Brown's Daily Word 2-10-12

   Praise the Lord for this Friday.  It will be yet another like spring-like day today.  I heard the birds singing yesterday morning and praising the Lord.  Somebody said that he heard the robins sing.  I was looking at some of the photographs of the President's Palace in New Delhi, India.  It is a spectacular building designed and built by the Britsh.  It has many spectacular gardens.  The gardens are in full bloom.  The Tulip gardens looked stunning with full bloom.

    Our faithful choir sang a sweet song recently titled, "God  Is So Good".  One of God’s faithful missionaries, Allen Gardiner, experienced many physical difficulties and hardships throughout his service to the Savior. Despite his troubles, he said, "While God gives me strength, failure will not daunt me."  In 1851, at the age of 57, he died of disease and starvation while serving on Picton Island at the southern tip of South America.  When his body was found, his diary lay nearby.  It bore the record of hunger, thirst, wounds, and loneliness.  The last entry in his little book showed the struggle of his shaking hand as he tried to write legibly.  It read, "I am overwhelmed with a sense of the goodness of God." Allen Gardiner.
    For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy (Steadfast love and goodness) toward them that fear him Psalms 103:7  God is so good to us, but often Satan tries to cripple our witness  in the work of God by attempting to get us to doubt God’s goodness.
    A little boy told his grandma how "everything" in his life is going wrong. He told her about his problems with school, family, friends, etc. Meanwhile, Grandma was baking a cake.  She asked her grandson if he would like a snack, which of course he did.  "Here, have some cooking oil," grandma offers.  "Yuck" said the boy. "How about a couple raw eggs?" Grandma asked him.
    "That’s gross, Grandma!" he replied.  "Would you like some flour then?  Or maybe baking soda?"  "Grandma, those things are all yucky!" the boy says. To which Grandma replied, "Yes, all these things seem bad by themselves.  But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!  God works the same way.  Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times.  But as we trust in Him despite the circumstances, eventually, together all things will make something wonderful!"
    Every day the world around us changes, sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad.  But we serve an unchanging God that loves us and embraces us in all times. Jeremiah 31:3

    Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”

 In Christ,

   Brown

 http://youtu.be/1uqBxizNZJ4

     

Friday , February 10, 2012

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                 Join us at 7 PM.

 

On FEBRUARY 11, 2012 (Saturday), at First United Methodist Church, 53 McKinley Ave., Endicott, at 5:30 PM - There will be a Special Banquet prepared by Joe Walker, including a variety of international Cuisine.  It will be a great celebration.  At  6:30 PM there will be a Hymn Sing with Aric Phinney at the Grand Piano and  Yancey Moore at the Organ.  Dave Berry will lead the  Hymn Sing.

      Sponsored by The Union Center UMC.

Brown's Daily Word 2-9-12

Good morning,

    Praise the Lord for this new day.  The Lord blessed us with a wonderful Wednesday Evening gathering with lots of food.  He also blessed us with a sweet time in Word as we shared, listened, and were challenged.  We were looking at the midnight encounter between a very religious man named Nicodemus and our  Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Nicodemus came to Christ in the dark midnight.  He came to Jesus, the Light of the world.  Our Lord is so good to those who seek.  He spent considerable time listening, sharing and challenging.  He spoke of the need for New Birth.  In the New Testament Paul put it like this: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). 
    Eventually, Nicodemus evidently experienced a new birth, in spite of his initial spiritual dullness and resistance.  We read of him defending Jesus before the Pharisees as they were plotting against him — earning for himself a severe rebuke (John 7:50-51).  He also showed up after the crucifixion of Jesus and helped Joseph of Arimathea anoint the body of Jesus, wrap it, and bury it (John 19:38-40). Both of these acts were done at great personal risk, and possibly got him expelled from the Temple.  Something had happened to the heart of Nicodemus.  He could have held on to his title as a religious teacher in Israel, resenting that Jesus was trying to teach him something, but he humbled himself and experienced a new birth. 

    No one can bring about their own conception and birth; this is the gift of God.  The Bible says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).  Again it says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).  As Jesus said to Nicodemus, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:5-6).  We  have a physical birth that brings us into this physical world, but then we  need to be born into the Family of God, anew, from above.  This is the work of God.  It happens as we  invite Christ to live in  our hearts . 
    The Bible says, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:11-13).  If it were not possible for us to know that we are right with God the Scripture would not make this wonderful promise.  God does not want to keep us guessing.  He is not out to keep us in suspense and full of guilt.  God is expressing his love to us in countless ways and wants us to receive it and respond to it. 
    The man we refer to as Saint Augustine was a leader in the church approximately 400 years after Christ.  Augustine was not always a saint.  He lived a life of lewd debauchery prior to his conversion.  Not long after his conversion and his new relationship to Christ, he was walking down a street in the city of Milan, Italy where he lived.  As he walked, he came across a prostitute whom he had known very intimately.  She spoke to him, but he would not answer and continued to walk.  She was surprised and called to him again, “Augustine, It is I!”  He never looked back or broke stride, and simply said: “Yes, but it is no longer I.”  He had the assurance that not only did he now have an experience with Christ, but that he was a new man.  A change had taken place.  The old was gone because the new had come. 

 Blessed be the Name of Jesus our Lord.

    In Him,

     Brown

    
http://youtu.be/axqXMuW8x1U

 

 

On FEBRUARY 11, 2012 Saturday, at First United Methodist Church, 53 McKinley Ave., Endicott, at 5:30 PM - There will be a Special Banquet prepared by Joe Walker, including a variety of international Cuisine...  It will be a great celebration. At  6:30 PM there will be a Hymn Sing with Aric Phinney at the Grand  Piano and  Yancey Moore at the Organ.  Dave Berry will lead the  Hymn Sing.

      Sponsored by The Union Center UMC.

Brown's Daily Word 2-8-12

Good morning,


Praise the Lord for this new day. We will gather for our mid-week service this evening at 6 PM, starting with a very special meal. We will gather for Bible study at 6:30 PM. We have been looking at John 3.

Max Lucado has written a book entitled simply "3:16". The entire book focuses on just one single verse from the Bible, John 3:16. Preschoolers can recite it. Football fans paint it boldly across cardboard signs. It’s brief enough to write on a napkin or memorize in moment, yet solid enough to withstand 2000 years of storms and questions. It begins with God, ends with life, and urges us to do the same! It all begins with a silent figure moving stealthily through the darkened streets of Jerusalem. Nicodemus was one of the Pharisees, the religious elite who militantly rejected Jesus. So, when he decided to seek Christ out and learn from him, he had to do so in secret. Slipping through alleyways and dimly lit streets, Nicodemus found his way to a simple house where Jesus and his followers are staying. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you” (John 3:2 NLT).

Without hesitation, Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Whatever Nicodemus had in mind that night, it’s clear what was on Jesus’ mind. Christ’s exposition on salvation reaches it’s climax in the sixteenth verse. John 3:16 (NIV)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

In this one verse, we see how the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ relates to us. “For God so loved the world…” If those words are true, it changes everything. Imagine what the world would be like without God’s love. Earth would be merely a dark planet hurtling through space unguided, undirected. There would be no hope, no future, nothing to live for, no greater purpose to our existence. Every death would be an end. Every grave would be a place of despair.

But God does love the world! We see this in every sunrise, every blade of grass, every fountain of water, every birth,and every child’s face. God so loved the world (and loves the world still)! God made each of us uniquely special and He loves us very much.

This is the message George Matheson needed to hear. He was only fifteen when he was told that he was losing what little eyesight he had. Not to be denied, Matheson continued with his plans to enroll in the University of Glasgow, and his determination lead to his graduation in 1861 at age nineteen. By the time he finished his graduate studies he was completely blind, but his spirit didn’t collapse until his fiancée returned his engagement ring. She said she couldn’t see herself spending her life bound by the chains of marriage to a blind man. He adapted to life without sight, but never recovered from his broken heart.

Years later, while George was a well-loved pastor in Scotland, George’s sister came to him announcing her engagement. He was happy for her, but his mind went back to his own heartache. He consoled himself in thinking of God’s love which is never limited. Never conditional. Never withdrawn. Never uncertain. Out of this experience he penned these words: O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths it flow may richer, fuller be.

The Bible says, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39 NLT).

Jesus said, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” Just to say, “I love you,” doesn’t really mean a whole lot. Love--agape love--is a verb. It has to be tangibly demonstrated. It has to be proven, God’s love included. The Bible says, “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!” (Romans 5:8 HCSB). Jesus said that God, “gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish…” This concept runs contrary to our instincts. Yet, it’s so simple. We expect a more complicated cure, a more sophisticated salvation. That Bible verse that says, “God helps those who help themselves” is not really in the Bible.

No other religion offers what Jesus promises. Judaism sees salvation as a Judgment Day decision based on morality. Buddhism grades your life according to the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Muslims earn their way to Allah by performing the duties of the Five Pillars of Faith.

Christianity is set apart from the rest. Jesus calls us to do one thing: believe! "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12 NIV) "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." (John 3:18 NIV)

"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36 NKJV)

"I tell you the truth, whoever believes has eternal life." (John 6:47 NCV)

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:38 NKJV)

"Then he brought them out and asked, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?' They replied, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.'” (Acts 16:31 NLT)

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)

Perhaps you are thinking, "What about baptism, repentance and a changed life? Are you saying those things aren’t necessary?" No, of course not. Those are absolutely essential. However baptism, repentance, a changed life, and things like that are not in addition to faith but, rather, they are expressions of it. They acts of faith that work together with our faith to make our faith real. Jesus wants us to see is that it’s not because of what I have done, but because of who He is. It’s not because of who I am, but because of what He has already done! All he asks is for us to put our trust in Him, and Him alone!

I heard this illustration in 1979 from a young man who loved to serve the Lord. I have used this story several times since then. The story goes that once upon a time, there lived an elderly man whose one and only son proceeded him in death. The man was very wealthy, but because he had no living heirs his estate was auctioned off when he died. People came from miles around to bid on all the wonderful antiques and riches proudly displayed in the courtyard of his manor. The first item up for bid was an amateurish portrait of the rich man’s son. No one bid. The attendants grew restless, anxious to bid on the real family treasures. But the auctioneer wouldn’t proceed to any other items until the painting had sold. Finally, a sweet young mother, with southern accent, bid on the painting. She had worked in the manor as maid for a little while and knew how much the boy meant to his father. Suddenly the auctioneer threw down his gavel and announced that the auction was over. He walked over to the woman, gave her the painting and told her that everything she saw now belonged to her. The elderly man left specific instructions in his will that whoever buys the son, gets it all!

God has done the same thing! The Bible says, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12 ESV).

Max Lucado, has said, “God rewards those who seek him. Not those who seek doctrine or religion or systems or creeds. Many settle for these lesser passions, but the reward goes to those who settle for nothing less than Jesus himself.” He loves. He gives. We believe. We live.



In Christ,

Brown



http://youtu.be/sR8rlTIU8_Y





On FEBRUARY 11, 2012 Saturday, at First United Methodist Church, 53 McKinley Ave., Endicott, at 5:30 PM - There will be a Special Banquet prepared by Joe Walker, including a variety of international Cuisine... It will be a great celebration. At 6:30 PM there will be a Hymn Sing with Aric Phinney at the Grand Piano and Yancey Moore at the Organ. Dave Berry will lead the Hymn Sing.

Sponsored by The Union Center UMC.

Brown's Praise and Prayer report 2-8-12

    Praise the Lord for this beautiful Tuesday evening. As we walked the clouds began to break away to allow the glory of the full moon to shine through.  The Lord has spangled the spacious skies with countless stars.  Only our Lord can make the world beautiful and glorious.

    Pray for the following:

        Carol Lee, who is going in for a heart procedure tomorrow.

        Sarah Deuel, going in for a surgery tomorrow.

        Myron Rake, from Wesley, had complete hip replacement today - the first surgery of his life. 

        Mariah - who is still at Upstate Medical, fighting a blood infection and trying to regain strength before continuing chemo.

        Gary McFadden (Mariah's grandpa) is undergoing chemo.

        Donna Butler, who is still recovering from major surgery.

        Leila Burlingame, who suffers from Menier's disease.

        Sandy Wingard, Mike Wingard's mom.

        My mom, back in India, who is getting weaker.

        Rodney Haines, recovering from recent surgery.

 

    We extend Christian sympathy to the following:

        Juna Tinkham, on the death of her brother, Ken Short, who was 93.  Juna and Ken were very close, and had gotten together for lunch every weekday over the past several years.

        Mike and Esperanza Wingard, on the death of Esperanza's mom, Mrs. Lopez in Colombia, Central America.  Mike, Esperanza, and Christina flew to Colombia on Friday to attend the funeral service on Saturday.

        Grayson and Leila Burlingame, on the death of Grayson's brother Don, who was 74 years old.

        The Maynard family on the death of Doris Maynard.  My wife's Aunt "Coonie" was from Smyrna, NY, and had lived for many years on the same hill where my wife grew up.  Aunt Coonie was a graduate of Keuka College, with a degree in Science Education.  She married a dairy farmer and lived graciously there for many, many years.  She also taught Sunday School for many years.  She cared for her disabled sister-in-law, Aunt Jean, for many years.  (Aunt Jean, according to Doctor's prognosis way back then - at Robert Packer Hospital - should have lived only to the age of 2, not to the 78 years that she actually lived.) 

 

        Pray for the building project.  We are expecting to break ground in the spring.  We have 3 estimates from various contractors, and one of them seems very promising. 

 

        We'll meet tomorrow evening for midweek services, starting with a meal at 6 PM.  We will be studying from the book of John, chapter 3. 

 

        We praise the Lord, for He is faithful and trustworthy, mighty and merciful.  Blessed be His name.  

  In Christ,

   Brown

http://youtu.be/qG9pbbAuOqY

 

On FEBRUARY 11, 2012 Saturday, at First United Methodist Church, 53 McKinley Ave., Endicott, at 5:30 PM - There will be a Special Banquet prepared by Joe Walker, including a variety of international Cuisine...  It will be a great celebration. At  6:30 PM there will be a Hymn Sing with Aric Phinney at the Grand  Piano and  Yancey Moore at the Organ.  Dave Berry will lead the  Hymn Sing.

   

Hi Brown and Friends at UCUMC,

 

I hope all is well with you. I just found out that our last 6 messages to you have not gone through. AOL has decided to reject messages from our regular account (which is why I’m writing you from my secondary account).  A few weeks ago, I noticed that all my messages to coworkers with AOL accounts were not getting delivered. After a week of trying to get it resolved, I asked my coworkers to give me a different email address at which I could reach them.

 

If you’re interested, you can see at the bottom of this message the counsel from my email postmaster at the end of my runaround with AOL. So if you have a new email address or can open one, that will make it a lot easier for us to communicate with you.  AOL doesn’t seem to want us to. L (If you decide you want to switch to another address, it’s easy and free to sign up for gmail. J )

 

Immediately below and attached are the most recent two messages we’ve sent out.

 

Bless you.

 

Dave

---------------------------------

 

1.      Tomorrow I’m scheduled to leave at 4:00 am (Monday afternoon in the US), for a day of meetings in Jakarta with leaders of Indonesian Peoples Network, a multinational, multi-agency network focused on the unreached groups of Indonesia. From there I plan to fly to Sumatra, to visit one of our teams there for a couple of days.

Please pray:

a.       For Jean, as she stays in Bandung without me, for God to reveal in fresh ways His care and protection for her.

b.      For me, that my interaction with a variety of leaders and workers will be used by God to increase the effectiveness of many ministries in Indonesia, that the Father would be pleased as the Son is glorified among those who have not yet heard. 

 

2.      Attached is an edifying summary of the answer to your prayers for Greg’s recovery from Dengue fever. It’s a short piece he wrote for his school newspaper (Roberts Wesleyan College, where he’s now in his last semester). Praise God for His mercy and protection!

 

3.      I recently received this report from one of the Asian countries where we did training last year in Church Planting Movements: “More Hindus coming to faith since the [CPM] training and people implementing principles.  PTL!”  Let’s thank God that He’s at work in such marvelous ways!

Brown's Daily Word 2-7-12

Blessed be the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord for this new day In His Kingdom. The Lord blessed us with a very spring like day yesterday, and last evening was brilliant and beautiful. Yesterday was sunny and stunning. The Lord Blessed us with brilliant moon lit night. Alice and I walked for over 4 miles last night. The Full Moon was beaming brightly and the stars were shining gloriously.

The Old Testament reading for last Sunday was taken from Isaiah 40, one of the very powerful passages that declares about the Lord of Eternity and His steadfast permanence in a world that is transitory in its many aspects. When I was in graduate School in the late sixties of the last century, many philosophers and theologians were saying that God was dead, and predicting the death of the church. Today almost no one can remember the names of those who made those dire predictions, let alone the titles of their books, but the church of Jesus Christ is thriving and God is still very much alive.

In Isaiah 40 we read about the Word of God. God’s Word was God’s Word yesterday, it is God’s Word today, and it will be God’s Word 5000 years from now. Kingdoms will rise and fall. Ideas will come and go. The values of the world will change, but God’s Word will remain the one constant in a world of change and confusion.

The emperor Diocletian tried to revive the old pagan religions of Rome by persecuting and killing Christians. He set up a stone pillar in his own honor, inscribed with the words that he wanted to describe his legacy: “For Having Exterminated the Name Christian From the Earth.” How far short of his goal he fell! His monument was more of a tribute to the endurance of Christianity than it was to himself. Another Roman leader made a coffin, symbolizing his intention “to bury the Galilean” by killing Christ’s followers. He eventually admitted that he could not put the Master in his coffin. The Waldensians represented the history of the church with a picture of an anvil with many worn-out hammers lying all around it. At the bottom of the picture these words are inscribed: “One Anvil — Many Hammers.”

Isaiah told of an everlasting comfort, of the everlasting Word of God, and of an everlasting strength. It is written, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31). Those who were in exile lost hope, and because of that they lost their strength and desire to go on. Even the young were beaten down, weary and defeated, but those who placed their hope and trust in God did not lose heart, and they did not lose strength — regardless of their age. Their hearts and minds soared as they thought about what God was going to do. As new strength and courage entered their hearts it began to affect their bodies. They gained a new enthusiasm for life and a new strength to go on. You never gain that strength unless you are willing to wait on the Lord.

Our God is an inexhaustible resource. He has never experienced fatigue or weakness in even the most remote sense. Isaiah then moved on to remind the people of Israel of what God does for all who trust in Him. Verse 29 states that "He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak." The very thing that we need most when we experience disappointment with God is what He already offers to us and supplies to us.

He is the source of all strength. In verse 30, we are given a universal truth that we often times forget: Everybody experiences weakness. Weakness is a perfect euphemism for describing the source of disappointments we face, including our disappointment with God. We experience disappointment because there are inherent weaknesses in the world in which we live. In verse 31 we are given a word of hope to help us to make it through life’s disappointments: "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." Yes, we will become weary as we encounter life’s disappointments, but that is not the final word. There is strength offered to those who will reach out and receive it.

"They will soar on wings like eagles." What a magnificent picture! Isaiah chose the image of one of the most majestic of all birds, the eagle, to describe this special impartation of strength by God. In a moment of ecstasy, God showers His strength upon the weary one in such a manner that the individual is “lifted” above life’s disappointments, like an eagle soaring on the wind.

"They will run and not grow weary." I envision Isaiah describing the kind of strength that came upon the prophet Elijah when he was enabled to outrun King Ahab, who had a head start riding on his chariot (1 Kings 18:44-46). This is another incredible visitation of God’s power upon an individual suffering from weakness.

God’s strength usually comes to us in the ordinary ways. We don’t live life soaring in the clouds or always running in the fast lane — life is more a matter of persistent walking. It is in the dark stretches of life that the most difficult thing to do is to continue to walk and not quit. It is when we are faced with disappointing circumstances that we need the strength to keep on pressing on. Then it is that we need a faith that stands firm and shouts defiantly, “Yes, I will believe God and His Word no matter what!”

Philip Yancey has written, “If we insist on visible proofs from God, we may well prepare the way for a permanent state of disappointment. True faith does not so much attempt to manipulate God to do our will as it does to position us to do his will” (Disappointment With God, p. 241).

I believe that Our Lord's primary goal for us, as His children, is to move us to the place where we trust in nothing but Him alone. He wants us to be completely dependent upon Himself. He will use whatever means He must to bring us to that place. We have an ageless God who is able to give us strength to overcome our weaknesses. The answer that He gives us is to demonstrate unwavering faith in the face of our disappointments and keep on believing that He will come and renew our strength so that we can walk and not become weary. Disappointments will come, but Jesus the Way, gives us the strength to keep on walking even when it hurts.

In Christ,

Brown

http://youtu.be/1CBNE25rtnE



On FEBRUARY 11, 2012 Saturday, at First United Methodist Church, 53 McKinley Ave., Endicott, at 5:30 PM - There will be a Special Banquet prepared by Joe Walker, including a variety of international Cuisine... It will be a great celebration. At 6:30 PM there will be a Hymn Sing with Aric Phinney at the Grand Piano and Yancey Moore at the Organ. Dave Berry will lead the Hymn Sing.

Sponsored by The Union Center UMC.

Brown's Daily Word 2-6-12

Good morning,

    The Lord blessed us with another amazing weekend of witness, fellowship, and worship.  We showed the movie, "Courageous" twice this weekend.  It is a very powerful movie with a very challenging and compelling message. 

    The Lord blessed us during our worship service this weekend.  One of the readings for yesterday was taken from Mark 1:29-39.  Jesus meets us in the ordinariness of life.  He is the Good News for the Flawed,the Defiled, and the Excluded.  In  Mark chapter 1, Jesus performed miracles with a great sense of urgency and immediacy.  He healed the man possessed with demons.  He touched and healed a leper.  He healed a woman.  These three persons were flawed, defiled and excluded. 

     Women were particularly excluded from the mainstream of life as they are even today in the militant Moslem culture.  We we hear about "honor killings" of Moslem women and Moslem girls.  We hear about the positing of women inTaliban controlled society.  We read that women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. We read about 10 million baby girls aborted in India.  We read about the human trafficking for sex trade, even the thousands women and children who were brought in for the use of Super Bowl Fans.  We read about pimps selling the services of young women who are defenseless in bondage all around the world.  Jesus  our Lord comes, setting the captives free. 

    It is interesting that in Mark it is the woman who was excluded was the first one to rise up and serve Jesus, the king and the Lord.  In the unfolding drama, the men were mere admirers of Jesus.  The woman, whose name is not written, was the first one to rise up  and Serve Jesus.  In John 4, though the Samaritan woman was defiled, flawed, and excluded, she believed and received new life and immediately she walked in freedom, free from shame and guilt.  She became the first home missionary, running to her city to tell every one about Jesus.  She not only told them about Jesus, but compelled them to come and see Him.

    We read in Mark 1 that these were exciting days in Capernaum, because Jesus was present with authority and grace.  He was in the midst of His people.  Jesus is mighty to save.  When Jesus is present He dispenses His Joy unspeakable to His own.  When He is in the Sanctuary demons tremble.  When He is in the home disease and sickness flee away.  When He amid His people He casts out the demons of  fever, anger, and all the works of flesh as they recorded in Galatians 5.  It is recorded  that Jesus entered the house of Simon Peter after a great time of teaching and  healing in the synagogue on a Sabbath.  When Jesus is present in the synagogue on a Sabbath miracles take place, but what is interesting, in a metaphorical sense, is that Jesus came into Simon’s house, entering the domestic world of his followers.

    So it is with us.  God enters our world, he enters the domesticity and ordinariness of our lives.  Being a follower of Jesus isn’t a mystical, transcendental  experience that takes us away from the responsibilities of this world.  Being a follower of Jesus means that God comes into our lives and he ministers to us in the ordinary and everyday.  Isn’t that what the Incarnation is all about?  “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”.  In Revelation 3:20, Jesus said: “Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

    We are not to despise the ordinariness of our lives.  We are not to regret our domesticity or even to see it as a barrier to our relationship with God.  If we desire to meet with God, he comes to us in the everyday and he finds us where we are.  Jesus meets us in everyday life.

    There was Jesus.  He had just been teaching at the synagogue.  He had exorcised an evil spirit.  He had left a huge crowd of people in amazement at his authority.  He had confounded the teachers of the law.  His fame was spreading throughout the region as each minute passed.  Then he arrived at Simon’s house where he was told: “My mother-in-law has a fever”.  He went straight to her and healed her from her fever.  He did that because he was not motivated from his own perspective but always the perspective of the person in need.

    It is easy for us to discount the suffering of others because their pain may seem so small in comparison to our own pain.  Still, pain is pain whether it seems to us to be large or small and, if we want to be Christlike, we must address pain and suffering wherever we find it.  We must not judge that pain or compare it to the suffering of someone else and then discount it as “a job too small”.  Jesus meets us in the mundane parts of our life. 

    Over and over again in Jesus’ ministry, his compassion was conveyed through the power of touch.  Touch is an immense gift that conveys the compassion of Christ.  There is real tenderness in the touch of a man who stood in direct opposition to a religious system that was quicker to declare someone as ‘Unclean’ than they were to offer the compassion of embrace.

    He is always willing to come to us in ordinary lives.  He is considerate of our needs.  He shows compassion, particularly through his physicality.  As we engage in mission and seek to proclaim Christ to our friends and families we would do well to consider how we can be Christlike in our approach.  What does it mean for us to enter the ordinary parts of other peoples’ lives?  What does it mean for us to be considerate to their needs, even if those needs appear to us to be small and insignificant?  What does it mean for us to show compassion through our lives? As we pursue mission in our communities, may we do so in the example of Christ  to Simon’s mother-in-law, as shown in this passage.

   In Christ,

    Brown

http://youtu.be/PANiveIKVX0

On FEBRUARY 11, 2012 Saturday, at First United Methodist Church, 53 McKinley Ave., Endicott, at 5:30 PM - There will be a Special Banquet prepared by Joe Walker, including a variety of international Cuisine...  It will be a great celebration. At  6:30 PM there will be a Hymn Sing with Aric Phinney at the Grand  Piano and  Yancey Moore at the Organ.  Dave Berry will lead the  Hymn Sing.