Reflections from Bro. Rudy –
December 30, 2009
New Year Goals
Twitter is one of the new communication tools on the internet. Some use it to share what they are doing, some to communicate with their friends, and some to share thoughts. I saw one the other day that caused me to stop and think. It read simply, “2010. Would u rather 'get' or 'become'?” It was posted by Mike Henderson, a pastor in Virginia.
How would you answer the question, “Would you rather ‘get’ or ‘become’?” The New Year is a time when many think about their lives. We think of improvements we would like to see in our lives. We think of changes we’d like to make in our lives. We think of goals for our lives.
In an effort to make improvements in our lives, many will make some New Years Resolutions. I imagine most of our New Years Resolutions relate more to “become” than “get.” Some of them may actually relate to both.
The sad reality is, many of our resolutions will be broken by the end of January. Some of them will never make it past the first week. Why is that? Is it that we really are not serious about making the changes we know we need to make? Could it be that we need some help to sustain the changes we need to make?
I’m excited about a new message series that I will be preaching beginning January 10th. The title is “Keep the Change – Resolutions that Stick.” The Bible is a book about sustaining changes in our lives. God really does want us to live the Good Life. To live life to it fullest, we have to make changes in our lives. That’s what sanctifying grace is all about, keeping the changes in our lives.
In this series, we’re going to look at some biblical teaching related to keeping the changes we seek to make in our lives. God knows that we have problems sustaining the Good Life. God knows we face temptations to compromise. So God has given us instructions, even guidelines that will help us remain faithful.
In preparation for this new series and the New Year, prayerfully consider some New Years Resolutions that God would have you make. You might think in terms of these areas of your life: Body/Health, Relationships, Finances, Spiritual and Vices. Your Resolutions might relate to changes you need to make or areas in which you need to grow.
On Sunday, January 10th, we will kick off this series with a message entitled, “Thinking for a Change.” During the morning services, you will have an opportunity to commit your resolutions to God and begin the journey in making them stick.
This coming Sunday, January 3rd, we will celebrate the Epiphany, the arrival of the wise men. Judy Shepherd will be preaching a message entitled, “Wisemen Still Seek Him.” Then on Sunday night, we will join as Methodists have since the times of John Wesley, to participate in a Covenant Renewal Service.
During the Sunday morning services on January 3rd, we’ll also commission our Church Leadership for 2010. If you will be a member of the Administrative Board, the Council on Ministries or one of the Boards, Committees or Ministry Teams, make plans to be present for your commissioning. If you have not gotten your Covenant Sheet, it should be in the mail. Sign it and bring it with you to worship. There will be an opportunity to affirm your commitment during the service.
New Wednesday Grow classes begin January 6th. If you have not made a commitment to some class or Small Group, I encourage you to find a place to grow with other believers. The last Connection had a list of the classes being offered. Or, you can contact Jeri Hunt about signing up for a Wednesday Grow class. (jhunt@gmvumc.org)
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Christmas – It’s About Christ and It’s About You
December 23, 2009
I had a brief conversation this morning (December 23, 2009) with one of the parents in our Children Enrichment Center. He mentioned that it didn’t feel like Christmas and he wasn’t talking about the weather. He went on to say that the real reason for the season seems to have been lost.
When I got to my office, I had an email that communicated a similar truth. Bob and Linda Brewis had taken their 2 and half year old granddaughter Kamdyn on a ride to see Christmas lights. They went to one neighborhood where all the houses had white lights along the edge of the street. Several houses had snowmen, Santa & reindeers and other such blowups. As they rode slowly through the streets pointing out things for Kamdyn to see. In Bob’s words, “the angelic voice of the precious child strapped in her car seat says, ‘Where is Baby Jesus?’ Not a single house in that neighborhood had anything in their yards that represented the real meaning of Christmas.”
On the street where I live, the majority of homes have some Christmas lights on the outside of the house. But only two of us have nativity scenes in our yards. Kamdyn’s question is a good one, “Where is Baby Jesus?” After all, is He not the reason for the season?
There is a house on old Mt. Olive road that has a simple post card that has a picture of the nativity with the words, “The Reason for the Season.” Jesus is who this season is all about. He is the gift God gave to the world. He is the gift God is waiting for many to receive.
As I think about that, I realize that Christmas is also about us. That’s right, Christmas is also about us. You see, we are the reason Jesus came into the world. You and I matter so much to God that Jesus came into the world to rescue us from our sins. As the scripture says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:13; NRSV)
Think about that for a moment: The Awesome God who spoke this world into being; the Great God planned for us to live the Good Life; the Holy God who is too holy to look upon sin; this God loves you and me too much to leave us in our sins. God came in Jesus to deliver us from the bondage to sin and death and restore a relationship with us. That’s the reason Christmas happened. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” That means, you and I are the reason for Christmas. Christmas took place because God loves you and me.
Rick Warren, in a recent devotional said that the Good News of Christmas is that “You Matter to God. God knows everything about you – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and He still loves you. He cares about you. He loves you more than you could ever know. God is for you, not against you.” That is the reason for Christmas. It is about God’s gift of love for you and me.
Rick Warren closed that devotional saying; “Christmas is God saying, ‘I want to relate to you. I want you to know Me as much as I know you.’ That’s joyful news. It’s good news!” (Email Devotional, “Renewing Your Faith at Christmas” December 17, 2009)
Christmas Eve we have the opportunity to make Christ a priority by worshiping Him. We will have three unique Christmas Eve Communion Services:
5:00 PM – Carols, Scripture and Communion Service – Sanctuary
7:00 PM – Contemporary Communion and Candlelight Service – Gym
11:00 PM – Carols, Scripture, Communion and Candlelight Service – Sanctuary
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
I had a brief conversation this morning (December 23, 2009) with one of the parents in our Children Enrichment Center. He mentioned that it didn’t feel like Christmas and he wasn’t talking about the weather. He went on to say that the real reason for the season seems to have been lost.
When I got to my office, I had an email that communicated a similar truth. Bob and Linda Brewis had taken their 2 and half year old granddaughter Kamdyn on a ride to see Christmas lights. They went to one neighborhood where all the houses had white lights along the edge of the street. Several houses had snowmen, Santa & reindeers and other such blowups. As they rode slowly through the streets pointing out things for Kamdyn to see. In Bob’s words, “the angelic voice of the precious child strapped in her car seat says, ‘Where is Baby Jesus?’ Not a single house in that neighborhood had anything in their yards that represented the real meaning of Christmas.”
On the street where I live, the majority of homes have some Christmas lights on the outside of the house. But only two of us have nativity scenes in our yards. Kamdyn’s question is a good one, “Where is Baby Jesus?” After all, is He not the reason for the season?
There is a house on old Mt. Olive road that has a simple post card that has a picture of the nativity with the words, “The Reason for the Season.” Jesus is who this season is all about. He is the gift God gave to the world. He is the gift God is waiting for many to receive.
As I think about that, I realize that Christmas is also about us. That’s right, Christmas is also about us. You see, we are the reason Jesus came into the world. You and I matter so much to God that Jesus came into the world to rescue us from our sins. As the scripture says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:13; NRSV)
Think about that for a moment: The Awesome God who spoke this world into being; the Great God planned for us to live the Good Life; the Holy God who is too holy to look upon sin; this God loves you and me too much to leave us in our sins. God came in Jesus to deliver us from the bondage to sin and death and restore a relationship with us. That’s the reason Christmas happened. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” That means, you and I are the reason for Christmas. Christmas took place because God loves you and me.
Rick Warren, in a recent devotional said that the Good News of Christmas is that “You Matter to God. God knows everything about you – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and He still loves you. He cares about you. He loves you more than you could ever know. God is for you, not against you.” That is the reason for Christmas. It is about God’s gift of love for you and me.
Rick Warren closed that devotional saying; “Christmas is God saying, ‘I want to relate to you. I want you to know Me as much as I know you.’ That’s joyful news. It’s good news!” (Email Devotional, “Renewing Your Faith at Christmas” December 17, 2009)
Christmas Eve we have the opportunity to make Christ a priority by worshiping Him. We will have three unique Christmas Eve Communion Services:
5:00 PM – Carols, Scripture and Communion Service – Sanctuary
7:00 PM – Contemporary Communion and Candlelight Service – Gym
11:00 PM – Carols, Scripture, Communion and Candlelight Service – Sanctuary
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
Friday, December 18, 2009
December 16, 2009
Santa and Children
Yesterday, I had a visit from Santa. The Santa Claus who came to visit the children of our Child Enrichment Center came by the office and gave us a candy cane. It was lunch time when Santa finished his visits in each classroom. I had gone down to join Gina for lunch when he came by her office. He said, “This is the best program I visit.” For several moments he bragged on our Child Enrichment Center. He said that of all the Day Cares and Preschools he visits our Child Enrichment Center is the best.
What a complement to the staff of our Child Enrichment Center. They seek to be at their best for the children, knowing that each child is a precious gift from God.
I was shown a picture that was taken of Santa in one of the classrooms. Santa was kneeling alongside a couple of the children, looking at the Manger. I don’t know this Santa’s name. He is the one the Child Enrichment Center uses each year. But he is very quick to tell the children that Jesus is the reason for the season.
In all of the activities of Christmas it is easy to loose sight of the real reason we celebrate Christmas. The original St. Nicolas did not give gifts to draw attention to himself. He gave to those in need as an act of worship and commitment to Christ. He loved because Christ had captured his heart.
I’ve witnessed that kind of giving in our Church Family. In spite of the struggling economy you gave over 300 “Shoeboxes” that are being delivered to children. Then you adopted all the angels from the Casa Angel Tree. You gave $2,183.50 to the White Christmas Offering, which supports our United Methodist Children’s Homes. And because of your giving we are helping several church families who are having struggles financially.
You’ve also demonstrated your worship of Christ through your financial commitment to the ministries of the church. According to the scriptures, that should be our first act of giving. 239 adults/families and 23 children have committed $1,116,429.64 toward our 2010 Ministry Budget. They have committed 62 % of the 2010 Ministry Budget. Of those who have made commitments, 40 have made a first time commitment to this church. If you have not made your Financial Commitment to the 2010 Ministry Budget, Commitment Cards are available in the Welcome Areas or you can contact our Financial Secretary, Cece McNeil.
We also worship Christ by giving of our time. Peter wrote, “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (1 Peter 4:10; NRSV) Writing on that passage, Oz Hillman said, “There is a Kingdom principle I find few really understand. The principle is this: When you focus on serving others, your need is often met through God’s supernatural law of serving.”
In this week’s TGIF devotional (December 16, 2009) Oz’s went on to say; “Whenever God calls me to serve another person with my time and resources, I notice how God measures resources back to me from unrelated sources. Sometimes it comes through an unexpected donation to our ministry or a speaking engagement or a new opportunity. It is uncanny how this happens consistently when I serve others.”
We have an opportunity to serve this Sunday night. Join us for Caroling to our Homebound persons. Meet at the church at 5:00 PM. Bill has two caroling routes lined up. We want to fill a Bus or two on each route. Then we will return to the Fellowship Hall for some refreshments and fellowship.
Family Night at the Movies is this Thursday, December 17. It begins at 6:30 PM in our Family Ministry Building (Gym). There is no cost, so invite your friends and neighbors.
Next week we celebrate Christmas. We will again have three different Christmas Eve Services:
5:00 PM – Carols, Scripture and Communion in the Sanctuary.
7:00 PM – Contemporary Worship, Communion and Candlelight in the Gym
11:00 PM – Carols, Scripture, Communion and Candlelight in the Sanctuary.
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
Santa and Children
Yesterday, I had a visit from Santa. The Santa Claus who came to visit the children of our Child Enrichment Center came by the office and gave us a candy cane. It was lunch time when Santa finished his visits in each classroom. I had gone down to join Gina for lunch when he came by her office. He said, “This is the best program I visit.” For several moments he bragged on our Child Enrichment Center. He said that of all the Day Cares and Preschools he visits our Child Enrichment Center is the best.
What a complement to the staff of our Child Enrichment Center. They seek to be at their best for the children, knowing that each child is a precious gift from God.
I was shown a picture that was taken of Santa in one of the classrooms. Santa was kneeling alongside a couple of the children, looking at the Manger. I don’t know this Santa’s name. He is the one the Child Enrichment Center uses each year. But he is very quick to tell the children that Jesus is the reason for the season.
In all of the activities of Christmas it is easy to loose sight of the real reason we celebrate Christmas. The original St. Nicolas did not give gifts to draw attention to himself. He gave to those in need as an act of worship and commitment to Christ. He loved because Christ had captured his heart.
I’ve witnessed that kind of giving in our Church Family. In spite of the struggling economy you gave over 300 “Shoeboxes” that are being delivered to children. Then you adopted all the angels from the Casa Angel Tree. You gave $2,183.50 to the White Christmas Offering, which supports our United Methodist Children’s Homes. And because of your giving we are helping several church families who are having struggles financially.
You’ve also demonstrated your worship of Christ through your financial commitment to the ministries of the church. According to the scriptures, that should be our first act of giving. 239 adults/families and 23 children have committed $1,116,429.64 toward our 2010 Ministry Budget. They have committed 62 % of the 2010 Ministry Budget. Of those who have made commitments, 40 have made a first time commitment to this church. If you have not made your Financial Commitment to the 2010 Ministry Budget, Commitment Cards are available in the Welcome Areas or you can contact our Financial Secretary, Cece McNeil.
We also worship Christ by giving of our time. Peter wrote, “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (1 Peter 4:10; NRSV) Writing on that passage, Oz Hillman said, “There is a Kingdom principle I find few really understand. The principle is this: When you focus on serving others, your need is often met through God’s supernatural law of serving.”
In this week’s TGIF devotional (December 16, 2009) Oz’s went on to say; “Whenever God calls me to serve another person with my time and resources, I notice how God measures resources back to me from unrelated sources. Sometimes it comes through an unexpected donation to our ministry or a speaking engagement or a new opportunity. It is uncanny how this happens consistently when I serve others.”
We have an opportunity to serve this Sunday night. Join us for Caroling to our Homebound persons. Meet at the church at 5:00 PM. Bill has two caroling routes lined up. We want to fill a Bus or two on each route. Then we will return to the Fellowship Hall for some refreshments and fellowship.
Family Night at the Movies is this Thursday, December 17. It begins at 6:30 PM in our Family Ministry Building (Gym). There is no cost, so invite your friends and neighbors.
Next week we celebrate Christmas. We will again have three different Christmas Eve Services:
5:00 PM – Carols, Scripture and Communion in the Sanctuary.
7:00 PM – Contemporary Worship, Communion and Candlelight in the Gym
11:00 PM – Carols, Scripture, Communion and Candlelight in the Sanctuary.
As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.
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