Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this Friday of Eastertide. Alice and I had planned to go to Boston this week to visit Micah, Simeon, and Ada. Alice drove to Boston Monday, where she stayed busy, spoiling our grandchildren.
I stayed back home to share in a service of death and resurrection on Tuesday. The service was for a woman who died on Maundy Thursday at the age of 83. It was a beautiful service of celebration and thanksgiving for Dorothy. The women of the church prepared and served a delicious dinner before the funeral. This is the first funeral service I have performed where the meal was served before the service. During the service her son, her son-in law, and one of her grand daughters spoke tenderly and beautifully. Praise the Lord for the way we can face death and celebrate life in Christ in the face of cruel death because of Risen Christ who makes all things beautiful in His time.
Alice drove back home yesterday with Micah and Simeon. It is a delight to have Micah and Simeon with us here in New York. They live in the city of Boston. We live in the open country. I call them our "Fresh Air Kids". Last night we took Micah for our evening walk. It was beautiful evening with brilliant sky. The stars and the planets made their debut suddenly and brilliantly. Micah knows many of her stars and planets. She was pointing out to us the locations of Jupiter, Mars, and Venus.
Simeon is into the history surrounding the Titanic. While he was sharing with me about Titanic, I said that Titanic sank in 1912. Simeon said yes, it was 100 years ago. During our evening walk I asked Micah what Easter is about. She said, in very adult language: The Resurrection of Jesus".
As I was writing this devotion this morning I had a call from India informing me that one of my childhood friends died this morning. We were friends from the second grade through college. He was brilliant in math and the sciences. The Lord had raised him to be one of the highest ranking officers in the government. He had a heart of compassion and mercy. We had corresponded last Christmas and I had a chance to talk with him on the telephone just a few weeks ago. He was blessed with two sons and two grandsons. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints".
In a movie that some of my family loved, “Life Is Beautiful”, nominated in 1998 for an Academy Award as Best Picture, the main character, Guido, is placed in a concentration camp by the Nazis. Guido and his son, who is with him, pretend for his son that this horrible place is a game, with rules, so that his son doesn’t get too frightened. It is truly amazing how he turns this very horrible place into a place in which his son is playing hide and seek from the Nazis, and to see something funny in the way the soldiers interact with each other. Guido is such a positive and hopeful man that he brings laughter to his son and to other inmates in the concentration camp.
There are times when we can also have our own “concentration camp of troubles.” It’s definitely not the same as the concentration camps that the Jewish people were placed in, which is a horror, but there are times when we are placed in greater pain and hardships than other times or other people. Though to a lesser extent, we may be trapped in our own little “concentration camps of troubles.” In those times the Risen Savior still comes to us and helps us to go through it, when we open our eyes and heart to him and seek him. When we begin to see that there is actually a light in every dark place, life is beautiful. Concentration camps are not beautiful, but Jesus is beautiful, and when He is alongside of us in life, in concentration camps, life can still be beautiful. The reason we can say life is beautiful is because of the resurrection of Christ.
Jesus rose triumphantly from death and grave. His resurrection means that in this world there is something greater than death and troubles. His resurrection means that God is greater than death, that there is hope in despair, that there is comfort in sorrows, that there is the Risen Saviour in this world. We can have troubles, we can despair and feel sorrow – we will all have them and feel them at some times, even Christians - but with Christ we can go on and even go on strongly after that.
For those who are still in the darkness, who don’t have Christ yet in their lves , there is still hope for them. If we repent of our sins and come to Christ now, then we can experience the light of Christ even more dramatically because of the years lived in darkness, because the contrast is greater.
This can be illustrated by the life of a man named Bob Edens. “For 51 years Bob Edens was blind. He couldn’t see a thing. His world was a black hall of sounds and smells. He felt his way through five decades of darkness. And then, he could see. A skilled surgeon performed a complicated operation and, for the first time, Bob Edens had sight. He found it overwhelming. ‘I never would have dreamed that yellow is so ... yellow,’ he exclaimed. ‘I don’t have the words. I am amazed by yellow. But red is my favorite color. I just can’t believe red. I can see the shape of the moon - and I like nothing better than seeing a jet plane flying across the sky leaving a vapor trail. And of course, sunrises and sunsets. And at night I look at the stars in the sky and the flashing light. You could never know how wonderful everything is” (Max Lucado, God Came Near, Multnomah Press, 1987, p. 13., )
Red is the best color because it is the color of Christ’s blood. With his blood he has paid for your sins. “Life is beautiful.”
In Him who makes all things beautiful.
Brown
http://youtu.be/E2KNvuscKRA
Friday April 13, 2012
Television Outreach
Time Warner Cable Channel 4
Time 7:00 PM
Saturday Evening Worship Service:
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenue
Endicott, NY
Sponsored by: Union Center United Methodist Church
Time: 6:00 PM gathering for Coffee Fellowship
6:30 PM Worship Service
Date: Saturday, April 14, 2012
Speaker: Rev. Brown Naik,
Special Music by Laureen Naik
Friday, April 13, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Brown's Daily Word 4-10-12
Praise the Lord for a beautiful new day in His Kingdom. Spring is here, with a touch of Easter glory all around us. We praise the Lord for the manifold witness to His great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Praise the Lord for this Holy Easter season. We live in the afterglow of an awesome Easter event. We celebrate Jesus who came, who saw and who conquered death, defeating the powers of darkness and sin. I am reflecting on the weekend that changed the events of the history of mankind. It changed and defined for ever the course and the destiny of those who are changed by the Easter event, the Risen Savior. What a weekend it had been for the followers of Jesus. It seemed as if the bottom fell out of their lives. All of their hopes and dreams had seemed to vanish on Friday when Jesus had died on the cross. They were in a state of shock and fear. Everything had happened so fast. Early on Sunday morning , the women went to the tomb that held the body of Jesus. They had rushed back to the disciples with the news that they had seen angels who had told them that Jesus was risen. But the disciples at first just dismissed it as hysteria (as nonsense). Peter and John ran to the tomb and discovered that it was indeed empty. Jesus’ band of followers were leaderless and falling apart, with at least two of them already on their way home. The very afternoon of the report of the empty tomb, two of the disciples were discouraged and frustrated. Some of the saddest words in English language begin with letter" D". Despair, dread, defeat, disease, devastation etc. The two disciples going to Emmaus on Easter Evening, were utterly defeated and were throwing in the towel and going home.
On the way they met a stranger. It was actually the risen Jesus, but they did not recognize Him. Part of the thrill of this story is that we as the readers know what the characters do not. The encounter between Jesus and the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is one of the most vivid of the resurrection appearances. The account is found only in Luke 24.
As the two travelers approached the end of their journey, the stranger appeared to be going on. Traveling at night was both difficult and dangerous, so they insisted that he stay with them saying in verse twenty-nine, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them.”
Verse thirty tells us that as they sat down to eat, Jesus played the part of the host, for the host would break the bread at the beginning of the meal for it says, “… He took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.” Perhaps it was in doing this that their eyes were opened. For verse thirty-one reveals, “Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. (32) And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"
Mark Buchanan wrote of his own experience in his book entitled “Your God Is Too Safe.” He wrote that when he was saved, “I hit the ground running. Immediately, I volunteered for everything, anything, that I felt vaguely interested in and marginally qualified for. I led the youth group; I helped with the music, I taught Sunday school; I wrote the church newsletter; I became a camp counselor; I served as a mentor to several young men.
But something, somewhere, went awry. The zeal fizzled. The fire in my bones became only an a ache in my joints. My running became plodding. My lightness became heaviness. My joyfulness became jadedness. I joined the ranks of the murmurers and faultfinders – those that did not like the music or the sermon or the color of the azalea’s behind the church – and I found their number legion.” [Mark Buchanan. Your God Is Too Safe. (Multnomah, 2001) p. 9-10]
The truth is that God wants to set our hearts on fire. He wants to give us a burning passion for life. We all long for the eternal but are too easily contented with the temporary. We all want to be a part of something worthwhile but spend too time wasted. Let’s turn back to where we left off. In 2 Timothy 1:6 Paul tells Timothy, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you..” this verse can be summed up in three words, Again,… Alive,… Fire. Perhaps this is what we need.
The Lord gave these disciples a passion and a purpose where all there had been was pain. The result in the life of the two disciples was, that although by this point it is already late they cannot wait till the morning. They must tell someone what has happened. They had to share their experience and no one in Emmaus would understand. One of the best signs of recovery from depression is a desire to be back among other believers. They had to go back to where the other disciples were gathered. Verse thirty-three tells us that they decide that they must return at once to Jerusalem. “So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem…” So the long discourage walk to Emmaus now became a joyous run to Jerusalem with renewed strength and encouragement. It reminds us of the story of the two lepers in 2 Kings 7:9 “Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. …. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell…"
On the way they met a stranger. It was actually the risen Jesus, but they did not recognize Him. Part of the thrill of this story is that we as the readers know what the characters do not. The encounter between Jesus and the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is one of the most vivid of the resurrection appearances. The account is found only in Luke 24.
As the two travelers approached the end of their journey, the stranger appeared to be going on. Traveling at night was both difficult and dangerous, so they insisted that he stay with them saying in verse twenty-nine, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them.”
Verse thirty tells us that as they sat down to eat, Jesus played the part of the host, for the host would break the bread at the beginning of the meal for it says, “… He took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.” Perhaps it was in doing this that their eyes were opened. For verse thirty-one reveals, “Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. (32) And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"
Mark Buchanan wrote of his own experience in his book entitled “Your God Is Too Safe.” He wrote that when he was saved, “I hit the ground running. Immediately, I volunteered for everything, anything, that I felt vaguely interested in and marginally qualified for. I led the youth group; I helped with the music, I taught Sunday school; I wrote the church newsletter; I became a camp counselor; I served as a mentor to several young men.
But something, somewhere, went awry. The zeal fizzled. The fire in my bones became only an a ache in my joints. My running became plodding. My lightness became heaviness. My joyfulness became jadedness. I joined the ranks of the murmurers and faultfinders – those that did not like the music or the sermon or the color of the azalea’s behind the church – and I found their number legion.” [Mark Buchanan. Your God Is Too Safe. (Multnomah, 2001) p. 9-10]
The truth is that God wants to set our hearts on fire. He wants to give us a burning passion for life. We all long for the eternal but are too easily contented with the temporary. We all want to be a part of something worthwhile but spend too time wasted. Let’s turn back to where we left off. In 2 Timothy 1:6 Paul tells Timothy, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you..” this verse can be summed up in three words, Again,… Alive,… Fire. Perhaps this is what we need.
The Lord gave these disciples a passion and a purpose where all there had been was pain. The result in the life of the two disciples was, that although by this point it is already late they cannot wait till the morning. They must tell someone what has happened. They had to share their experience and no one in Emmaus would understand. One of the best signs of recovery from depression is a desire to be back among other believers. They had to go back to where the other disciples were gathered. Verse thirty-three tells us that they decide that they must return at once to Jerusalem. “So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem…” So the long discourage walk to Emmaus now became a joyous run to Jerusalem with renewed strength and encouragement. It reminds us of the story of the two lepers in 2 Kings 7:9 “Then they said to one another, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. …. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell…"
May the risen Savior, pervade our hearts and permeate our thoughts with the power and promise of resurrection!
In Christ,
Brown
Friday March 23, 2012
Television Outreach
Time Warner Cable Channel 4
Time 7:00 PM
Saturday Evening Worship Service:
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenue
Endicott, NY
Sponsored by: Union Center United Methodist Church
Time: 6:00 PM gathering for Coffee Fellowship
6:30 PM Worship Service
Date: Saturday, April 14, 2012
Speaker: Rev. Brown Naik,
Special Music by Laureen Naik
Monday, April 9, 2012
Brown's Daily Word 4-9-12
Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this Monday after Easter Sunday. The Lord blessed us with an incredible weekend to celebrate, and to worship the Risen Lord. Sunita, Andy, Jessica, Tom, and Laureen all came home. We were blessed to have each one of them for this glorious weekend. Janice, Jeremy, Micah, Simeon, and Ada could not come, as the kiddos were sick.
The Lord blessed us with a glorious musical celebration Saturday Evening at the First United Methodist Church. On Sunday morning worshippers began to gather at 6:15 AM Easter Morning for our Easter Sunrise worship. This was the first time in a long time we met outdoors for Easter Sunrise service. It was a glorious morning. Our worship began at 6:30 AM and brilliant Sun began to rise at 6.34 AM. It was a cloudless and glorious morning. So many, both young and old, came for this service. Hope led the worship in music, Mr. Katchdorian played the trumpet, and Pastor Marshall Sorber brought the Easter Message. It was a cloudless morning with abundant sunshine. As we were singing I could hear the birds sing, along with a couple geese flying by and joining us with a holy honk. Those who attended the Sunrise service then gathered for a very hearty breakfast prepared by Jim Holmes and family.
We gathered for worship at 8:30 and at 11:00. The Adult Choir sang, as did a combined youth-children choir during both services. A women's choir sang at Wesley during their 9:30 worship. It was a glorious day. We praise the Risen Lord.
I preached from John 20. The women came to the tomb to grieve Jesus’ death and to properly prepare his body for burial. They were Mary Magdalene, Mary, and her sister Salome. The women approached the burial chamber and exclaimed, “O no, someone has rolled away the stone.” They went inside that vault where two angels, two messengers from God, said, “He is not here. He has been raised from the dead by the powers of God just like he told you it would happen.” The women were astounded and astonished, amazed and awestruck, dazzled and dumbfounded. They ran quickly to report the news to Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, John himself, the eyewitness among the four gospel authors. Only John’s gospel, written by an eyewitness, gives so many historical details. The women found Peter and John and told them about the empty tomb. Peter and John ran as fast as they could to the burial crypt. Young John arrived first and then older Peter. Peter walked into the crypt first and John followed. There the linen shroud and the napkin that had covered Jesus’ face were neatly folded. The disciples must have looked at each other astonished and astounded, amazed and awestruck, dazzled and dumbfounded. The two disciples left.
Mary Magdalene remained there alone, weeping, crying, perplexed. She thought that she was speaking to the gardener and asked where he had put the body of Jesus. Jesus spoke one word, “Mary.” She knew the voice. She knew his voice, the voice of Jesus. As she turned around she became the first person on earth to see the resurrected Christ. She was astonished and astounded, amazed and awestruck, dazzled and dumbfounded at his presence. Jesus said, “Do not touch me because I have not yet ascended to the Father.”
On Easter we need greater words than "surprised". We need strong words to try to capture what happened that day. We need words like astounded and astonished, like amazed and awestruck, dazzled and dumbfounded because the event was so incredible, beyond belief.
We live in a good Friday world. We live in the midst of despair, disease, and death. People live in fear and cynicism. Deep down inside of human beings is a deep-seated fear that "this is all there is", so we come to the graves of death. We are greeted with wonderful words, " Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here. He is Risen as He said." Come and see; go and tell. When we meet the Risen Lord, He fills our emptiness with His fullness. He wipes our tears. He turns our mourning in to dancing. We can proclaim, "Weeping may tarry for the night but joy comes in the morning".
In John Masefield’s drama, "The Trial of Jesus", there is striking passage in which the Roman centurion in command of the soldiers of the cross comes back to Pilate to hand in his report of the day’s work. After the report is given, Pilate’s
wife beckons to the centurion and begs him to tell how the prisoner died. When the story had been told, she suddenly asks,"Do you think He is dead?" "No, lady" answers the centurion, "I don’t." "Then where is He?" The centurion replies, "Let loose in the world, lady, where...no one can stop His truth." The gospel of the resurrection is an indisputable fact, an indispensable faith, and an irresistible force.
wife beckons to the centurion and begs him to tell how the prisoner died. When the story had been told, she suddenly asks,"Do you think He is dead?" "No, lady" answers the centurion, "I don’t." "Then where is He?" The centurion replies, "Let loose in the world, lady, where...no one can stop His truth." The gospel of the resurrection is an indisputable fact, an indispensable faith, and an irresistible force.
Christ is Risen,
He is Risen Indeed.
In Him,
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