The 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.
What Ever Happened to Laughter? (7/31/16- Camp Meeting)
Reminiscent of the famous Neil Diamond concert, the 7/31/16 Camp Meeting was a “Hot July Night.” It would have been easy to skip this one and stay at home in the air conditioning. Do we have to be as stuffy when we worship God? How does laughter fit into our call to honor God and to be reverent before His presence?
PUMC was the host church, and Pastor Jim gave the message. He challenged us to take a fresh look at laughter as a way to honor God.
Cheers: A Place Where Everybody Knows Your Name (7/24/16)
Like the sitcom Cheers, the Church needs to be a place where everybody knows your name… because Christ knows their name and they know Jesus’ Name. Pastor Jim used this 1980s sitcom to illustrate that the relationship we have with eachother is welcoming and powerful when it flows out of the relationship we have with Jesus Christ.
Read MoreWhat Exactly Did Horton Hear? (7/17/16)
Dr. Seuss may have written a series of “Children’s Books,” but he usually packed a message that spoke to us too. In the immediate aftermath of World War 2, Dr. Seuss wrote a book expressing his personal challenge of accepting the Japanese as fellow humans instead of evil enemies.
In the divided atmosphere of today, how does this speak to us now? How can we listen and hear the cries of others? How can we be like Isaiah who said “Here am I. Send me.”??? How can we BE the answer???
Read More“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.
If My People (7/3/16)
It’s July 3rd and tomorrow we’ll turn to our traditions of hot dogs, parades, and fireworks to celebrate the birth of our country. So how do we prepare for this?
God has given us a roadmap in 2 Chronicles that shows us how to be true “patriots” who seek the healing of our land. God is calling “His People” to constantly turn to God in humble prayer, to seek His face, and to change. IF we grow in our relationship by doing these things, God will “heal our land.”
Read MoreGod the Father (6/19/16)
Why did Jesus call God “Father”? Is God a man??? On this Father’s Day, Pastor Jim started with Deuteronomy 6:6-9 and guided us through the Bible to see what it means to see God as our “Father.”
Read MoreRest, Relax,and Rejuvenate
We are entering the summer season, a season that affords opportunities for Rest, Relax & Rejuvenate rest and relaxation. Let’s make it a priority to look for these moments that we can relax physically and renew ourselves emotionally and spiritually.
These moments are gifts from God. Let’s embrace the gift and “loosen the bow” this summer!
Read MoreGod 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???
Chasing Fake Rabbits (6/12/16)
What are you chasing in this life? What’s important to you? And if you catch what you’re looking for… will it be worth it? Pastor Jim provided some insight into these questions by looking at the story of “Farmer Bigger-Barns” from Luke 12. This sermon was given on June 12 at the 11:00 AM service.
Read MoreLife After the Born-Again Birth (6/5/16)
There is life after death, and so it’s critically important to prepare for that life. To enter that life, we must be forgiven and to be “in Christ”… in other words, we must be Born Again. But what happens between that salvation experience and eternity? Is there life after birth???
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Up Above the World so Bright
God continues whispering in our ears, “Don’t quit…keep on playing.” Even when it seems life is bringing us flat or sour notes, God is coming alongside to assist us in making His music. God will add to our best efforts and the result will be amazing. With God reaching around and encircling us, together, beautiful music can be made!
Read MoreWords (5/29/16)
Sticks and stones can break my bones… But can words hurt? Even more importantly, can words Help??? Lay Speaker Jim Kier helped us see the power of words during his sermon of 5/29/16. Jim was filling in for Pastor Jim Bolton who is on vacation.
Read MoreA Zoad, a Fork, and a Choice (5/22/16)
A Zoad? How does a Dr. Seuss character improve our own character; help us to walk in deeper faith? If we’re going to get anywhere, we need to make a choice; step out in faith and commit to obeying God.
Read MorePowerfilled Christianity (5/15/16)
Tongues of fire…. speaking in “different tongues,” supposedly drunk apostles! Pentecost- we’ve heard the story so many times. But what does it all mean? Is it relevant to us? What does the coming of the Holy Spirit mean to us in our day and age?
Read MoreDiggin’ Up Bones (5/1/16)
God led Ziek into a desert; into a valley filled with dust, despair, and… dead bones. How can places in life like these be turned into something vibrant and living? When we’re in the depths of discouragement, can God inject hope and energy and turn things around? You betcha!!! Click the below “Play” button and scroll down to follow along (the recording is from the 11:00 service)… The scripture was Ezekiel 37:1-10. Click the following Drop Down box to...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: Second Coming?!? He’s Already Here!!!
Pastor Jim submitted the following on 4/25/16… Not long ago I saw a sign on someone’s front yard which simply read, ‘Jesus is coming!’” FRIENDS, while I respect the enthusiasm of that person but I think have better news than that; Jesus is already here! Sometimes we are so focused on the “second coming” that we forget that Jesus is already present in us! Jesus said in John 15:26… “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit...
Read MoreHe Ain’t Here- He’s Done Gone! (4/10/16)
Early on Easter morning, some of the women reported that the tomb was empty. Jesus’ body wasn’t there. The disciples were confused and fearful, so two of them got out of town by walking to Emmaus. Jesus caught up with them along the way and their lives were changed forever. In his sermon, Pastor Jim invited us to walk along with these disciples and to “let Jesus jump into your arms.” Click the below “Play” button and scroll down to follow along (the...
Read MoreWho Are You Looking For? (4/3/16)
Last week was Easter! A mountaintop! But today we’re called to move on from the mountaintop and continue in our walk with Jesus. Click the below “Play” button and scroll down to follow along (the recording is from the 11:00 service)… The scripture was John 20:11-18, but the sermon focused on verse 15. Here’s the entire passage. Click the following Drop Down box to follow along. Pastor Jim read from The Living Bible, and the New International Version...
Read MorePastor’s Ponderings: You Owe Me
This devotional was sent by Pastor Jim on 2/25/15… Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” As we...
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