Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX

Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

23:40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

23:41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”

23:42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

23:43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Two criminals hanging on the cross, one repentant, one bitter and selfish, both about to die for their sins.  One will be in Paradise with Jesus and the other, well, lets just say Jesus wasn’t speaking to him. 

This is one of about three places that Jesus speaks of heaven: Luke 16:20-25 Lazarus and the rich man, Luke 20:29-37 the seven brothers and one wife and here on the cross.

Jesus wasn’t about bringing the kingdom of God to people after death but here and now.  Jesus wanted people to know about God’s Kingdom, what it means to each of us to know about it and how we need to live in this kingdom He was teaching us about.  Jesus’ parables were about searching for those lost, seeking those who have wandered off and sometimes waiting patiently for those who will not hear His call.  Jesus taught us most of all to love our fellow man, to help those who are in need and heal those who are sick.  This means we need to bolster up our faith, make ourselves bold in His love and choose to make a sacrifice or two of our gifts that have come from Him.  Jesus wants us to live in the Kingdom of God not in the secular world of today.  Seek out the Kingdom and the Kingdom will find you.  I believe these words of Jesus,  “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise” will truly become very meaningful to you.

Have a blessed Holiday Season, you know, Thanksgiving and Christmas,

Randy

Is he praising God or just signaling a touchdown?  What do they have in common?  They both mean a big score in your life.  Praising God is a great way to celebrate before, during and after a touchdown.  Accepting God and Jesus Christ as Savior, inviting Him into your life and letting Him lead you through your life is the greatest score anyone can ever make.  That is the score that we all need to celebrate and that is the score we all need to praise God for throughout our lives. Have a blessed week and keep the faith.  Pray for those in need and help the poor in any way that you can. 

Be blessed in all you do, Randy

Despite what some people say it really is okay to clown around at church.  Especially if it is at the church’s Fall Festival.  We had a good time and lots of kids came by to get their hot dogs, drinks and fair share of time on the moon walk.  I didn’t take many pictures after we got it all set up but hopefully others did.

However not only young uns got on the moon walk.  Wanda Barron got in the moon walk and jumped around a little which was pretty amazing to see.  Wanda is still pretty spry but could not quite make it up the ramp to the slide.  Way to go Wanda.  

It was a beautiful day to have a fun time out on the grounds.  Lots of hot dogs and drinks were enjoyed as well as the fun had on the moon walk.  Lots of candy was given out by all the trunk or treaters and they all enjoyed seeing all the kids come by for their treats. 

Don’t forget about The Wesley UMC world famous bazaar on November the 13th.  We have lots of really good craft merchandise for fall and Christmas.  Okay maybe it isn’t world famous but at least lots of people in Orange and Bridge City know about it.  We will soon have our pecan and walnut delivery and be selling those too.  We are taking orders now. Call Billy at 883-3210 or Sandra at 886-8542 if you want to go ahead and get on the list.

Don’t forget to go vote.  It is our chance as a Christian to vote for those who most closely represent our values.  Vote with the heart of Christ leading you.  There really is no other way for those of us who are followers of Christ to vote.  One of the great premises of our society is that if the person we vote for gets elected and doesn’t live up to their political rhetoric we don’t have to vote for them next time.

Have a blessed and peace filled day,

Randy

 I could not help myself.  I drove up to the church after taking a sunset picture and had to take another one.  This was taken from the church yard Thursday evening.  The ladies from the church were working on Bazaar stuff and I just went in to give them encouragement they really did not need.  But I did show them the sunset pictures.  I love those sunsets.  They are beautiful and they bring a peace into my life.  It is like my soul, my spirit, my whole being is being encompassed in a beautiful spirit that God has given us.  Take a few moments to look every now and then.  The world we have been given is a beautiful place that God has given us to live in and enjoy life in.  Sunsets are proof of His love for us.  There are many scriptures that talk about making the best of each day that God has given us.  Start today to put those words to use and rejoice and be glad in this day. 

Come by Wesley UMC tomorrow evening (10-31-10) between 4 and 6pm to check out the sunset and oh yes, our Fall Festival.  Moon walk, trunk or treat, hot dogs/drinks, fellowship and hopefully a beautiful sunset, all our gift to you.  Tell all your friends to come by and enjoy the sunset and Wesley UMC too.

Randy

 Me and my blackberry have been at it again.  I took this picture from the front seat of my truck driving by the overpass over South street.  God does give us some really good gifts, especially His Word.

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”  Psalm 19:13-14 sure is a good scripture to memorize and use during the day.  When things are getting tough and you really want to lash out at others or when you are just feeling really low, remember this scripture because everything we say and do is in the sight of the Lord, our Rock and Redeemer.  Our goal each day should be that all we do and say is pleasing to Him.  Not an easy task for sure but one we can handle if we use these kinds of scripture to remind us of who we are and whose we are.  Have a great day and a great weekend.  Be sure to be safe if you have kids out and about Sunday evening and if you want them to be really safe come by Wesley UMC on 37th street to our Fall Festival.  Moon walk, hot dogs, drinks, trunk or treat and all in a safe environment.  It is our gift to you.

When I walked up to this watermelon stand on South Street this past summer they knew how to sell watermelon.  They could tell me about them and how good they were.  They knew what they were selling.   Hmmmm!   Do you know what you are selling, do you really want to sell it?  Do you put the heart of your product out for everyone to see?

18:13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

God calls us to be humble in all we do.  In prayer, in serving, in giving and in living we are to be His humble servants. Sometimes I wonder if we use scripture like this to be so humble we will not pray in public at all.  We use it as an excuse to not be bold in our witness.  We claim it as a way to get out of doing all we can to convince/convict others of the love Jesus has for this world.  We can be bold in our home churches in our witness and we are meek as little lambs when we get out among those who do not know Jesus or need His help to realign their lives.  God really does love us and needs us to let everyone know of His love.  John 3:16 tells us just how much God loves us.  How much He wants to be with us through out our lives on this earth and with us through out eternity.

Carry the love of God out into the world but don’t be so timid or so humble that those in this world will not see a Christian but will see someone who doesn’t seem to know what he/she believes.

Have a great weekend and be bold in your witness but humble in your spirit,

Randy

2 Timothy 4:6-8
4:6 As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come.

4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

4:8 From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Paul is telling Timothy that while he may be coming to the end of his ministry and life, he expects Timothy to carry on the good fight and keep the faith no matter what comes his way.  Paul withstood many trials and hardships and expects that Tmothy will also.  In fact the persecution by the Roman government is just beginning in full force.

Paul gives us hope that at the end of life we will all find that through our faith we will continue on in eternity with our Savior and our God.

The world may throw some really terrible life experiences at us.  It is a part of this life but it is not a test that we pass or fail at.  We stay faithful and whether we fail at being successful or succeed with every thing in this world we will be with our Lord, our Savior at the end of our life.  What a wonderful time that will be, eternity with the ones we love and the One who loves us.  There is no better reason to stay faithful than the promise we receive when we first believe.

Have a great day and feel God’s blessings in your life.  Remain faithful in all you do and He will be there for you,

Randy

4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you:

4:2 proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.

4:3 For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires,

4:4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.

4:5 As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

Paul was speaking to Timothy and encouraging him to follow through with the mission that he had been assigned.  Timothy was the man who would be expected to take over for Paul as the missionary to the Gentile world. 

Paul’s challenge to Timothy is also a challenge to us.  If carrying the message to the world is just left to the preachers, the future of Christianity is in trouble.  Paul carried the torch for many years and is looking to Timothy to keep it lit.  There are many disciples however who are not mentioned and who were martyred for doing just exactly what Paul is encouraging Timothy to do. Spread the Gospel.  Yes that is what I said, you are required to help your Savior/Church/Pastor spread the Word of God.   Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life.  His word is worth telling to the world and it takes more than a few preachers to make it happen.  Walking in the light of Jesus Christ says a lot about a person to a lot of people.  Walk the walk, talk the talk and Jesus Christ will shine through you.

Does the following scripture apply to many today, I think so.  We have sound doctrine in our Bible so why do  so many turn away.

4:3 For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires,

4:4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.

Have a Christ filled day so that you can witness to His love for this world.  Witnessing is a blessing and it is fullfilling,

Be blessed and be at Peace, Randy

32:22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.

32:23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had.

32:24 Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.

32:25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.

32:26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.”

Perhaps we all have something to learn from Jacob/Israel.  God wants us to wrestle with Him in a way that He and we know our prayers will be answered.  We are to struggle with doubt, we are to struggle with fear, we are to struggle with temptation, we are to struggle with selfishness (our own and others), we are to struggle with death/disease and these are just a few of the many issues we face everyday.  This is why we need to wrestle with God all day and all night.  Pray without ceasing is Paul’s advice.  Give it a try and know that whether your prayers are answered or not, now or later, God is working out a plan for us that will bring glory and honor to His Kingdom.

Remember that in Romans 8 Paul tells us that nothing can seperate us from the love of God.

Have a blessed day and keep praying and wrestling with God,

Randy