Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX

All are invited to our Ash Wednesday Service.  Worship will start at 6pm sharp.  Hope you will come and join us in the beginning of Lent.  Lent is a time of renewing our spiritual walk with Jesus Christ through fasting, meditation, scripture reading and many other ways of renewing our focus on who our savior is.  While we should all be firm in our walk we all are going to slide some and Lent gives us an opportunity to refocus on our faith and how we are putting actions to the words we profess.  You cannot be a christian without doing the things that Jesus calls us to do.  Allow this 40 days of Lent to renew your walk and strengthen your resolve to always walk with Christ.

God’s Peace and Blessings to all,

Randy

Is the Sun setting with your eyes being darkened or is the Sun rising and bring light into your world.  Allow the light to shine, let it be Sonshine.

Our Bible Study at Wesley UMC reviewed John 9 this week.  Every chapter in the Gospel of John has been good but this one speaks so much to all of us today.  A blind man’s sight is returned.  Jesus heals him and allows the Jewish leadership to question the man who was blind and could now see.  The questions they ask show their disbelief and deepen his belief in Jesus as the son of God.  We could see his progression into one who is willing to testify to all that Jesus has done for him.

Have you been blind?  Are you in need of being healed of the inability to see?  So many in this world today are unable to see the way of peace and love that Jesus brought to our world.  They may not want to see something that can change the way of life that they hold on to.   Allow Jesus to touch your eyes, bring light into your world so that you can see the better way of a God and Savior that loves you more than you could know. 

Take the chance, have your eyes healed from blindness that keeps you from seeing who really is your savior.  Invite Jesus into your life, every part of your life.  Walking in the light of Jesus Christ gives you an opportunity to worship, work and play in a way that makes your life so much better.

Peace and blessings,

Randy

Don’t worry, be happy, happy that you know Jesus Christ as your savior.

Reading this scripture reminds me that it is one of our most important scriptures and tells us that we are to worship our God and nothing else in this world.  We cannot have anything more important in our lives than our God.   When we put God first in everything we do then our lives are much better.  Even worry is not to take our lives over and lead us down paths that move us away from our God.  Our Savior Jesus Christ tells us that birds of the air and lilies of the field don’t worry about tomorrow and what they will wear or eat.  Jesus is telling us to take care of today and whatever comes up tomorrow will be for taking care of tomorrow.   You see, Jesus is trying to make sure that we understand that working today on keeping God first in our life will be all the help we need for whatever issues/problems that may come up.  It makes a lot of sense to solve problems with guidance from Jesus and God.   Jesus will help us to keep unnecessary worry out of our lives as long as we are walking through our lives with His love in our hearts and always with Jesus on our minds.

God’s Peace and Blessings to all,

Randy

You remember the passage from John 8:1-11 where the Pharisees and scribes brought a woman accused of adultery in front of Jesus and asked Him what the punishment should be.  Remember that He wrote with His finger in the sand. 

What was Jesus writing?  Was He just doodling?  Was He stalling?   Was He writing something meaningful for those who were accusing the woman?  William Barlcay has some thoughts about this scripture and the question, just what was Jesus writing?

Come to the Bible Study for the answers.  We are doing a chapter by chapter study of the Gospel of John each Wednesday night.  We have a light snack supper at 5pm and Bible Study starts at 6pm.  Some good food and fellowship with a dose of Bible knowledge.  How could it get any better than that.  Come join us.  It will be fun.



Matthew 5:38-48
5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
5:39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;
5:40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well;
5:41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.
5:42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
5:45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
5:47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Got any ideas about revenge, hate and enemies.  Better forget about all that nonsense.  Jesus gives us what is probably the most important part of His “Sermon on the Mount”.  There is no such thing as an eye for an eye or tooth for a tooth.  Jesus overpowers those old customs with one that says to love your neighbor, love your enemies and be kind to all those who ask something of you.  In fact give more than you are asked for.  It is the way Jesus expects us to emulate Him because it is how he emulates His Father.

Love your God, Love your neighbor and oh yeah, love your enemy.  Oh my goodness we even must pray for people who persecute us.  Take these words to heart cause Jesus just ain’t cuttin us no slack.  Remember the challenge to “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”.   We may not ever get to that perfect part but we must do the things Jesus tells us to the best of our ability.  Following His teachings above and in the rest of His sermon are the best we can do.  Make it your goal to be the best, love the best, forgive the best and give the best. 

The Best asks us to.

God’s peace and blessings,

Randy

Three hearts that love us as one, The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit

Happy Valentines Day

Do you get angry? In the scripture below Jesus is saying to us that being angry may cause us to sin.  So much so that even though we may not take someone elses life we may be in danger of taking our own.  Being angry may be a sin that causes us to kill ourselves through selfish anger that will keep us from growing into who God calls us to be.  Our Savior is trying to let us know that being angry is against everything He teaches.  His way is a way of love and peace.  Don’t let the sun go down on your anger or better yet learn how to forgive before you get angry. 

 There is one exception to anger.  When we see people starving, abuse of our brothers and sisters in this world, abortion done as  birth control or rampant disease it a good thing for us to feel angry.  This is a righteous anger that God wants us to have so that we will be driven to reach out to those who are suffering.  

 Think about your anger issues.  You know those things that really push your buttons.  Get a grip on those things and life will be better.  It is a promise our Savior gives us.

Love is what Jesus is all about.  Valentines Day is a good day for us to practice loving.

Have a great day filled with God’s Peace and Blessings,  have a happy Valentines Day by loving your God and your neighbor,

Randy

Matthew 5:21-30, 

5:21 “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’
5:22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.
5:23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
5:24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.
5:25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.
5:26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
5:28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
5:29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
5:30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.

The church steeple sure looks good from here…does your witness????

In Matthew 5:13-20 Jesus speaks to His disciples and tells them they are the salt of the earth, light to the world and that He came to fulfil the law.  Powerful words that are meant to cause us to think about our faith.  Jesus us is telling His disciples then and us now that our role in spreading the word to the world is like adding salt to food.  Sometimes you may sprinkle a little on and sometimes you may have to add a lot.  Our lives are to be lived that way.  Sometimes our witness needs to be lightly sprinkled and sometimes it needs a little heavier sprinkle.  No matter what the seasoning requirements though, we are still required to shine/reflect the light that Jesus Christ has delivered to the world.   Our light should shine consistently to those we are interacting with daily and our witness will season that interaction as is needed.  We just need to be those willing vessels that Christ calls us to be. 

I want to share an excerpt from “The Daily Study Bible” by William Barclay:

When we look at the Ten Commandments, which are the essence and the foundation of all law, we can see that their whole meaning can be summed up in one word – Respect, or even better, reverence. Reverence for God and for the name of God, reverence for God’s day, respect for parents, respect for life, respect for property, respect for personality, respect for the truth, and for another person’s good name, respect for oneself so that wrong desires may never master us – these are the fundamental principles behind the Ten Commandments. The foundation principles of the Ten Commandments are reverence for God, and respect for our fellowmen and for ourselves. Without that fundamental reverence and respect there can be no such thing as law. It is on that reverence and respect that all law is based and it is that reverence and respect which Jesus came to fulfil.

When we act as the salt and light that Jesus is talking about we example that reverence and respect for our God and the Commandments He has given us.  Think about your witness. Perhaps there is nothing you would change or perhaps you may need to speak with more reverence about God, act more in a respectful way to family and neighbors by showing the love that Jesus Christ calls us to have.  Salt and light, two things that are essential for life.  Let’s keep them that way, use them for helping people find life in Jesus Christ.

God’s Peace and Blessings, Randy

 I took this picture of the steeple at Wesley UMC.  I just thought it was a pretty picture.

In the Beatitudes from Matthew 5:1-12 we see a pretty picture also.  A picture painted by Jesus that lets us know what kind of people  we are to be.  Jesus wants us to be people who are strong in the Holy Spirit and poor in the spirit of this world.  He sees a picture of a humble people, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, who are merciful, who have a pure heart and who seek peace.  He tells us that even if we are insulted and persecuted for our beliefs we are blessed.  He promises us heaven, earth, satisfaction, comfort, mercy and a visit with God if we live out this picture He has painted for us.  All really good reasons to live out the art that Jesus paints. Jesus has a picture of a world that is filled with people caring about each other, helping each other and working with each other for the completion of the canvas that has been set before us.  Have you got your paint brush ready?  Are you ready to go and paint a better world for Jesus?  It is up to you and me.  Don’t wait for someone else to get started.

God’s Peace and Blessings, 

Randy

Bryan Green and Donna Shaunesy came to the Wednesday Bible Study for the first time.  They got treated with a surprise meal (surprise to them) and participated in the Bible Study on the Gospel of John.  We have had a good time and there are generally 20 people or so there.  We use William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible for insight into the scripture.  We just finished chapter 4 and of course we will cover chapter 5 on February the 2nd.  We have our meal at 5pm and start the Bible Study at 6pm.  Everyone is invited and the more the merrier.  I hope you will consider joining us for the friendly fellowship and opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the scriptures.

William Barclay says that for many Christian people the Gospel according to St. John is the most precious book in the New Testament. It is the book on which above all they feed their minds, nourish their hearts and in which they rest their souls.  It is true that there are many people who find themselves closer to God and to Jesus Christ in John than in any other book in the world.

God’s Peace and Blessings,  Randy