Brown's Daily Word 11-2-12

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in Him. Our oldest granddaughter, Micah, will celebrate her 7th birthday tomorrow in Boston. I talked to her other day and she reminded me as to when her birthday was. I asked her what she wanted for her birthday. She said "let me think", a very "Micah" response. In 5 seconds she said I want a dress from India, and few seconds she said also I want a saree from India. One of my sisters is back in India visiting my mom. She will be bringing Micah a dress and a little girls' saree from India. Micah reminds others gleefully, "I am quarter Indian".

Jessica and Tom, who live in the Philadelphia area, finally got the power back last night. Their power had been out since Monday evening, when the transformer blew.

Sunita and Andy, who live in Washington DC, are involved in "David's Tent", which is located across from the White House. "David's Tent" is praise and Prayer and worship going on for 40 days and 40 nights, seeking the Lord's will in the upcoming election. Various worship bands from around the nation are involved in the great ministry of worship and praise. They are meeting there taking turns 24/7. This will conclude on Monday November 5,2012 on the eve of the General Election.

Our friends and family from around the globe are calling us inquiring about the devastation our region suffered after the visit of "Hurricane Sandy". The images of destruction and devastation wrought by Sandy are seen live around the world. One of my friends from Kansas wrote to me yesterday to say that after Katrina all the casinos along the banks of the mighty Mississippi were devastated. After Hurricane Sandy all the casinos in Atlantic city have been paralyzed. It may be the Lord of the all the nations and the King of righteousness sending us wake up call.

Some of the readings for Sundays in October were taken from the Book Of Job. Job was the richest - most highly esteemed man around - that is, until adversity struck! His entire life’s work was gone in a flash - his income - his job - his children - his retirement were all wiped out in rapid succession - even his wife turned against him! His prestige was stripped from him and, instead of being honored by those he had never met, as had always been the case, he was mocked by strangers! Instead of being envied or feared, he became the object of scorn!

Job believed, however, that he could endure all of his afflictions, if only Almighty God would give him an audience - if only he could defend himself before the Almighty! Yet, when the audience was finally granted, it did not turn out as Job had hoped that it would! Instead of impressing Almighty God with the justice of his cause, Job was left dumbfounded by the immense Power and Sovereign authority of the Creator and God of the Universe! Job felt ignorant for even imagining that he could somehow straighten out Almighty God and show Him a thing or two! Nevertheless, something good came out of all that tragedy and senselessness.

One sweet fruit of Job’s heinous suffering was the flower of deeper humility that blossomed more brightly in Job’s life! His testimony was that the experience left him a changed man - instead of being the one with all the answers, Job had nothing to say! Adversity has a way of reminding us that we are not the center of the Universe! Pain has the power to point out our broken vulnerability, our often overlooked mortality, and our immense dependency! It forces us to depend upon others - and, to turn to Almighty God! When suffering has thrown us flat on our backs and we have nowhere to look but up it is only then that we truly see Almighty God! Pain points out our insufficiency, our inability to cope with our circumstances ourselves, and it often brutally reminds us of our insecurity!

The late great Anglican clergyman, hymnist and former slave-ship Captain, Rev. John Newton (1725 - 1809), once wrote, "I compare the troubles we have to undergo in the course of the year to a great bundle of fagots [or, sticks], far too large for us to lift. But God does not require us to carry the whole [bundle] at once. He mercifully unties the bundle, and gives us first one stick, which we are to carry today, and then another, which we are to carry tomorrow, and so on. This we might easily manage, if we would only take the burden appointed for us each day; but we choose to increase our troubles by carrying yesterday’s stick over again today, and adding tomorrow’s burden to our load, before we are required to bear it!"

Humility has way of drawing us closer to te Lord of grace and mercy. When difficulties knock us down, our loving Saviour will reach down and pick us back up! When troubles draw near, Jesus draws nearer!

In Christ,

Brown

http://youtu.be/a_tdG9yM93A

A Special Thanksgiving Worship;

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Location: First United Methodist Church, 53 McKinley Ave., Endicott

Sponsored by: Union Center United Methodist Church

Speaker: Dr. Dino Pedrone,

President, Davis College, Binghamton,

Special Music : Worship Band of Davis College,

Organist : Yancey Moore

Pianist: Aric Phinney

All are welcome. For Information call: 607-748-6329

or 607-748-1358

Brown's Daily Word 11-1-12

Praise the Lord for the first day of November. The Lord blessed us with a wonderful Wednesday gathering for fellowship, sharing, and study. In the Church calendar today is All Saints Day. Jesus makes sinners into saints by His grace. He makes wanderers become pilgrims. He seeks and finds the lost. He makes the greedy generous. He makes the self-centered into the Christ-centered. He seeks the prodigals and brings them home.
Much of the Northeastern part of America the Beautiful has been devastated by the recent storms. There is massive loss and destructions accompanied by massive grief. Churches of all denomination including our United Methodist Church are involved in the ministry of caring and restoration. We all can give monetary gifts through various Church relief agencies that are engaged in the ministry of rescue and restoration.

Jesus is the Captain of the sea. He is the Christ in every crisis. The culture that ridicules Christ and disobeys Him finds itself utterly paralyzed in the face of the Massive Storm. Any Christ-less culture becomes devastated because of spiritual and moral bankruptcy. The Word comes to us "Be Still and know that He is God". In Mark 4 we read about a storm that the disciples experienced. Jesus invited His disciples saying, "Let us go across to the other side". (verse 35) What did Jesus mean when he indicated the other side? At this point, Jesus and his followers were on the western side of Lake Galilee, among villages where the people are good faithful Jews. ‘The other side’ is very different. You can get an idea if you know the story that immediately follows this one. They encountered the Gerasene demoniac, who lived among people who were pig farmers. It was not exactly an area with kosher Jews! Not only was the demoniac unclean,but so also was the general population. This whole area to the east of Galilee was one where Jewish people generally mixed and compromised their faith with alien influences from Greek culture. Jesus was saying to his friends, “We can’t just stay among the people like us, those with whom we feel comfortable. We must move into other territory to advance the kingdom of God.”

Jesus says the same to His church today. We, too, cannot stay only among the people we are comfortable with, people just like ourselves. If we are the community formed by God’s kingdom, then we have to leave our familiar places and go to our ‘other side’, wherever that may be. Insulation is not guaranteed in the life of faith. He calls us to mix with people who are not like us, with the intention of sharing God’s love in word and deed. Jesus died for each and every one of these people. The storm was a natural, unsurprising event, yet a terrifying and life-threatening one. So it is that when we head for our ‘other side’ storms will blow up against us.

It is interesting to see how Jesus responded to the storm when he is awakened from his peaceful slumber. ‘He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.’ Jesus addressed the storm, this natural event, as if it were demonic. Rebukes and commands to be quiet were the language he used when expelling demons.

We should not be surprised if storms whip up in our lives, often consisting of natural but frightening events, when we decide to cross with Jesus to our ‘other side’ and engage in mission. We are joining battle against an enemy when we do so. To paraphrase the late John Wimber, our boat is not a cruise liner; it is a battleship. We can expect storms of opposition, but we must not cower in their face.

Jesus stilled such a storm. He commanded it to be calm. Jesus acted with the cosmic authority that is his alone. It was a kingdom of God action. He brought the storm under the reign and purposes of God. The kingdom was at work here, not to make the disciples’ lives easier, but so that the kingdom might advance when Jesus and the disciples would land on ‘the other side’. Jesus has himself been calm, "sleeping in the stern upon the pillow that was customarily kept under the coxswain’s seat for those who were not involved in the actual sailing or fishing". In other words, Jesus commanded the storm to be calm as he himself is calm. He brought the storm into line with his own person and character. That is what it means to bring something or someone under the kingdom of God. Jesus brings people and circumstances into his orbit, influence, and likeness.

The rebuke did not stop with the storm, but extended to the disciples: "He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’ "(Verse 40) As the calm Jesus made the storm calm, so he sought calm in his disciples. One of the early Christian symbols for the Church was a boat. You can see ancient drawings where the Church is represented as a boat. That idea is taken from this passage. When the Early Church set out on her task of Christian witness, she frequently encountered the storms of persecution for her faith, but knowing that Jesus was asleep in the stern with them, all would be under his sovereign care.

In Christ,

Brown

http://youtu.be/DSKnkqAOhpA

A Special Thanksgiving Worship;

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Location: First United Methodist Church, 53 McKinley Ave., Endicott

Sponsored by: Union Center United Methodist Church

Speaker: Dr. Dino Pedrone,

President, Davis College, Binghamton,

Special Music : Worship Band of Davis College,

Organist : Yancey Moore

Pianist: Aric Phinney

All are welcome. For Information call: 607-748-6329

or 607-748-1358

Brown's Daily Word 10-31-12

    Praise the Lord for this last day of October. We will gather for our Wednesday Evening fellowship and study with a special meal at 6.00 PM followed by Bible Study at 6.30Pm and the choir to follow at 7.30PM. In the church calendar it is : All Hallow’s Eve( October 31) (from whence comes the name “Halloween”), All Hallows Day (or All Saints Day) on November 1 to honor dead martyrs of the faith (or those who have died during the previous year),
As Christians in America we live in an incredibly pluralistic society. On a daily basis we brush elbows with people of many different religions, including neopagans and even Satanists. The instruction that Moses gave the Israelites as they prepared to enter into the Promised Land applies equally well to American Christians today.

To the Israelites, Moses said: “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engage in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord…” (Deuteronomy 18:9-12)

It’s important that those who are seeking to witness to the life-giving love of Jesus Christ avoid glorifying death or giving honor to symbols of evil.

October 31 may be a special day to groups who oppose the one true and living God, but still our God reigns. Our God is a God of love, and there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.

In the Letter to the Colossians, we are reassured: “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13)

This time of the year is a wonderful time for celebration. It is the time of harvest. Even though we have experienced great devastation, destruction and even death due to hurricane " Sandy" we turn our hearts to the Lord of creation for His healing, for His forgiveness and for His restoration. We will continue to pray for the grace and mercy of the Lord upon our land. May we all prayerfully participate in the ministry of recovery and restoration by praying , by giving , by getting our hands dirty. On this day Wearing costumes can be fun. Playing games and sharing candy in a safe and loving environment can be joyful.

The Letter to the Colossians also notes that Jesus “disarmed the powers and authorities” and “he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:15) On the cross and by his resurrection, Jesus humiliated Satan. One aspect of Satan’s defeat was humiliation—shame—dishonor—disgrace.
We can stand up to Satan by celebrating on October 31 in ways that let Satan know that we do not accept and do not fear his attempt to claim this day. We can stand up to Satan by celebrating on October 31 in ways that lift up Jesus Christ and share the light of Christ in the world.
Do not be overcome by evil, but instead overcome evil with good.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

Brown's Daily Word 10-30-12

Praise the Lord for this new day. We woke up this morning; it is calm and tranquil all around here. All the area schools are closed, but my wife works out of the area and her school is open. We got some rains yesterday and it was windy part of the day. In the early evening we saw that the transformer station that is located on Boswell Hill Road near Maple Drive was in flames. No sooner than we saw the flames we lost most of the power in the parsonage - we had a brownout. We called the Electric Company, who sent three huge Utility trucks and fixed the problem. It took them almost 4 hours. Jessica and Tom lost power in Philadelphia. Their work is closed today. Sunita and Andy fixed an Indian dinner for all their neighbors and shared the meal together last night. Washington is closed for another day. Praise the Lord for First Responders, Red Cross workers, Police, national Guard, ambulances, and Hospital Emergency personnel. Praise the Lord for every one who is involved in the rescue mission, caring for the needy. Praise the Lord for the church as people of Jesus go out on relief and rescue missions. In every Crisis Lord places an open door before us to serve Him and His people.

I am looking at one of my favorite Psalms this morning. Psalms 91:1-16, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Throughout the Bible we find references to the Secret Place in God. In this secret place there is special protection and provision for those who would dare to believe God and trust Him to be their God in every situation and all circumstances. God’s miracles of protection and His power to keep the people of God in the face of great difficulties are seen time and again throughout the Bible.
John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers leave. A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, "Who were all those men with you there?" Paton knew no men were present -- but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station.
The Secret Place of God is not made with human hands. No power of man, no ability of our own hands can create such a place as this. Zechariah 4:6, "… Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." The Secret Place where we are to dwell is built only by the Spirit of God and is complete control of the LORD OF HOSTS. The Secret Place is a place of ultimate trust and faith in God where hope is alive and well. The Secret Place is a place in God where we know that God has everything under control. Our heart knows, our spirit is strong, and our mind is made up and we claim the words of Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”. These are not just words but a fact and are irrevocable.

"...Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name" – Abiding in the Secret Place of God causes our love for Him to grow ever stronger. God will set us on a pedestal for we are the “apple of His eye” and he will put us out of reach of anything or anyone who would harm us.
"...He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation." God promises to hear the cry and prayer of those who dwell in the Secret Place. He promises to be ever near us and bring honor to us.

It is related that during the Civil War a Confederate soldier who was placed far out in a lonely wood to watch suddenly felt a strange dread and fear come over him. The moon was shining dimly in the deeply wooded place. Although it seemed strange and unwise, he felt constrained to sing softly the old song, "Jesus, Lover of my soul let me to Thy bosom fly," and the stanza, "Other refuge have I none." This he did, and immediately felt relieved of his fear.
A few years later, when the war was over, he was at a meeting and sang the same song. After the song, a stranger came up to him and said, "I never saw you before, but I have heard that voice before." Then he asked him if he sang that song one night during the war. Then he related to him how he and some of his men, who were Union soldiers, were hidden behind trees and had their guns turned on him and were ready to fire! "But," said he, "as we heard that song, ’Jesus, Lover of my soul,’ and, ’Other refuge have I none,’ I said to my men, Don’t shoot that man,’ and we slipped away and left you. I shall never forget the voice I heard that night."
There is only one refuge and that is Jesus, and we need Him at the end of the way.
In Christ,

Brown
http://youtu.be/e8HgAVenbUU

A Special Thanksgiving Worship;

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Location: First United Methodist Church, 53 McKinley Ave., Endicott

Sponsored by: Union Center United Methodist Church

Speaker: Dr. Dino Pedrone,

President, Davis College, Binghamton,

Special Music : Worship Band of Davis College,

Organist : Yancey Moore

Pianist: Aric Phinney

All are welcome. For Information call: 607-748-6329

or 607-748-1358

Brown's Daily Word 10-29-12

This is the day the Lord has made. We will trust in Him, and worship and praise His Holy Name. He blessed us with a joyful Sunday. It was a great day to be in the house of the Lord praising and worshiping Him, declaring His Majesty and His greatness. In worship, praise, and service the Lord of Joy infuses us with His Joy unspeakable.

The storm warnings have been posted since last Friday. The storm, Hurricane Sandy is supposed to make its land fall in our area today. She is packing a huge wind event over a very large geographic area. I am reading this morning from Psalm 46. In Psalm 46:3, the psalmist said, "though the waters thereof roar and be troubled." Here he's talking about the trouble which comes with the sheer fury of a storm.

sometimes trouble comes not with the finality of an earth-quake, or the fury of a storm, but with the force of a flood. So, in the end of verse 3, he says, "Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." Here you have the picture of everything shaking, with the swelling of the flood and everything being absolutely overwhelmed. "God Is Our Refuge and Strength, a Very ... Present Help ... In Trouble."

How should we react when trouble comes? Three things are outlined for us in Psalm 46. First, we realize when trouble comes that God is a Refuge for His people. Secondly,we realize, according to verse five, that God is Resident among His people. Thirdly, we realize that, according to verse four, God sends a River of blessing to His people. It is the understanding of these three things that equip people to cope with the trouble that either will come, or has come, or is still here.

When we declare that God is a Refuge for His people it is reminiscent of the Cities of Refuge that they had in the Old Testament. You can read about it them Numbers. God, who gave instructions for the building of His ideal nation in Israel, insisted that they should have certain cities dotted around that land that were "Cities of Refuge." A Refuge is continually available to His people ." God is continually available. God our Refuge is not only continually available, but He is thoroughly adequate. For it says in this verse, God is our Refuge, but also our Strength.

Verse 4, "There is a river, the streams thereof shall make glad the city of God." It is interesting here that He is talking about a river that makes glad when in the beginning of the psalm it's "what to do in time of trouble." Of course, the two can be fitted together when you begin to comprehend that God is the One who sends a river of blessing to His people. Ezekiel 47, and of John 7:37-39 speak of the River of God. If you look into these passages, you'll see that the River of God that flows in the City of God is a fabulous picture of the activity of the Spirit of God. The Lord Jesus said in John 7, "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He that believeth in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water." I see God is my refuge; I see God is a resident; I see God sends a river. "There is a river, the streams thereof make glad the City of God." It is a vast river with many, many tributaries. If you choose to explore the tributaries as the work of the Spirit of God in your life, this will make you glad. You will discover that wherever the river flows it has a reviving effect.

God is a Refuge, God is a Resident, God is a River" . In light of this, fear is illogical. God is a refuge, therefore, I will not be troubled. I will discover that if God really is my refuge, I have no logical grounds for fear. if God is resident, the City of God is immovable. Verse 5 says, "God is in the midst of her, or within her, she will not fall." Therefore she will not be moved.

"Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations He has made in the earth." If you want to see the bigger picture of desolation, go and have a look at that dank, empty tomb. He made the tomb desolate. He shattered it. "Come, and see what the Lord has done, and if you're in trouble see your trouble in the light of what He has done. Then , you respond by rejoicing in what He promises. Verse 10 says, "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” After affirming that God can be trusted even when the mountains give way, the psalmist calls all of us to cease our striving. “Be still” means literally to stop, to cease our frantic going to and fro and simply to rest. It can even mean to be at leisure. As long as we are busy, we cannot hear the voice of God speaking to us. But in the silence that comes after a tragedy, we may know that God is present.

When God says “Be still,” this is not the stillness of inactivity, much less the stillness of despair. One writer explains it this way: When God says, “Be still,” He enforces the stillness of waiting — of watching the unfolding of ways and the development of thoughts which are as much higher than ours as the heavens are higher than the earth." (E. E. Jenkins)

Very often we simply do not understand why God does what he does; our knowledge is incomplete. But we also confess our trust that the purposes of God are working themselves out even in the worst things that happen in the world.

Blessed be His Name.

In Him,

Brown

http://youtu.be/ZIUCRXMM4pE

A Special Thanksgiving Worship;

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Location: First United Methodist Church, 53 McKinley Ave., Endicott

Sponsored by: Union Center United Methodist Church

Speaker: Dr. Dino Pedrone,

President, Davis College, Binghamton,

Special Music : Worship Band of Davis College,

Organist : Yancey Moore

Pianist: Aric Phinney

All are welcome. For Information call: 607-748-6329

or 607-748-1358