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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Brown's Daily Word 9-20-13

The Lord blessed us with a glorious day yesterday.  It was sunny and stunning.  I attended a service of death and resurrection for a woman who was our neighbor for several years.  It was a blessing celebrating the new life the Lord offers us and also declaring the Resurrection of Jesus from the grave.  Our church has a booth at the upcoming Apple Fest of City-Village of Endicott this coming Saturday.  It will be held at the historic Washington Avenue starting at 10 AM.  We will also have time food and great fellowship at the First United Methodist Church at noon this Saturday, September 21.  Some of the women of the church are baking for the Apple Fest ... all apple, for this coming Saturday.  Our women are some of the best cooks in town.
    The Lord blessed us with  wonderful Wednesday gathering.  Our chef yesterday prepared and served Fish and Chips - British style".  It was delicious.  We looked at Hebrews  chapter 3 in our Bible study.  After the Evening study and choir practice Alice and I walked.  It was  a gorgeous night.  The moon was brilliant.  Alice told me that it was the "Harvest Moon", the full moon in closest proximity to the Autumn Equinox.  Tonight's moon should be nearly as glorious to behold.  Praise our Lord who makes the days and the nights beautiful as His gifts to us.
    During our Evening study we were sharing about our witness for Christ in the world, to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth.  Have you ever heard of people so heavenly minded they're no earthly good?  It's a popular sentiment.  As far as the apostle Paul was concerned, however, heavenly mindedness actually contributes to the worth of our lives.  It Helps Us Live with Great Confidence (2 Corinthians 5:6-9) 

    Believing that we have a home "where no storm clouds rise" helps us face the storms of this life with greater courage.  Believing that the unseen Jesus sees all we do motivates us to do more and better than we would otherwise.  As C.S. Lewis wrote, "The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven" (Mere Christianity).

    The faith we walk by sends us out among the sick, the oppressed, and the lost to do what we may for them in Christ's name while we are able.  We live with the confidence that we one day will see Him.  In the meantime, we live to please Him.  We Live Proactively, Confidently Serving Jesus Because We Have Come to a Great Conclusion (2 Corinthians 5:10-15)

    Paul was a man with a magnificent obsession.  He believed Christ was the be-all and end-all of everything.  Not only did Paul see his own life as stitched and hemmed by Christ but all human life.  "One died for all," he declared.  "Therefore, all died."  "We should therefore no longer live for ourselves but for the One who died and rose."  Simply put, we are not ourselves anymore!  Once we see ourselves as being different from what we were, we can look at others differently. One Christian song says, "He looked beyond my fault and saw my need."  New creations with new eyes see people as more than merely annoyances or obstacles.  This is not because they look at the world through rose-colored glasses, but because they look at people with Christ-softened eyes.

In Christ,

    Brown


    We have chartered a bus to go to New York Cityon Thursday, December 5, 2013. We are taking our Confirmation class to visit some of the places where the Work of Christ is carried out.  This will be a day trip to the CITY.  We will leave from the parking lot of 128 Maple Drive Endicott  at 6 AM, and will be arriving in the City around 9:45.  We will have all day to explore the city and visit some sites.  We will also attend the Historic, world Famous, Christmas Extravaganza at Radio City Music hall at 5 PM.  We will leave the city at 7:15 PM to return home .. arriving in Endicott around 11:00 PM.

    The cost of the trip is $80.00.  This includes Bus Fare and the ticket to the Christmas spectaular at Radio City Music Hall.  You don't have to be a member of the Confirmation Class to join us in  this adventure.  All are welcome, but when the bus is full, it's full, so get your reservation in right away.

    We would love to have you join us.  Call the church office 607-748-6329 or e-mail at UMCGOSPEL @AOL.COM

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