Saturday, February 29, 2020

Psalm 2 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Reign of the Lord's Anointed

Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
    and cast away their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
“As for me, I have set my King
    on Zion, my holy hill.”

I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron
    and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
    and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
    for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him

Friday, February 28, 2020

Godly Humor?

Read: James 1:16-18

If I didn't know better, this Fall could make me question the omnipotence of God! A heavy snowfall before the leaves are off the trees! And after the snow melted – many of the trees still held their leaves.

I understand some leaves seem to hang on all winter (after all there is always that 10% that doesn't get the word, a la John Paul Jones), but the way things have gone, and the way people reacted to it – this should affirm that God has a Sense of Humor.

Jack van Becelaere

Invisible Support

Read: Colossians 1:15-17

Today as I sat looking out the window – suddenly I noticed a bright red cardinal sitting unsupported – in mid-air! Surrounded by falling and blowing snow, it sat there, was able to turn to face the wind, and then turn back again.

Silhouetted against a background of brown tree trunks and limbs there was no way to discern exactly what was holding up the cardinal. It was inspiring to see this bright spot of red against such a drab background. It turned out (of course) that it was sitting on a wire. While we know there was this physical means of support for the cardinal, it reminded me that each of us has an invisible means of support – it's called God!

Jack van Becelaere

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Lenten Devotion

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:11-24

The word devotion is described by our digital friend Mr. or Ms. Google as “love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause.”
With a religious meaning, devotions are “prayers or religious observances.”
I want to briefly just express my gratitude for:
    a)  those who speak on Sundays, be it a sermon, a scripture reading, or an announcement at the end of the service;
    b) those who teach on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings to help the choir singers and instrumentalists (piano and bells) be as good as they can be;
    c) those who offer study groups to help the attendees learn to put God more in their lives not just on Sunday or weekly but daily.
I want to share two separate quotes from page 134 of The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren (a professional colleague of Ray McGee if I am not mistaken) whose book was studied last fall in Lisa and Steven Sicklesteel’s weekly class;

“A church family helps you develop spiritual muscle” and later on the same page…..
….
“We are commanded to love each other, pray for each other, encourage each other, admonish each other, greet each other, serve each other, teach each other, accept each other, honor each other, bear each other’s burdens, forgive each other, submit to each other, be devoted to each other, and many other mutual tasks. These are your family responsibilities that God expects you to fulfill through a local fellowship. Who are you doing these with?”

Russ Wilcox

Wednesday, February 26, 2020 – Ash Wednesday

Living a Thankful Life

Read: Colossians 2:6-10

Recently, I came across an article about a man named T. B. Maston. After obtaining a Doctor of Religious Education and a second Doctorate in Philosophy, Dr. Maston taught Christian Ethics for 41 years at a seminary in Dallas, Texas.

Over the years, Dr. Maston became noted for his attitude of thankfulness and gratitude in all circumstances. When asked what he attributed this attitude to he would tell of a dream that he had while facing a life threatening illness, an illness that most felt that he would not recover from. He tells of a dream that he had while in the midst of this battle for his life. In this dream, he was sitting upon a fence – on one side life, on the other, death. Upon his recovery, he spent the rest of his life living as an expression of thanks and gratitude to God.

In Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae, he writes:

“Plant your roots in Christ and let Him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be thankful.” – Colossians 2:7-8

As Dr. Maston had acknowledged God’s grace and mercy showered upon him in his healing, we too must realize that God has healed and saved us. We can proclaim that Jesus is our Savior, our Rock, our Salvation, and the Author and Perfecter of our faith! Because we have found grace and forgiveness in Jesus Christ, all of our lives can be lived as an expression of thanks and gratitude.

Rev. Ray McGee

Introduction - Lent 2020

Introduction 

Welcome back to Lent! As always, it has been an honor and a joy to edit this book; and as always, you made me wait until the last moment again this year – some even past the last moment! This year I had a new opportunity rather than a problem to solve. For the first time there was another UMC congregation making this journey with us. College Grove UMC in Tennessee is publishing a book of Lenten devotions modeled on ours, and spearheaded by their Worship chair, Jacki (van Becelaere) Rumpp. We’ve cross-pollinated a bit by including some devotions from both congregations in both books. It was a joy to have so many new voices share their thoughts, time, insights, and witness with our church families as we make our slow but sure journey toward the glory of Easter Sunday.

Next – as so often happens – an overarching theme has emerged as I collected and arranged the contributions. This year the theme seemed to be Responding. Responding to God through prayer and worship. Responding to others through love and service. It’s pretty amazing. I don’t know how these “themes” appear each year (although I believe it’s the Holy Spirit prompting us to write on what our readers will need!), but I am always comforted and excited when they do. May we continue to respond to God and our brothers and sisters so that “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

Now, as we have each year since reviving this Lenten tradition, we repeat the introduction from our congregation's first book of devotions, published in 1974:

Keeping a true Lent requires us to be vigilant in many ways: in prayer, study, worship, sacrifice, giving, meditation, and fellowship.
One or all may take precedence, depending upon our daily commitments.
From these devotions, lovingly prepared, may you find a well spring of faith to renew and sustain you, so that the Glorious Triumph that is Easter will remain with you always. 

The Lenten Committee 

Again, we can but say, “Amen.” Charlie van Becelaere, Editor