What Difference Did We Make?

(Picture: Members of Roseboro United Methodist MYF who participated in the Co+Mission project in Rocky Mount earlier this year)


Another year has arrived in our midst and another has resigned itself to the book shelf of time. We can go to most any store and see on the book rack's countless magazines highlighting those moments of 2010 which stood out in the minds of the world such as the Haiti Earthquake, the Gulf Oil Spill, the 2010 Winter Olympics, the Iceland Volcano which caused major disruption in air travel due to the heavy amount of ash released, and so many more.

If you watched the news tonight and heard one reporter ask an 'expert', "Which of the major news stories of 2010 made the most difference in our world?", what do you think the answer would be?

If someone came up to you tonight and ask you, "What have you done this year that has made a positive difference in the lives of those around you?", what would your answer be?

Matthew 7:20 says, "Thus, you will know them by their fruits."

If someone came up to you and ask, "What difference did your church make in our community in 2010?", what would your answer be?

Waiting in suspense,

Pastor Bobby

Another Day

Yesterday I took mama to get a MRI. While she was going through the test, I went to visit a member of one of my churches at the hospital who is traveling towards the gates of heaven. Just as I returned to the center where my mom was, I received a call that another member of my churches was in the emergency room at the hospital. I prayed.

I then called my daughters to meet me in the emergency room parking lot to watch over my mom for a few minutes while I ran inside to check on my person. Praise God, she was o.k. was in the process of being released to return home. I prayed.

Finally got my mom home and got her comfortable and fed. I prayed.

Today she isn't feeling to well and I give thanks that there isn't any doctor appointments. But tomorrow brings another visit to the center for a c-scan but I don't believe she'll be able to drink the stuff she needs to in order to do the scan. Then we'll go to the doctor on Friday to find out what he recommends concerning the future; comfort or life-extension. I pray.

A final note: the other night I sat down on the side of the bed and talked to mama about those questions we all wish we would never have to talk about. First time I broke down in front of mama. When I finally came back into the front room, it was obvious my girls had been crying. I asked them what was wrong and they pointed to the baby monitor we have set up so we can hear my mom if she calls us. I had forgot and they had heard our conversation. I prayed.

I give thanks for my wife, Donna. She is a real trooper and servant. I'm praying.

Peace and comfort to all

A New Season

I've began a new chapter in my life. I've brought my mom home so I can take care of her. She is suffering from cancer and can't get around on her own now. It's amazing to me how even in the finality of life, one doctor sets you up to see another doctor and that doctor will set you up to see another doctor and before you know, you've forgotten what you went to the first doctor about. "Hey Doc, tell her she's dying, tell us how we can make sure she doesn't suffer, tell us anything except that you want to have more tests ran."

I always knew that a day would come when I would have to say good bye to my parents. It's a fact of life and it's one of those few guarantees in life. But I never gave much thought to the idea of having to take care of either of them. My dad is still living also but mom and dad separated when I was six years old.

It is a difficult thing to do to help your mom do so many things that we all take for granted. Being who I am, I've seen this scenario played out countless times and even help some in these situations, but it's different when its your own. I give thanks to God that I'm able to do this. I have never thought about how much I love my mom til now. I love her so much.

Please, anyone who reads this, be in prayer for us all. It hurts so bad but feels so good.

Peace

My Cross Carried Me

I haven't walked with my cross in a while and felt the overwhelming pull to do so today. I have learned from experience and by my faith that I am not to resist this pull of the Spirit. So I grabbed my cross and off I went to see what God had planned for the cross and me. It didn't take long to find it.

I had been stopped by a town commissioner by the park and was talking when a SUV stopped beside us. It was a family from Gardner who were on their way to their beach home. They told me that they had seen me walking and wanted to stop and share how much it meant to them to see me expressing my faith in such a powerful way and ask if they could take a picture of me and the cross. No problem, I haven't been asked for a picture before and neither had the cross. We said our goodbyes and shared in blessings for one another and off for the next encounter I went. Once again, I didn't get far before I met another 'once stranger, but no longer.'

I was walking beside Hwy 24 near Hardee's when I heard someone yelling. Looking down a side street I saw a young African American fellow who was running towards me. We greeted one another and he began walking with me. This hasn't happened before and to be honest with you, I felt uneasy. We talked as we walked but I couldn't get the worry thoughts out of my head, so I walked to the edge of town and turned around and walked back the way I came sticking to the main highway. I felt bad I couldn't remove the "spider-sense" feelings I had and prayed continously as we walked for the Lord to show me that I wasn't disrespecting His mission for me.

Was this a test that God had placed in my path? Was this a set up of some sort? Shame on me, I know. But I couldn't stop myself. I'm still praying for the Lord to share with me and I ask you, the reader, to pray for me also.

But soon I was stopped beside the highway by an old friend who I haven't seen in a few years and my walk partner soon bored with my new conversation left my old friend and me. But my walk wasn't over and I still had a way to go before I reached the comfort of home.

As I continued my walk towards home, I was approaching a convient store and noticed a young clean cut Hispanic man standing by the entrance to the parking lot as if he was waiting on me. There it went again. The 'spider-sense' kicked in and I wondered what I had gotten myself into with my walk today. Did I read God's signal wrong this time? Had it been me that wanted this walk and not God afterall? Had I failed the first test and this was a second chance? Lord, what do you want me to do?

This young man was military. He and his friend who was waiting by their truck told me that their best friend had been killed recently in a motorcycle accident on Hwy 24 close to Fayetteville shortly after returning from deployment. He asked me to keep his friends family and him in my prayers and he asked could we get our pictures taken together.

Go ahead, I know you want to. Just say it and get it over with! Shame on me, right? Yelp, shame on me.

I left them and continued on my way and shortly a pickup went by me with the horn blowing and people yelling. I couldn't tell if they were disrespecting me or greeting me. I've had both done before. Soon I would say "Shame on me again."

I was almost ready to turn onto my street off 24 by the drug store when I saw that pickup turn into the parking lot and a little girl around 9 or 10 years old came running up to me. She said, "Sir, my daddy wanted me to ask if you would pray for him." Her dad got out of the truck along with who I presumed was his wife and a couple more kids and he was just a crying.

He told me that he and his wife had made sure that his kids knew the Lord and that his daughter, the one who had approached me, had given her life to God when she was only seven years old. But for whatever reason, he had fallen away from God, but knew this day that he needed God. We wrapped our arms around one another and I prayed with this man and if any of you are reading this knows me, you know I began crying right along with him.

After bidding our farewells and blessings, I continued my walk ending at the house a few minutes later. Like I always do, I parked the cross and prayed that through the mobile representation of the cross which God has blessed me with, I had touched someone's life today and I gave thanks to God for allowing this special cross to touch me.

"So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord--who is the Spirit--makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." ---2 Corinthians 3:18

Marty Cauley: Creating a Third Place...

One of the blogs I follow is by Rev. Marty Cauley from St. Paul United Methodist Church in Rocky Mount. One of his recent post, "Creating a Third Place..." fitted so well with the intent of the message I shared in the sermon Sunday. In order to see the path we must mow to see God's intent, we must look beyond the what is and towards the what can be. This path begins at our feet. To see, one must open the eyes.

Marty is at the front of the line when it comes to connecting the church to the community for the glory of the Kingdom. Please read two and three times and receive more than the words.

Marty Cauley: Creating a Third Place...: "Indigenous Jesus What A Third Place Looks Like What would a truly indigenous community look like? It would be a 'third place.' A third pl..."

United Methodist Evangelism Training Opportunity

To all my United Methodist brothers and sisters,

The North Carolina Conference of the UMC Committee on Evangelism will be hosting a Lay Academy of Christian Witness at Camp Rockfish October 22-24. The cost for this event is amazing including room, food, and the experience of staying at the Bergland Center at Camp Rockfish. The speakers are amazing and the learning experience is awesome. Take a leap and try it. It just may make the different for you and your church.

Check out the link below for all the details:

www.nccumcevangelism.org/lay-academy-of-christian-witness-2

Prayer for My Daugther

Most giving God,

Thank you, Father, for the gift of life we celebrate on this day. Blessed are we who have been given stewardship over one of your children to raise up into your kingdom through love and nourishment of body and mind. We pray that our efforts have honored you and honored her.

We continue to pray for your blessings upon this child. And we pray that as she seeks out her future, that she continues to seek you to light the way and that she never waver from your directions.

In the Name of Our Savior Jesus Christ,

Amen

Here, In America?

I was on face book and saw a posting by Redstate, one of my political news feeder thinga ma jig. One of the article from this posting was called "Amerabia" which caught my attention. I truly believe in the freedom of religion, but that's the freedom of religion and the freedom of free speech for everyone. Now when we are denied that right, it upset my sense of ...well everything. I want to say bad words, jump up and down, maybe even throw things. This article really caught me off guard.

I have spoken to pastors from the Michigan area and they had told me and the muslims runs almost the whole city and of course I figured they were making it seem bigger than it really was. If I ever meet them again, I will have to apologize.

I know this may sound bad to some people when I ask these two questions but I do have some rights to my own opinion: Do the muslims own most of the businesses in Mich. or in Deerborn? Do they have laws like the rest of the U.S. where only American born citizens can hold most elected offices? Just wondering. If that makes anyone upset because I asked, start your own blog and write the questions you have. I am an American and I'm a Christian who believes in loving my neighbors but there is a line where we have to stand up and speak up. Here's your sign. Please check this out.

www.redstate.com/mailloux/2010/06/23/amerabia

P.S. I know that muslims is spelled correctly with a capital "A" but right now I'm angry, so forgive me.

In the Eyes of Jesus - Part 1

How wonderful would the world be if we saw the way Jesus saw?

1 Corinthians 2:16 says, "We have the mind of Christ."

Imagine if we could say, "We have the eyes of Jesus." To have the ability to see people, not as bodies and not just as they are, but to see them with imagination. To see them with the eyes of the heart. To see their desires, their needs, their pain and to see their possibilities.

Perhaps then teachers would see that hard to teach, un-disciplined, hard headed student as one day winning "Teacher of the Year" himself, because something they did inspired him to turn himself around and become a teacher so that he could inspire others.

Or we see that young alcoholic/drug addict one day holding the hands of his wife and children standing at a microphone telling hundreds of people how God changed his life and how he was now helping other addicts to straighten their lives out.

Or how about that young teenage girl sitting over in the corner, wearing all black, a loner. And she has scars up and down her arms and you've heard that she "cuts". Perhaps one day we'll see her wearing a black robe with a stole over her shoulders and she's standing behind a pulpit preaching the Word of God because we were willing to see her for who she could be and not just what she was. Like Jesus did with you and me.

With the Eyes of Jesus, we don't just see what is. We also see what can be. The vision is limitless and the possibilities is endless.

Taking from "In the Eyes of Jesus" sermon series Part 1 Sunday, May 23, 2010

Pastor Bobby

Churches respond to storm damage - UMC.org

Churches respond to storm damage - UMC.org

The hands and feet of Jesus Christ in action. I wanted to tell you that if you want to be sure that what you give to a ministry reaches those who are in need, then the United Methodist Church is for you as my friend Marty Cauley said recently on facebook. Check out the UMC website and become informed.

Sharing with you

One of our speakers at the Academy of Christian Witness this week was the Rev. Dr. Marty Cauley, pastor of St. Paul UMC in Rocky Mount. He blogs and has alot of experience in this and provides a lot of informative information.

I believe that it is our responsibility as servants of the Lord to share the gifts, information, experiences and blessings that our Father in Heaven has giving us. And Marty is gifted in sharing all his knowledge. You can view his blog at www.martycauley.org .

Later,

Pastor Bobby

Answer the phone

I am participating in the Academy for Christian Witnesses at Camp Rockfish. This is a seminar/retreat for pastors focused on evangelism. I have been a part of this academy once before a few years ago. At the time, no one including myself knew how or why I had been invited because it was for pastors. I had just received a letter from our District Committee on Ministry (The District overseers of those who are coming up for appointment). This was an official letter which advised me to remain in the church I was a member of and continue to bear fruit. In other words, I would not be allow to go before the Committee to be interviewed for candidacy. Everyone finally said, "God must have meant for you to come. Of course, I agreed.

The greatest blessings that comes from these gatherings of pastors is the opportunity to hear God stories. Listening to other pastors share their call to ministry re-ignite that fire that we all seem to lose at times. Our God is so good. Why he takes us unworthy subjects of his creation and places us into his service, we'll never know other than to say "He has a plan."

And this call that the Lord makes isn't just for those he places in the holy desk. He places a fire in the hearts of many. And this fire is for all sorts of ministry. I will not begin to list them, but you know what God has placed in your heart. Answer the call. God never hangs up the phone.

A friend and member of one of the churches I serve shared with me a fire that had been place on her heart years earlier, but she wanted someone else to take it and run with it. After one of my sermons she realized that God meant for her to run with it. I told her to go for it and I would be there for her. It is a ministry for a group of young people who needs guidance. She said if they don't receive spiritual guidance, they would be lost.

This group has been meeting for about six weeks now and I asked for a wish list. Number one on their list were t-shirts. T-shirts? Yes, t-shirts with their logo which they designed on them.

I shared this during my message this past Sunday. One of our members came up to me after church and said, "Put me down for 20 shirts and I'll give a donation each month for hot dogs or something." How wonderful. I had no plan to mention this during my sermon. It didn't go along with my message. Didn't relate at all. But God knows what he's doing, his timing is perfect and his provisions is always enough.

I shared the story of this ministry with a participant here at the seminar and was told to e-mail the info to his office and a check would be on its way. Once again let me say; "God knows what he's doing, God's timing is perfect and God's provisions is always enough."

Have you prayed lately?

God is good

Isn't it amazing when you don't believe anything ever goes right, God has a way to show you that everything he does is right. I have been reminded so often since our "Crossing the River" series that God's timing is perfect and God's provisions is always enough. I love it when my people listens. It makes those countless hours of sermon preparations worthwhile. My God is so good.

I am also blessed to have so many who are willing to show their love for God and for God's people. Through their words, actions, giving or by their quiteness, I receive inspiration for the days ahead knowing that just around the corner the evil one awaits. But through the empowernment that our Father has blessed me with, BOOM! No way will you hinder me! No way will you oppose me! No way will I be detered because I've seen hell and I got as close as I'll ever get. I am now Heaven bound!

Hey

I can't believe I haven't written since March 25. What have I been doing? Oh yeah, that's right. Preparing for Holy Week. I hope everyone had a good Easter and also succeeded in accomplishing your goals during Lent. Back to you soon.

Pastor Bobby

Sometimes There Has To Be An Oops

I wanted to take this time to explain something. I read my post and I believe I left myself open to interpretation beyond what I like to express. I've always enjoyed the business of politics and have always had opinions that I didn't mind sharing. But I really can't do that on this health care issue. I see positive and negative parts to it. The included in the middle deals, such as the so called "Louisiana Purchase" gets a little under the skin. I mean, what was the amount paid for the original purchase. Ha ha. But certain things that I heard that I considered positive were the "pre-existing condition" and the child staying on parent insurance to a later age.

Why do I consider these as positive is that we have dealt with that in the past because our oldest daughter had cancer as an infant and even employer insurance gave us a hard time. Also, I believe that having insurance on our families until they can establish themselves in the workforce is necessary.

I said come election time, voices can be heard. Shout your voice, toot your own horn. Don't matter to me because I ain't running.

But its my responsibility as a servant of our Lord to express that no matter where we stand, we should reflect Jesus Christ. Hold back on the negative talk, name calling, threats and the likes. Politics is politics. Every other year we get to hear the same mess over and over. But praise God, he is the same today as he was yesterday. And we as Christians are his representative.

P.S. Can't help it but I still love politics but I have learned to stay further out of public view.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Bobby

Political Woes

I don't know what to say. There was a time when I would be so out-spoken about politics. Especially situations that are going on right now in our federal government. But to be honest with you, all the discussions, comments on the computers, casual conversations I'm hearing, and other avenues of releasing one's opinion is really discouraging me. Those who knows me on a more personal level knows my political views and know that I can be very critical of activities carried out by our elected officials, whether federal, state, or local. But I believe that most of those I hear ranting and raving are less informed that I am and are just going along with the crowd.

I admit that I know little of all the fine print involved in the recent health thingy, but it was obvious that the public was not for it and that elected officials went against those who voted them in to represent them. Come election time they will be out there with all kind of reasoning why. And that is when the voices can be heard. But beyond that subject, how can we as American Christians confront this?

My suggection is this. Be a representive of Christ. Allow Christ to shine through you. Refrain from hate talk, speaking of things we don't know as facts, and be encouraging to one another. Negative talk brings about negative response. I don't know about you but I believe that there is enough negativity in this world. Why add to it.

Be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Jesus said so. Do yourself a favor. Take a kid fishing.

In His Service,
Pastor Bobby

Imagination

We to often forget that it's not about us. We seem to have lost our ability to see past what we want or think we want. We lost the ability to see what isn't there. We lost our imagination.

As a child, we walked through the world with our eyes wide open. We saw that the trees and grass were green and flowers had different smells and the petals on the flowers felt silky. A dirt clog in my hands was a powerful hand grenade and a bamboo reed was a sword fit for a musketeer. My bicycle was a powerful motorcycle made to jump the biggest hills and out run all competitors. And we saw all the wild creatures of the world hidden amongst the clouds as we laid on our backs in the wheat fields.

I had a favorite tree in the woods near the trailor park where we lived. It was the tallest tree you could find and still climb. On this tree, were branches that separated at a perfect angel, side by side. Here, I took a board and nailed it to these limbs and had myself a seat. When you sat on that board, leaned back against the tree and stretched out your legs, that tree was no longer a tree. It transformed itself into an Apollo Rocket which carried me anywhere I decided to venture.

With childlike imagination, there was nothing we couldn't do, no one we couldn't be and no where we couldn't go. I believe we should find again; child like imagination. To find the ability to again see what isn't there. The ability to take a yellow crayon and green crayon and discover the color blue. The ability to open our minds up to the world around us and realize that just because we don't see it, doesn't mean it's not real.

We sing to God, praising him for making us stronger, lifting us up, for washing away our sins. But we didn't feel him tightening the muscle of our heart and mind as we traveled life's journey. Or did we? We didn't feel his hand grab ours and lift us out of life's dungeons. Or did we? We didn't feel our bodies become clean and fresh when we accepted Christ. Or did we?

With my eyes open, I can't really see God. But, I know he's there because when I close my eyes, there he is and when I raise my hands to worship him, there he is reaching for my hand to hold me, to lift me up, to say, "I love you!"

Find your child like imagination and let your mind see what isn't there but is there.

In the Service of my Lord,
Pastor Bobby

I Can Feel It !!

Paul tells us that to carry eachother's burdens is the fulfilling of the law of Christ. Have you ever experienced being in the presence of those who were suffering? Whether it was those you were with who was physically hurting or they were the loved ones of the physically suffering, doesn't really matter. But did you notice that you felt pain? Did you sense a physical drain? Every nerve, every inch of your skin, perhaps even the hair on your head ached in an indescribable way.

The first time I felt this, I didn't know what I was feeling except an emotional pain. I was driving from a hospital where I was with people that I love like family, and everywhere around us there were hurting people. I took the opportunity to pray for these once strangers. But I screamed out to God: "Lord!! Why am I hurting like this. I have absorbed these people's pain." I immediately felt a sense of relief and understanding as if the Lord reached down and place his hand on my shoulder and said, "That's what I told you to do."

Blessed are you who absorb the pain and hurt of those around you.

Pastor Bobby

Rest in the Shadow

Because He first loved me. Isn't it amazing that we so often forget that we are loved? I mean, we carry on day by day going through the grime of time and just when, for whatever reason, you feel lonely; there's God. I truly believe that we find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Have you ever been out in the yard on a sunny day and all of a sudden, a shadow comes over you? You not only see it, you feel it? That's my God. When I least expect him, he's there. I may forget about him at times when my mind is full, but thanks be to God, he doesn't forget about me.

May you rest in the Shadow,
Pastor Bobby

Yeeeee Hi

I love bringing excitement to the people I love. So today I take two church members with me to Raleigh for a seminar and guess what? No, that's not it. Try again. Nope. A high speed car chase goes right past us. And the suspect car was a large bright pink car with big thin tires. Like it could had gotten away. Channel 5 had it on video from their helicopter.

Help Me Figure This Out

I need anyone who reads this to make a comment. And if you can make a comment, let me know how you do it. If you can't, give me a call if you know my number or if you can, call me and let me know what you did.

Thanks,
Bobby

InTENtional for TEN - Week 4

Need some ideas for meeting your challenges this week? Here are ten prompts to jumpstart your thinking:

Attend: Attend the Wed. nite Bible Study at Beulah at 7pm.

Give: Give 1% more than you're currently giving.

Pray: Pray for the New Wednesday night Bible Study and youth ministry at Beulah UMC.

Sacrifice: Fast from eating out and donate money to our Youth Ministry.

Connect: Sit in a different spot during worship next week and talk with someone different.

Learn: Pick up a newspaper and count how many times you can find God in one of the stories.

Fast: Give up computer/internet surfing for one evening and talk to a friend on the phone.

Witness: Pray for an opportunity to share your God story with someone.

Serve: Visit someone who is unable to come to church (FMI call Pastor Bobby or Girl Tommie).

Bless: Pray for Pastor Bobby before worship service.

Weekly Scriptures:

Mon - Matthew 16:24-28
Tues - Luke 14:25-33
Wed. - Acts 14:19-23
Thur - Mark 10:28-31
Fri - Acts 28:11-22
Sat - John 8:31-38

Quotation of the Week:

I do not fully understand the reasons for the wildernesses of God's absence. This I do know; while the wilderness is necessary, it is never meant to be permanent. In God's time and in God's way the desert will give way to a land flowing with milk and honey. And as we wait for that promised land of the soul, we can echo the prayer of Bernard of Clairvaux, "O my God, deep calls unto deep (Ps 42:7). The deep of my profound misery calls to the deep of your infinite mercy." (Prayer, Foster, p. 24.)

Time Stands Still For No Man

We had our family skate night and we had a good group show up. Now I love to skate but I'm smart enough not to do it often. Believe it or not, I can skate pretty good, having grown up in the local skating rink like most my age. But tonight reminded me that time stands still for no man. For a moment I forgot my age and became a teen again and took chances that any normal person my age should know better than to take.

Not only was my pride bruised but also my bottom, my elbow, my wrist. And my new flip video camera which was in my back pocket was critically injured. Did I mention, my new camera, which I had just used to take some good videos. Cash down the drain.

I was just in an incubator group today and watched a video of a speaker who spoke about leaders learning lessons that are painful when we learn from our own mistakes. His point was that smart leaders learn that it's less painful to learn from other's mistakes. I have seen enough people fall while skating and should had remembered that video.

The point here is to take the opportunities to learn valuable lessons in life by learning of the lessons others have learned. It's less painful and less expensive. I was truly blessed (I don't believe in luck) because I could had landed on my head. Be aware of the true blessings in life because sometime they come about in disguise.

By the way. If anyone would like to donate to the "Get Bobby a New Flip Camera" campaign, you know how to get up with me.

Til next time,
Pastor Bobby

InTENtional for TEN : Week 3

Need some ideas for meeting your challenges this week? Here are ten prompts to jumpstart your thinking:

Attend: Bring a friend to worship next Sunday.
Attend the family skate nite at 7Gables and lets roll.

Give: Put an extra dollar or two in your "$ 100 in 100 Days" can.

Pray: Pray the Community Bible Study at new location - Beulah - each Wed night at 7pm.

Sacrifice: Go on a shopping fast: re-direct money to Methodist Home for Children.

Connect: Make plans to come to a Sunday School class next Sunday.

Learn: If you missed a service lately and would like to get a tape or
copy (if available) of sermon, give Pastor Bobby or James Barnes a call.
Also, check out our Facebook at Roseboro Methodist Church for
updates and other info.

Fast: Give up TV for 1 day/night and invest in a special family activity.

Witness: Next time you see someone (friend or stranger) who needs
a prayer, ask them to let you pray for them.

Serve: Offer to help Doug prepare Sunday Children Breakfast. Call someone
in need of a ride and offer to drive them to church.

Bless: Speak to the kids on Sunday morning and let them know how special they are.

Weekly Scripture Readings: Psalm 91:1-16

Monday 2 Samuel 23:1-4
Tuesday 2 Corinthians 4:1-15
Wednesday Luke 22:39-46
Thursday James 1:12-19
Friday 1 Peter 4:12-19
Saturday 1 Peter 5:1-11

Be Intentional

It is easy to find ourselves in a routine when it comes to worshipping, praying, reading daily devotions, giving offerings and even serving. It's something we become accustomed to over times. How does God receive our praise when it's routine? Is it true worship if we go about it just as we would go about taking the trash out?

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,..." John 3:16

Now, that does not sound like a routine action. God's blessings upon us are not routine or random. Valentine Day can be used as an example here. We (the men folks) do not give our wives or girlfriends a dozen red roses everyday. We really have to think about, go after it, plan it and even make the plan for the delivery. And because of the effort we put into it, our better halves, are truly happy.
If we make our worship of God meaningful, we have to make it intentional. When we pray, pray to God and not to the back of our eye lids. When we read scriptures, know that we are reading his instructions. Remember these are the words of God for you the people of God. When we feed the hungry, know that we are feeding Christ. When we clothe the naked, know we are clothing Christ. And when we visit the imprisoned, we are visiting Christ.
Be intentional because He was first to be.

Pastor Bobby

InTENtional for TEN - Week 2

Need some ideas for meeting your challenges this week? Here are ten prompts to jumpstart your thinking:

Attend: Invite someone to attend Sunday Worship with you.

Give: Keep a 'givings journal'.

Pray: Pray for our Ash Wednesday Service.

Sacrifice: Go on a shopping fast: redirect money to Methodist Home
for Children on Feb. 21 special offering.

Connect: Come to the cover dish supper on Wed @ 6pm and bring a friend and stay for worship.
And men, come to the Men's Breakfast on Tuesday at 8am at Lakewood Plaza.

Learn: Read the "Daily Reading Scriptures."

Fast: Decide what you are giving up for Lent and practice that this week.

Witness: Invite a neighbor or co-worker to the Ash Wednesday service.

Serve: Call someone in need of a ride and offer to drive them to church.

Bless: Donate non-perishable food to the food pantry.

First Blog

This is the first blog on this post. I am in prayer that this blogspot will be a blessing to all who reads it.