April 15, 2014

Preach the Word

Read: 2 Timothy 1:8-14

My cousin lives in Florida and did not attend church much for the last decade or more. Now she has begun to enjoy the fellowship of a large non-denominational church and has become involved in its activities. I am happy that she is on a better spiritual path, but there is a small problem. Several times she has emailed links to the video of their Sunday sermon, and I have dutifully watched them, wishing to encourage her new interest in spiritual growth.

Over time I have watched several of the Florida services and have been struck by the pastor’s psychological emphasis rather than any Biblical tie-ins. Yes, the message probably gave the congregation a pleasant mood lift, but were they led to a closer walk with Jesus by the sermon? Psychological help can often bring people to needed changes in their lives but how effective is it in guiding the hungry soul looking for deeper meaning in life?

Last Sunday my heart was filled with renewed gladness at the message Pastor Judy shared with our congregation. As always, the theme was straight from the Word of God. The topic was WATER, and that was woven into Biblical references on baptism and how we as followers of Christ can continuously grow in His love which we are taught to share with the world in many different ways.

We are so blessed to have guidance from pastors who are confident in sharing wonderful Biblical teachings each Sunday! Our individual lives can be made fuller and richer as we, however imperfectly, strive to share God’s presence through the way we live our lives.

One of my favorite Bible verses is this, from Philippians 1:6: “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” How grateful we at GPUMC can be, to experience the teachings that can guide us to be fertile fields for Christ’s love, enabling us to grow until completion.

Joy Baker

April 14, 2014

Love Thy Neighbor!

Read: Mark 12:31

Neily Clardy was known as Buddy. He has been my mother’s neighbor for over 40 years. However Buddy was an extended family member that used to sit on his porch when the weather would permit. No matter who pulled up to my mom’s house for a visit, Buddy would graciously greet them with a "hello," and even share with that person whether my mom was home or not. He was so reliable, that he would tell you to stay in the car when my mom wasn't there, just to save you time. I have always felt comfortable when my mom was home alone and my younger sister was not there with her because of Buddy. Because Buddy lived next door I always had a feeling of peace that my mom was being protected. Loving this neighbor was easy because he simply loved my family and everyone who he came in contact with.

On any given day my mother would take him dinner or ask us to take him a container of any dish she had made for that day. My mother took very good care of him because she knew he was elderly and he needed the help. However Buddy took care of her and the rest of us in his own kind of way. He would invite you to sit with him and he would tell some of the best stories you have ever heard. In most of his stories he delivered a message which I always loved. Believe it or not he was very knowledgeable in raising girls because he raised his very own daughter; all by himself. I have three sisters and other female cousins and aunts that would visit from time to time. Therefore if he saw something he didn't like coming from one of us he would sit us down and explain in his own way his thoughts. I believed he favored us because it was so many women in my family and like his daughter he loved the women in my family.

Buddy was called to be with God in January and he has been missed tremendously. However we still have a piece of him with us because his daughter is next door and she is also connected to my family just as her father was. Loving your neighbor can be a life-long living love if you accept the love and devotion they have for you. I find now that many individuals do not embrace relationships from neighbors for various reasons however if you do, you can see it can be very rewarding.

Qiuana Sharp

April 13, 2014 – Palm Sunday

All Glory, Laud, and Honor (Theodulph of Orleans; trans. by John Mason Neale)

All glory, laud, and honor,

to thee, Redeemer, King,

to whom the lips of children

made sweet hosannas ring.

Thou art the King of Israel,

thou David's royal Son,

who in the Lord's name comest,

the King and Blessed One.

(Refrain)

The company of angels

are praising thee on high,

and we with all creation

in chorus make reply.

(Refrain)

The people of the Hebrews

with psalms before thee went;

our prayer and praise and anthems

before thee we present.

(Refrain)

To thee, before thy passion,

they sang their hymns of praise;

to thee, now high exalted,

our melody we raise.

(Refrain)

Thou didst accept their praises;

accept the prayers we bring,

who in all good delightest,

thou good and gracious King.

(Refrain)

April 12, 2014

Love One Another

Read: John 13:34-35

(This is a slightly edited version of an email from Ron to a bunch of friends who descended upon the Draper abode for a Fall cleanup.)

Well hi all, (and this really is to all of you: everyone who has prayed for us, cooked for us, transported us, made blankets for us, visited us, and thanks to all for all the cards and well wishes, we passed a lot of time reading and savoring each card that comes in. The outpouring of help for us is truly something to behold.)

Yet again you've humbled us beyond words. After everyone went home, I took the Lovely & Gracious for a ride in her power chair around the property. Needless to say it was quite a ride. As she looked at the beds around the patio she exclaimed Oh My God!!! Then the tears, the laughing, the tears, more OMG and then the quivering in her chair. As we went around front, and the West side she couldn't believe all that was done in a few hours, neither could I for that matter. As you all know we strive and do a constant little cleanup to keep our place up to the way you normally see it. This year we watched as one bed and one bush after another turned into something we didn't even want to look at. This was clearly the best Fall cleanup Everrr!! As we went farther around and out to the back and looked at our house from the back of the pond there was more OMG, lots of crying tears of joy, quivering, and more OMGs!.

Then to the barn, she wailed a pretty good one there, OMG, and when she saw all that was done and how clean the floor was, more shaking. Then she saw the drill press and band saw, (her favorite old territory) and that's when the caterwauling started. Then she saw the gym equipment from the basement set up for her, more caterwauling now with wailings of how can we ever repay everyone?? Just keep being you and getting better was about all I could say.

For months now our minds have been literally paralyzed with fear and anxiety over the future, it seems were running a relentless gauntlet of menacing obstacles, and yet with God's love and the support of all of you, we continue to persevere. Saturday was the first time in 10 months that we were able to slip the tangled bonds of fear and spend several hours just being Ron & Jeri with friends. You didn't just clean our yard, you've cleansed our souls. Later on after dark I dumped a wheelbarrow of logs on the fire and spent a while with the Lord trying to figure out what we ever did to deserve such good friends as all of you. It occurred to me that the things we've gained, are of greater value than what we've lost. You've filled us to the depths of our souls with an overwhelming sensation of humble gratitude, the magnitude of which is beyond my ability to describe in words, I pray that in time it will show with deeds.

Through it all, we strive to do something each day that we couldn't do the day before. I get the joy of rediscovering my wife with each new sunrise.

Thank you all so very much for your support, we shall endeavor to not disappoint,

Ron & Jeri Draper

April 11, 2014

The Seven Wonders of the World

Read: Psalm 34 (especially 8-10)

A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present “Seven Wonders of the World.” Though there were some disagreements, the following received the most votes:

1. Egypt’s Great Pyramids

2. Taj Mahal

3. Grand Canyon

4. Panama Canal

5. Empire State Building

6. St. Peter’s Basilica

7. China’s Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student had not finished her paper yet. She asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.

The girls replied, “Yes, a little. I couldn’t quite make up my mind because there were so many.”

The teacher said, “Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help.”

The girl hesitated, then read:

“I think the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ are:

1. to See,

2. to Hear,

3. to Touch,

4. to Taste,

5. to Feel,

6. to Laugh, and

7. to Love.”

The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. The things we overlook as simple and ordinary ant that we take for granted are truly wondrous!

A gentle reminder that the most precious things in life cannot be built by hand nor bought by man.

Lois Leineke

April 10, 2014

Taken from Bluebird of Happiness (Heyman & Parr-Davies)

Read: Psalm 18:1-3, 25-28, 49-50

The poet with his pen
The peasant with his plow
It makes no difference who you are
It's all the same somehow.

The king upon his throne
The jester at his feet
The artist, the actress
The man on the street.

It's a life of smiles
And a life of tears
It's a life of hope
And a life of fears.

A blinding torrent of rain
And a brilliant burst of sun,
A biting, tearing pain
And bubbling, sparkling fun.

And no matter what you have
Don't envy those you meet,
It's all the same, it's in the game
The bitter and the sweet.

And if things don't look so cheerful
Just show a little fight,
For every bit of darkness
There's a little bit of light.

For every bit of hatred
There's a little bit of love.
For every cloudy morning
There's a midnight moon above.

Glenn DeLodder

April 09, 2014

Helping the Weak

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” – Acts 20:35

In the course of our nearly 30-year marriage, Greg and I have enjoyed the companionship of four dogs. While each of them has shown great devotion to me – making a fuss when I get home, staying by my side when I’m sick, and so on – Greg clearly claims a slightly larger space in their doggy hearts.

They favor Greg despite the fact that, in every case, I’m the one who was responsible for them coming to live with us. I found Jerry, our abused lab/shepherd mix, in a newspaper ad. I nudged Greg to adopt Jessie, a hound/shepherd who was being fostered by a friend. I found Byron, our older Lab, at the Dearborn Animal Shelter through Petfinder.com and insisted that Greg go to the shelter to meet him.

And we adopted our younger Lab, Bernie, after I hauled Greg and Byron to the Dearborn Animal Shelter to meet a beagle. She hated Byron on the spot, and so did a second female dog that I asked to see. Greg and Byron were ready to leave, but I asked if they had anyone else, and they brought out Bernie (then Air Force), a big black Lab with an ugly open wound on his backside. After sniffing each other out, Bernie plopped down beside Byron, and they were fast friends.

Over the years, I have purchased most of the dog food, treats and toys. Yet when Greg and I come home together, they circle around Greg, tails wagging, barely acknowledging me.

Is it because they consider Greg the master of the house? Maybe, but if I think about it, Greg is the one who gets up early to walk them, and then feed them.

Where I’m inclined to send them to the backyard in rain or snow, Greg invariably walks them at least around the block. The dogs love exploring the neighborhood and checking out every bush and fire hydrant.

Greg honors their need for daily exercise and faithfully walks them day after day, week after week, year after year.

Kathy Gardner

April 08, 2014

On the Path

Read 2 Samuel 22:26-37

I hear myself use the word “path” quite often.

“Sometimes the path is not exactly straight.”

“This is not where you thought your path would lead you.”

“You are precisely where you should be on your life path.”

“Treasure this moment you are having on your path right now.”

I think path is a good word for our life journey. We travel along in days, months and years, following our path, our way. We may linger for a time, but we do not stop. Sometimes our path feels like a treadmill: the same thing over and over again! But our circumstances change slightly or greatly. We have companions on the path; some for a long while, some provide brief company. We pass others, going along in the same direction, or coming from the opposite way. We may feel utterly alone at times, yet at other times we feel crowded and yearn for solitude on our path.

I was thrilled to learn about acceptance of my position on my life path. As a motivated, but somewhat unsure, human being, I had felt for most of my life that I needed to get farther along: better career, greater accomplishments, higher spirituality, more friends. I could not see that the place where I was had merit, beauty, fragility, and transience. The place where I was – was just about to change! It always does. Something shifts, improves, worsens, grows, dies. That is life! But I also have learned to celebrate and be grateful for my present position, and to truly feel that I am exactly where God wants me to be. I actually have no choice, because where I am IS in fact where I am on my path. Wherever I go, there I am! There must be something holy in that, right? I pray for acceptance on an hourly basis.

God is our constant companion on our life journey. God is with us in the womb, and if we are lucky, we can pass from this life right in God’s lap. What a nice place to be! We love our Earthly companions: our loving moms and dads, our siblings, our life partners, our best friends, our children, our pets, our gardens, our mountains, our oceans, our trees all enrich and beautify our life here. But if you ever feel alone, remember that the one reliable entity is God. When I remember that, I am not afraid or lonely. I am empowered and capable and loved, and I am ready to take one more step on my sacred path: one more grateful step into my life. Thank you, God.

Anne Sullivan

April 07, 2014

Kismet?

Read: Jeremiah 29:11-12

When I was seventeen and still in high school I enlisted in the Navy Reserve (a couple friends back from WWII took me to the Naval Armory to join along with them). There were weekly meetings while I went to school (about 1 1/2 years at U. of Detroit and a semester and a few weeks at U. of Texas). In Texas I ran out of money which meant back to living at home (cheaper) and working in the factory (more money).

About November I was laid off. I didn't have enough money to go back to school so I went to the Naval Armory and signed up for active duty. The next two years I served on a Destroyer Escort out of Newport, RI. In December of 1953 I was discharged (and had the Korean GI Bill).

The way I remember it – I wrote to the U. of Michigan and said I would like to go there. They wrote back – come on. Obviously there was more involved – transcripts for instance – and I was put in a dorm (East Quad) that was the only one with half for males, half for females. After one semester I was asked to join the dorm staff. That's where I met Roger Wilkins. One night Roger and I went to the "snack bar" for coffee where we met Roger's friend Sandy and her friend Shirley. Shirley was there on a scholarship (from Indiana) or she wouldn't have been at an-out-of-state school. We started dating and the rest is history.

Thinking of the twists and turns I went through to get to U of M and Shirley with the first non-athletic scholarship from the Ft. Wayne U of M Alumni Club, there is no way you can't believe in Divine Intervention!

Jack Van Becelaere

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. - Hebrews 11:1

April 06, 2014

He Leadeth Me (Joseph H. Gilmore)

He leadeth me: O blessed thought!

O words with heavenly comfort fraught!

Whate'er I do, where'er I be,

still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

Refrain:

He leadeth me, he leadeth me,

by his own hand he leadeth me;

his faithful follower I would be,

for by his hand he leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,

sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,

by waters still, o'er troubled sea,

still 'tis his hand that leadeth me.

Refrain

Lord, I would place my hand in thine,

nor ever murmur nor repine;

content, whatever lot I see,

since 'tis my God that leadeth me.

Refrain

And when my task on earth is done,

when by thy grace the victory's won,

e'en death's cold wave I will not flee,

since God through Jordan leadeth me.

Refrain

April 05, 2014

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life.

The Lord will keep

your going out and your coming in

from this time forth and forevermore.

April 04, 2014

Held in Prayer

Read: Matthew 8:5-13

On October 2, 2013 I received a call from my doctor with news that the X-ray I had taken the day before showed several nodules in both lungs. The suggestion was to rule out metastasis. The oncologist then arranged for a complete set of CT scans of my body plus a bone scan and MRI of the brain. The next few weeks were a blur of tests and decisions to make. A port was put in my chest in preparation to start chemo therapy. I then decided to get a second opinion. The new doctor needed to see the discs and reports from all tests and procedures that had been done. His conclusion was to have a CT guided biopsy of the nodules. By the time it was scheduled six weeks had past since the scan was done.

While I was on the procedure table the doctor came in the room and said that they had a call in to the oncologist because the nodules had reduced in size by 75%. They wanted to know if he still wanted them to proceed. and he canceled the test. I am so blessed!

I had a follow up scan done January 3, 2014 and the results stated near-resolution of the nodules. Further, there are a few areas of scar-like nodularity at the site of prior nodules. Continued follow-up recommended. The lesson I have learned is to have faith in prayer. I put my life in God's hands and with the prayers from family, friends, and especially my church family I'm doing well. THANK YOU!!!!!!

Betty Geyer

April 03, 2014

Winter Retreat – Indeed!

Read: Hebrews 10:24-25

I decided on Friday night of the Winter Retreat 2014 to write an entry for the Lenten Book. It was then that the many conversations I had with my Mom since childhood came back to me.

My Mom always said that Sunday school, sermons, Bible studies, and mission were all important, but what she really cherished and found to be most important about our involvement with the church was the fellowship. To form friendships with people who were family, who loved and cared for us just as we loved and cared for them.

It started Friday night, as I watched my family enjoy being together and with others; completely comfortable in the environment. How amazing to have Drew and Anna come and give each one of us a hug goodnight…even when they didn’t really know Megan or Rebecca; they also were comfortable in this environment. That was just the start of this great weekend.

For those who have gone before, you know that it is a weekend of sharing meals, sharing stories, sharing memories of years before. Most of all, it is a weekend of laughs and being together. Getting to know each other better; it is amazing that we can always learn something new about each other.

For me, it was a weekend of retreat. I was usually one of the first up (someone had to make the coffee!) and I enjoy this time; quiet time. Watching the sun come up through the trees outside…snow covering the ground and trees. Slowly, one by one, everyone came out of the bedrooms and filled the center room as we waited for breakfast…one big family coming together to share a meal. I loved the fact that when the dishes are cleared after each meal, conversations continue; again sharing our lives with each other, our concerns for our congregation and certainly the joys of our congregation. This is not a formal, guided time, just conversations. I was thrilled when a spontaneous hymn sing started after our church service on Sunday of course followed by cards, and sledding and more conversations.

It was a wonderful reminder of the church that I grew up in. That one thing so cherished by my Mom; finding a big family of people we love and care for…and who love and care for us. We don’t always have to go on retreat to find this…it is around us all the time. What we get on Sunday morning should take us through the week until we are together again. I cherish this church and hope everyone feels the same about this family of ours. That we all can find people to care for and who care for us. (If you don’t feel it…sign up for the Winter Retreat some year and experience our family for yourself!)

Dear God, thank you for bringing us together as a family. Children of God to care for each other and to watch over each other as we worship you and go out into the world sharing Your love as we go.

Laurie Stowell

April 02, 2014

Life

Read: John 10:7-15

A friend of mine found this Sanskrit Proverb in an old book and I thought it appropriate for us today:

Look to this day

Look to this day!

For it is life, the very life of life,

For yesterday is but a dream,

And tomorrow is only a vision,

But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness

And tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to this day.

Jesus said, “I have come to give you Life – life in all its fullness.”

and

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Think on these words!

Dorothy Williams

April 01, 2014

Helping to Carry the Burdens of Others

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" Galatians 6:2

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." John 15:12

It is natural for all Christians to share God's gift of love to others. But, at Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church (GPUMC) a special group of lay people, Stephen Ministers, have been called to share their gifts of Christ's love to those hurting in a trained, non-judgmental, confidential, and caring manner. As Stephen Ministers, they will walk the walk with those going through rough times in a Christlike manner.

Below is a poem written by Connie Buydens (deceased), past Stephen Minister, GPUMC, which typifies God's love offered by each Stephen Minister to those who hurt and seek help from a Stephen Minster.

STEPHEN MINISTRY

With the touch of His hand, Jesus made the people whole,

Not just the body, But the heart, the mind, the soul.

Why can't we, Help fulfill God's plan

And show our love to one another, With touch of our hand?

Reach out to the sick, To the lonely, to the poor

To those so tired and weary, They can travel on no more.

Reach out to the troubled, To those who have gone astray

And lend a gentle hand, Until they find their way.

In that way we, Help fulfill God's plan

And show our love to one another, With the touch of our hand.

The Stephen Ministers of GPUMC are here to touch your hand with God's love and walk with you through troubled times – just ask.

Carolyn Barth, Stephen Minister, Leader