Praise the Lord for this beautiful and bright afternoon in New York. Some birds have been coming to our birdfeeders. We even saw a big fox walking around the house this afternoon. Our little Ada came home yesterday so Micah and Simeon were very happy. Sunita called me from Uganda this morning and is doing well and enjoying the warm weather there. We are getting ready for the Saturday evening service this evening. Those of you that are near please join us at the First UMC 53 McKinley Ave in Endicott. Tomorrow we will meet for our morning services at 8:30 & 11:00 at UCUMC and 9:000 am at Wesley. I am feeling stronger now. Thanks for praying for me. Please remember our dear friend Christy, who has a special need at this time.
I will be preaching tomorrow on the call to discipleship, on how the Lord Jesus called fishermen to be His disciples. Jesus our Lord came to seek and save that which was lost.. Soon after His baptism and temptation, Jesus calls John, one of the fishermen, to be one of His disciples. John was nobody and Jesus made him somebody. He offered him a new kind of life. John was with the Jesus throughout His earthly ministry and through the anointing and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, records more of the words of Jesus than any other Gospel writer.
John begins to think back to the words of Christ that he was privileged to hear from three years of following him. He remembers the parables of the Lord that were so compelling, mysterious, and that dealt with such deep issues of the heart. He remembers the powerful preaching of Jesus, calling men from lives of sin and offering them words of hope. Even his enemies said of his teaching, "No one ever spoke as this man speaks." (Matt. 7:46) John also remembers how Jesus reached out with in compassion with personal words of encouragement to a leper, to a blind man, even to a woman who was caught in adultery, to whom He said, "Neither do I condemn you." (John 8:11) He remembers all those things that the Lord said to people, and his mind is filled with the words of Christ. John is absolutely clear as to what he has heard and seen and touched, and he draws conclusions about it. "Let me tell you what it means," he says. "This one was the Word of God himself. This one was Life made plain. This one was eternal Life from the Father." (1 John)“This is the message which we have heard from Him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.”
John Stott says it well when he stated, “The Christian message is neither a philo-sophical speculation, nor a tentative suggestion, nor a modest contribution to religious thought, but a dogmatic affirmation by those whose experience and commission qualified them to make it.” [John Stott. The Epistles of John. Tyndale N.T. Commentaries. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964) p. 62-63]
The Christian life is meant to be shared- like a good book or new dessert . Joy is derived in being able to pass on something that blessed you! The Christian life is the same way: if you keep it to yourself you are missing out on one of the true purposes for being a Christian! The Christian life takes on a whole new meaning and a whole new appreciation when you realize it is a thing to be shared!
I am just getting into the facebook world. I sent requests to all my friends on my distribution list. It may have come to you three or four times. That means I am really desperate and 'sleepless in new york' to be your friend. Would you be my friend? Forgive all my trespasses.
In Christ,
Brown
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