Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this new day. Last night was a cloudless night. The stars were shining brightly and glittering brilliantly. It is going to be brilliant day.
Please pray for our Friday Evening Television out reach this evening at 7 PM on Time Warner channel 4.
I will be conducting a service of death and resurrection tomorrow noon in Oneonta , New York.
We will gather for our Saturday Evening worship at 6.30 PM. Dr. James Geer PhD, will be portraying the life and witness of Simon Peter during the worship hour Saturday Evening. There will be March Madness banquet at 5 PM prior to the worship hour. All this will take place at the First United Methodist Church, Endicott. We will meet for worship on Sunday, at 8:30 and 11:00 AM at the Union Center UMC and at 9:30 AM at the Wesley UMC.
Jesus, our Lord, talked about the beautiful and blessed life. He declared with great audacity, “Blessed are the poor... the mournful... the meek... the hungry... the merciful... the pure... the peacemakers... and the persecuted.” It sounds foolish on the surface. The Bible indicates this when it says, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength” (1 Corinthians 1:25).
The kingdom of God is in opposition to the kingdom of the world. It contradicts the world and its values. It surprises the world and mocks its power. Though the kingdom of God appears weak, Its weakness is overcoming the world. The powerful destroy their enemies and kings control those under them. God does neither. The kingdom of the world demands proof, but God invites us into a life of faith. The kingdom of the world wants to be in charge, the kingdom of God offers life through letting go of control. The world says, “Never forgive,” and the kingdom of God calls us to always forgive. The world tells us to destroy our enemies, the kingdom of God tells us to love our enemies. What could seem to be weaker? What could be more powerful? The Bible says, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:27-28).
When our Lord began his ministry He spoke in often confusing parables. It was not to the "movers and shakers "of society that He came; it was to those who were shaken out and moved out — the nobodies of the culture. He seemed to love being around people that no one else had any use for: lepers, hookers, IRS agents.
In the end, Jesus went to the cross with a sense of triumph. It was in the weak submissive act of Jesus dying that a Roman soldier was able to say, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39). Without the agonizing death, there would be no resurrection. The world says, “Do what you have to do to get ahead.” Jesus said, “Follow me, regardless of the consequences.” The world says, “Defeat your enemy, crush them.” Jesus said, “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic” (Luke 6:27-29). Weakness — and how we hate it! But in our weakness we become partners with God in his weakness, and his weakness becomes strength, humiliation is followed by exaltation, and death is swallowed up by life. The Bible says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10).
The kingdom of God is weakness to the world and is mocked by it, but it is a weakness that overcomes the power of the world. The Bible says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).
Our daughter Sunita lived in Africa. She loves the people of Africa. She is inspired by the faith and the faithfulness of Christians of Africa. For some time she lived in Rwanda. April 6, 1994 marked the beginning of dark and infamous days for Rwanda, a small country in central Africa. For the next hundred days, up to 800,000 Tutsis were killed by Hutu militia — mostly using clubs and machetes. It was a genocide of monumental proportions, as the rest of the world looked on in silence. A young Christian named Benyoni lived in this world of hate His name meant “Little Bird” because he was so musical. He graduated with honors and became a school principal. But educated people were suspect and routinely executed in Rwanda. Sometimes just wearing a tie could get you killed. Benyoni was at school with eleven of his friends who were teachers when one day soldiers came and took Benyoni and the teachers out of the school. As they stood together Benyoni asked the soldiers if he could pray for them. He prayed for his friends and for their families, but he spent the most time praying for the soldiers who had come to kill them. Benyoni’s friends were encouraged and were expecting a miracle as a result of his prayer. The soldiers considered freeing them, but they had their orders and knew they would pay with their lives for failing in their mission. They continued their march outside the town, and when they stopped, Benyoni asked the soldiers if he could sing for them. He began to sing a hymn you may know:
Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Jesus, I come; Jesus I come.
Into Thy freedom, gladness and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
All the young men began to sing with him. You may remember the last verse of that great hymn:
Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.
Into the joy and light of Thy home,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
When the last note was sung, the soldiers raised their rifles and shot all of them to death.
You may wonder how the story got out since all of them were killed. Those soldiers went out to get as drunk as they could get that night — all except one. He sought out an old Quaker missionary he had met. He asked her, “What kind of God do you serve who could give his followers such courage and joy in the face of death?” She led him to Christ, and soon he was telling anyone who would listen about Jesus and starting Bible studies. It was not long until militia shot him as well.
We might ask who were the weak and who were the strong in that story. The Bible speaks of those, “who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength... Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated — the world was not worthy of them” (Hebrews 11:33-34, 36-38).
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irUzutYx5r0
Simon Peter
A special evening worship is coming to First United Methodist Church this Saturday evening, March 26, at 6:30 PM. We will be sharing in a special kind of worship experience with the presentation of the dramatic monologue, "Simon Peter". This presentation provides us with a worship experience through sacred drama and music by sharing a part of this disciple's life with our Lord Jesus Christ. Through his monologue, Peter shares with us some of the joys and conflicts of knowing Christ as a brother, of walking and talking with Him, and of experiencing the power of His Spirit. As we listen to him we, too, can share in his agony in denial and then in his tremendous victory through forgiveness. This beautiful and inspiring dramatic monologue will be presented by Dr. James Geer, PhD, distinguished Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Binghamton University.
There will also be a meal at 5 PM preceding the presentation of "Simon Peter". The meal will be prepared by Lou Pasquel and Rodney Haines.
Please plan to attend, and invite a friend or two to come as well! .
For Information call: 607-748-6329
607-748-1358
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Brown's Daily Word 3-24-11
Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this morning after the Spring snow storm here in New York. It will be a calm day after the storm yesterday. Thank you Jesus. There is a struggle for freedom that is taking place today that affects the lives of every man, woman, boy, and girl. There is a cry for freedom that rings out from the human heart all across the planet. When we carefully watch the news telecast 24/ 7 and listen quietly then we can hear the cry coming from Egypt, Lybia, Syria and all the Middle Eastern countries. We all know that freedom comes with a great price. Our freedom does not come cheaply. Our liberation does not come by means of human effort. Our freedom is not to be taken lightly for it comes at the highest cost the world has ever known – the sacrifice of God’s own Son. We cannot, will not, nor has anyone ever won his or her own freedom. Our freedom was won at the greatest cost, but it cannot be bought or negotiated. It comes as a free gift from the gracious and Sovereign hand of Almighty God.
It is written,"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1 NIV)
This message of freedom has revolutionized the lives of men and women throughout history. It has led to the revolution of entire societies, sparked the Protestant Reformation, and lit the fires of revival around the world throughout history. Galatians was Martin Luther’s charter of liberty during the Reformation. Luther’s writings, in turn, brought the truth of salvation by faith to John Wesley’s heart in that little meeting at Aldersgate Street in London on May 24, 1738. It was Wesley whom God used in such a remarkable way to spearhead revival in the British Isles, leading eventually to the founding of the Methodist Church. That revival positively affected the entire English-speaking world. Our sufficiency is found in Christ alone! Our salvation is found in Christ alone! Our redemption, justification, sanctification, and freedom are found in no other place than Christ, and Christ alone!
The Scottish minister, P.T. Forsythe, said, "The secret of the Lord is with those who have been broken by his cross and healed by his Spirit." The book of Galatians shines a spotlight on two essential truths: the cross of Christ as the only way a person can get right with God, and the Spirit of Christ as the only way a person can walk with God. Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NIV)
The great theme of Paul’s letter to the Galatians is freedom and liberty found in Christ alone! Paul, and all those who desire to come to God, must first die to themselves so that the glorious Savior can resurrect us to the newness of life found in Christ alone. The life we live after coming to Christ is not lived by human effort or self-righteousness, but by faith alone in the sufficiency of Jesus the Christ, our Lord and Savior.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgIfhSlm4_E
Simon Peter
A special evening worship is coming to First United Methodist Church this Saturday evening, March 26, at 6:30 PM. We will be sharing in a special kind of worship experience with the presentation of the dramatic monologue, "Simon Peter". This presentation provides us with a worship experience through sacred drama and music by sharing a part of this disciple's life with our Lord Jesus Christ. Through his monologue, Peter shares with us some of the joys and conflicts of knowing Christ as a brother, of walking and talking with Him, and of experiencing the power of His Spirit. As we listen to him we, too, can share in his agony in denial and then in his tremendous victory through forgiveness. This beautiful and inspiring dramatic monologue will be presented by Dr. James Geer, PhD, distinguished Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Binghamton University.
There will also be a meal at 5 PM preceding the presentation of "Simon Peter". The meal will be prepared by Lou Pasquel and Rodney Haines.
Please plan to attend, and invite a friend or two to come as well! .
For Information call: 607-748-6329
607-748-1358
Praise the Lord for this morning after the Spring snow storm here in New York. It will be a calm day after the storm yesterday. Thank you Jesus. There is a struggle for freedom that is taking place today that affects the lives of every man, woman, boy, and girl. There is a cry for freedom that rings out from the human heart all across the planet. When we carefully watch the news telecast 24/ 7 and listen quietly then we can hear the cry coming from Egypt, Lybia, Syria and all the Middle Eastern countries. We all know that freedom comes with a great price. Our freedom does not come cheaply. Our liberation does not come by means of human effort. Our freedom is not to be taken lightly for it comes at the highest cost the world has ever known – the sacrifice of God’s own Son. We cannot, will not, nor has anyone ever won his or her own freedom. Our freedom was won at the greatest cost, but it cannot be bought or negotiated. It comes as a free gift from the gracious and Sovereign hand of Almighty God.
It is written,"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1 NIV)
This message of freedom has revolutionized the lives of men and women throughout history. It has led to the revolution of entire societies, sparked the Protestant Reformation, and lit the fires of revival around the world throughout history. Galatians was Martin Luther’s charter of liberty during the Reformation. Luther’s writings, in turn, brought the truth of salvation by faith to John Wesley’s heart in that little meeting at Aldersgate Street in London on May 24, 1738. It was Wesley whom God used in such a remarkable way to spearhead revival in the British Isles, leading eventually to the founding of the Methodist Church. That revival positively affected the entire English-speaking world. Our sufficiency is found in Christ alone! Our salvation is found in Christ alone! Our redemption, justification, sanctification, and freedom are found in no other place than Christ, and Christ alone!
The Scottish minister, P.T. Forsythe, said, "The secret of the Lord is with those who have been broken by his cross and healed by his Spirit." The book of Galatians shines a spotlight on two essential truths: the cross of Christ as the only way a person can get right with God, and the Spirit of Christ as the only way a person can walk with God. Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NIV)
The great theme of Paul’s letter to the Galatians is freedom and liberty found in Christ alone! Paul, and all those who desire to come to God, must first die to themselves so that the glorious Savior can resurrect us to the newness of life found in Christ alone. The life we live after coming to Christ is not lived by human effort or self-righteousness, but by faith alone in the sufficiency of Jesus the Christ, our Lord and Savior.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgIfhSlm4_E
Simon Peter
A special evening worship is coming to First United Methodist Church this Saturday evening, March 26, at 6:30 PM. We will be sharing in a special kind of worship experience with the presentation of the dramatic monologue, "Simon Peter". This presentation provides us with a worship experience through sacred drama and music by sharing a part of this disciple's life with our Lord Jesus Christ. Through his monologue, Peter shares with us some of the joys and conflicts of knowing Christ as a brother, of walking and talking with Him, and of experiencing the power of His Spirit. As we listen to him we, too, can share in his agony in denial and then in his tremendous victory through forgiveness. This beautiful and inspiring dramatic monologue will be presented by Dr. James Geer, PhD, distinguished Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Binghamton University.
There will also be a meal at 5 PM preceding the presentation of "Simon Peter". The meal will be prepared by Lou Pasquel and Rodney Haines.
Please plan to attend, and invite a friend or two to come as well! .
For Information call: 607-748-6329
607-748-1358
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Brown's Daily Word 3/23/11
Praise the Lord or this new day. Since most of the Southern Tier of New York is under a winter storm warning until tomorrow morning, we will not be gathering for our Mid-week service this evening. All of the local schools in Broome County are closed today, as are many in Cortland and Chenango Counties. It came as a surprise since so many snow days have already been taken by the districts this year. Due to the snow event, the choir will not meet either.
The Epistle reading for last Sunday was taken from Romans 4. Up until this point in Paul’s letter to the Roman Church, Paul had stressed faith as the way -- the only way -- to salvation. To counter any arguments from Jewish Christians in the congregation, Paul used the example of Abraham as one who was made right with God -- justified -- by faith.
The word “faith” as Paul uses it in the Greek language is pis tis, and means a conviction in the truthfulness of God. Greek was a primary language which Paul used and the language in which the epistle to the Roman church was written. This is the kind of faith Abraham had, a conviction in the truthfulness of God. This faith - this conviction - is what God recognized when he, “credited his faith to him as righteousness.”
Everyone has faith in something or in somebody. Even a lack of faith denotes a kind of faith. In the Communicator’s Commentary, written by Dr. Stuart Briscoe, he writes, “The object of faith is what really matters, more than anything else. Some people who had strong faith in thin ice never lived to tell the tale but died by faith. Others who had weak faith in thick ice were as safe as if they stood on concrete.” In whom do we have faith? If we are Christians then we have faith in the Almighty God, the God of Heaven and Earth, who spoke the universe and this earth into being. Whether we have faith is not the question. The question really should be, “In whom do have faith?” Abraham is representative of those who believe in God.
Abraham who first believed God by faith or at least the first to have has faith in God credited as righteousness. God made an audacious promise to Abraham out of sheer grace and love, when He said, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Gen. 12:2,3.
Scripture continues with an account of great faith: “So Abram left, as the Lord had told him ...” What great faith Abram had! He left behind all those who were important to him, except his nephew and his wife. This 75-year-old man picked up, packed up, and followed God. Just a few verses later we find Abram in the land of the Canaanites. There a something remarkable occurred and perhaps this is why Abram believed, why Abram had faith. “The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’” Abram saw the Lord. We might be bold enough to say, “If I saw the Lord, I’d have faith like Abram’s too.” Let us remember, however, what our Lord Jesus told Thomas, the doubter, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed.” John. 20:29 There is no doubt that Abram followed God by faith. By promise and by vision Abram listened, watched, and prayed and through his senses he found faith. He used his eyes, his ears, and his heart to find faith in God’s promises. Faith is not blind faith. Faith, the kind of faith that Abraham possessed, was intelligent faith. Abraham knew in whom he put his trust. “ ... in whom he believed - the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.”
Abraham knew in whom he believed. He had the faith to believe in a God powerful enough to make something out of nothing, to create the father of all nations, of all peoples who by faith believe. Moreover, he made him from a 75-year-old man and a barren wife. Abraham knew when God called him that the natural chances of his ever becoming a biological father were very slim, at best, but he trusted that the God who told him he would be a father was not lying. He trusted
God.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUf5v0VySw0
Simon Peter
A special evening worship is coming to First United Methodist Church this Saturday evening, March 26, at 6:30 PM. We will be sharing in a special kind of worship experience with the presentation of the dramatic monologue, "Simon Peter". This presentation provides us with a worship experience through sacred drama and music by sharing a part of this disciple's life with our Lord Jesus Christ. Through his monologue, Peter shares with us some of the joys and conflicts of knowing Christ as a brother, of walking and talking with Him, and of experiencing the power of His Spirit. As we listen to him we, too, can share in his agony in denial and then in his tremendous victory through forgiveness. This beautiful and inspiring dramatic monologue will be presented by Dr. James Geer, PhD, distinguished Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Binghamton University.
There will also be a meal at 5 PM preceding the presentation of "Simon Peter". The meal will be prepared by Lou Pasquale and Rodney Haines.
Please plan to attend, and invite a friend or two to come as well! .
For Information call: 607-748-6329
607-748-1358
The Epistle reading for last Sunday was taken from Romans 4. Up until this point in Paul’s letter to the Roman Church, Paul had stressed faith as the way -- the only way -- to salvation. To counter any arguments from Jewish Christians in the congregation, Paul used the example of Abraham as one who was made right with God -- justified -- by faith.
The word “faith” as Paul uses it in the Greek language is pis tis, and means a conviction in the truthfulness of God. Greek was a primary language which Paul used and the language in which the epistle to the Roman church was written. This is the kind of faith Abraham had, a conviction in the truthfulness of God. This faith - this conviction - is what God recognized when he, “credited his faith to him as righteousness.”
Everyone has faith in something or in somebody. Even a lack of faith denotes a kind of faith. In the Communicator’s Commentary, written by Dr. Stuart Briscoe, he writes, “The object of faith is what really matters, more than anything else. Some people who had strong faith in thin ice never lived to tell the tale but died by faith. Others who had weak faith in thick ice were as safe as if they stood on concrete.” In whom do we have faith? If we are Christians then we have faith in the Almighty God, the God of Heaven and Earth, who spoke the universe and this earth into being. Whether we have faith is not the question. The question really should be, “In whom do have faith?” Abraham is representative of those who believe in God.
Abraham who first believed God by faith or at least the first to have has faith in God credited as righteousness. God made an audacious promise to Abraham out of sheer grace and love, when He said, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Gen. 12:2,3.
Scripture continues with an account of great faith: “So Abram left, as the Lord had told him ...” What great faith Abram had! He left behind all those who were important to him, except his nephew and his wife. This 75-year-old man picked up, packed up, and followed God. Just a few verses later we find Abram in the land of the Canaanites. There a something remarkable occurred and perhaps this is why Abram believed, why Abram had faith. “The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’” Abram saw the Lord. We might be bold enough to say, “If I saw the Lord, I’d have faith like Abram’s too.” Let us remember, however, what our Lord Jesus told Thomas, the doubter, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed.” John. 20:29 There is no doubt that Abram followed God by faith. By promise and by vision Abram listened, watched, and prayed and through his senses he found faith. He used his eyes, his ears, and his heart to find faith in God’s promises. Faith is not blind faith. Faith, the kind of faith that Abraham possessed, was intelligent faith. Abraham knew in whom he put his trust. “ ... in whom he believed - the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.”
Abraham knew in whom he believed. He had the faith to believe in a God powerful enough to make something out of nothing, to create the father of all nations, of all peoples who by faith believe. Moreover, he made him from a 75-year-old man and a barren wife. Abraham knew when God called him that the natural chances of his ever becoming a biological father were very slim, at best, but he trusted that the God who told him he would be a father was not lying. He trusted
God.
In Christ,
Brown
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUf5v0VySw0
Simon Peter
A special evening worship is coming to First United Methodist Church this Saturday evening, March 26, at 6:30 PM. We will be sharing in a special kind of worship experience with the presentation of the dramatic monologue, "Simon Peter". This presentation provides us with a worship experience through sacred drama and music by sharing a part of this disciple's life with our Lord Jesus Christ. Through his monologue, Peter shares with us some of the joys and conflicts of knowing Christ as a brother, of walking and talking with Him, and of experiencing the power of His Spirit. As we listen to him we, too, can share in his agony in denial and then in his tremendous victory through forgiveness. This beautiful and inspiring dramatic monologue will be presented by Dr. James Geer, PhD, distinguished Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Binghamton University.
There will also be a meal at 5 PM preceding the presentation of "Simon Peter". The meal will be prepared by Lou Pasquale and Rodney Haines.
Please plan to attend, and invite a friend or two to come as well! .
For Information call: 607-748-6329
607-748-1358
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