God Reigns and the Son Shines!
Why do bad things happen to good people? Is God really in control? Does He care???
On March 24, 2017 our Signboard said: “Forecast- God Reigns, and the Son Shines!”
No matter what happens, God is still in control and Jesus is ready to shine into our lives… if we let Him…
There’s No “I” in “LOVE”!
The signboard said… THERE’S NO “I” IN “LOVE”! OK…. maybe a little corny and trite. Maybe a bit too much along the lines of the classic message that says “WHAT’S MISSING IN CH CH?” (if you need the answer… “U R” missing…). But, can love be truly selfless? Don’t you have to love yourself before you can love others? And don’t you have to think of yourself before you can love...
Read MorePrayer: Steering Wheel or Spare Tire???
The next time you get into your car, notice what you do. It’s all habit so you probably haven’t even thought about it. But chances are, you sit down, buckle up, and then you start the engine. But before you go, what’s the first part of the car you touch? Or put it this way… do you start out by touching the Steering Wheel or do you instantly go to the Spare Tire?
Read MoreThe Power That’s Behind You
The following message was posted on our signboard on August 20, 2016:
“THE POWER BEHIND YOU IS GREATER THAN THE PROBLEM AHEAD OF YOU.”
God has given us His Spirit which not only helps us through the problems of life, but it also helps us to a deeper joy that comes with a faithful relationship to God.
“PokeMon Go” Stops by PUMC!
Our church signboard has been chosen as a “PokeStop”! If you’re used to playing the video game “Pokemon Go”, you know what that means. If this is total gibberish to you, we’ll give a quick intro to Pokemon.
Either way, all of us need to keep returning to The Vine for strength.
God Work Ahead!
Our church is currently surrounded by construction. New handicapped accessible crossings. Road repairs. Road closures. Detours…
God is always at work in our lives, but He doesn’t usually wear a bright orange vest or grab our attention like a noisy jackhammer.
How can you see Him? How can you join Him???
April 1: National Atheist’s Day!
On April 1, 2016, the following message was posted on our signboard: APRIL 1: NATIONAL ATHEIST’S DAY! April First, like any other first day of the month, ushers in a new month. It demands that we turn the page on our calendar. But when that first day comes in the month of April, it takes on a special meaning: April Fools Day! Now, that’s not a religious holiday. We just wrapped up the season of Lent and celebrated the wonder of Easter. We celebrate these Holy Days...
Read MoreExperience the Sonrise Every Day!
Just before Easter Sunday 2016, the following message was posted on our Church’s Signboard: Experience the Sonrise Every Day! Sunrise… If it’s a clear morning, we might be able to experience the Sun Rise, but the Son of God is risen every day! Have you ever seen a sunrise, or sunset, or rainbow, or some other view of God’s beautiful creation without “Experiencing” it? Can you see a sunrise and just walk away without noticing? Revelations...
Read MoreIt’s All About Jesus!
On December 26 the signboard said: IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS! ‘Twas the Day after Christmas, And all through the house. All the creatures were stirring, scampering like a mouse… There’s stuff under the tree, wrapping paper laying around, cookie crumbs on the dining room table. All sorts of new “Things” to play with, new clothes to wear, fresh things to look at. And there are a lot of new items added to the “To Do List”… gifts to be...
Read MoreMake Christ a Presence Among the Presents!
We’re currently in the Advent season of 2015. Much of the hustle and bustle of this season is driven by the need to give gifts. Many of us are consumed with two fundamental questions: “What does ___ want?” “What do I want?” To answer these questions and to prepare for Christmas morning, we run around searching the Internet, ads, and malls. We scratch our heads. We think, “what did I give so and so last year?” “Does she already have one of...
Read MoreDon’t Blow Your Knows!!!
The signboard message posted on 9/29/15 said: A WISE MAN SELDOM BLOWS HIS KNOWS (would certainly apply to wise women too!!!) We spend a lot of time in this church reading the Bible. We all want to understand it better. But what do we do with this knowledge? Do we share it with others? Do we somehow use it to hit others over the head with the Bible to convince them of our point? Or do we try to show others how “smart” we are? Sometimes we’re tempted to quote chapter and...
Read Morei-Phone? i-Pad?!? Turn them off and say “I Pray”!!!
On September 4, 2015 the following message was posted on our signboard: I-PHONE? I-PAD? I PRAY!!! Do we get so caught up in our gadgets that we forget to pray? Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are great ways to keep in touch with friends across the miles. But we’ve all heard stories (and have seen it first hand) when members of a family in a restaurant sit around the table staring at their smartphones instead of talking to each other. We waste chances to share with each other and...
Read MoreGood Thing God Doesn’t Take Vacations!
In May of 2015 the signboard said: GOOD THING GOD DOESN’T TAKE VACATIONS! We’re at the time of the season when school is about to close, the weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer… and people are thinking about getting away. When you’re on vacation, you’re away from the normal routine. You can put some distance between yourself and the concerns of life. You can even put some space between yourself and those who love and depend on you. When...
Read MoreWorld H_nger Can’t be Solved Without You! (5/2/15)
The signboard message said: WORLD H_UNGER CAN’T BE SOLVED WITHOUT YOU Really? it’s up to ME to solve a big problem like world hunger? No- it’s not up to YOU alone, but you are needed. It’s as if each of us has a piece of the jigsaw puzzle and the problem can’t be solved unless each of us contributes what we’ve been entrusted with. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much...
Read MoreJesus Loves You- Is the Feeling Mutual?
The following message was posted on our signboard as we begin to prepare for the upcoming Valentine’s Day holiday: JESUS LOVES YOU! IS THE FEELING MUTUAL? Jesus Loves You… Jesus loves you… we hear that so many times that it begins to sound kind of cliche, or trite. Jesus- the Son of God- loves… ME? Really??? The familiar Sunday School song says, “Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so.” How does the Bible tells us that Jesus loves us? ...
Read MoreToday is a Gift!
The signboard message posted on December 27, 2014 read: LIFE IS A GIFT. THAT’S WHY THEY CALL IT THE PRESENT. OK. Maybe a cheep pun. Maybe cliche. Whenever we think of someone who survived a serious disease or somehow dodged a life threatening accident, a string of sayings pops into mind to remind us that life is indeed fragile. Whenever some unusual event threatens our lives, we are able to see life as a gift from God. But what about during normal times? What if you’re...
Read MoreWhat Are You Giving to Jesus?
A new message was posted on our signboard on Thanksgiving Day (11/27/14): WHAT ARE YOU GIVING TO JESUS? This question looks towards “Black Friday” and the crazy pre-Christmas shopping season. We all have a list of people we want to please on Christmas morning, and we’re all busy trying to write possible gifts next to these names and then to brave the malls and Internet to purchase the gifts. But Christmas (“Celebration of Christ”) is a birthday. Jesus Birthday!...
Read MoreCount Your Blessings: Meaningless Cliche or Powerful Truth?
The signboard message posted on October 25, 2014 said the following: WANT TO FEEL RICH? COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS! Probably most grown ups (and maybe even many kids), grown when they hear the phrase “Count Your Blessings!” The Sunday School song “Count your blessings name them one by one…” probably pops into mind. We’ve heard it all before. And probably when someone tries to cheer us up by suggesting blessings they start rattling off things like family,...
Read MoreStand in Awe of the One Who Gave His All!
The signboard message posted on October 7, 2014 said: STAND IN AWE! GOD GAVE HIS ALL. When you think of the greatness of God, you can’t help but stand in Awe. Marvel. Be humbled. Realize that He is God, this is His world, He’s in charge and you are not. Righteousness… One of the most awesome things about God is how righteous He is. We compromise. We tell “white lies.” We cut corners and look out for ourselves first. We fall short of God’s mark (in...
Read MoreIs God Your First Priority? Or, is God Your Last Resort?
Jesus and the Disciples were on a boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. As happens frequently in that area, a strong storm suddenly arose and began to knock the small fishing boat around like a twig in the rapids of the Colorado River. The waves splashed over the sides of the boat and the disciples were sure that they were goners. But Jesus was asleep. As a last minute resort, when all other hope had faded, they cried out to Jesus. Jesus calmed the waters and the disciples probably...
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