March 31, 2012

The Welcoming Church

Read: John 1:1-5

GPUMC has been officially designated by our denomination as a “Welcoming Church,” leading me to ponder what this designation could and should mean to all of us in the GPUMC family. As the hymnist stated, the church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord, our Saviour … and the one chosen by God to redeem His children and return them to their heavenly home.

Over the last two millennia, many branches of Christianity have appeared in response to the diverse perceived needs of God’s children across the globe. Jesus’ message of love and forgiveness can be distorted or ignored if fear is allowed to rule in the mind not wholly given over to love. Differing only in degree, all of humanity suffers from a separation-induced anxiety and sense of weakness. Often repressed, fear, guilt, and anger can be expressed in thoughts, words, and deeds that are less than loving, and fall short of the glory of God’s creation. Yet a deep-seated desire, indeed need, to return our minds wholly to our One Source calls from deep within us. It is like an ancient melody that we remember faintly at present, yet we recall how happy we were when we heard it clearly, and how we loved those who were with us then.

As God is creator and sustainer of us all, differences in national origin, race, educational background, economic status, and social or political affiliation become unimportant and rather meaningless when seen from the spiritual perspective. God is spirit, the Bible tells us. It also tells us that we are made in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, our essential selves are spiritual, not physical. Unlike seeing through the body’s eyes, the vision of Christ beholds the unity and wholeness of God’s creation. The gracious gift of vision offered by the Holy Spirit reflects love rather than fear, inclusion rather than exclusion, forgiveness rather than condemnation.

Over time, many have walked through GPUMC’s doors to worship, to pray, to laugh and to cry, to share a portion of their life’s journey and, above all, to seek the transforming love and power of God revealed to us in the life and teachings of Jesus the Christ. And many more will do so in the years to come.

As a church we have enormous potential to transform darkness into light, using all our resources for the healing of the cherished sons and daughters of God who are – each and every one – our brothers and sisters in Christ. We all have been endowed by our creator with gifts and graces, talents and abilities of worth and usefulness to God’s plan of salvation. To offer hope and helpfulness and the healing power of love and forgiveness is to continue the earthly ministry instituted by Jesus. The enduring appeal and joy of sharing is an enlightening experience that brings truth into our awareness, and the recognition that what was given to us in our creation has never truly been lost.

God’s eternal light is found within us all, to be accepted and allowed to radiate out into the world, awakening the minds of all who come to us for help on the journey back to God. Light always shines away darkness and grows in intensity as it is put to work by sharing it with others.

Jesus’ need for our commitment to continue His ministry remains undiminished over centuries of time, and is likely to be today even more crucial. We have wonderful potential to become a great beacon of God’s love and light in our community and beyond as we welcome all with sincerity and genuine appreciation into the work, worship, and fellowship of GPUMC. Our church’s future will be as bright as we dare make it. Is this not an exciting and energizing thought? In our reception of the Christ in all will the power of Christ be revealed. The grandeur of creation is contained in all of us if it is contained in any of us. Let us see it then in each and every person out of sincerest gratitude to the Author of life, in whom we have our eternal home.

These are the thoughts that came to me. They but lay a foundation. It is now up to each of us to bring the radiant, healing “Welcoming Church” into being!

Very truly yours,
Doug Dykstra

March 30, 2012

Desideratum

Read: Proverbs 4:1-9

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become bitter or vain, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the Universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefor be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all of its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. Enjoy live. It is NOT a dress rehearsal.

Glenn DeLodder

March 29, 2012

The Language of Love

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

I recently began taking sign language classes. I’m finding it very challenging to communicate without speaking. I’m frustrated when I try to express myself but haven’t learned or have forgotten the proper sign for certain words.

While thinking about how we communicate with one another, I realize that I already have the ability to speak fluently without using my voice. The Christian language – the language of love – can be spoken without words. We, as disciples of Christ, are able to tell others they are loved without speaking, by our kind gestures and actions.

I recently heard a beautiful song on the radio that expressed this idea. The simple lyrics of the song, “We Can Be Kind,” describe how we can communicate the teachings of Jesus without using words:     

“We can be kind. We can take care of each other.
We can remember that deep down inside we all need the same thing.
And maybe we’ll find if we are there for each other,
    that together we’ll weather whatever tomorrow may bring.
    And it’s not enough to talk about it, not enough to sing a song,
We must walk the walk about it. You and I, do or die, we’ve got to try to get along. …
And maybe we’ll find true peace of mind, if we always remember WE CAN BE KIND.”

We should all remember that there is a universal symbol for love.

Jan Versical

March 28, 2012

A Testament to Love

Read: Isaiah 40: 29-31

Fish and tater tots may be yummy, but certainly not creative or even healthy. It was all I had the strength to make after Gary and I had spent two and a half days clearing and chipping hundreds of tree limbs. As I age, things that wouldn’t have fazed me suddenly require ibuprofen. Not that Gary and I have slowed down very much – we just whine more afterwards.

I have a new inspiration that encourages me for 25 to 30 years down the road. As most of you reading this know, my dad recently had to be hospitalized because of his heart. He always seems invincible. (No doubt he likes that description – although he might prefer the word perfect!) Not long before that, my mother lost sight in one of her eyes. She’s had a lousy back for years so taking away her depth perception really messed up her mobility – or at least her comfort with her mobility. A long walk down a long hospital hallway should have been a huge stumbling block. But it wasn’t. I have a witness to that. When Charlie took her to the hospital to see Dad, the long hallway looked out of reach. When he asked if she could do it, she said, “Well I have to.” And she did. I wanted to come stay with her so she wouldn’t be home alone, but she convinced me that she could do it on her own. And she did. An amazing strength rose up in her because the man she had loved and relied on for 55 years needed her. I’ve always known they love each other. I am so overwhelmed and moved by the strength of that love – the power it has for both of them. It shows us all how powerful love really is.

The reading from Isaiah (if you haven’t read it, do it, you’ll be glad you did.) is full of hope. Frail, scared, weary, young, old… God channels His strength through us. He sees us through seemingly impossible moments. My parents’ devotion to each other is a wonderful testament to love. It’s not a one way thing. Each gives love and strength to the other. And when they were both beaten down and weary, God stepped in and provided the strength. His devotion is a testament of His love for us. I want to be sure that’s not a one way thing either. In 25 to 30 years I may not be clearing hundreds of tree limbs anymore, but I know that I will have the strength to do anything I need for love.

Thought for the day: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Prayer: Dear God, Thank you so very much for the strength You give us. The love You have for us is beyond our understanding. Help us to approach that kind of love for You and the people in our lives. Amen.

Jacki Rumpp

March 27, 2012

Candy

Read: UMH #480

One of the many things I love about our church family is that we pray for others in their time of need. So it was for my friend Candy Lakin who battled ovarian cancer for three years. We prayed for her, and sent her a prayer quilt.

She was very appreciative of those prayers and her quilt which she used for naps on her couch during her chemotherapy days.

My friend passed away this summer. I thank you for your prayers for her, and I am sharing a poem by Charlotte Tall Mountian that was used on the program for her memorial service. It will give you an idea of the person you offered up in prayer.

Nancy Grose

For Love of the World
For the love of a tree,
    she went out on a limb.
For the love of the sea,
    she rocked the boat.
For the love of community,
    she mended fences.
For the love of the stars,
    she let her light shine.
For the love of a good time,
    she sowed seeds of happiness.
For the love of the Goddess,
    she drew down the moon.
For the love of nature,
    she made compost.
For the love of a good meal,
    she gave thanks.
For the love of family,
    she reconciled differences.
For the love of creativity,
    she entertained new possibilities.
For the love of her enemies,
    she suspended judgment.
For the love of herself,
    she acknowledged her worth.
And the world was richer for her.

March 26, 2012

Prescription for a Blessed Life

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6 (KJV)
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84: 11 (KJV)

Symptoms to be treated:
Restlessness, unhappiness, dissatisfaction with life, feeling useless, lack of purpose and direction, emptiness in life, resentment over your circumstances

Prescription and dosage:
Practice a daily dose of “faith-filled activities” to keep in touch with God. Turn every area of your life over to his direction and influence.

How to Use:
Follow one or more of the following activities each day to relieve symptoms. Benefits improve when taking part in multiple activities repeatedly.
•    Read and meditate on God’s word.
•    Pray at all times: for yourself, your family and friends; for the leaders of your church, community and nation; for those who hurt and those who hurt others; for those who are lonely; for those who don’t know God’s love.
•    Pray for God’s direction in your life and discernment to know his will.
•    Reflect an attitude of gratitude. Identify all the things you can be grateful for including those non-material things like freedoms and privileges.
•    Seek ways to show God’s love for others. Follow the model of Christ.
•    Study the Bible and other inspirational, positive writings.
•    Help those you can in thought, word or deed.
•    Make life choices that edify the mind, body and soul.
•    Think beyond yourself to the needs of others.

To obtain maximum benefits:
To obtain the maximum benefit of this prescription, seek fellowship with other Christians. Participate in the life of the church and its activities. Participate in the life of your neighborhood and community. Make yourself available to serve and not just be served.  Do not neglect God or fail to acknowledge his authority. Seek the positive and be the positive.

Precautions and Side Effects:
Do not stop this prescription without consulting your pastor and looking into your soul. Activities contrary to the above will only provide temporary distractions and not remedy the symptoms. These activities do not guarantee worldly possessions, they do not guarantee freedom from difficulties in life, they do not guarantee good health, they do not guarantee freedom from persecution, and they do not promise fame or an easy life. They do promise God’s presence, comfort and hope in all life’s circumstances.
If followed with a sincere heart, this prescription has no adverse effects.  When practiced the activities will yield the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Do not fail to thank God for his mercy and grace. Do not be misled into seeking praise and honor for yourself.

Prayer Focus: For those who do not recognize and cultivate God’s blessings.

Prayer:  Thank you God that I am a child of the King and that you will provide all that I need. Forgive me for failing to acknowledge you and follow your direction for my life.  Thank you for the fellowship of my Christian family.

Pat Deck

March 25, 2012

UMH #606 – Come, Let Us Use the Grace Divine

Come, let us use the grace divine,
and all with one accord,
in a perpetual covenant
join ourselves to Christ the Lord;
Give up ourselves, thru Jesus' power,
his name to glorify;
and promise, in this sacred hour,
for God to live and die.

The covenant we this moment make
be ever kept in mind;
we will no more our God forsake,
or cast these words behind.
We never will throw off the fear
of God who hears our vow;
and if thou art well pleased to hear,
come down and meet us now.

Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
let all our hearts receive,
present with thy celestial host
the peaceful answer give;
to each covenant the blood apply
which takes our sins away,
and register our names on high
and keep us to that day!

Charles Wesley, 1762

March 24, 2012

Welcoming as Friends

Read: 2 Corinthians 13:11-14

My Dad just turned 89 this January and my Mom will follow him in March. They made a decision over 15 years ago to move into an Oberlin Ohio assisted living facility that encourages independent living for as long as a person is able, then they are provided skilled nursing care when necessary. It has “been necessary” for the last year and a half … although they still have the ability to make an occasional excursion. They were able make a trip to Michigan a couple of weeks before Christmas to hear Sue and me sing with the Judelaires, a holiday season choir that performs 7-8 concerts in the month prior to December 25th.

What does this have to do with a Lenten Devotional? Well, when Mom and Dad came to hear our holiday choir, it was probably one of the last times they will be healthy enough to make trips. They enjoyed our concert and a great meal at one of the Nautical Mile restaurants.

But, one of the equally important activities, particularly appreciated by my Mom, was their attending GPUMC on the Sunday after the concert. The welcoming hugs and kisses from all our friends at GPUMC for my parents were warm and overwhelmingly inviting. The regular outpouring of affection to them was just a natural reflection of our Church and how we treat guests both new and from times past.

Thanks to all the members of our congregation for being the people who you are … welcoming both as Christians and as friends.

Let us work to continue to make our Church a viable institution where this welcoming approach will carry on for many years.

David DeWitt

March 23, 2012

House Cleaning – Heart Clearing

Read: Philippians 4:8-9

Discard the Unsightly, Value the Good, Clean the Dirty, Tend the True, Bring in the Fresh, Make Room for a Guest.

Some people do seasonal cleaning and sorting out of their homes, closets, cupboards, behind the sofa, around the doors and windows. Some people do smaller cleaning chores on a regular basis, never having to turn the whole house upside down at once. Then there are some, as they age (no names will be mentioned here) to whom those dirty corners and unsightly spots become less important.

Twice a year, GPUMC offers the opportunity for each of us to get rid of some of the clutter that we might otherwise go on living with. Thank goodness for the semi-annual Rummage Sales. But everyone has to consider what is important and what has just become disorganized clutter, making life more complicated. And, since we make the effort to clean our houses, to make room for those things that add meaning to our lives.

At Christmas time, we sing
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let Earth receive her King,
Let every heart prepare Him room ….”

For some, it is easier to rid our houses of clutter than to remove the clutter in our minds and hearts. How do we do that? Choose more wisely what we read? the TV programs we watch? our activities? even our friends? Again, GPUMC offers help for this type of cleaning, too. There are Advent and Lenten Studies, UMW offers a Book/Bible study once a year, and spiritually motivating activities year-round. Regular attendance on Sunday morning should not be overlooked. Some people gain by singing in the Choir, playing the Bells, or providing other music to enhance our worship experience. With clutter removed from our hearts, there is room for Christ and all that He offers. Then, “Heaven and nature will sing!”

My youngest sister died recently. My family has been very supportive as has my church. Through times of illness or grief it is so helpful to be with people who can nourish our spirits. Thanks be to God.

Carol Ann Maleitzke

March 22, 2012

Not About Show Business

Read: Matthew 6:1-6

I’m pretty busy most Sunday mornings. Lots to do, little time to do it. I’ve sung in the choir for years and I am never nervous about a choir anthem. After all, if I don’t know a passage well, there’s always somebody next to me who will sing it right, and I can jump back in when I am more sure of my part.

Once in a while, added to other things on my Sunday morning agenda, I play in the bell choir. I am almost always nervous before we play bells. In the bell choir, there’s no safety net. The person next to you is playing completely different bells, so they can’t cover for you. Now, if I get a little confused and fail to play a note, probably no one will notice BUT, if I play a WRONG note, everybody will hear it. Short of shooting an irritated look at the person next to me (implying THEY had rung the wrong bell) there’s no defense. I have to be extra careful to keep my place and have the right bells in my hands.

The bell choir played last Sunday, the day after this year’s “Palooza” event. I was tired, I had missed a couple of rehearsals, I was playing one more bell than I usually do and I was nervous. As I often do, perhaps with extra fervor this day, I said a silent prayer, asking God to keep me mindful that what we do is not a performance but an offering to the congregation in His name. You know what? As usual, I felt better after that silent prayer and played well, or at least well enough that nobody noticed a couple of omissions.

So there’s an answer to prayer? It would seem so but, in case I had any doubt, let me quote from Judy May’s sermon that very day: “Christianity is not about show business. . .” Her context was different than mine, but she had spoken the very words I needed to hear that particular morning. As far as I’m concerned, God answered my prayer TWICE that morning, and perhaps Charlie van Becelaere’s too, as I was inspired by these events to write this devotion.

Fred Van de Putte

March 21, 2012

Imitators of Christ

Read: Colossians 1:15-17

Paul tells us over and over in his letters to be imitators of Christ, to have the same mind in us that was in Christ. I’ve always thought of that mostly in terms of humility, and how to treat others, I suppose; sort of a Golden Rule admonition. Recently, though, I’ve been thinking about Him more deeply – inviting Him into all my activities – and I’m not so sure that’s really all Paul meant.

Our main experience of Jesus is as our Lord and Saviour – our Redeemer who paid for our sins by His death on the cross, but obviously He’s much more than that. As we read in Colossians, Jesus is the Creator, just as are the Father and the Holy Spirit. He will also be the Re-Creator at the end of the age (“Behold, I am making all things new.” - Revelation 21:5).

I’m thinking that our urge to be creative – something that’s really strong in all of us until we somehow “grow up” and decide that creativity is something only certain other people have – is really a part of how we’ve been created in His image. We’ve been created to be creative, but as with all other spheres of activity, we’re to do it to God’s glory, not for our own.

Whether it’s telling a story, drawing a picture, singing a song, or even writing a devotion, if we do it for Him, we’re doing it right; so go ahead, tell that story, draw that picture, sing that song; go make something of yourself – for God’s sake!

Charlie van Becelaere

March 20, 2012

Generosity

Read: James 1:22-23; 2:14-17

Depending on who is talking - - America is the most generous group of people on earth. No matter where a disaster happens in the world, America is there first and with the most aid. The disaster with the most direct connection to our church was Hurricane Katrina. For several years our people went to Louisiana on the VIM trips to help restore houses, etc.

Now our people are working nearby at the Cass Community Center (Brady Bldg). The work is to restore the building so that it can house homeless women and children. The group has as the sole means of support the annual "palooza" dinner and auction at church. To show our degree of support: among the many baked goods and offers of service, for example a pie can go for $300 and someone wearing socks can generate $400. There couldn't be a greater display of Americans support for those in need.

God bless America.

God bless our church family.

Jack Van Becelaere

March 19, 2012

BEACHES …

Read: UMH #265

        With a cold wind blowing sand,

    Stinging bare flesh,
        a cold salt spray covering glasses
        so that you can hardly see.

    Low tide, as high as high tide
        Its pounding echoing the pounding in your mind

    Sand crabs scurrying, blown against their will,
        across the sand, looking for cover.

    Afraid of being overcome by the strong winds.

What trash and treasures wash up on the shore after the storm

    A broken conch shell that still impresses you
        with its symmetry, its beauty,
    Even though it is not whole any longer.

Humans, too, have trash and treasures on their personal beaches,
        Like the conch, that is both fragile and tough,
    Our broken shells can present a beauty and symmetry
    IF we allow the rough edges of the broken parts to be smoothed.

Like the small creatures scurrying for shelter from the winds,
    we too look for a place to hide and rest,
    to gather strength to come out again
        when the tide has regained its rhythm
        when the wind has lost its fury
    When the Sun has come out again, and Peace has been restored.

Lois Leineke
March 1982

March 18, 2012

UMH #388 – O Come and Dwell in Me

O come and dwell in me,
Spirit of power within,
and bring the glorious liberty
from sorrow, fear, and sin.

Hasten the joyful day
which shall my sins consume,
when old things shall be done away,
and all things new become.

I want the witness, Lord,
that all I do is right,
according to thy mind and word,
well-pleasing in thy sight.

I ask no higher state;
indulge me but in this,
and soon or later then translate
to thine eternal bliss.

Charles Wesley, 1762

March 17, 2012

Standing Ovation

Read: Ephesians 6:1-4

I was thrilled when Greg surprised me with tickets to the Ann Arbor Folk Festival. The bill for Jan. 28 included two of my favorites – Nanci Griffith and Emmylou Harris – as well as some interesting newcomers.

But I was apprehensive about seeing another performer – Glen Campbell, who was in the midst of a Goodbye Tour. The 75-year-old legend has Alzheimer’s, a disease with which Greg and I are increasingly familiar.

I lived in Washington State until I was 16. Country/Western music ruled my small town, and songs such as “Gentle on my Mind” and “Rhinestone Cowboy” are woven into my memory. I was not looking forward to seeing the Rhinestone Cowboy, once a virtuoso guitar player, in decline.

I thought Campbell was staggering a bit when he came out on stage, his natty blue rhinestone jacket a reminder of his glory days. He flubbed the opening to “Gentle on my Mind” and had to start over, casting frequent looks to the Teleprompters below the stage. But the sold-out crowd rose for a sustained standing ovation – one of many during his performance.

“There’s something to be said for going out when you’re still on top,” I whispered to Greg early on in the set.

But Glen Campbell clearly was having a blast. He poked fun at his memory glitches, and his enthusiasm was contagious.

Greg thought Campbell’s guitar work was amazing. I noticed that when he veered off to one end of the stage or another to interact with the crowd, a young guitarist in the band discretely picked up the tune to fill the gap.

When it was time to introduce the band, the pretty blonde keyboardist and banjo player stepped up. “Why, hello, my darling girl,” Campbell said, wrapping his arm around her waist. “What’s your name again?”

“It’s Ashley, Dad,” she said.

Ashley, who is 25, went on to introduce the band, which included her older brothers Cal and Shannon, and Campbell’s stage manager of 35 years or so. The Goodbye Tour was Glen Campbell’s idea, and his family and friends made the dream a reality.

Campbell wound down the set with “A Better Place,” a song from his final studio album:
 “I’ve tried and I have failed, Lord / I’ve won and I have lost / I’ve lived and I have loved, Lord / Sometimes at such a cost / One thing I know, the world’s been good to me / A better place awaits, you’ll see.”

Kathy Gardner

March 16, 2012

GCUMC*

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:23-31

Charlie,

Well I'll be dipped in cherry juice. I've been thinking of you a lot lately too. I've been suffering writer’s block for some time. I've got several dozen themes and I usually think of one or two per day, I just haven't been writing anything down, sorry.

We're OK. All's well or as much as it can be. The last 9 months or so have been the busiest our business has ever had. Our company has doubled its volume in virtually every aspect each year for 5 years now and we've reached the point where the beast wants constant feeding. All this is well good and proper but I've worked more Saturdays and Sundays in the last 9 months than I have in the last 18 years combined. Still not sure if it's all worth it but it sure is fun and exciting; nothing like fear to liven up your day.

As far as church goes, it's kind of weird, like when the Chief and Mayor of Gotham City were in trouble and they'd shine the Bat Light around the sky until the caped crusader showed up to save the day. I usually come by early am 05:30 or late night or Friday afternoon or when the weather changes and the boiler is down or something and I fix it and leave unseen by pretty much everyone. I've found that a side trip to the sanctuary even at odd hours often precedes a successful meeting and enhances the possibility of commerce.

Like last Friday when Judy had this bewildered look upon her when I arrived on a whim while passing down I-94 to engage in commerce with a customer. I did as I'm wont to do; I dropped in the church to pray for a successful meeting and to see if anything needed attention. This time Judy did. She had a Memorial in an hour and a half and couldn’t get the heat on in the church and it was cold in there, so I turned the heat on and she was smiling when I left.

For some reason I've been showing up when it counts. Like the time the heat in the Fellowship hall was screaming like a wild banshee the night before the Soup Supper or something. I just happened to walk down there just when our contractor was realizing this thing couldn't be fixed. I showed him how I once fixed a very similar one on a military base years ago and it's still running. He took my advice, the event went on with heat, and the church saved a boatload of money not having to replace the whole thing.

Or the time Pete Franklin called me with a near flood in the basement and the pump howling like a cat stuck in a fan. I just happened to be about 10 minutes away and for some weird reason I had a spare pump in the car with me. It was for a customer, but they could wait, this is after all the Lord's basement. And on and on and on, now that I'm thinking back, I can't tell you the number of times I've stopped by, for no apparent reason, found some little thing and fixed it just because. Soooo for now I guess I've got some built in bat light. I hope it never fails. I hope I never fail the church. I shall endeavor to not disappoint.

Hey if it's not too late you may find a devotion in here somewhere.

Ron Draper

* - Gotham City United Methodist Church

March 15, 2012

We Have Two Great Churches

Read: Galatians 3:26

Our Florida church and our Michigan church. In our early winters in Florida we tried attending many different churches, but none felt right. After attending a church a few Sundays, people smiled and said hello, nothing else. Not the least bit friendly like our Grosse Pointe United Methodist church home.

We were invited by several of our Florida neighbors to attend their church. The congregation was friendly, the minister was friendly and delivered really interesting sermons. They have fellowship time after the service where they serve coffee, juices and snacks. Everyone speaks to you, asks where you are from, invites you to their pancake breakfast, their annual shrimp boil, the weekly men's prayer breakfast....

As we thought about this, even though this church was a different denomination, we realized we were still worshiping the same God, the same Bible stories and singing many of the same hymns. The church building or name wasn't what attracted us, it was the people in that church building.

Jack and Sara Wooton

March 14, 2012

A Lot of Bliss

Read: Ruth 4:1-17

I just recently finished a new book from the Library - “Jacobson's, I Miss You So!” Quoted in this publication was a former employee who claimed they “loved Jake's so much that when the doors finally closed, I counted the number of hours I spent at the corner of St. Clair and Kercheval Avenue in the Village. The were some of the happiest hours of my life!” I, too, worked many wonderful years at the same emporium and felt the same. I still carry with me many fond memories whenever shopping in the Village.

After re-hashing the 'time' talked about in the Jacobson's story, I couldn't help but to think about the many hours I worked as a very fulfilled, happy housewife … twenty-four hours a day, times 365 days a year, times 54 years of marriage. The number reached so high that I wasn't sure that I was right. You count them for me. My answer is 473,040 hours. If that's correct, that's a lot of bliss for one person, right?

It wasn't just because of my husband and his family that I was so happy, but I include all of you, my church family, and many club friends. I pray that each of you can thank God and count your blessing every day as I do.

Happy Trails,

Jean Buhler

March 13, 2012

Much Afraid

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 2:5-6


When I hear or read this verse I often think of the novel Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. This story is about a young woman named Much Afraid, and her journey away from her Fearing family into the High Places of the Shepherd. It’s an allegory of the Christian life from salvation through maturity – it shows how as Christians we are transformed from unbeliever to mature believer – one who strives to walk daily with God as easily on the High Places of Joy as well as in the daily life of the mundane tasks that tempt us to lose perspective of who we now are in Christ.

Much Afraid’s journey is far from a straight path, especially at the beginning. In fact, at times it’s quite harrowing. I thought of her and then I reminisced upon my own path of Christianity. How it started, the detours it’s taken and where it is today. And I realized that when I acknowledged and trusted in Him I was no longer misled by my own understanding – and the paths became straight. So the next time you find yourself veering into the ditch, acknowledge the Lord, trust in the Lord and lean on His understanding to put you back on the right path, His path.

Kristy Irrer

March 12, 2012

My Morning Prayer

Read: Psalm 112

“O God, for another day, for another morning, for another hour, for another minute, for another chance to live and serve Thee, I am truly grateful.”

Do Thou this day free me
from all fear of the future,
from all anxiety about tomorrow,
from all bitterness towards anyone,
from all cowardice in the face of danger,
from all laziness in the face of work,
from all failure before opportunity,
from all weakness when Thy power is at hand;

But fill me
with Love that knows no barrier,
with Sympathy that reaches to all,
with Courage that cannot be shaken,
with Faith strong enough for the darkness,
with Strength sufficient for my tasks,
with Loyalty to Thy Kingdom’s goal,
with Wisdom to meet life’s complexities,
with Power to lift me to Thee.

Be Thou with me for another day, and use me as Thou wilt.
For Christ’s sake I pray. Amen.

(from Carol Ann Maleitzke)

March 11, 2011

UMH #501 – O Thou Who Camest from Above

O Thou who camest from above,
the pure celestial fire to impart
kindle a flame of sacred love
upon the mean altar of my heart.

There let it for thy glory burn
with inextinguishable blaze,
and trembling to its source return,
in humble prayer and fervent praise.

Jesus, confirm my heart's desire
to work and speak and think for thee;
still let me guard the holy fire,
and still stir up thy gift in me.

Ready for all thy perfect will,
my acts of faith and love repeat,
till death thy endless mercies seal,
and make my sacrifice complete.

Charles Wesley 1762

March 10, 2012

Keeping a Promise

Read: United Methodist Hymnal p. 40 (#8)

Around 83 years ago my father was baptized. It wasn’t his birthday, but it was his adoption day – the day he was adopted into God’s family, not just his own. We all love baptism days at church. It’s a wonderful commitment by a family to raise their child in the church. It’s also a commitment by the entire congregation to adopt that child into the church family and do our best to nurture them and model God’s love to them. In fact we are specifically asked to do that. I know I have gladly and willingly responded that I would “surround the child with a community of love and forgiveness” and “pray for them.”

Being in a loving family is a great thing. My dad happens to be in more than one. When he had heart problems, yes, his wife and children surrounded him with love and prayed for him, but so did his “adopted” family. As a family member who couldn’t physically surround him, I can’t begin to express how grateful and amazed I was by the outpouring of love by the church family. AND not just for him, but for my mother too.

Thank you for being a church family that lives its vows!


Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for adopting us into Your loving family, and surrounding us with people who model Your love. Amen.

Jacki Rumpp

March 9, 2012

Myth Busted

Read: Psalm 121

There seems to be a myth at our church that serving as an usher without socks can lead to disastrous consequences. Not so!

This particular sartorial faux pas was not related to the cardiac event! For a year or more I had known two of the three electrical paths in my heart were not working and the third was getting tired.

I knew that because of visits to the cardiologist and the electrophysiologist. I'm learning new words (cardiologist, electrophysiologist, anesthesiologist) and new procedures (Scans, MRI, EKG Electrocardiogram, echo-cardiogram), but I still don't know how people at the hospital know where they are going.

It is also not true that I staged this to draw attention away from the choir (because they were under performing). By the way - - that was not my assessment.

The prayer quilt made for me is really appreciated. I love it and have it on my half of the bed every night.

That Sunday (Nov 27) I could have been almost anywhere doing almost anything when this happened - - but I wasn't! I was at church surrounded by doctors and nurses and other care givers and a most loving church family. The one place that day where I could get instant and qualified help.

It is obvious I was being watched over by more than doctors and nurses.

Some of those “ways, His wonders to perform” are not so mysterious!

Jack Van Becelaere

March 8, 2012

Reflections: “O courage, my soul … in the midst of life’s storms

Read: Psalm 124

Last evening in my community we had a terrible thunderstorm accompanied by torrential rains. I thought the storm would be brief—one of those sudden summer storms that quickly pass. This one did not. It continued for several hours into the night. It seemed it would never end.

This morning is different. I walked my dog, Buddy, along the wooded paths and it was almost indescribable. Everything seemed a brilliant green, the trees, grass and shrubs. The creeks were flowing rapidly and glistened as the morning sun broke through trees, here and there. I stopped on a bridge to look into the clear creek and suddenly I noticed the chirping of birds. I think they were performing for me! What a chorus!

There is nothing quite like a sunny morning following a storm. The challenge is to get through the storm!

When I was a boy, I was terribly afraid of summer storms. I spent summers with my grandparents on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, in a picturesque village along the Nanticoke River. Visiting my grandmother Sarah Ellen was such a treat. She doted on me as her oldest grandchild, and always made me feel so special.

My grandmother had an unusual practice, though it was perhaps characteristic of the community and not unusual except to her grandson. She respected and reverenced storms, while I feared them immensely.

When a storm occurred, all activity stopped in the house and everyone went to a common room, usually the rarely used parlor. If a storm arose during the night, everyone was aroused, went to the parlor and sat quietly in the dark.

I recall my grandmother praying, and singing or softly humming hymns. Scarcely audible. I could only see her shadowy figure. It was a frightening experience. We remained in the parlor until the storm had “passed over.” The challenge for me was getting through the storm!
Since those long ago days, I have learned about life’s storms. Most of us have known them. Those storms are different from thunderstorms, but also interrupt what often is an otherwise joy-filled life. They can be all-consuming, coming suddenly and without warning. Disappointment, broken relationships, undeserved attacks, unspeakable tragedy.

The challenge, again, is to somehow get through the storms. They do not last forever.

In my youth, when a storm had “passed over,” my grandmother would announce that we could return to our rooms. I learned from her what to do in the midst of a storm: Call upon Faith.

For her, perseverance came indisputably from Jesus. She would pray and sing the songs of hope and assurance. But she mostly trusted. She knew the storm would pass over. Storms do not last forever. People of Faith learn this valuable truth.

Charles Tindley, the popular Methodist preacher and hymn writer—himself from the Eastern Shore of Maryland—wrote a hymn titled “The Storm Is Passing Over.” I wonder if, as a boy, he had to sit up during the night as I did until the storm had “passed over.”

Here are the words to Tindley’s hymn: “O courage, my soul, and let us journey on, for tho’ the night is dark, it won’t be very long. O thanks be to God, the morning light appears, and the storm is passing over, Hallelujah!”

It is good to remember, in the face of life’s storms, that they will always pass over. The challenge is to get through them!

Bishop Woodie White

March 7, 2012

Life’s Storms

Read: UMH #512

There are times, I am sure, in everyone’s life when certain events strike us, they will stay with us for most of the rest of our lives.

I was thinking about this when an announcement was made on the TV about more of President Kennedy’s pictures at the White House, just before that fatal Dallas trip. It made me think back to that awful day in November. I was putting visitor booklets together, that would describe the hoped for budget moneys for the church in Ironwood. Needless to say, that announcement changed the world – not just Ironwood people.
The second experience that also was world changing was the explosion of the Space Shuttle when the first woman astronaut was killed.
And, of course, we cannot ever forget the 9/11 tragedy that changed the world as we knew it.

The next life changing event in my world was the death of my daughter, Diane, while she was on vacation in Jamaica. Two vehicles tried to ignore the basic law of physics that told us two items (in this case autos) could not occupy the same space at the same identical moment. Certainly a life altering event.
And lastly, last September when Rev. Leineke was felled by a stroke. My first inclination was to call everyone who is, was, or had been a friend. On that occasion, since I always have a song in my head, I said we were singing, “When the Storms of Life are Raging, Stand by Me.” As I think of it, it would have been appropriate for all of the other incidents.

One of those persons contacted was Bishop Woodie White, who was a member of this Annual Conference when we first met. Woodie called me back and said, “I have just written an article about that very song, and I will send you a copy of it,” I did not say NO. Another friend, Rev. Tom Robinson, called to say this song was sung at his father’s funeral, which was happening while Rev. Leineke was being evaluated regarding his stroke.

Bishop White’s article (see tomorrow’s devotion, but not until tomorrow!) appeared in the Methodist Reporter. The title as it appeared in the Reporter is “O Courage, my soul, in the midst of life’s storms.” He draws from experiences when he was a child, and storms would frequently arrive where he was living, and how scary those times were; and how the family sat together to ride out the storm. The point Woodie was making in the article is that storms will come, but storms always go, and the challenge is to figure out how to ride out all of these events / storms.

I found out that the author of that hymn was Charles Tindley – also a UM minister.
Here are the words to that song:
“O Courage, my soul, and let us journey on, for tho the night is dark, it won’t be very long.
Thanks be to God, the morning light appears and the storm is passing over, Hallelujah.”

To quote Bishop White again, “It is good to remember, in the face of life’s storms, they will always pass over. Hallelujah – the challenge is to get through them.”

Lois Leineke

March 6, 2012

I Know What I Believe

Read: Jeremiah 29:11-12

I didn’t go to church much when I was a kid. My dad was nominally (read: non-practicing) Catholic and my mom was raised Christian Scientist. If I did go to church I went to Grosse Pointe Methodist (not yet United Methodist at that time) because my mom’s childhood friend from Texas, Mary Edlo Thompson, was the Sunday school superintendent and another friend from her youth, Doris White, was married to the pastor. The problem was that I didn’t know any of the kids, so I spent many Sunday mornings lying in bed pretending to still be asleep until it was too late to go to Sunday school.

I started attending MYF when I was in middle school when my friend Glenn invited me to an activity and I discovered there were lots of girls in the group (one of them, Lynn Grose, eventually married my brother). I became more active at Christ Methodist Church in Detroit, joining a Sunday school class taught by Lynn’s dad Ralph, becoming an usher and even getting a part-time job there as a custodian when I was in college. While I was working there I became friends with the organist and choir director, Jim, and got interested in organ music, an interest that Jim was happy to help me develop. I also joined the choir, an activity that continues to this day.

When I became a US Postal Inspector in 1977 I was assigned to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a city I had never visited and where I knew no one. One Sunday morning I was sitting in my apartment trying to find something to listen to on the radio (I didn’t yet have a TV) and I came across organ music. Thinking it might be a concert, I listened a bit more and came to the conclusion it was a church service, specifically a Methodist church service. Having waited long enough after moving there to find a church, I went to First United Methodist Church the next Sunday and sat in a back row, off in a corner, so I could check it out anonymously. That didn’t work though, because before the service started a woman walked down the row, sat next to me, stuck out her hand and said “Hi, I’m Betty Bergeron, the church busybody. Are you new here?”

My plan to slip in and out quietly having been blown, by the time I left there that day I had joined a Sunday school class and the choir. Also in that Sunday school class was a young woman named Elizabeth Dunnam, whom I would marry three years later. She says her mother always told her she’d meet a nice man at church.

The point of all this is that, at various times throughout my life, I was presented with people who helped lead me to where I am now. My mom and her two childhood friends who were involved with Grosse Pointe Methodist, my friend Glenn who invited me to an MYF activity, Ralph who taught me in Sunday school, Jim who got me interested in organ music (I wouldn’t have paused at that station on the radio that Sunday without having that interest), Betty (the busybody) who recognized someone who was looking for a church home and did something about it, and even Libby Dunnam (who, recognizing a good thing when she saw it, rejoined the choir at her church after I did), were all gifts I received. Were these encounters merely coincidence or was the Holy Spirit guiding me through these people? You can draw your own conclusions; I know what I believe.

Art Van de Putte

March 5, 2012

PATIENCE…

The dictionary says patience is the capacity for waiting

Look up the words “patience” and “wait” in the Concordance of your Bible. Take a few minutes and read through some of the verses. It gave me food for thought. How about you?
Wait… As Christians we seem to always be waiting. What are we waiting for? We wait for many things, some large, some small. Some are deep and philosophical while some are concrete and immediate. Some things vary by the hour or the day. Some of our waits are short term and some are life-long.

About a year and a half ago, when my son and his fiancée made the decision to postpone their wedding, I needed to be patient. I needed to give them time to be ready to get married. I had no say in the matter. I just had to wait, to be patient and to pray that God would guide them along the path He had in mind.

If you know me very well you know that being patient is not my strong suit. I want God to get on ”my schedule.” He and I have been working on this for many decades. I am a slow learner. Years ago the result of this delay would have resulted in numerous discussions between God and myself. During these discussions I did a lot of talking or ranting and God was patiently (I hope) listening. He knew that I was going to be a long-term project. I’m glad He hangs in there, with us, for the long haul.

This time it was different. I prayed daily for God to help each of us find the path He had planned. Deep down I knew that things would turn out right. What I did not know was the timing. The patience I needed to get through was there for me. Each day as I prayed, God gave me what I needed to get through. It was a day at a time, not the final plan in advance. (God’s schedule not mine). But, I was OK with it and that was a big surprise because that is not the way I usually operate. God was teaching me to be patient and trust in Him. I needed to have both pieces, trust and patience, working together in unison.

God rewarded my patience with a beautiful wedding that was absolutely wonderful. The weather was perfect, the food delicious, the ceremony moving, and the bride and groom beaming. It was great celebration and well worth the wait!

I think I am a bit more patient these days. Not that I don’t have those discussions with God anymore. But these days during our chats I do more thinking and try to listen more than I talk. Patience is something I think I will be working on for the rest of my life.

Gretchen Brammer

March 4, 2012

UMH #129 – Give to the Winds Thy Fears

Give to the winds thy fears;
hope and be undismayed.
God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears,
God shall lift up thy head.

Through waves and clouds and storms,
God gently clears the way;
wait thou God's time; so shall this night
soon end in joyous day.

Leave to God's sovereign sway
to choose and to command;
so shalt thou, wondering, own that way,
how wise, how strong this hand.

Let us in life, in death,
thy steadfast truth declare,
and publish with our latest breath
thy love and guardian care.

Paul Gerhardt, 1653 – trans. John Wesley, 1739

March 3, 2012

Do Not Be Drunk

Read: Ephesians 5:17-19

When I was 27 years old, I was a Sales Representative for International Merchandise Group, one of the largest Korean shoe manufacturing companies. My job was to increase the shoe sales, not only for regular men, women, youth and children, but also, for our sporting shoes department such as athletics, snowmobile shoes, hunting shoes, fishermen’s shoes and other variety of sports lines.

The most interesting aspect of the shoes manufacturing business it the variety of shoe molds designed specifically for European, Asian and American feet shape. The size numbers were all different. Since the shoes were made by hand, the company had over 30,000 employees.

My primary responsibility was to sell the product globally in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, extending even to the North Pole and South Pole. I sent letters, brochures, samples, and I scheduled invitations, meetings and provided tours to our factories. I even entertained the clients. My target was to build a relationship with a multitude of high net-worth clients. My perseverance paid off because interested buyers not only visited our company, they also purchased our product almost on a daily basis. I would negotiate the contracts and then entertain the buyers. My sales exceeded expectations.

I made arrangements to entertain the buyers at the best restaurants and clubs because it was my responsibility to make the buyers happy. It was expected for me to join in on the heavy drinking and depending on the buyers’ request hard liquor or wine. Every night I returned home at midnight because midnight was curfew except on Sundays. It was starting to wear on me. I suggested to my company they buy a restaurant and club to save on entertainment expenses since I spent as much time there as I did at the office. The company did! The President of International Merchandise was ecstatic with not only the increase in domestic sales but the Korean Government gave a special reward to the company which increased the export sales to more than 10 different countries. As a result, my salary increased every quarter with special bonuses.

Despite my professional success, my spiritual life was decimated. I felt this heavy guilt to the Lord because my career was the excuse not to attend church every Sunday. One day I was reading the Ephesians 5:18 and this verse stood out, “do not be drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit”. It made me re-evaluate my life and the kind of future life I wanted. I struggled with the decision to find another job because I was so successful with my current one. It was not easy turn my back on success only to venture into the unknown. It was one of the most difficult choices to make.

I had made my decision. I went to the U.S. Embassy to get the certificate of origin for the samples of K-Mart shoes. I inquired how I could emigrate to the United States. The central office gave me an application and the officer informed me that professional engineers receive third preference cases. I was determined to go to the United States and start my new career as a mechanical engineer. I came to stay here in GPUMC.

In Asian business culture, drinking is a natural part of the work force. I wanted to escape the excessive drinking. I didn’t like how it made me feel physically and spiritually. I woke up the next day hung-over with massive headaches and stomach aches. I didn’t see any long-lasting benefits from it. Drunkenness removed self-control. You hear the saying “drunk with the Spirit”. But the key difference is the Holy Spirit produces the fruits of self-control (Galatians 5:23), “ Gentleness and self-control. There is no law against that.”

These days, I visit my mother-in-law at Boulevard Nursing Home in Rochester Hills. She suffered a stroke three years ago and she is unable to take care of herself. Normally she is pleasant and gentle person. She makes friends easily and laughs often. This past week, she lost her smile and her caregiver said her left side seemed more droopy than normal. She was worried she might have suffered another stroke. I asked my mother-in-law what was bothering her. She spoke of a wild story that sounded like a bad dream. She appeared to be filled with rage that she couldn’t shake off. Nobody could explain why and where this came from. She insisted it was real and she didn’t make it up. She doesn’t speak English so her isolation gave her no peace. She felt completely alone. I taught her to say the Lord’s Prayer and to memorize it. I would sing hymns with her and we would pray together. Her spirits seem uplifted and her smile is coming back.

Before I didn’t understand the real meaning of Ephesians 5:19 “ as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual sings among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts”. I now see the kind of medicinal influence it can have to your mind and health especially when you feel alone and depressed with your environment.

I have seen the positive results in my mother-in-law due to the fruits of the Holy Spirit. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is not the same as an alcohol buzz. You know you will wake up the next day and feel lousy. Being drunk is an illusion like my mother-in-law’s dream. To be filled with the Holy Spirit is a form of euphoria that never ends. The fruit is peace. My desire is that form of euphoria. The Holy Spirit truly gives strength and encouragement as Acts 9:31, “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in number, living in the fear of the Lord.”

David Kim

March 2, 2012

Looking Forward

Read: Philippians 4:6-7

Christian will be home from Afghanistan at the end of May - back to Alaska - then on to another assignment (which we all hope will be much closer).

Kayla will graduate from high school the end of May. In the Fall she will be going to the University of Tennessee.

Faith will be starting high school in the Fall.

Gary is starting a new job.

Jacki is becoming active in her church in Tennessee and is chairman of the Worship Committee this year.

Charlie and Heidi will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary.

We will have our 56th anniversary.

Jack is "wired all the time" (pacemaker) and has no plans to slow down like his heart did last November.

Satchel Page said,"Never look back, someone may be gaining on you". We're not looking back. We're looking forward – to good times.

Shirley Van Becelaere

March 1, 2012

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord. Psalm 127:3
Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above… James 1:18

How Rich Are You?

One of my favorite bands goes by the name “Sixpence None the Richer.” Their name is taken from a book by C. S. Lewis called Mere Christianity. In the book a little boy asks his father if he can have a sixpence – a very small amount of English currency – to go and get a gift for his father. The father gives him the sixpence. Later, he gladly accepts the gift from his son and he's really happy with it, but he also realizes that he's not any richer by the transaction.

C.S. Lewis was comparing this to his belief that God has given him, and us, the gifts that we possess, and to serve Him the way we should, we should do it humbly – realizing how we received the gifts in the first place.

So make a list of your many gifts today and say a prayer of thanks for each one. Keep your list in a handy place and when you think of a new gift add it to the list. Review it often to remind yourself just how rich you truly are.

Kristy Irrer