Thought of the Day !!

I've got a busy morning tomorrow, so I'm sending out Monday's Thought on Sunday evening. Please be patient this week if the devotions don't come as normal. I will be leaving on Thursday and may not have time to submit one. I will be gone through Saturday. This will make this week a busy one including a funeral and my regular sermon to finish by Wednesday afternoon. So again, please have patience this week. Thank you.

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over."
Matthew 18:15 (NIV)

Many people will hold everything in. And so when a brother or sister sins against them, they pack it in until finally the stress leads to something unhealthy...either inwardly or outwardly.

Other people will let out their aggressions when they've been sinned against by complaining to anyone who will listen. They continue to let it out so that they don't explode, but to the wrong people. And so they wind up not feeling any better either because they've not actually been healed.

Jesus said that if someone sins against us, that we should confront the person. This is the only true way of healing ourselves. The person may not have known they sinned against you. A bond could be formed. And if not, at least you can start a healthy healing process knowing that you've done what Christ would want you to do.

This is not always easy. And the other person may not always listen. But nobody ever said that doing what is right is easy. May God bless you as you do His will.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night.
Romans 12:13 (NLT)

This may seem like a foreign idea to many of us. Many of us eat on the run so much that we don't think about inviting guests home for dinner. We surely don't often think about people we know needing lodging and are hesitant of making our place of residence a homeless shelter.

But I believe the concept here is hospitality. How might you show hospitality to people today? Look for ways, not forgetting that being hospitable can often times be inconvenient. Are you willing to give up a little to give a little? God was!

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Have you ever felt troubled and spoke to a friend or loved one about it? It can help to get things out in the open sometimes. And it is definitely better than keeping them bottled up where you can simply explode and your blood pressure go through the roof.

Talking with people can help us deal with our problems. And it's the same with God. He wants you to bring your problems to Him just like Jesus explains when he tells those who are heavy laden to bring their burdens to him. He will listen and will offer you relief if you too will listen.

What might be worrying you today. Take your cares to God...to Christ...through the power of the Holy Spirit by way of prayer. He will listen. He will care. He will lighten your load. He will do this because He cares for you.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you."

Matthew 28:1-7 (NLT)

Yesterday we saw where the women were instructed to come and see the empty tomb. They had to come and see the Good News before they could heed the second set of instructions, which were to GO and TELL. The same goes with us. We must come and see Jesus before we can tell anyone else about Him. But once we've seen Him, we too are instructed to go and tell. This is called evangelism.

I believe that as a whole, the Church has done a poor job of this here in America. Maybe we've been good at being missionaries to other countries; I don't know? But over the last several decades we've lost young people, and now research from people like the Barna Group (Christian research group) and others suggest that people outside our church often equate the term "Christian" with something negative.

A great number of people from ages 16-40 see Christians as "hypocritical", "sheltered", "too political" and "judgmental". Now I'm not saying that this is right or wrong. But I'm saying that way too many people have these impressions of us, which means that we've done a poor job with the good news.

Think about Jesus' day and who was seen as hypocritical, judgmental, sheltered and too political. Who were they?

They were the Pharisees and the Jewish priests. They were the ones that Jesus opposed. It's sad to think that in anybody's minds we have become what we are supposed to be opposing.

So what do we do? Can we change the world's view of Christianity and the Church? Well, maybe not. But what we can do is change people's views about each one of us. We can't share the good news by hitting people over the head with the bible. We can't condemn people or try to "scare" them out of hell. Because this just doesn't work. Evangelism begins with forming relationships. We have to live out the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves. It can't be just window dressing. We MUST commit the time necessary to actually love others. And then...and only then...will they listen to us. Only after people trust us, will they trust what we have to say to them.

It takes time. But nothing worth while ever happens over night. We must Go and Tell people who look like us and those who don't; people who act like us and those who don't; people who think like us and those who don't. We are called to go and tell our neighbor that the tomb is empty and Jesus died and rose for ALL of us.

The Angel of the Lord said "Come and See". And then he said, "Go and Tell".

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you."

Matthew 28:1-7 (NLT)

The women come to the tomb and are given two instructions by the angel of the Lord. Today we hear the first set of instructions, COME and SEE. Tomorrow we'll look at the second set, GO and TELL.

God seeks us continually. We Methodists call this prevenient grace. It's His calling us into a relationship with Him through His Son. He's always calling us to come and see because He wants us to experience the greatness of His love.

If you've never experienced a touch or a word from God through His Holy Spirit, then you're missing out. If you've never felt Jesus come into your life, then that is the first step. The bible teaches that if we will seek that we will also find. So please seek His presence in your life today.

What I can't understand is the people out there that supposedly have experienced Christ's love in a very special way (through feeling His presence, hearing His calling, being warmed all over, or whatever) and are not desperate to sense that presence again. God's presence is simply addictive. Once you've been to the mountaintop, how in the world can you not have a deep desire to go again?

Do you long for God's presence today? God often times speaks to us in the quietness of our lives. But would you like more? Would you like to hear Him so that you would not be able to help but distinguish His voice from whatever else is out there? Would you like to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Would you like for God to come down and bring a shiver up and down your spine with His presence? If so, then come and see, pray and ask. The good news is that the tomb is empty and that our God is a God of life, not death. And if He has the power to overcome death, He surely has the power to simply touch our lives in a very dramatic way so that we can be overjoyed.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah."

One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said.

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

Mark 15:33-39 (NIV)

Easter is right around the corner. When it gets here, let us celebrate the Resurrection. Let us celebrate life. Let us celebrate hope. Let us celebrate the love of God that is so deep that He would do what he did. Let us celebrate LIFE.

But today is Good Friday. Before we can celebrate life, we must remember the death. For Easter is just another Sunday without the darkness and death of this day. Remember today what Jesus did for you. Remember what he suffered for you to have a way out of this sinful life leading to eternal death. Remember the sacrifice that he made to bring us all back to God. Remember.

On Easter let's celebrate. But for today, let's remember.

May you have a meaningful Good Friday and a true celebration on Sunday.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Then Jesus brought them to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, "Sit here while I go on ahead to pray." He took Peter and Zebedee's two sons, James and John, and he began to be filled with anguish and deep distress. He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me." He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine."
Matthew 26:36-39

Jesus knows what is about to happen. If you've seen the movie "The Passion", you know that this is where the movie begins. This is also where the true suffering of Jesus begins. His "soul is crushed (at this point) with grief to the point of death." And soon his body will experience the same death.

Jesus could have given in at this point. He could have said it's just too difficult. And it would be hard to blame him knowing what is to come. But the fact that he didn't shows how much he truly loved his Father and us.

When things get "too" difficult for you what do you do? Jesus prayed. And notice that he didn't pray to be saved. He prayed for God's will to be done. May you go to the same Father that Jesus did in your deepest darkest moments. And may He give you the strength or courage or comfort that you need.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

If anyone says, "I am living in the light," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. Anyone who loves other Christians is living in the light and does not cause anyone to stumble. Anyone who hates a Christian brother or sister is living and walking in darkness. Such a person is lost, having been blinded by the darkness.
1 John 2:9-11 (NLT)

This chapter begins with John talking about the commandment of love. He explains that it has been around since the beginning. God commanded it. Jesus reminded people of it. And before he left, Christ also modeled it.

Love is the most important part of a relationship. And a relationship with Himself and each other is what God truly desires most from us. He was willing to go to some pretty extreme measures to show us this. He came to earth in the form of a baby, giving up the comforts of Heaven for the stench of a lowly stable. He walked this earth not as a king, but as a commoner. And then He suffered an agonizing death for us so that we could realize that there was a way out of our sinful lives...a way into the perfect loving relationship with Him.

Now hate is a pretty strong word. Every person who doesn't like another individual doesn't necessarily have hate. But not liking someone can often times come from unforgiveness, which is one of the surest stepping stones to hate. Jesus knew this when he said that if we don't forgive others then our Heavenly Father will not forgive us. He knew the danger of unforgiveness when he told Peter to forgive not seven times, but seventy times seven times.

So if you have unforgiveness in you today, look at it very closely. If it, or anything else, has led you to hate another person, realize that you are living outside the boundaries of God. If we hate, we are walking in darkness and are lost according to John. Don't let anger or unforgiveness control you and keep you out of the Kingdom of God. Let go of them. If we bring these burdens to Jesus, he will help us to rid ourselves of them. It may take time and patience, but that's something God has plenty of.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Today, I'm borrowing a quote from my buddy Andy Stoddard that he got from the Christian Quote of the Day website. When I read it, it spoke to me. And since I'm running behind today anyway...well, thank goodness for good old Andy. Here is the quote that you can also find on his website http://midtoil.blogspot.com.


You can read all the manuals on prayer and listen to other people pray, but until you begin to pray yourself you will never understand prayer. It's like riding a bicycle or swimming: You learn by doing. - Luis Palau

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1 (NIV)

I attended a revival last night where the preacher used this verse to illustrate how desperate we should be for God. Is your soul thirsting for Jesus continually? Are you receiving enough of Him?

I wonder how many of us are desperate enough today, that we're willing to do whatever it takes to be filled with Jesus, the Living Water? Often times we go to church hungry...and leave the same way because we didn't open up and take a deep drink (bite). We go up to receive Holy Communion, but take a small taste of the wine/juice and a nibble of the bread. And it just isn't enough.

What is it that's keeping you from going all out for Jesus today? What's holding you back from receiving all that the Holy Spirit has in store for you?

If we're truly desperate for God, then we'll do anything to receive what He wants us to have. Today, think about what you're more desperate for, God...or the world.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God's children.
Romans 8:16 (NLT)

Take some time today to get away from the phones, the television, the family, or whatever it is that preocupies your time. And then speak to God. Begin with praise. Tell Him how much you love Him. Tell Him what's on your mind and in your heart. And then wait. Ask Him to speak to you through His mighty Holy Spirit. He may do so right away. And He may ask you to wait patiently. So be listening throughout the day, the week, for God to speak in some way and confirm that you are one of His children.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Join the quest for the Final Four

March is here and the madness is just around the corner. Pick out your bracket for the Final Four. The King/Queen will be awarded the coveted "Brogreg Hoops Trophy" and be sent on a "no expense paid" trip to anywhere they can afford to go.

Sign up here

The Group ID is 24269 and the password is brogreg.

Thought of the Day !!

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ."
Mark 8:29

Jesus had just finished asking his disciples who people thought he was. Then he directed the question at them, "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered correctly. His claim was true that Jesus was (and is) the Christ. But what does that mean? Or more importantly, what does that mean to you? Think about this question that Jesus posed to his disciples many years ago as if he were asking you today. What would your answer be to the question, "Who do you say I am?"

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

But you must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.
2 Peter 3:8-9 (NLT)

Our Father in Heaven is much more patient that we are. We see the injustices of the world and want justice served. People of all ages have had times of injustice. There have been times of war. There have been times of discrimination. There have been times of harsh rulers. And the rich always have seemed to get richer at the poor people's expense.

So what does God do about it? He waits. He is waiting patiently, not because He likes watching injustices go on all around us. But instead He waits patiently until all people are given every opportunity to change their ways and repent. So we may have to wait a little while longer for the glory of Heaven, but at the same time, the waiting will provide many more that same glorious end.


But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment. Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives you should be living!
2 Peter 3:10-11 (NLT)

Peter reminds us of what Jesus told him and the other disciples. We all must be prepared because no one knows when Jesus will come back. He will come to this world like a thief comes into a house at night. No one will be expecting him. So we must live our lives as if he were coming back today. We don't prepare for his return by trying to figure out when or how. We prepare by living "holy, godly lives" according to Peter.


And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to live a pure and blameless life. And be at peace with God. And remember, the Lord is waiting so that people have time to be saved. This is just as our beloved brother Paul wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him.
2 Peter 3:14-15 (NLT)

Peter sums his message up here by reminding us yet again how to live while we wait on Jesus' return, which is being postponed long enough "so that people have time to be saved." Wouldn't it be great if we all were to remember this message about patience and living pure and blameless lives during the frantic and often frustrating times that come our way on a weekly basis? Even though we may fail from time to time, why don't we all give it a try?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT)

Pretty straight forward, huh? How do you feel you measure up in light of this passage?

I do believe, though, that our God is a God of Love and Grace and Mercy, which precedes His Judgment. What this means to me is that forgiveness can sometimes be so difficult that it will take time and prayer to forgive. And if we're trying to forgive, but just haven't got there yet, I believe God will honor this. I also believe that given time and with the help of the Holy Spirit forgiveness is possible for everyone, even those who believe otherwise. This is because I believe that all things are possible with God.

Has anyone hurt you? Do you need to pray about your relationship with someone? Do you need to begin the process of forgiveness today? Speak to God about it. He'll understand your hurt and anger. He'll also know how to help you work through it.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28 (NLT)

Yesterday I preached about how Jesus came to broke down the walls that separated us from God and from one another. But the fact is that we continue to build walls in our lives that separate us from people we don't wish to be associated with. Classism is separation of people based on money and/or lifestyle. Racism is separation of people based on color. Sexism is separation of people based on gender. And in all these there are people who think that they're better than the others because of what side of the wall they stand on.

Jesus said to love our neighbors. Paul says that there is no longer a difference in Jews and Gentiles in God's eyes. There is no longer slave or free, male or female, black or white, Hispanic or Chinese, American or Iraqi, lower class or higher class...at least not in the eyes of our Lord. So why do we work so hard to distinguish between them?

It's because we're wall builders. But if we expect Jesus to break down the wall (or barrier) that stands between us and God (which is sin) should we not be at least willing to break down the walls that have been built between us and our brothers and sisters?

Let us all learn to become more like Jesus, breaking down the walls of separation, instead of building them up.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.
Romans 14:1 (NIV)

Think about people that you might have disputes, disagreements, or differences of opinion with. It is very easy to judge them based on your own perceptions. Is it possible that you are judging people based on any perception that you may have of them?

Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
James 4:11-12 (NIV)

In judging others we take on the power of God. We claim that we are right and they can't possible be if they disagree with us. Ask yourself, "Am I really qualified to judge somebody else?"

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV)

How many of us have no planks in our eyes? In other words, how many of us are without sin? We should be working on our own selves and leaving the judging up to God. We can always pray for people and try to persuade them in love to be the people that God wants them to be. We can lovingly point out that there might be some sin in another person's life that is harmful to them. But we should always do so in a manner that shows that we're not perfect either. The key is to care about people and look up to them in humility, not down on them in judgment.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:10-12 (TNIV)

If you can remember who it is that you're fighting against, it will be easier to love people. When there is someone who is continually ugly to you and seems to be just trying to make your life miserable…or when you come across someone who cares nothing for you except when you are on her/his side of things...don't hate them. Feel sorry for them, knowing that the devil is working through them in most cases.

If a person is a continually mean-spirited person, then the devil has convinced them to be that way. If a person always thinks about themselves and never about you or others, then the devil has used pride and selfishness to tempt him/her just like he did Adam and Eve.

We all have to make choices. And those out there that you may wish to get mad at because of the way that they treat you or someone else are the ones who've made a bad choice. Don't hate them. Hate their sin. Or more precisely, hate the evil that is at work in their lives tempting them to sin.

Then remember that this evil is at work in your own life as well. The devil did not leave you alone when you became a Christian. Every time you begin to get closer to God, the devil tries harder to come between you and God through the temptation for you to sin in some form or fashion.

Paul writes to put on the full armor of God to protect yourself against what the devil throws at you. Know that you are struggling with the devil every day. And so is everyone around you. So remember that you have choices to make daily. You can put on Christ and fight against the evil forces at work against you. Or you can give in.

Sometimes you will choose wisely and at other times you won't. Pray for those times that you don't. Pray that God will forgive and that they won't lead you away from God, and that they won't lead others away either.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Mayor forbids death in his town

Death is actually forbidden in this town in France.

Click Here

Thought of the Day !!

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 (NIV)

Paul writes to be faithful in prayer. A good prayer life will help us to see things as God sees them because we stay in constant contact with Him. Make sure you take time out today and every day to speak to God.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:9-10 (NIV)

Paul writes that love must be sincere. People can fake a lot of things; intelligence, happiness, being in control of one's life, etc. But true Christlike love can not be faked. We can say that we love people, but the true love of Christ that Paul is speaking of will always be backed up by our actions.

Just as he teaches us to obey the Great Commandment of love, Paul tells us to hate one thing. "Hate what is evil."

Remember, we are not to hate people. We are to hate the evil that is in this world that corrupts people. This is what we will battle in our own lives. The same temptations that others have fallen to are right there in front of us if we do not live our lives in love. So hate the things that are corrupting your brothers and sisters (and tries to corrupt you) instead of the people who are hurt by evil.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Take Up Your Cross

THAT'S MY BOY!!

Well, actually his last name is not Hazelrig, it's Crabtree. And he's the one playing the guitar. Jonathan Crabtree is a young man who's on fire for God and is the worship leader at our 9am Alternative Worship service at Gibson UMC in Vicksburg, MS. The singer is Justin Cook. He's a wonderfully gifted young man who not only loves to sing to the Lord, but is serving his country in the Air Force. Together they make up a group called SkySign. And I'm as proud of both of them as if they were my own. Listen to this original piece that they wrote and have played many times. And then say a prayer for them, that God will continue to use both of these young men to reach out to a world in need of God's love.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the Day ?? (Bonus)

How important is the style of liturgy in your church?

Question of the Day ??

In America the top two Protestant denominations in numbers are 1-Southern Baptist and 2-United Methodist. I'm not sure about the Baptists, but I know us Methodists have been declining for a long while. I also know that mainline churches have been in decline. With this in mind, what do you believe the future will look like for denominations? Will there be a revival in mainline denominations? Will Non-denomination churches continue to grow until they overtake the mainline ones? Will the Christian population even belong to churches in 10-20 years? What do you think?

Thought of the Day !!

Pray continually.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NIV)

Sometimes you don't have to say a lot to mean a lot. Two words spoken here should help us through our day. "Pray continually."

Talking to God doesn't always have to be done kneeling at an altar or in some formal way. God wants to stay connected with us by us staying connected with Him. The way to do that is to speak to Him and listen to him throughout the day. Praise Him. Ask for His help. Ask for forgiveness. Tell Him about your day; your concerns and your joys. Speak aloud. Speak to yourself. It doesn't matter how. Just pray.

Some people may find it difficult finding time to pray. And I've also heard people say that they don't know what to say. Finding time is simply making God a priority. Not knowing what to say is easy. Say whatever is on your heart. A simply "I Love You, Lord" will go a long way. Say anything. God just wants to hear from you.

As you look back at the end of this day, see how many times you spoke to God and also how many opportunities you missed to stay in touch.

In the love of Christ,
greg