Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX

There are many blessings a Pastor receives in the pastoring of a church.  Among the top are being honored to preside at Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals.  While the joy that is present at Baptisms and Weddings may not be at funerals, they are still a blessing.  If we really dig deep into our beliefs, study what our Bible tells us and actually practice what it preaches,  we would celebrate at all three.  While the reasons for joy at Baptisms and Weddings is self-explanatory,  perhaps we need to look at why we should be celebrating with joy at funerals when one of our Christian brothers or sisters go to meet their Savior.  A Savior who has given us a reason to celebrate the passing of one of His own. 

It is as if the hurt in our hearts at the death of a loved one overcomes the joy we should have on our faces with the knowledge that there is a resurrection.  Easter and the example of resurrection after death is almost here.  Jesus is resurrected, walks with His disciples and claims His life eternal with His Father in Heaven.  Our joy lies in the belief that because Jesus died for our sins we too will be in Heaven with the father as resurrected beings.  Life eternal with a purpose.  Death is a doorway that we walk through into the light of our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Nothing reminds us of our belief in life after death like the death of a loved one, a wife, a child, a husband, a mom or dad.  We cannot know the depth of hurt people feel at the loss of their loved one.  We can only love them and be there for them until they can work through the grief they must endure.  Hopefully they will come through that grief with the knowledge that one day they will be with that person again.  That is a promise not made by me but by our Savior.

Have a blessed day and remember it is your life in eternity that Jesus Christ died for,

Randy

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One of the many things about being a Pastor that brings joy into my life is being able to preside over wedding ceremonies. Heidi Theriot added Romero to her name this past Saturday, April the 2nd, 2011.  It was a beautiful day to have an outdoor ceremony under some beautiful huge old oak trees.  Sorry about not getting any of the outside pictures but I was kind of busy during the ceremony.  The reception was in the Community Center building there at the Erath, La. municipal park.  It really was a beautiful setting and a great place for the reception.  The Romero and Viator families showed Jane and I some real Cajun hospitality and really made us feel at home.  We had some really good food and fellowship while we were there.  Such a blessing for Jane and I.

Read John 9:1-41

This scripture is about a blind man getting his sight back after Jesus spits on some dirt and makes mud, then He rubs it on the blind mans eyes.  Sometimes I really need some of that Jesus mud on my eyes.  Sometimes I really have trouble seeing what God wants me to see.  Sometimes His words are as clear as the big ole nose on my face and I still cannot see it.  When we take some time to shut off all the noise we are constantly bombarded with we are able to read, understand, see and apply the word of God to our lives.   The blind man submitted his eyes to the healing touch of Jesus Christ and he was truly able to see.  No one could threaten or cajole him into denying the healing power of Jesus Christ.  He was banned from the Synagogue but would not deny that it was Jesus who healed him.  Jesus touches each one of us in much the same way and we can be just like the blind man, believing because we see clearly who our Savior truly is.  We just need to put our trust in those healing hands, even if it means He has to put mud on our eyes to get us to see. 

Have a blessed weekend, keep the faith by spending some time with Him, when your eyes are healed they will see the world you live in, in a different way,

Randy

  This is a picture of two people (Jan Day and Joette Webb) loving their neighbors by working at Orange Christian Services. Volunteering shows the love Christ has for His world in our hearts.  Do you believe?  Can you see?

John 9:6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes,

9:7 saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.

Jesus made mud with His spit.  He rubbed it on the blind mans eyes.  The blind man washed the mud off and could see.  A miracle happened to a man who had to beg to be able to survive.  I guess given those circumstances most people would have wanted to experience Jesus’ gift of sight. Jesus is the Son of God and was able to heal people of their physical ailments and if we read the scriptures we see he was able to give heart sight to some but not to all.  Some accepted Jesus as the Son of God and believed He was the Messiah.  Some did not.  Even though many of those who witnessed His miracles believed many did not.  I guess seeing is not believing.  People get blinded by their own pride, power and beliefs which keep them from being able to see the change that is right before their eyes.  A change that means a new way of living life.  Jesus came to tell all that using the law to judge a life lived well was in no way comparable to living a life where we are all challenged to put God first and our neighbors a very close second.  We who believe God and His Word live our lives trying to be the best we can be knowing that our God  sees our hearts.  Love is the way of Jesus Christ and love is what God sees in our hearts.  Love God, Love Jesus as your Savior and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you down the paths of righteousness in loving your neighbors.

Pray for Jesus’ love to always be in your hearts, Love is His law for the world,

God’s Peace and Blessings to all,

Randy

God’s sun has been shining brightly on His world and on the cross on which His Son died for all of us.  The shadow represents His presence here with us on this earth.  Not just a shadow but a real presence that is forever here interacting with us.  When Jesus gave His life for us, He gave it willingly and out of love for all of humanity.  Remember the sacrifice that Jesus gave for us when you see all the bad news in the paper and on television.  In remembrance of the sacrifice that God gave for us lets all remember to pray for those who are in such dire need whether they are next door or half way around the world.   What a perfect sacrifice, our time talking to God about the needs of the world.  He listens and really does want a relationship with you.  Lent is a time to refocus on what God wants us to do in and for the world.   Have a great lent and look forward to Easter. 

The cross is of course on the roof of Wesley UMC and the cross’s shadow is in the parking lot.  Come to Worship with us Sunday.  Feel the Spirit moving you.

God’s Peace and Blessings,

Randy

In the drawing above we see Jesus riding into Jerusalem, on a donkey and with people waving palm fronds. It is a reminder that Easter is on the way.  Jesus did and said a lot of things that can be so meaningful to each of us perhaps in many different ways.  In our Bible study we are going through the Gospel of John and last week we went through Chapter 10.  There is much to learn from Chapter 10 but one scripture that has Jesus speaking is:

Joh 10:37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;  Joh 10:38 but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”

   When I read these words I could hear Jesus telling each of us, Here is the way to walk upon the earth.  If we are doing the works of our Father then we will be witnesses that will be believed.  Speaking the words may get peoples attention, may get them interested but it is always the works of our faith that will draw them into a faith walk for themselves.  The Father is in us because we believe and because we believe we live out the teachings of Jesus Christ in our lives.  Remember the words from James:

Jas 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Having faith and having works is okay.  It is allowable to practice what you hear preached.

God’s Peace and Blessings,  Randy