Good morning,
The Lord blessed us with a wonderful Wednesday. It was a gorgeous and glorious day. Praise the Lord for the way He makes our souls full with His matchless beauty. The Lord blessed our Wednesday Evening fellowship and study.
Whenever I take a long walk I wear my "Nike" sneakers. I have put quite a few miles on them. This word " Nike"has an interesting history. "Nike" is the Greek word which means literally, "Victory", or "He Conquers", or "He overcomes". In fact, in Greek mythology, Nike was the goddess of victory. Often people spell my last name as" Nike". My family name is " Naik". It means, in Indian languages, " Leader". "Naik" is also one of the ranks in the Indian Army. The company which selected the word Nike as its symbol knew of the strength of its meaning.
This same word or derivatives of it appear often in the pages of the Bible, especially in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. The words "he that overcomes" have their origin in the Greek word "Nike". Since the Bible speaks often about "Overcomers" we ought to pay attention to who these they are and how we can recognize them. The apostle John spoke about overcomers in the Gospel according to John, in his letters, and in the Book of Revelation. In these he identifies who the overcomers are.
The overcomers are led by the Overcomer of the world. Jesus referred to himself as an overcomer in John 16:33 when he spoke to his disciples, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." We discover that Jesus is the chief overcomer and that the other overcomers follow his example and receive their power from Him.
In I John 4:4 John tells us, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. Christ gives the power to overcome to anyone in whom he dwells. This means that any Christian has the power to overcome. John confirms this in I John 5:5 when he writes, "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the son of God?" We know that Jesus Christ has overcome the world and has given that same ability to everyone who belongs to him. We are like our master. He has overcome, and we have the power to overcome because of Him.
They (overcomers) are Born of God and have a victorious faith. John reveals another aspect of the overcomers in I John 5:4 when he writes, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Those who are born again are overcomers. God plants his seed in them which is His Holy Spirit. The result is that they are given the resident power of God’s presence and nature. He gives everything they need to live godly lives and overcome Satan (II Peter 1:3-4).
We are warned in Romans 12:21 to not allow ourselves to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with Good. The problem here is worse than just committing sins. The person described here is in bondage. He is a slave to sin. In II Peter 2:19-20 the subject at hand is false teachers who deceive Christians. Peter warns, "They promise them freedom, while they themselves are the slaves of depravity - for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and again are entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were in the beginning."
This teaches us that the overcoming is more than just a nice option for the Christian. This is how we share in Christ’s nature. We are overcomers because Jesus is the overcomer. Those who are born of God overcome because it is their nature to do so.
In Christ,
Brown
http://youtu.be/byIpfEVxhs4
Saturday evening worship service.
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenue
Endicott
Sponsored by the Union Center United Methodist Church, 128, Maple Drive, Endicott
Saturday, May 14, 2011
12 Noon Women's Banquet
Location: Union Center UMC , 128 Maple Drive Endicott,
Speaker: Linda Ayer
6 PM Coffee Fellowship( First UMC Enicott, )
6:30 PM Worship Service Worship Music: Aric Phinney and the worship team
Speaker: Craig Sabin.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Brown's Daily Word 5-11-11
Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this Wednesday. It is going to be another glorious day here in beautiful Broome County, New York. The Spring foliage and the Spring flowers are at their peak. Praise the Lord for the way He surrounds us with His Splendor. As we gaze around with our eyes wide open we can see His glory and majesty displayed with so much grace all around us. It is breathtaking and awe-filled. Thanks be to Jesus, who is the author Eternal Spring.
We will gather for our midweek fellowship and study tonight, beginning with soup at 6:00 PM. We will be focusing on our last session of "Gospel in Life" by Timothy Keller. The session focuses on "Eternity: The world that is to come".
In His high-priestly prayer that is recorded in John 17, our Lord Jesus prayed for his disciples. In verse 13 He said, “I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete.” The nature of this joy is that it’s joy in the other. The joy is not an end in itself. This joy was never meant to be a self-serving experience. The joy comes from involving others in our fellowship.
We can never fulfill our purpose in the world simply by sitting around rejoicing in our membership as God’s people. God’s purpose for us is to proclaim Jesus Christ to the world. There’s an outward looking focus even as Jesus spoke of the glory He and the Father share. We are made to share the dance of God with others.
Paul put it like this, “For it is God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”. (2 Corinthians 4:6) He then went on to talk of us being God’s ambassadors. We are redeemed, drafted, and commissioned to be part of His world-wide mission of reaching people for His Kingdom. The Bible depicts of a glorious future that has already been inaugurated in the person and the mission of Jesus Christ our Lord.
God’s creation plan had a beginning and will have an end. The Bible’s account of the end of the world is quite different from that of other religions. Where they might see the illusion of this world passing away, or souls escaping the confines of this physical existence, Christianity sees a heavenly city coming down out of heaven to fill the new earth, created to replace the old. God comes to dwell among his people as he did at the beginning. There are people of every nation tribe, people and language, gathered around the throne of God and the Lamb in worship. This is a physical reality that is transformed but not taken away. In other words what we do now in the physical world matters. Just as Jesus carried the scars of the cross to heaven with him, so what we do now can have lasting significance.
Our task as a Church is to live out the life of and in Jesus, the Risen Lord, in the world so that others see God’s glory. We do that by mutually self-giving, other- directed love. We give Jesus, our Savior and Lord, glory by reflecting his character in our life together.
In Christ,
Brown
http://youtu.be/c-Jkktpp9QI
Saturday evening worship service.
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenue
Endicott
Sponsored by the Union Center United Methodist Church, 128, Maple Drive, Endicott
Saturday, May 14, 2011
12 Noon Women's Banquet
Location: Union Center UMC , 128 Maple Drive Endicott,
Speaker: Linda Ayer
6 PM Coffee Fellowship( First UMC Enicott, )
6:30 PM Worship Service Worship Music: Aric Phinney and the worship team
Speaker: Craig Sabin.
Praise the Lord for this Wednesday. It is going to be another glorious day here in beautiful Broome County, New York. The Spring foliage and the Spring flowers are at their peak. Praise the Lord for the way He surrounds us with His Splendor. As we gaze around with our eyes wide open we can see His glory and majesty displayed with so much grace all around us. It is breathtaking and awe-filled. Thanks be to Jesus, who is the author Eternal Spring.
We will gather for our midweek fellowship and study tonight, beginning with soup at 6:00 PM. We will be focusing on our last session of "Gospel in Life" by Timothy Keller. The session focuses on "Eternity: The world that is to come".
In His high-priestly prayer that is recorded in John 17, our Lord Jesus prayed for his disciples. In verse 13 He said, “I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete.” The nature of this joy is that it’s joy in the other. The joy is not an end in itself. This joy was never meant to be a self-serving experience. The joy comes from involving others in our fellowship.
We can never fulfill our purpose in the world simply by sitting around rejoicing in our membership as God’s people. God’s purpose for us is to proclaim Jesus Christ to the world. There’s an outward looking focus even as Jesus spoke of the glory He and the Father share. We are made to share the dance of God with others.
Paul put it like this, “For it is God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”. (2 Corinthians 4:6) He then went on to talk of us being God’s ambassadors. We are redeemed, drafted, and commissioned to be part of His world-wide mission of reaching people for His Kingdom. The Bible depicts of a glorious future that has already been inaugurated in the person and the mission of Jesus Christ our Lord.
God’s creation plan had a beginning and will have an end. The Bible’s account of the end of the world is quite different from that of other religions. Where they might see the illusion of this world passing away, or souls escaping the confines of this physical existence, Christianity sees a heavenly city coming down out of heaven to fill the new earth, created to replace the old. God comes to dwell among his people as he did at the beginning. There are people of every nation tribe, people and language, gathered around the throne of God and the Lamb in worship. This is a physical reality that is transformed but not taken away. In other words what we do now in the physical world matters. Just as Jesus carried the scars of the cross to heaven with him, so what we do now can have lasting significance.
Our task as a Church is to live out the life of and in Jesus, the Risen Lord, in the world so that others see God’s glory. We do that by mutually self-giving, other- directed love. We give Jesus, our Savior and Lord, glory by reflecting his character in our life together.
In Christ,
Brown
http://youtu.be/c-Jkktpp9QI
Saturday evening worship service.
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenue
Endicott
Sponsored by the Union Center United Methodist Church, 128, Maple Drive, Endicott
Saturday, May 14, 2011
12 Noon Women's Banquet
Location: Union Center UMC , 128 Maple Drive Endicott,
Speaker: Linda Ayer
6 PM Coffee Fellowship( First UMC Enicott, )
6:30 PM Worship Service Worship Music: Aric Phinney and the worship team
Speaker: Craig Sabin.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Brown's Daily Word 5-10-11
Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this new day. I had to report for the Jury duty yesterday. I drove round the city and some of the towns in beautiful Broome County. There were flowering trees, such as tulip trees and crab apple trees, and all other trees blazing with brilliant colors. I took a walk in one of the local parks watching and listening as birds sang and made melodious sounds to Jesus, the maker of all creatures large and small.
This Saturday at noon there will be a special dinner for women. Linda Ayer will be speaking. All are welcome. The main course will be lasagna.
In every church I have served we have been accused of having too many banquets and dinners. We love to serve and share meals. They are not only venues for food, but for fellowship and fun.
Jesus told a story of a great banquet that was turned down. (Luke 14). Large dinners were important social networking events of the day, and it was an honor to be invited. Like the enthusiastic guest of verse 15, we can hardly imagine anyone refusing to attend, yet some did. The invitations went out, and the host anticipated positive responses.
In the parable the host represents God and the invitation is for the glories of Heaven. It was customary in Bible times to send out two invitations: an initial request, then a final summons when everything was made ready and it was time to gather. The guests had plenty of notice and ample time to make arrangements.
Yet, the invitees offered feeble excuses to defend their abrupt change of plans. They had initially agreed and were expected to come, but then they backed down.
There is nothing wrong with fields, oxen, or getting married, but there are no grounds for missing God’s banquet. For instance, one invitee had purchased a field, which was a long and complicated process. The man would've had several opportunities to examine the property. No one would buy property without first carefully inspecting it. He doesn't need to “see” it; he’s already has. His field wasn't going anywhere, so this is a lame excuse.
Buying livestock was also far from an urgent matter. People bought animals all the time, and no one would ever purchase a team of oxen without first “testing” them carefully to be sure they pulled together.
As for the man who was recently wed, getting married did not exempt people of the day from social obligations. He did not even ask to be excused. He rudely told the host not to expect him. Some invitations nowadays read “regrets only”, but this guy didn't even have the courtesy to “regretfully” decline.
There are many excuses for rejecting what our Generous Lord has to offer, and He sees through them all. People are too occupied with their lives to have the Lord, be part of their plans. They don't see their need; they're not willing to commit to faith; they find the invitation inconvenient; maybe they think the party won't be fun. Yet, no excuse is valid when the Lord calls us.
There’s more to this parable than rejecting hospitality. It is also about the honor of God. We dishonor Him by choosing to refuse His mercy. God offers Heaven itself and people refuse it; for them Heaven would be Hell. They make a free decision to remain alienated from God. C.S. Lewis describes the doors of Hell as being locked on the inside. We make Hell for ourselves when we refuse Heaven, God, and joy (Peter Kreeft).
The host was outraged over the rejections of his chosen guests, but he turned his anger to grace. He could not let the food go to waste, so he chose an unexpected option. Instead, he told his servant to invite the outcasts -- not the “beautiful people” but the so-called “unwashed masses” who offered no excuses (the kind of people Jesus was known to eat with). Matters such as real estate and livestock didn't impede them, and many couldn't afford to be married. They were told, “come on in; the food’s on the table!” They were welcome to the Host’s hospitality. This meal isn't for the full but the hungry. If we're full of the world we'll have no appetite for Heaven. Our Lord’s point is that all are welcome at His table.
The outcasts regarded themselves as unworthy; they had to be reassured that they were welcome to attend the banquet. The host said, “Compel them to come in” (23/NASB). In the same way, we share the Gospel message with a great sense of urgency, eager to have people come join the party! We are servants of the Host and our mandate is to go and invite people to come to His table, to let them know they're most welcome. “The greatest favor we can do for any human being is to introduce them to Jesus Christ” (Paul Little).
So what became of the original guest list? Those who snubbed the host would not get even a taste of the meal. The door was shut and the invitation withdrawn for those who refused to come. One commentator gets to the point of the host’s withdrawal, saying, “They don't know what they're missing but it serves them right that they're missing it!” None were excluded except those who excluded themselves. Who missed out? Those who rejected the invitation. We should let nothing stand in the way of accepting Christ’s invitation.
Jesus suggested to his fellow dinner-guest that, “We're enjoying this fine meal because we accepted our gracious host’s invitation. We need to accept God’s all-inclusive invitation to His table.” Scripture warns, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts”. There is peril in rejecting God. If we think we can live without God, we're indeed on our own, but we're also without excuse. The offer’s been given…dinner is served.
In Christ,
Brown
http://youtu.be/W4CapSBM8UA
Saturday evening worship service.
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenue
Endicott
Sponsored by the Union Center United Methodist Church, 128, Maple Drive, Endicott
Saturday, May 14, 2011
6 PM Coffee Fellowship
6:30 PM Worship Service
Worship Music: Aric Phinney and the worship team
Speaker: Craig Sabin.
Praise the Lord for this new day. I had to report for the Jury duty yesterday. I drove round the city and some of the towns in beautiful Broome County. There were flowering trees, such as tulip trees and crab apple trees, and all other trees blazing with brilliant colors. I took a walk in one of the local parks watching and listening as birds sang and made melodious sounds to Jesus, the maker of all creatures large and small.
This Saturday at noon there will be a special dinner for women. Linda Ayer will be speaking. All are welcome. The main course will be lasagna.
In every church I have served we have been accused of having too many banquets and dinners. We love to serve and share meals. They are not only venues for food, but for fellowship and fun.
Jesus told a story of a great banquet that was turned down. (Luke 14). Large dinners were important social networking events of the day, and it was an honor to be invited. Like the enthusiastic guest of verse 15, we can hardly imagine anyone refusing to attend, yet some did. The invitations went out, and the host anticipated positive responses.
In the parable the host represents God and the invitation is for the glories of Heaven. It was customary in Bible times to send out two invitations: an initial request, then a final summons when everything was made ready and it was time to gather. The guests had plenty of notice and ample time to make arrangements.
Yet, the invitees offered feeble excuses to defend their abrupt change of plans. They had initially agreed and were expected to come, but then they backed down.
There is nothing wrong with fields, oxen, or getting married, but there are no grounds for missing God’s banquet. For instance, one invitee had purchased a field, which was a long and complicated process. The man would've had several opportunities to examine the property. No one would buy property without first carefully inspecting it. He doesn't need to “see” it; he’s already has. His field wasn't going anywhere, so this is a lame excuse.
Buying livestock was also far from an urgent matter. People bought animals all the time, and no one would ever purchase a team of oxen without first “testing” them carefully to be sure they pulled together.
As for the man who was recently wed, getting married did not exempt people of the day from social obligations. He did not even ask to be excused. He rudely told the host not to expect him. Some invitations nowadays read “regrets only”, but this guy didn't even have the courtesy to “regretfully” decline.
There are many excuses for rejecting what our Generous Lord has to offer, and He sees through them all. People are too occupied with their lives to have the Lord, be part of their plans. They don't see their need; they're not willing to commit to faith; they find the invitation inconvenient; maybe they think the party won't be fun. Yet, no excuse is valid when the Lord calls us.
There’s more to this parable than rejecting hospitality. It is also about the honor of God. We dishonor Him by choosing to refuse His mercy. God offers Heaven itself and people refuse it; for them Heaven would be Hell. They make a free decision to remain alienated from God. C.S. Lewis describes the doors of Hell as being locked on the inside. We make Hell for ourselves when we refuse Heaven, God, and joy (Peter Kreeft).
The host was outraged over the rejections of his chosen guests, but he turned his anger to grace. He could not let the food go to waste, so he chose an unexpected option. Instead, he told his servant to invite the outcasts -- not the “beautiful people” but the so-called “unwashed masses” who offered no excuses (the kind of people Jesus was known to eat with). Matters such as real estate and livestock didn't impede them, and many couldn't afford to be married. They were told, “come on in; the food’s on the table!” They were welcome to the Host’s hospitality. This meal isn't for the full but the hungry. If we're full of the world we'll have no appetite for Heaven. Our Lord’s point is that all are welcome at His table.
The outcasts regarded themselves as unworthy; they had to be reassured that they were welcome to attend the banquet. The host said, “Compel them to come in” (23/NASB). In the same way, we share the Gospel message with a great sense of urgency, eager to have people come join the party! We are servants of the Host and our mandate is to go and invite people to come to His table, to let them know they're most welcome. “The greatest favor we can do for any human being is to introduce them to Jesus Christ” (Paul Little).
So what became of the original guest list? Those who snubbed the host would not get even a taste of the meal. The door was shut and the invitation withdrawn for those who refused to come. One commentator gets to the point of the host’s withdrawal, saying, “They don't know what they're missing but it serves them right that they're missing it!” None were excluded except those who excluded themselves. Who missed out? Those who rejected the invitation. We should let nothing stand in the way of accepting Christ’s invitation.
Jesus suggested to his fellow dinner-guest that, “We're enjoying this fine meal because we accepted our gracious host’s invitation. We need to accept God’s all-inclusive invitation to His table.” Scripture warns, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts”. There is peril in rejecting God. If we think we can live without God, we're indeed on our own, but we're also without excuse. The offer’s been given…dinner is served.
In Christ,
Brown
http://youtu.be/W4CapSBM8UA
Saturday evening worship service.
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenue
Endicott
Sponsored by the Union Center United Methodist Church, 128, Maple Drive, Endicott
Saturday, May 14, 2011
6 PM Coffee Fellowship
6:30 PM Worship Service
Worship Music: Aric Phinney and the worship team
Speaker: Craig Sabin.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Brown's Daily Word 5-9-11
Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this new day. It is going to be brilliant and beautiful. The Lord blessed us with a wonderful weekend. Alice and I traveled to Altamont, NY, near Albany where I conducted an outdoor wedding for a young woman that I have known since she was born. Her mother died at a very young age of 35. This young girl has grown to be a beautiful young woman. The wedding was held in a beautiful spot surrounded by an apple orchard. It is always a joyous occasion to celebrated the gift of Christian marriage and the gift of Christian family and the gift the Church, the Body of Christ.
Yesterday being Mothers' Day Three moms( Jane, Linda, and Alice) preached during our morning worship services. One Scripture reference was taken from Psalm 127. The focus of Psalm 127 is on people, not things. Our relationships, how we touch the lives of others, are infinitely more significant that the possessions we accumulate. Solomon shifts from building a house to the people in that house, verses 3-5. He presents a principle, that if the family prospers the nation will prosper.
Not everyone is married with children, but we are all part of families. How we touch the lives of others is more important than any other accomplishments. What will we be known for? What legacy will we leave? Our legacies will hopefully be seen in the personal relationships we’ve formed and developed. Our faith transforms us from consumers who use work to get things, into people who find in their work a means of investing their lives in others.
Sometime ago I read about Jack Welch, retired CEO of General Electric, one of the most admired business leaders in the world. What was the secret of his success? He attributed his success to the people who shaped his life. The most influential person in his life was his mother, who showed him that learning from losses teaches us how to be winners. Effective leaders want to get the best out of their workers. Jack Welch learned this principle from his church-going parents, not from a business textbook or seminar. The son of Irish immigrants, he gained his confidence and a competitive edge within his home. Of growing up in Salem, Mass he said, “I wasn’t born with a silver spoon. I had something better—tons of love.”
Solomon concluded by pointing out the blessing of children. He taught that children are a “heritage from the Lord…a reward from Him”. (Psalm 127:3). He went on to compare children to arrows. As a soldier needs weapons, so we need our children as protection from alienation in our later years. Every child is a blessing and gift from God. The simple fact of life exceeds anything we can engineer, control, or explain. We simply trust the design of God’s providence.
It has been said that being a parent is like being a “good host to a stranger” (Peterson). We may think our children are like us, but they are their own persons. We are their caretakers, entrusted with the task of leading them to wisdom by giving them roots and wings. We should not blame ourselves for their problems, nor claim for their successes as our own. James Dobson advises parents to give children the time and freedom to discover themselves, even if they appear not to be searching. Children come into our lives to receive our hospitality, become friends, and then depart to continue their journeys. We may be tempted to be possessive of them, and it’s hard to give them freedom in a harsh world; we want to shield them from danger and evil. Yet, our children do not belong to us; they belong to God, and the growth of a family is God’s work. His blessing on society begins with His blessing on the family, the basic unit of society. If families are neglected and decline, society will decline.
We are a success-driven society. Sadly, some people climb up the ladder of success only to discover that they have wasted their time climbing the wrong ladder. We should heed this “Song of Solomon.” Things fall into place when we have the right priorities. If we try to “build the house” we will fail. When the Lord does the building, we will find that we are able to “contend” with anything and everything.
In Christ,
Brown
http://youtu.be/07ewI4BS9ag
Saturday evening worship service.
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenue
Endicott
Sponsored by the Union Center United Methodist Church, 128, Maple Drive, Endicott
Saturday, May 14, 2011
6 PM Coffee Fellowship
6:30 PM Worship Service
Worship Music: Aric Phinney and the worship team
Speaker: Craig Sabin.
Praise the Lord for this new day. It is going to be brilliant and beautiful. The Lord blessed us with a wonderful weekend. Alice and I traveled to Altamont, NY, near Albany where I conducted an outdoor wedding for a young woman that I have known since she was born. Her mother died at a very young age of 35. This young girl has grown to be a beautiful young woman. The wedding was held in a beautiful spot surrounded by an apple orchard. It is always a joyous occasion to celebrated the gift of Christian marriage and the gift of Christian family and the gift the Church, the Body of Christ.
Yesterday being Mothers' Day Three moms( Jane, Linda, and Alice) preached during our morning worship services. One Scripture reference was taken from Psalm 127. The focus of Psalm 127 is on people, not things. Our relationships, how we touch the lives of others, are infinitely more significant that the possessions we accumulate. Solomon shifts from building a house to the people in that house, verses 3-5. He presents a principle, that if the family prospers the nation will prosper.
Not everyone is married with children, but we are all part of families. How we touch the lives of others is more important than any other accomplishments. What will we be known for? What legacy will we leave? Our legacies will hopefully be seen in the personal relationships we’ve formed and developed. Our faith transforms us from consumers who use work to get things, into people who find in their work a means of investing their lives in others.
Sometime ago I read about Jack Welch, retired CEO of General Electric, one of the most admired business leaders in the world. What was the secret of his success? He attributed his success to the people who shaped his life. The most influential person in his life was his mother, who showed him that learning from losses teaches us how to be winners. Effective leaders want to get the best out of their workers. Jack Welch learned this principle from his church-going parents, not from a business textbook or seminar. The son of Irish immigrants, he gained his confidence and a competitive edge within his home. Of growing up in Salem, Mass he said, “I wasn’t born with a silver spoon. I had something better—tons of love.”
Solomon concluded by pointing out the blessing of children. He taught that children are a “heritage from the Lord…a reward from Him”. (Psalm 127:3). He went on to compare children to arrows. As a soldier needs weapons, so we need our children as protection from alienation in our later years. Every child is a blessing and gift from God. The simple fact of life exceeds anything we can engineer, control, or explain. We simply trust the design of God’s providence.
It has been said that being a parent is like being a “good host to a stranger” (Peterson). We may think our children are like us, but they are their own persons. We are their caretakers, entrusted with the task of leading them to wisdom by giving them roots and wings. We should not blame ourselves for their problems, nor claim for their successes as our own. James Dobson advises parents to give children the time and freedom to discover themselves, even if they appear not to be searching. Children come into our lives to receive our hospitality, become friends, and then depart to continue their journeys. We may be tempted to be possessive of them, and it’s hard to give them freedom in a harsh world; we want to shield them from danger and evil. Yet, our children do not belong to us; they belong to God, and the growth of a family is God’s work. His blessing on society begins with His blessing on the family, the basic unit of society. If families are neglected and decline, society will decline.
We are a success-driven society. Sadly, some people climb up the ladder of success only to discover that they have wasted their time climbing the wrong ladder. We should heed this “Song of Solomon.” Things fall into place when we have the right priorities. If we try to “build the house” we will fail. When the Lord does the building, we will find that we are able to “contend” with anything and everything.
In Christ,
Brown
http://youtu.be/07ewI4BS9ag
Saturday evening worship service.
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenue
Endicott
Sponsored by the Union Center United Methodist Church, 128, Maple Drive, Endicott
Saturday, May 14, 2011
6 PM Coffee Fellowship
6:30 PM Worship Service
Worship Music: Aric Phinney and the worship team
Speaker: Craig Sabin.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
