Category: First Steps

September 19, 2022 A wise man once said: “If we run from one danger, another one will catch us. If we recover from a fever, we have merely been spared suffering paralysis or something. After you have struggled to preserve your life and limbs, you are helpless to hold on to them. Death is inevitable. During the time when Christians were martyred, some denied their Lord to save their own lives. Are any still alive today? They lost everything. Consider events in the future as already done. They will result in little or nothing, just like events in the past. Think about what remains for you. Either you have God, or you have nothing.” A bit direct, maybe a little harsh and fatalistic, but worth considering, nonetheless. I like the bit about considering tomorrow’s events as if already taken place. Some things in life we can’t control or dodge, all we can do is decide how we will face them. Consider what remains – either we have God, or we have nothing.   This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Hebrews 12 *Tuesday – Hebrews 12 *Wednesday – James 1 *Thursday – James 2 *Friday – James 3 Prayer Requests: *Teachers, students, and parents coping with anxiety. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

At least once a month I am asked what is more useful, an active life of service for God or a contemplative life in reflective study of God. Though one may phrase the question with different words, the root inquiry is which style of life is better. My answer is always the same, but it normally creates a puzzled look on the face of the inquirer because my answer is “yes.” Both are useful and needed. Both are united in forming the same yield, a mature follower of Jesus. The more one studies, the more the Holy Spirit will call them to action. The more one acts, the more the Holy Spirit impresses upon them to study. The two are connected the same way that the seasons of the year are connected. One leads to the other only to circle back to the previous. It is not that Martha was more important than Mary (see Luke 10:38-42) nor Mary more important than Martha. Sitting at the feet of Jesus (Mary) has its place just as creating a hospitable house (Martha). Both are needed to be a disciple of Christ. Therefore, we are people of action just as much as people of reflection. Value each one equally and know that there will be seasons of action and seasons of reflection. Embrace them both.   This Week’s Readings: Monday – Hebrews 7 Tuesday – Hebrews 8 Wednesday – Hebrews 9 Thursday – Hebrews 10 Friday – Hebrews 11 Prayer Requests: *Teachers, students, and parents coping with anxiety. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

I had lunch with a family member the other day and this person said they are reading the Bible, from cover to cover, for the first time. This is the first attempt in reading the entire Bible. After our lunch, I thought of St. Augustine’s love for the scriptures. He wrote:      To be a student of the Bible you need to read it. Even if you can’t understand all of it, you will do well to read all of it. Get to know these books. Memorize a few passages. Become familiar with Holy Scripture.      Once you know what is between the covers of the Bible, you can begin to study it more intelligently. Important teachings regarding faith and living are clear first lessons. This light will eventually help illuminate the more difficult parts. The things you are sure about will help you with the things that seem uncertain…comparing various translations can make a difficult verse easier to understand. One may be explained by the other. Both may contain something valuable to a careful reader.     Faith is the most important ingredient in Bible study. Someone said, “If you don’t believe, you won’t understand.” (On Christian Doctrine). The North African Bishop is correct. To understand it, we must read it.  There is no equivalent substitute. The more we become familiar with the scriptures, the greater our understanding. Be a student of the Bible.   This Week’s Readings: Monday – Hebrews 2 Tuesday – Hebrews 3 Wednesday – Hebrews 4 Thursday – Hebrews 5 Friday – Hebrews 6 Prayer Requests: *Teachers, students, and parents coping with anxiety. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

A sick person is not necessarily sick all over. Certain organs may be perfectly healthy.  Someone may be desperately ill and still have good eyesight.  While some bodily members may be weak, others are very strong.      It is the same way in the spiritual life. One may be healthy in this and that area, but not in another. There is always some imperfection.       For this reason, Christians are instructed by their Lord not to be judgmental of others. Regardless of who or what they are, the rule applies. They could be outcasts of society, bad people.  But we are to consider everyone the same way.  Never judge, despise, and classify another person. Regard everyone as flawless.  If someone is crippled, see that person as not crippled.  It is an indicator of purity of heart when you can look at a sinner and have mercy, notice a weak person, and feel compassion.      Christians will have an attitude that is simply different from secular people.  Their minds work another way.  They belong to another world.  We belong to Christ.   This is a small piece of a larger homily whose author is lost to history; however, I think it is good advice, particularly in relationships and marriages. The preacher’s advice of “never classify another person, regard everyone as flawless, [know that you] belong to Christ” are assets in any relationship.   Put these to practice!  See where it leads you…I would guess to greener pastures.        This Week’s Readings: Monday – Titus 2 Tuesday – Titus 3 Wednesday – Jude1-25 Thursday – Philemon 1-25 Friday – Hebrews 1 Prayer Requests: *Teachers, students, and parents as the school year continues. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

Miles Coverdale was a Bishop in the 16th Century to Exeter (Province of Canterbury). His claim to fame was a translation of the Bible into English during the tumultuous times of The Reformation. He wrote in his Prologue to the Bible, “Christian love will assume the best without any harsh judgment.”    What a profound statement! For Coverdale, he was convinced that no single person could see everything or have complete knowledge. There are others who see more clearly, others who have more understanding or information. The temptation for all is that when one who can do better than others should, instead of denigration, remember that all that has been received is from God’s hand.   I wonder how easier life would be if we assumed the best about others. It would change our relationships or how we approached them. Unfortunately, many assume the worst and seldom give an opportunity for another person to change. If we believe that God is in the life-changing business, then perhaps God is working in the life of others and waiting for us to come alongside the Holy Spirit.    If this is a struggle for you, ask God to teach you to assume the best about another person. Pray to see that person the same way God sees them—which will be the same way that God sees you.   This Week’s Readings: *Monday – 2 Timothy 1 *Tuesday – 2 Timothy 2 *Wednesday- 2 Timothy 3 *Thursday – 2 Timothy 4 *Friday- Titus 1 Prayer Requests: *Teachers, students, and parents as the school year continues. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6

Throttle Back! Words that we seldom utter, especially concerning a lifestyle. Well, we might utter them when we hit a wall or when our personal life spins out of control.  Unfortunately, it is often too late when things come crashing down. Having said that, what if throttle back was not an afterthought but a proactive goal? A few weeks ago, I was asked to talk to a Sunday school class about money and tithing.  As I answered questions from the class, we discussed the larger issue of priorities which are manifested in how we spend our money and use our time.  Those two commodities reveal our priorities.  In North America, most people are over-extended consumers.  Perhaps it is the fear of missing out (FOMO) or the desire to keep up with our neighbors, but most people live with a lack of margin concerning their time and their money. Driven, by comparison, we overextend. Normally, this is the reality until we hit the wall only to be plummeted into a new painful reality—not by choice. However, what if we adopted a Throttle Back Mentality as a way of life? Doing so would safeguard our time and money so that we don’t live stretched each month.   Perhaps you have hit the wall or are fearful that you are close to it, what should you do to throttle back? Consider these steps: 1. What is a realistic, honest, assessment of my situation? Look at where you spend your time. Look at how you spend your money. Put it down on paper or a spreadsheet. To make a change there must be an honest assessment of one’s reality. We have to know where to begin. 2. What or where do you want to be in one year?  Describe it, paint the picture, and list your priorities concerning time and money.  Be specific as possible.  This is the goal. 3. Now that you see the distance between where you are and where you want to be, what one or two things can you do differently with your time and money? Making these changes doesn’t mean you will reach the goal in a year, but it does point you in the right direction. Bite-size steps are more achievable.   4. Repeat the steps each year. Eventually, you will reach your goal!   This Week’s Readings: *Monday – 1 Timothy 2 *Tuesday – 1 Timothy 3 *Wednesday- 1 Timothy 4 *Thursday – 1 Timothy 5 *Friday- 1 Timothy 6 Prayer Requests: *Children’s safety and anxiety as the new school year starts up. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6