As a
nation we are confronted once again fear of terror, senseless bloodshed, and the
murder of innocent persons. We are confronted by the incredible flatness and
secularity of existence and godlessness of our time.
Joseph
Campbell, the mythologist, said in an interview with Michael Toms that the
majority of his friends are living "Wasteland lives." Many of them, he said,
"just are baffled; they're wandering in the Wasteland without any sense of where
the water is -- the source that makes things green" (An Open life, pp. 66-67).
T.
S. Elliott coined the term, "the wasteland". "The Wasteland" is a 434-line
modernist poem by T. S. Eliot published in 1922. It has been called "one of the
most important poems of the 20th century."
Most of us can look around us and see that many are living in the
Wasteland too. They are busy but they are not getting much out of life. They are
like the children in John Ruskin's story about the rainy day. Because they were
confined to the house by the rain, the children invented a game: they would see
how many tacks each could pry loose from the overstuffed Victorian furniture.
For the balance of the afternoon they all worked feverishly, prying and
gathering. Then, when the sun came out and they could all go home, they left,
each with his pocketful of tacks and the furniture in a shambles!
Ruskin
meant us to see that the room is the world and we are all the tack-gatherers --
and that when it is over there is very little point in having won more tacks
than the next person. In such a busy, Wasteland kind of a world, the Word
of God, alive and Eternal, invites us to "Be still and know that I am God."
The early
church leader Augustine was once accosted by a heathen who showed him his idol
and said, "Here is my god; where is thine?" Augustine replied, "I cannot show
you my God; not because there is no God to show but because you have no eyes to
see Him."
Elizabeth Elliott wrote in her Book, "Through Gates of Splendor", that when she learned about the brutal death of her husband, Jim Elliott, she sang in tears and hope, "Be still my soul. The Lord is on your side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to your God to order and provide. In every change He faithful will remain. Be still my soul. Your best, your heavenly Friend. Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end." (Jean Sibelius)
It is written "The Lord Almighty is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Come see the glorious works of the Lord. See how he brings destruction upon the world and causes wars to end thorughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear in two; he burns the shields with fire. Be still and know that I am God! I will be exalted in the nations. I will be honored through the earth." (Psalm 46:8-11)
In light of the assurance of our Almighty God’s triumphs we should take time throughout the day to be still and reverently honor him as the God of power, love, and sovereign control of all things. We can praise God that He constantly offers reassurance during troubled times.
Elizabeth Elliott wrote in her Book, "Through Gates of Splendor", that when she learned about the brutal death of her husband, Jim Elliott, she sang in tears and hope, "Be still my soul. The Lord is on your side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to your God to order and provide. In every change He faithful will remain. Be still my soul. Your best, your heavenly Friend. Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end." (Jean Sibelius)
It is written "The Lord Almighty is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Come see the glorious works of the Lord. See how he brings destruction upon the world and causes wars to end thorughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear in two; he burns the shields with fire. Be still and know that I am God! I will be exalted in the nations. I will be honored through the earth." (Psalm 46:8-11)
In light of the assurance of our Almighty God’s triumphs we should take time throughout the day to be still and reverently honor him as the God of power, love, and sovereign control of all things. We can praise God that He constantly offers reassurance during troubled times.
David gave emphatic declaration of God’s Almighty power to overcome any calamity
that may befall us. Perhaps the most famous verse in Psalm 46 is, "God is our
refuge and strength, a very present help in the time of trouble." A refuge is a
shelter that provides protection from all kinds of danger. When we seek refuge
in God we are trusting Him to deliver us from danger and trouble. Too many
people are seek refuge in their homes, possessions or in their abilities. Let us
take the attitude of the song writer:
We can praise God that He constantly reassures us with His mighty power, presence, and promise. Take time to thank God for the fact that He reassures us with rock solid guarantees regarding our security. People who do not get reassurance or think they do not need it are setting themselves up for deep distress. God alone is able to make wars cease. He alone is able to give us the confidence to move ahead with His will for our lives despite the outward circumstances or our personal feelings of fear. We can ensure the fact that He will bring to pass His will and way for our life if we take Abraham’s attitude toward our challenge, "He staggered not through unbelief but grew strong in faith, being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform." (Romans 4:20,21)
We can praise God that He constantly reassures us with His mighty power, presence, and promise. Take time to thank God for the fact that He reassures us with rock solid guarantees regarding our security. People who do not get reassurance or think they do not need it are setting themselves up for deep distress. God alone is able to make wars cease. He alone is able to give us the confidence to move ahead with His will for our lives despite the outward circumstances or our personal feelings of fear. We can ensure the fact that He will bring to pass His will and way for our life if we take Abraham’s attitude toward our challenge, "He staggered not through unbelief but grew strong in faith, being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform." (Romans 4:20,21)
We
are having a very special worship service this coming Sunday which has been
designated as the Back to Church Sunday. Plan to be in the House of the Lord
wherever you might be. Let us worship the Risen Lord. When saints worship and
serve Jesus Christ, the Risen One, Satan trembles.
We will
be meeting for worship:
8:30 AM
and 11:00 AM at the Union Center United Methodist Church,
128 Maple
Drive
9:30 AM
at the Wesley United Methodist Church
1000 Day
Hollow Road, Endicott.
Regular
Sunday school will resume at 9:50 AM.
See you
in church.
Brown
Must watch video"
A Special Saturday Evening of Praise and Worship
Saturday September 29.2012
Location: First
United Methodist Church,
53 McKinley Ave., Endicott, NY
53 McKinley Ave., Endicott, NY
Sponsored by Union
Center United Methodist Church.
5:30 PM Community
Dinner
6:30 PM Praise and
Worship
Special Music by:
Praise and worship band
Soloist: Emma
Brunson
Preacher: Pastor
Marshall Sorber
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