Starting next week we will start a Bible study we hope you will enjoy. Let me talk about what to expect. Because of the length and depth of the study and some books and some passages, we won’t dig in too deeply. What we are going to do is to give some data and thoughts as we go.

The first task will be to go through each book of the Bible and give some history and background material. After that, we will then go through each book a little more in detail.

We hope that you will enjoy the study and will follow along.

Next week: Genesis.

Servant evangelism can be a real treat and there will be surprises. One lady of our church who prefers to remain anonymous relates the following story.

It seems she was shopping at a local grocery store. Feeling the spirit to serve, she decided to allow a lady behind her to go ahead of her in the line. She felt that the lady was under stress and was at the very least impatient. So our dear saint allowed her to go first.

After switching places, the lady in the rush called to her husband who then showed up with two more baskets of stuff!!

No body ever promised that we would always be met with the expected results and that someones life would be a little better. So much for the best laid plans of mice and men. So what lessons might we learn?

1. We never know. Maybe the family was needing to get home before they went to visit a sick relative in the hospital. We don’t know what is going on in the lives of those we will serve.

2. The lessons and the needs we met may be out own. Our heroine had a great laugh and enjoyed telling me the story. In fact, several of us have laughed about it. So see, good has still come from it all.

3. Before you give up your place in line, look for lurking husbands near by.

Still, all in all, we will make a difference and change lives. Just keep it up. You never know the good you are doing..or the laughs you are creating.

 Peace and grace. Reed.

As we are trying to become a church that practices radical hospitality, we are taking several steps. We now have bags to hand out with some materials about the church. We will have those in the foyers starting this Sunday. However we need your help.

What we are going to do is greet each other each week. If you meet someone who is visiting, ask them if they have received the bag. If not, simply go and get one for them. Then inform them there is a registration card inside. Ask them to fill it out and put the card in the plate during the offering time.

How simple is that? However, this is something that we all must do. It can’t be left up to the greeters, ushers or someone else. We all have to do it together. So this Sunday be sure to greet someone and ask them if they are new to us. If so, you can bag a visitor.

SO many of us could use a Bible study to try and make sense of the Bible. There are confusing things in there and depending on the version you own. some of it is still full of Thous and Hasts. Well, we are going to start a Bible study in August. We will provide more datails about it later. Just for now, prepare to dust off the old Bible and get ready to learn a thing or two.

I felt a sense of pride the other day. Ran into a guy who used to come to our youth group and he told me that he had gathered 32 of my Ramblings and put them in a book format and wrote the surrounding paper, The entire thing was used in a communication class he took in college. I was flattered to say the least.

I am not wanting to talk about what I did but to share this really important point. Whenever you write, talk, or even do anything, you never know that impact you may have on others. We tend to think that we do things in isolation and may not know what effect we are having.

Someone once said the loudest sermon in the one you do. There is much truth in that statement. As Christians, people do listen to us both in the words we speak but also in the tone we may use. For instance, if you say “God loves you” with a smile on your face, it will sound entirely different than if you say it with fire and anger in your voice. One way, a person may feel God and in the other, they may not believe a word you are saying.

It is true also in what you do. People do look at the Christian and judge us not just on the words we speak but also in the actions we do .

Now, I would like to ask you, when you speak, write, do things, will people hear and see God or Jesus or will they hear, read or see something else entirely? You just never know.

I am glad that I found out that the student was graded on his work and not on the Ramblings. I would hate to fail!!

 Peace and grace. Reed.

P.S. I probably deserve to, I just would hate to know I did.

One company is providing rest areas in malls for shoppers who need a break. They provide music to soothe you, a comfortable spot to lay down. Pleasant smells and aromas are available and children are not allowed so there is quiet in the room.

 Interesting idea. The only hang up for me is it costs 75 cents a minute. That’s $24 an hour and $1008 a day!! (If my math is right.) If not, just let me have my rant and rave.

For $50 to $60 you can get a motel room and save a whole lot of money. When it comes to the need to get a little peace and quiet, we will spend large amounts of money and time just to get what is readily available to us everyday.

Try the following three ideas. One. turn off the cell phone and home phone for four hours and take a long nap. Second turn on the C.D. player to something soothing to listen to. I suggest Lynard Skinner is not the right idea. Third, after the nap, take a nice shower or bath and drink a cup of tea. Trust me, you will be relaxed enough to not turn on the t.v. cell phone or do much of anything else for a very long time.

One final idea is that since I have saved you about $1008 for one day, I think you should give me about 10% or $10.08. Now if just 200 families do so, that would be $2016 a day and my next article will some to you from sunny Hawaii and I want to thank you one and all in advance. After all, we would all feel better!!

Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God finished His work which he had done and He rested on the seventh day from all the work He had done.”

I do hope you get some rest and if on vacation, I pray you return safely to us.

Peace and Grace. Reed 

The Sunday Scholars Class welcomed long-time member Donald Eastland back to the class on Sunday, July 12.  He is now living in McKinney but was visiting his son for the weekend.  The class is currently studying The Book of Acts under the leadership of teacher, Sandra Gage.  The Bible study will continue through September 6.  The next lesson series will follow the James Moore book, Moments That Take Your Breath Away, from September 13 through November 29.   The class meets in the room near the sanctuary northeast door and people of all ages are welcome to attend.  Following is a picture of the class:

Friday, July 10 sixteen members of the United Methodist Men awoke before daylight and attended the monthly breakfast meeting at the church. As is the custom, a great breakfast was provided by Cathy Justus (the Chef-in-Chief at FUMC) and a good time was had by all. The devotional was led by our Associate Minister, David Ray. David emphasized the importance of living our Christian faith and being willing to share our faith with others.

A brief discussion about the first Faith Builders workday that was held in June and the next workday scheduled for October 17 followed.  Pictures of participants are shown below.

One dark and stormy night (borrow the phrase from the Great Novel Snoopy has been writing for years,) lightening and thunder scared a little boy just as he was gong to bed. His mother tucked him in and said prayers with him. She was about to leave when he said, “Mommy can you sleep with me tonight?”

“No,” she replied, “I have to sleep with you father.”

The little boy thought for a moment and said, “The big sissy!!”

There are times when we too are little children and want the loving arms of God and our Heavenly Father to comfort us. We think that He doesn’t hear us nor responds to us. It makes us a little afraid and we try and think of our own solutions. We even want to blame others for our situation.

I thought I might offer some thoughts. First of all, God never is far away. Just like parents just down the hall, God is near by if we really need help.

Second, while the little boy was scared of the lightening and thunder, in reality, he was safe and sound in his house. We too are often most scared of things that really can’t hurt us. We are safe and sound.

Third, there are times when it would sure feel good if we could see, touch or even hear God without any doubts as to whom it is. However, just like the mother reassuring her son, God realizes that putting on a little skin is a real help. We do see, touch and hear God all the time. We just don’t realize it is Him.

Finally, even in the storm, we see the power of God at work. I am not talking about the storms of thunder and lightening but also the storms of life. Even in times of stress, what makes us so sure God is not there and in control? I mean, isn’t it true that after a storm there is usually peace? So to in life.

Have to go now. I may have to hide under the bed..

Peace and grace. Reed

Members of the Servant Evangelism Team decorated a trailer and joined the 25th Late Bloomers’ Parade on the 4th of July.  Instead of candy, they threw peanuts and the new green tote bags with the church “Growing In Grace” logo.  Everyone had a great time and enjoyed so many Methodists on the side lines.   We especially enjoyed seeing Martha Vaughan in the audience!  Next time let’s fill our trailer with Methodists!

Following are some pictures of the preparations as well as the views from the float.