. A story in Matthew 21 was one of his most influential. We know that because of what happened at the end. Some people who heard him tell the story tried to arrest him. Perceiving that Jesus was speaking about them, they got the story's point as it dealt them a painful jab.

They saw themselves as the rebellious tenants—stewards who had tried for a thousand years to be owners. For generations, they used every means to silence the voice of the servants God sent to them. And they were going to do the same thing to Jesus. That's when they tried to arrest him.

Jesus' story has amazingly relevant undertones for our day when our standard of living is so high, our ability to possess is so well-developed, and our claims to ownership are so conspicuous—and yet, all the while, we're burdened with anxiety, guilt, emptiness, and boredom.God hasn't left us alone despite our role as wicked tenants in the vineyard. Despite our sins, God is still here in love and forgiveness, exercising his gracious rule over our lives.
                Suppose you refuse to acknowledge the ownership of God and your position as a steward of life. In that case, anything you do will have no meaning, beauty, or fullness. Even the marvelous wonders of material things—material created by God—won't give you happiness. You'll descend into a downward spiral of neurotic anxiety and unhappy pleasure seeking, for your constant denial of God's central place won't get rid of him.
God wants us to enjoy all that he has given us. But we can only do it if we appreciate him at the center. Every joy radiates from that central joy.
​
Spend a few moments reflecting on the goodness of God. Where have you seen God's forgiveness and mercy in your life?

                Please think about this question at the end of your day, every day. If you like to journal about your thoughts as you study your Bible, as I do, take time to put your thoughts into writing. Remember that you are loved, and we can and should all strive for joy in our relationships with God and each other. Many Blessings.

I would like to discuss something that some people are struggling with. With everything that is happening in the world today. One question I have been asked is, how does life go from something good to something that does not reflect the light of God in our lives?

                It's remarkable how a single moment, a seemingly trivial shift, can set off a chain reaction that alters everything. Consider the instance when a person loses their temper with their coach, leading to expulsion from the team, abandonment of their sport, and a descent into a life of crime. It may sound extreme, but it underscores the potential impact of seemingly insignificant actions. 

                So, how does the average life change in a negative manner? What makes a person go from a bright and hopeful future to a dark and depressing place they never thought possible? The specifics are different for each person, but underneath it all is a life lived for ourselves. It's selfishness…self-centeredness…doing what we want when we want without regard for whether it's the right thing to do or what God might think of it. Of course, we cannot forget that personal trauma brought on by the actions of others, our own decisions and actions, and life circumstances play a role in our decision-making abilities. I'm not saying that someone who tries to follow God never experiences problems. Still, the life-altering messed up stuff we're talking about here always comes from someone's selfish decisions (even if someone else made a decision that affected your life in tremendous ways…it was still ultimately your decision). 

                "Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction."  Psalms 1:1-6 NLT

                If you think you are standing firm, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NLT
 
                Are there areas in your life where you've withheld control from God? Are there aspects where you're aware of living contrary to God's will but haven't been ready to return to Him? If the answer is 'yes,' then it's time to surrender to God. Commit to turning back and following His path. Because even the smallest change can lead to a significant transformation in your life.