The Pastor's Blog

Faith Sharing

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The Moravian Daily Text included these two scriptures for April 7th.

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the
things your eyes have seen. Deuteronomy 4:9

We cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20

I want to encourage you today to remember what Jesus has done for you. Sharing our faith, our story of the love of Jesus ablaze in our hearts is the essence of witnessing. For too many generations faith sharing has be reduced to apologetics and argumentation. I do believe there is a place for defending the Faith but most people who we interact with on a daily basis are not asking the more abstract questions about God. These people want to know what God can and is willing to do for them. You know that answer based on what God has done for you in Jesus Christ.......or do you?

People who have encountered the love of God through Jesus have a hard time containing themselves. Apostle Paul felt compelled to preach the Gospel. Why? Becasue he believed and experienced an inward transformation of his heart. His desires began to change. His mind was renewed. Paul was able to see and understand the world around him as the Holy Spirit enabled him. How could you not tell someone that you have encountered the Living God?

Re Jesus

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

One of my favorite authors in contempoary Christianity is Alan Hirsch. He has written a couple of books on rethinking the ministry of Jesus and Jesus' relationship to our mission and church. In his most recent book, ReJesus, he discusses the confusion in the world over the number of contradictory descriptions of Jesus found in our culture. Hirsch says, "Can you see how our understanding of Jesus can be so easily shaped by our own psychospiritual needs? Show me your Jesus and I'll tell you who you are."(p88) The temptation in our consumerists society is to recreate Jesus in our own image; to immerse Jesus in our own agenda. The point of Christian discipleship is to allow our own personal image to be recreated through our relationship with Christ. One cannot be a follower of Jesus when we only want the 'brand' of Jesus to vaildate our agendas regardless if those agendas are religious or secular. May the Holy Spirit 'ReJesus' our hearts and church during the Lenten season.

"Little Christs"

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

     C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite writers and theologians. I occasionally use his writings for my devotions. This morning I reflected on this quotation from C.S. Lewis,

     "In the same way the church exists for nothing else but to draw [persons] to Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became man for no other purpose. It says in the Bible that the whole universe was made for Christ and that everything is to be gathered together in Him." Mere Christianity

     As I Think about my busy day and the multiple meetings that I attend from week to week I must be accountable to this notion that every activity should contribute to "making little Christs". So how do we make little Christs at First Dandridge UMC? Are you becoming a little Christ through your participation in the ministries of our church? How are your gifts impacting others in their becoming little Christs? Do the programs of our church promote this type of discipleship?

Our New Website

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

I love this website. I appreciate the Glenn's for their determined effort in expanding our capacity to communicate vital information within the congregation. I would suggest each team leader to reflect on how to consistently invite members of our community to visit our site. If you have a digital picture you would like to share with the church please contact the Glenn's. They will guide the church on the appropriate use of pictures on our website. I invite you to make this web page your home page so that if there are any changes or updates you will be sure to notice.

Pastor Jay