First Timothy is the first of the “Pastoral Letters” written by the Apostle Paul to guide his delegates, like Timothy, who have been left to “pastor” churches. Throughout 1 Timothy, Paul addresses the character of Christian leaders and emphasizes the church’s critical role in shaping the moral and spiritual life of the community.
Jeremiah 7:1-5 is a sermon that is usually considered as an interruption in the text. But it works as a theological response to the haunting and elusive poetry of chapters 2-6. It says that even the Jerusalem temple, the center of national life, won’t save Judah from disaster and divine judgement.
Waiting is hard. And yet, so much of life involves waiting.
As children, we wait to grow up so we can be free and independent. As adults, we wait for a season when life feels a little easier—perhaps when we can rest more or work less. As Christians, we wait for the day when injustice ends, when peace prevails, when heaven is realized here on earth.
As we walk through life, doing our best to live faithfully, let’s remember our why. We live not to earn God’s love but because we already have it. Through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, we have been offered the gift of grace and invited into eternal life with God—not by works, but by faith.
When reading a psalm written by David—especially when we can connect it to a specific event in his life—it’s helpful to explore the historical context. Doing so gives us insight into what he might have been feeling and what motivated his words. Psalm 52 was written in response to the betrayal and evil actions of Doeg the Edomite,
Through Jesus, we are offered grace, not condemnation. Peace, not chaos. Strength, not despair.
We are right in the heart of graduation season. In fact, tomorrow is Shawnee High School’s graduation — a particularly meaningful milestone for me, because my son is among the graduates. In just under two weeks, he’ll take the next bold step in his journey: reporting to the United States Military Academy at West Point to begin cadet basic training.
Do you find it easy or difficult to compliment or encourage people you don’t know well? If you have ever randomly complimented a person you don’t know at all, how did you feel after you gave the compliment to that person? Did seeing them smile also give you a sense of joy?
When we are chasing after the things of this world, we will ultimately never feel content. We can only find true contentment in knowing that God will never leave us or abandon us.
It would have been a very natural and understandable reaction if Peter, John, and the other apostles had decided to lay low for a while because they were scared for their own safety. However, instead of letting fear overtake them, their immediate response was to pray together and seek the power of the Holy Spirit.
I can only imagine the emotions that Jesus must have been feeling when he sat down with his disciples, his friends, to have what he knew would be his last meal in this world. Jesus loved these men, he had taught them, traveled with them, served with them, cried and laughed with them. He knew he was going to be leaving them soon to return to the Father.
When I read this story and think about the faith and determination this man and his friends showed, I think about my father’s journey in getting a double lung transplant and the great faith and determination he, my mother, and many other people showed during this process.
Together we can turn the nation’s largest weekend of football into the largest weekend of giving. Youth group members will be collecting monetary donations at each service this Sunday and will then send the donation to the Turning Point United Methodist Food Pantry in Trenton. Your generosity will be very much appreciated. The link below will take you to our PushPay system. You can select “Give One Time” then use the Fund Selector to choose “Souper Bowl of Caring.”
PEDAL for PROMISE – SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2019: Medford United Methodist is fielding a team for the Urban Promise fundraiser “Pedal for Promise.” This year the ride begins and ends at Valenzano Winery in Shamong. You can register to ride, make a donation to the team or register as a spectator to enjoy the party and cheer on our team.
Go to urbanpromiseusa.org/pedal for more information about the event, to donate, or to register as an individual. OR you can go directly to the TEAM MEDFORD UMC page at www.crowdrise.com/team-medford-umc.
Questions or need help? Speak with Pastor Kathleen, Wayne Richards, or Heidi and Mike Polhemus
