JULY 21 VICTORIOUS and impermanence

DANIEL 3:1-30    ²⁵ “He replied, ‘But I see four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the fourth has the appearance of a god.’ “

It is exciting times for Covenant United Methodist Church.

Our first ever Vacation Bible School had 52 children, and withstood heat, rain and high humidity to study five critical areas of “Staying Strong” in faith.  The children presented the congregation a song they had practiced about this theme- and choreographed! 

The 12 person Mission Team to Haiti was introduced.  We blessed their travels, their mission goals and prayed for their safety and faith.  Our team will construct a concrete floor for the Worship area, repair the roof and work on other small repairs.  They will also run a Vacation Bible School for the area children.  Rev. Jason has been asked to lead a 5 day class on pastoral leadership for Methodist ministers from the surrounding villages.  The Terrific 12 leave next Saturday.  Our thoughts and prayers are with them this week as they prepare.

We had a new song introduced into our Worship Service on Sunday.  The song was composed by none other than Michael Rafferty, Our Music and Worship Leader, and writing partner Mike DiStefano.  Based upon the last words of the Bible in Revelations, Michael described the song as a prayer for when Jesus will return and for when you personally need Jesus.

 “Come Lord Jesus

  Come and free us

  From this darkness

  Make all things new”.

“The darkness will lift and the brightness will shine through…”

The sermon this Sunday was a compelling idea: are we too worshipful of other people? Rev. Jason made the distinction between the Junior-High-school-girl-crush and the outright reverence to famous people- athletes, celebrities, and others.  The simple message is that when we use the famous as idols, what we may be doing is conforming and reacting to a standard that is not permanent.  When that idol falls (which may be inevitable), we have to find a replacement.  Yet, we need to believe, we need to hold our convictions and we need to worship only God.

Stay Strong in your faith is the message for both young and old.

I am, a renewed Christian

JULY 14 VICTORIOUS saving the lost

Luke 19: 1-10  “^10… to save the lost.”

I thought about the question, “Have I ever been lost?”  Rev. Jason started the sermon talking about how with GPS, Map Quest, computers, Wi-Fi, Smart phones and the like, well, no one should ever be lost in the physical sense.  And I agree, sometimes getting lost is more fun than being lost.  (Think back to those summer days when your Mom told you to go find something to do…)

My own children used to be afraid to get in a car with me, because it always meant some kind of “being lost” and the ensuing tension of trying to figure out where I needed to go.  I had to answer the question “Are we lost?” probably thousands of times unfortunately.  GPS in the car was a lifesaver for me. 

Yet there is a difference in getting lost or being lost, and maybe, even not knowing that you are lost. This text from the Bible was simple and direct.  Zaccheaus, the rich tax collector, could not make up for his short stature.  He climbed a tree to watch Jesus on his way to Jerusalem.  Imagine his surprise when Jesus stopped, called for him to come down and told him that he, Jesus, was coming to his house.  People, gathered around the two, complained that Jesus should not be giving favor to one who was not regarded as a believer.   Zaccheaus makes the offer of giving away half of what he has, and making good on anyone’s claim that he has defrauded a person. Why would he say that?   Jesus says:

 “⁹Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

There is no further conversation about this- Jesus knew that Zacchaeus was lost.  Rev. Jason pointed out that Jesus recognizes him, calls him by name and says that he will stay with Zacchaeus. 

Rev. Jason continued.  Jesus knows when we are lost, and before we even know that condition of being lost. 

I am being guided, and I did not know it.  I can look back on the past year and know now that it was not a coincidence that I have found my way to believing.

I am, a Renewed Christian.

JUNE 30 Why I love worshipping at Covenant

JUDGES 7: 1-23  “¹⁸When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets around the whole camp, and shout, “For the Lord and for Gideon!” 

I love worshipping at Covenant.  The first song is finished, and a child’s voice rings out “A- Men!”.

I love how the kids RUN to the Children's Ministry; The Junction. 

I love singing the songs from the worship service all week long in my head- pushing away the pop tunes that I normally favor.

I love that I have so much to think about from the sermon.  Every week in this new series “Victorious”, Rev. Jason explains and connects what God’s victories are.  This past week’s text was about Gideon and his 300 men who win a decisive battle against the Midianites. These men are brave, courageous, even considered reckless.  God tells Gideon that they will give the glory of winning to God, and so they are the chosen few who will stay and do battle against the huge forces of the other army.  Also part of the victory comes from the vision that a Midianite has, where he describes how their army will lose.  And the final part of the victory is that there are no detailed, step-by-step instructions for how Gideon and his small, fearless army will win.  This is definitely a case of have faith and follow.  Rev. Jason pointed out three very different ideas; a departure from other texts of the Bible.

And then there is the music at Covenant.  The last song is “Glory To God” by Fee ©2009.

“Glory to God

 Glory to God

 Glory to God Forever...”

Could a soul be more satisfied?

I am, a Renewed Christian