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
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Brown's Daily Word 1-18-11
Praise the Lord for this beautiful day thanks for praying for Janice and Jeremy Ada was born on Sunday night at 11:40 PM, the weighed 8 lbs and 6 oz the is beautiful. Grandma Alice is caring for Simon and Mika.We praise the Lord for Ada. In the life of the church it is the season of Epiphany . Christmas is the celebration of Gods gift to us in the Jesus Christ our Savoir. Epiphany season describes our gift to the Lord. Once we receive Jesus into our hearts we give back to him our hearts our lives that he may make us his instruments on Earth. We read about the wise men coming to see Jesus in Mathew Chapter 2. The Magi acknowledge in their action the right of this child king to reign and rule in their lives. Their worship was spontaneous and joyful. God had warned the wise men not return to Herod as he had request, but were told to return to their country by another route. It may have been an unfamiliar route, or less convenient, more costly, less comfortable, more dangerous or less traveled route. But it was the way that God wanted them to go and they submitted to his will.
Sometimes what God calls us to do, is unfam-iliar, less convenient, not comfortable and goes against what may be the more traveled road. It may be more costly, and risky but if we have really encountered Christ we must submit to his plans for our lives.
Verse twelve ends the story of the wise men by saying after they gave him their gifts “…they departed for their own country another way.” They quietly returned home and went on with their lives. But they were different men now, men who had been in the presence of the King of Kings and worshipped him. I believe that this is a double meaning here when it says they returned “another way” not only did they return by a different route to avoid Herod but they returned different men.
There are three types of people in the story of the wise men. There are those who like Herod the king, hear of Jesus but are openly hostile toward him. There are also those like the priest and the scribes who can quote you chapter and verse about Him, but they are indifferent to Him. And then there are the Magi who sought Jesus, and when they found Him accepted Him as King.
But don’t be surprised that just as the Magi's journey was taken at great cost, for us to follow Jesus will have a cost. There is no middle ground, or position of neutrality with Jesus. We either bring an attitude of adoration or rejection; life or death; belief or unbelief. In Jesus' own word; the result is either salvation or condemnation, eternal life or judgment. He is either the Lord of all, or He is not the Lord at all. May we reflect the wisdom of the magi, and confess Jesus' authority in our lives.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n08I6D3VR7w
Sometimes what God calls us to do, is unfam-iliar, less convenient, not comfortable and goes against what may be the more traveled road. It may be more costly, and risky but if we have really encountered Christ we must submit to his plans for our lives.
Verse twelve ends the story of the wise men by saying after they gave him their gifts “…they departed for their own country another way.” They quietly returned home and went on with their lives. But they were different men now, men who had been in the presence of the King of Kings and worshipped him. I believe that this is a double meaning here when it says they returned “another way” not only did they return by a different route to avoid Herod but they returned different men.
There are three types of people in the story of the wise men. There are those who like Herod the king, hear of Jesus but are openly hostile toward him. There are also those like the priest and the scribes who can quote you chapter and verse about Him, but they are indifferent to Him. And then there are the Magi who sought Jesus, and when they found Him accepted Him as King.
But don’t be surprised that just as the Magi's journey was taken at great cost, for us to follow Jesus will have a cost. There is no middle ground, or position of neutrality with Jesus. We either bring an attitude of adoration or rejection; life or death; belief or unbelief. In Jesus' own word; the result is either salvation or condemnation, eternal life or judgment. He is either the Lord of all, or He is not the Lord at all. May we reflect the wisdom of the magi, and confess Jesus' authority in our lives.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n08I6D3VR7w
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
