Good morning,
We are in the middle of VBS week, here at Union Center United Methodist Church. The Lord has blessed us with a wonderful staff, and with beautiful children who have come nightly. Shannan Meilunas, who attended VBS here as a child, is now the director of the VBS program. Aric Phinney, the music minister at UCUMC for 18 years, is doing a great work in communicating the Gospel through music. We are preparing for our annual Chicken Barbeque, this Saturday with serving to begin at 4:00 PM. Bill Woodward, trained under the tutelage of his dad and uncles, is in charge of cooking the chicken. Kathy Dence is coordinating the salads, rolls, desserts, and other food items. Those who live in the area, please join us for "soul food".
I have now completed 23 treatments, and have 15 to go. Thank you for praying for me. I am doing well, and the Lord strengthens me every day. I drive myself in the morning and, after my treatment, I do some hospital calls.
Praise the Lord for Wilbur Wesner, who had quadruple bi-pass and double valve replacement surgery on Tuesday. He is doing well. This is his second open heart surgery. The first was 23 years earlier, to the day.
Praise the Lord for Gordie Glover, who received a pacemaker yesterday, and is now regaining his strength.
Pray for one of our family's friends, from Smyrna, NY - Joyce Ann Fuller - who will be going for triple bypass surgery at Wilson Hospital some time next week.
We praise the Lord for Jean and Leo Cornett, who celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary next week.
As part of my undergraduate studies, I studied English literature. My studies included British authors and one American author, Eugene O' Neil. In O’ Neil’s stage play, "The Iceman Cometh", a group of “regulars” are gathered in a bar. Their lives are pitiful illusions that they've created in order to survive. They plan celebrations to distract them from their depressing existence. O’Neil’s cynical point is that life is pointless, so give up your failed pipe-dreams. The saloon people resist surrendering their fantasies in vain hope for a brighter tomorrow. Their only escape is death or drinking themselves into oblivion. O’Neil had a difficult life and his plays reflect his struggles. Some people expect God to give them a comfortable life, so when hardship comes, they give up on God. People with childish faith want magical answers, not strength to handle hardships. People persist in treating prayer as a means of getting things from God, rather than reporting for duty. When we pray, “Thy will be done,” we leave the answers to God. If healing is what’s best, that’s what we get. We rest in His faithful and powerful heart and Hands, not arrogantly presuming how life should go. When People magazine presents its annual list of the most admired people, how many are noted for their faith and wisdom? The heroes of a society reveal much about the values of the people. In our celebrity-crazed culture, our nation honors those in the entertainment industry above all others. I cannot think of another industry with more awards ceremonies. When was the last time you read of someone from GE, Gillette, or Raytheon getting an award? If they do receive awards, we do not read of it in the news, because people are addicted to glitz and fluff. Our confused and Godless media has gone insane by focusing on the death of Michael Jackson. The news itself is turning into infotainment. Sadly, in many churches today, being entertained has become more important than prayer and focusing on the Word of the Lord. The underlying problems of our world have one source—sin. By rejecting God, people do whatever they please, which often ends up destroying them and hurting others. Psychologist Larry Crabb observes, “Brokenness isn’t so much about how bad you’ve been hurt but how you sinned in handling it.” Henri Nouwen writes, “Every well in the world, however refreshing, runs dry. Our souls thirst for the living water that springs from the throne of God.”
"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37-38)
Don't forget - the Heaven Now marriage seminar will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2009 at the First United Methodist Church, 53 McKinley Avenue, Endicott. The event, which teaches guidelines for a good marriage, will be held from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM, with lunch and daycare provided. The speaker for the event is Richard P. Larson, the Executive Pastor of the Sierra Bible Church in Sonora, California. To pre-register by phone, please call (607)748-6329. You may also register by e-mail at brownnaik@aol.com.
We are trusting the Lord to give us a great time of refreshment, blessing, and renewal as we come together. We praise the Lord for the gifts of marriage and family. We live in a confused culture that blatantly glamorizes homosexuality, gay marriage, lesbian marriage, and has become militant in trying to legalize them. We uphold the biblical standard regarding the institution of marriage, as God ordained it and Christ beautified it by His presence at the wedding of Cana in Galilee.
Those who live in this area, we extend a warm word of welcome to you, and invite you to join us.
Another upcoming event is a concert by the Continental Singers and Orchestra, to be held on Thursday, July 23, at 7:00 PM. This concert features a 33 member team of singers, instrumentalists, and technicians who will be performing a Christ-honoring program at the First United Methodist Church, 53 McKinley Avenue, in Endicott, NY.
Joyfully His,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY2Ugpst9VY
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