Good morning,
The Lord gave us a very hot May 31 yesterday. In fact, it was very hot and very humid. It is going to be another pretty hot day today. We will gather for our mid-week worship, fellowship, and study at 6 PM. We have en studying the Book and Video presentation titled, "The Prodigal God" by Tim Keller.
I read the following story sometime ago. There was a radio personality (Ted Malone) in the western part of this country who once got a letter from a shepherd in Idaho with an unusual request. He wrote, "Will you, on your broadcast, strike the note ’A’? I’m a sheepherder way out here on a ranch, far away from a piano. The only comfort I have is my old violin. It’s all out of tune. Would you strike ’A’ so that I might get in tune?" This radio personality honored his request. Later he received a thank you note from the shepherd who said, "Now I’m in tune."
One of the purposes of our gathering and worship together is to enable us to keep tuned to the Great Shepherd. We live in a changing world. We experience rapid changes in our technology. There are so many changes around us which we cannot prevent. We need one area of our life that is stable to give us a sense of security.
The author of the book of Hebrews told his tired community that Christians have an anchor for their lives. He pictured, at the end of chapter 12, the end of everything. He wrote about the world’s destruction and the end of all material things. But he also referred to the abiding of those heavenly realities which "cannot be shaken". Then he concluded, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28-29, NIV). In a world filled with change, we find in worship "a kingdom that cannot be shaken".
We come together in the Name of Jesus our Lord, to be in the presence of God. Even though it may not look like much, and even when we don’t leave with a feeling of excitement, what takes place is of great significance because this is where we approach Mount Zion and offer our praise to the one who is worthy of all praise. May we never as Christians take this opportunity lightly.
In Christ,
Brown
http://youtu.be/rq1Iv3DkwVs
Saturday evening worship service.
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenue
Endicott
Sponsored by the Union Center United Methodist Church, 128, Maple Drive, Endicott
Saturday, May 28, 2011
6 PM Dinner (at First UMC Endicott)
6:30 PM Worship Service
Worship Music: Dave Berry and the team.
Speaker: Rev. Terry Steenberg
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Brown's Daily Word 6-1-11
Good morning,
We drove up to Burlington Vermont last Friday to spend the weekend with our friends Warren and Linda. Janice, Jeremy, Micah, Simeon and Ada joined us there. It was great treat and a great thrill to spend some time with Micah, Simeon and Ada. On Saturday, Micah ran in the Children's one mile "Marathon". It was part of Burlington Marathon that was run on Sunday. While in Burlington I had the opportunity to visit with Mr. And Mrs. George Cameron on Sunday, the day they were celebrating their 63rd wedding anniversary. They both love the Lord and ascribe praise to Jesus for His faithfulness to them.
As many already know, we had a very mild tornado that visited our area on Thursday, and we lost power last Thursday evening. The power was restored Sunday evening, as the NYSEG crew was able to replace the blown transformer.
As part of the Memorial day celebration I was looking at Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, and Isaiah 25. The prophet himself determined to praise God. Isaiah ascribed praise to the Lord’s name (His revealed character) because of His marvelous acts. The Creator God is not bounded by natural law or occurrences when He acts. He is able to act supernaturally and often does so in order to save His covenant people. Wonders are part of His planned action on behalf of His suffering people.
The things God does and will do have been planned from long ago (Isaiah 14:24, 26, 27; Isaiah 23:8-9). God is not making it up as He goes along. His wonders and His amazing acts have been given forethought and are part of His overall design. He has a divine purpose and a divine strategy to accomplish His plan especially and specifically when it concerns His people. When it does, the normal and natural are not barriers to His action on their behalf. What He plans He is not only capable of carrying out, but He is perfectly faithful in so doing.
Let us now look with the praising prophet into the future plan of God. Verse 2 states, "For You have made a city into a heap, a fortified city into a ruin; a palace of strangers is a city no more. It will never be rebuilt". God plans to humble all the works (and workers) of human pride and oppression, typified as the fortified city and a palace of strangers . [As in chapter 24 no specific city is identified and seems to represent the place of world leadership. Some say it is "Babylon," which also represents all those opposed to God.] They had strength and human wisdom to fortify what they were trusting in and the worldly wealth to live in royal luxury, but they were strangers to God. Thus all their skill and work will be shattered never to continue into the future.
God will act in miraculous manner in the future for a decisive victory over all who oppose Him. This victory will extend to the permanent destruction of all they have done with their life. God’s triumph has been planned from the beginning.
Verse 3 tells the result of this judgment. "Therefore a strong people will glorify You. Cities of ruthless nations will revere You." Why will it take such destruction to cause God to be honored? When people come to recognize no authority or persuasion but power, God will demonstrate He is the most powerful. God’s judgment on the cities, representative of the world’s leadership (24:12-13), will cause peoples from ruthless nations to honor and revere (fear) Him. Those that have been the terror of the world shall tremble before the judgments of God [and call in vain to rocks and mountains to hide them]. He will speak in a way that they will understand and obey.
Verse 4 continues to expand the reasons for honoring and praising God. "For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a rain storm against a wall."
God is to be honored not only because He destroys the power and plans of the proud, but because He does so for the sake of those whom the proud oppress.
People of faith turn to the Sovereign who cares for us. He is our source of refuge and hope. The mighty of earth may be great, but God is greater (51:12, 13).
When the Lord establishes His kingdom on the earth, a reversal of fortunes will occur (Isaiah 25:4-5). God is a defense, a refuge, a shade for the helpless and distressed. These terms are expressions of God being there for His people. "God is our refuge and strength" (Psalm 46:2). We may suffer because of ruthless oppression, but we can turn to God for help and protection. Rest assured that when perils are most threatening and alarming, God will appear to safeguard His people. He is faithful to His own.
In Christ,
Brown
http://youtu.be/yNbLtiG2dWU
Saturday evening worship service.
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenue
Endicott
Sponsored by the Union Center United Methodist Church, 128, Maple Drive, Endicott
Saturday, May 28, 2011
6 PM Dinner (at First UMC Endicott)
6:30 PM Worship Service
Worship Music: Dave Berry and the team.
Speaker: Rev. Terry Steenberg
We drove up to Burlington Vermont last Friday to spend the weekend with our friends Warren and Linda. Janice, Jeremy, Micah, Simeon and Ada joined us there. It was great treat and a great thrill to spend some time with Micah, Simeon and Ada. On Saturday, Micah ran in the Children's one mile "Marathon". It was part of Burlington Marathon that was run on Sunday. While in Burlington I had the opportunity to visit with Mr. And Mrs. George Cameron on Sunday, the day they were celebrating their 63rd wedding anniversary. They both love the Lord and ascribe praise to Jesus for His faithfulness to them.
As many already know, we had a very mild tornado that visited our area on Thursday, and we lost power last Thursday evening. The power was restored Sunday evening, as the NYSEG crew was able to replace the blown transformer.
As part of the Memorial day celebration I was looking at Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, and Isaiah 25. The prophet himself determined to praise God. Isaiah ascribed praise to the Lord’s name (His revealed character) because of His marvelous acts. The Creator God is not bounded by natural law or occurrences when He acts. He is able to act supernaturally and often does so in order to save His covenant people. Wonders are part of His planned action on behalf of His suffering people.
The things God does and will do have been planned from long ago (Isaiah 14:24, 26, 27; Isaiah 23:8-9). God is not making it up as He goes along. His wonders and His amazing acts have been given forethought and are part of His overall design. He has a divine purpose and a divine strategy to accomplish His plan especially and specifically when it concerns His people. When it does, the normal and natural are not barriers to His action on their behalf. What He plans He is not only capable of carrying out, but He is perfectly faithful in so doing.
Let us now look with the praising prophet into the future plan of God. Verse 2 states, "For You have made a city into a heap, a fortified city into a ruin; a palace of strangers is a city no more. It will never be rebuilt". God plans to humble all the works (and workers) of human pride and oppression, typified as the fortified city and a palace of strangers . [As in chapter 24 no specific city is identified and seems to represent the place of world leadership. Some say it is "Babylon," which also represents all those opposed to God.] They had strength and human wisdom to fortify what they were trusting in and the worldly wealth to live in royal luxury, but they were strangers to God. Thus all their skill and work will be shattered never to continue into the future.
God will act in miraculous manner in the future for a decisive victory over all who oppose Him. This victory will extend to the permanent destruction of all they have done with their life. God’s triumph has been planned from the beginning.
Verse 3 tells the result of this judgment. "Therefore a strong people will glorify You. Cities of ruthless nations will revere You." Why will it take such destruction to cause God to be honored? When people come to recognize no authority or persuasion but power, God will demonstrate He is the most powerful. God’s judgment on the cities, representative of the world’s leadership (24:12-13), will cause peoples from ruthless nations to honor and revere (fear) Him. Those that have been the terror of the world shall tremble before the judgments of God [and call in vain to rocks and mountains to hide them]. He will speak in a way that they will understand and obey.
Verse 4 continues to expand the reasons for honoring and praising God. "For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a rain storm against a wall."
God is to be honored not only because He destroys the power and plans of the proud, but because He does so for the sake of those whom the proud oppress.
People of faith turn to the Sovereign who cares for us. He is our source of refuge and hope. The mighty of earth may be great, but God is greater (51:12, 13).
When the Lord establishes His kingdom on the earth, a reversal of fortunes will occur (Isaiah 25:4-5). God is a defense, a refuge, a shade for the helpless and distressed. These terms are expressions of God being there for His people. "God is our refuge and strength" (Psalm 46:2). We may suffer because of ruthless oppression, but we can turn to God for help and protection. Rest assured that when perils are most threatening and alarming, God will appear to safeguard His people. He is faithful to His own.
In Christ,
Brown
http://youtu.be/yNbLtiG2dWU
Saturday evening worship service.
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenue
Endicott
Sponsored by the Union Center United Methodist Church, 128, Maple Drive, Endicott
Saturday, May 28, 2011
6 PM Dinner (at First UMC Endicott)
6:30 PM Worship Service
Worship Music: Dave Berry and the team.
Speaker: Rev. Terry Steenberg
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Brown's Daily Word 5-26-11
Good morning,
Praise the Lord for another day in His Kingdom. The Lord blessed us with a beautiful Wednesday evening gathering for fellowship and study. There was a great time of deep sharing about the our Lord's extravagant love and grace in our lives in the lives of our families. We looked at the way the Lord lavishes His love to both the younger brother and the older brother as it is demonstrated in the Parable of the Prodigal son. According to Dr Tim Keller our God is the most Prodigal God, who demonstrates His love and mercy to the most undeserving as it is recorded even in the Old Testament pages.
One of the most familiar stories that comes from the pages of the Old Testament is the story of Jonah. We are all acquainted with the story of how he was sent by the Lord to Nineveh to call the people there to repentance, but Jonah did not want anything to do with these people. They were the enemies of Israel, terrorists of their day, fierce and cruel warriors. Jonah hated them and wanted them dead, and with good reason. Jonah was afraid of them, but he was also bothered that the Lord would ask him to go to them in order to call them to repent. Jonah thought that God should send fire from heaven to consume them. That seemed the better option for dealing with these pagans who neither loved God nor knew him. Jonah did not want to go to the people of Ninevah on the remote possibility that they might repent and the Lord would have mercy on them. Therefore Jonah ran in the opposite direction of Nineveh, and when he ran away from Ninevah he was running from the Lord as well. We all know the part of the story of him being swallowed by a great fish and being delivered on the shores of Israel by that leviathan of an ocean liner. It was not exactly the best of accommodations.
The surprising part of the story is that Jonah eventually walked through Nineveh, looking freakish after his ride in the fish’s digestive tract. He cried out, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” He did not even ask the people to repent. He gave them no hope and merely announced judgment. He was actually enjoying the thought of their coming destruction. But something amazing happened, and the people repented. They sat in sackcloth and ashes — even covering their animals in sackcloth. Their king took off his royal robes and repented as well. The Bible says, “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.”
As we read through the Bible we realize that repentance on this scale had never happened among the people of Israel, though and they were supposed to be the chosen people of God. Jonah had spawned a national revival, the likes of which have never been seen before or since. Jonah became the most successful prophet in the history of the world, but Jonah was not happy. He desired the Ninevites to die, not to live. The Bible says, “ But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the Lord, ‘O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live’” (Jonah 4:1-3). He was angry with God for being gracious and compassionate.
The whole story would have been shocking to Israel. They could not imagine God loving the people of Nineveh, their pagan enemies. It was totally out of line with their loyalty to their own nation that was tied so closely with their religion. It would have been like trying to tell Americans in the 70’s that God loved atheistic communists and the people of Russia and China. It is like telling people today that God loves Muslims and the people of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. Like Jonah, we forget God’s love for all the people of his creation.
Modern day Christians tend to operate out of fear rather than faith. I have lived through times that we were afraid that the communists were going to overtake the world. Today we fear that radical Muslims are going to overtake the world. We are afraid that liberals are going to take over the church, or that atheists are going to take over our schools, and that homosexuals are going to take over the culture. We live out of fear rather than faith.
Despite world events and economic crises, Jesus is risen. Jesus has risen, ascended to be seated at the right hand of the Father and will return to claim the world as his own. There is nothing to fear. The most frequent command in the New Testament is, “Do not be afraid!” Jesus told his disciples about the persecution they would soon face. He told them of the coming persecution and said, “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home” (John 16:32). It was the worst possible news they could imagine, but then he said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Do we really believe that Jesus has overcome the world? Are we living in that quiet confidence? If so, then we don’t have to get upset at everything that comes along This is good news. As we study history we see that Christianity has always thrived in times of persecution and in morally decadent cultures that were hostile to it. In those times Christians took their faith seriously and realized the importance of being witnesses by living a transformed life in a culture collapsing under the weight of its own sin. There has never been a time when it is more important to live out the life that Christ has laid out for us than it is today, and it is possible through Christ. We have been forgiven and brought into the kingdom of heaven. We have the Holy Spirit living around us and within us. We have each other. We have the hope of a returning Savior and the promise of eternal life. What could be better?
The Bible makes this promise, “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).
In Christ,
http://youtu.be/7DibkDQbzEo
Saturday evening worship service.
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenu
Endicott
Sponsored by the Union Center United Methodist Church, 128, Maple Drive, Endicott
Saturday, May 28, 2011
6 PM Coffee Fellowship( First UMC Enicott, )
6:30 PM Worship Service Worship Music: Ruth Gent and worship Team.
Speaker: Rev Earle Cowden
Praise the Lord for another day in His Kingdom. The Lord blessed us with a beautiful Wednesday evening gathering for fellowship and study. There was a great time of deep sharing about the our Lord's extravagant love and grace in our lives in the lives of our families. We looked at the way the Lord lavishes His love to both the younger brother and the older brother as it is demonstrated in the Parable of the Prodigal son. According to Dr Tim Keller our God is the most Prodigal God, who demonstrates His love and mercy to the most undeserving as it is recorded even in the Old Testament pages.
One of the most familiar stories that comes from the pages of the Old Testament is the story of Jonah. We are all acquainted with the story of how he was sent by the Lord to Nineveh to call the people there to repentance, but Jonah did not want anything to do with these people. They were the enemies of Israel, terrorists of their day, fierce and cruel warriors. Jonah hated them and wanted them dead, and with good reason. Jonah was afraid of them, but he was also bothered that the Lord would ask him to go to them in order to call them to repent. Jonah thought that God should send fire from heaven to consume them. That seemed the better option for dealing with these pagans who neither loved God nor knew him. Jonah did not want to go to the people of Ninevah on the remote possibility that they might repent and the Lord would have mercy on them. Therefore Jonah ran in the opposite direction of Nineveh, and when he ran away from Ninevah he was running from the Lord as well. We all know the part of the story of him being swallowed by a great fish and being delivered on the shores of Israel by that leviathan of an ocean liner. It was not exactly the best of accommodations.
The surprising part of the story is that Jonah eventually walked through Nineveh, looking freakish after his ride in the fish’s digestive tract. He cried out, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” He did not even ask the people to repent. He gave them no hope and merely announced judgment. He was actually enjoying the thought of their coming destruction. But something amazing happened, and the people repented. They sat in sackcloth and ashes — even covering their animals in sackcloth. Their king took off his royal robes and repented as well. The Bible says, “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.”
As we read through the Bible we realize that repentance on this scale had never happened among the people of Israel, though and they were supposed to be the chosen people of God. Jonah had spawned a national revival, the likes of which have never been seen before or since. Jonah became the most successful prophet in the history of the world, but Jonah was not happy. He desired the Ninevites to die, not to live. The Bible says, “ But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the Lord, ‘O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live’” (Jonah 4:1-3). He was angry with God for being gracious and compassionate.
The whole story would have been shocking to Israel. They could not imagine God loving the people of Nineveh, their pagan enemies. It was totally out of line with their loyalty to their own nation that was tied so closely with their religion. It would have been like trying to tell Americans in the 70’s that God loved atheistic communists and the people of Russia and China. It is like telling people today that God loves Muslims and the people of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. Like Jonah, we forget God’s love for all the people of his creation.
Modern day Christians tend to operate out of fear rather than faith. I have lived through times that we were afraid that the communists were going to overtake the world. Today we fear that radical Muslims are going to overtake the world. We are afraid that liberals are going to take over the church, or that atheists are going to take over our schools, and that homosexuals are going to take over the culture. We live out of fear rather than faith.
Despite world events and economic crises, Jesus is risen. Jesus has risen, ascended to be seated at the right hand of the Father and will return to claim the world as his own. There is nothing to fear. The most frequent command in the New Testament is, “Do not be afraid!” Jesus told his disciples about the persecution they would soon face. He told them of the coming persecution and said, “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home” (John 16:32). It was the worst possible news they could imagine, but then he said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Do we really believe that Jesus has overcome the world? Are we living in that quiet confidence? If so, then we don’t have to get upset at everything that comes along This is good news. As we study history we see that Christianity has always thrived in times of persecution and in morally decadent cultures that were hostile to it. In those times Christians took their faith seriously and realized the importance of being witnesses by living a transformed life in a culture collapsing under the weight of its own sin. There has never been a time when it is more important to live out the life that Christ has laid out for us than it is today, and it is possible through Christ. We have been forgiven and brought into the kingdom of heaven. We have the Holy Spirit living around us and within us. We have each other. We have the hope of a returning Savior and the promise of eternal life. What could be better?
The Bible makes this promise, “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).
In Christ,
http://youtu.be/7DibkDQbzEo
Saturday evening worship service.
Location: First United Methodist Church
53 McKinley Avenu
Endicott
Sponsored by the Union Center United Methodist Church, 128, Maple Drive, Endicott
Saturday, May 28, 2011
6 PM Coffee Fellowship( First UMC Enicott, )
6:30 PM Worship Service Worship Music: Ruth Gent and worship Team.
Speaker: Rev Earle Cowden
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