Brown's Daily Word 11-18-09

Good morning,
Some time ago I read the story of Demi-Lee Brennan. Demi-Lee had a liver transplant at age 9. She faced a life on anti-rejection drugs like every other transplant patient. Nine months later, however, her red blood cells were being attacked by her own white blood cells. It was as if her body was treating them as if they were invaders. Something radical had to be done to save her. On a whim her doctor decided to take her off the anti-rejection medications and she got better. What happened was that her blood type had changed. She was no longer O-negative like her parents, but had taken on the donor’s O-positive type.
Now, at 15, she is totally off any immunosuppresion and, although she has to retake every childhood shot she’s ever had, she is normal. The fact that a young boy had died to give her a new life is not taken lightly. She says, "I’m probably the most grateful person because that has saved my life and gave me a chance to fulfill my life. I just want to live it the most I’ve got for them and to show them that I’m so grateful."
Radical transformations do happen. They are not limited to the case when a donor’s blood cells invade a person’s marrow, but they do take place spiritually, when the Lord of New Life,calls us to new life through His son, Jesus. John 15 is part of the Upper Room Discourse. "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." When we trust in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, His joy is within us. If we want to harvest a sense of joy then it starts with obeying our Lord. It is found as we remain in Him. We are invited to abide in Him.
Bryan Wilkerson, senior pastor of Grace Chapel in Massachusetts, tells of a sterling silver tea set given in love by a family member. He describes it as quite old, beautifully made, displayed on a stand in our dining room, and unusable. The giver had it chemically coated so that it wouldn’t tarnish and hot water will ruin the finish.
Christ does not transform us so we can be put on display. The vine nourishes us so that we can be used. We are everyday dishes. When we remain attached to the vine, our Lord, we discover we too are used by Jesus as His instruments of love, peace, and joy.
In Christ,
Brown



The St. Petersburg ( Russia) Men's Ensemble
Sunday December 6, 2009.

The St. Petersburg Men's ensemble will be in concert on Sunday, December 6, 2009 at The Union Center United Methodist Church, Endicott, New York. They will present a program of traditional Russian Classical Christian Music along with some Russian Folk Music, all sung in a powerful a capella. The public is cordially invited to come. The Concert is scheduled for 7 PM. The Union Center United Methodist Church is located at 128 Maple Drive, Endicott, New York. For information call (607)-748-1358, or (607)-748-6329.


We will meet for our mid-week services tonight. We start with a meal at 6 PM, followed by Bible Study at 6:30 PM. We will be studying from Revelation 19. The Adult Choir will practice at 7:30 PM. They will be working on the music for the Christmas Cantata.
On Saturday, we will meet at 5:30 PM at Wesley UMC for dinner and fellowship. The meal will be followed by a Thanksgiving service at 6:30 PM. Al Smith will be bringing the message.