Pastor’s Ponderings: What is Love?
Greetings Friends: PLEASE READ: John 15:12-17 (Jesus said), “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the...
read moreDon’t Wear the Emperor’s Clothes! (9/6/15)
When “Goliaths” stand before us and threaten us, what do we see? Hopelessness or Victory? How do we proceed? God wants to give us Victory! Pastor Jim explored these truths during his sermon on September 6, 2015. Click the below “Play” button to start listening to the recording, then scroll down and follow along… The scripture reading was from 1 Samuel 17 (starting at verse 31)… Click the below drop down box to “open up God’s Word”… David vs. Goliath 1 Samuel 17:22-39 22...
read moreWhat is TRUST?
What does it mean to Trust? We’re called to Trust friends, Trust co-workers, Trust doctors, Trust bank tellers. But what does it mean to trust God? Proverbs 3:5-8 puts it this way… Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®,...
read moreSleepless in Pitman (8/30/15)
Pastor Jim’s sermon on August 30 2015 took us to the book of Ruth. This book reminds us that God works invisibly and mysteriously all the time- even in the midst of tragedy and heartbreak. Click the “Play” button below to begin listening to the recording (from the 9:30 service), then scroll down and follow along… The scripture reading was from Ruth 1:1-18. Pastor Jim was reading from the Living Bible… Ruth 1 1 In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a...
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 to grow in our personal relationships so we can...
read morePastor’s Ponderings: The Significance of One
Pastor Jim submitted the following devotional on Monday Aug. 23, 2015. It references his sermon from the previous Sunday (“The Life and Music of Charles Wesley”); Both Charles and John Wesley demonstrated that God can work through one person to do mighty things… PLEASE READ: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11… There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the...
read moreThe Life and Music of Charles Wesley (8/23/15)
God “strangely warmed” the hearts of both John and Charles Wesley, and these brothers persevered through persecution to spread the Gospel. They nurtured people in the faith who were previously only being fed by the traditions of the organized church. In his sermon of August 23, 2015, Pastor Jim looked at the faith and conviction of these two men as demonstrated in the hymns of Charles Wesley. Click on the following “Play” button, scroll down, and follow along (this recording is from the 9:30 service)… If...
read moreThe Original Jailhouse Rock (8/16/15)
Going through a rough time? Having a bad day? Maybe you’re wondering where God is in all of this; when will He show up?… will He show up?… Pastor Jim took a look at these questions during his sermon of August 16, 2015. Due to a problem which forced us to rebuild our website using a backup file, the following post was restored from a draft version and is not complete. However, the audio file is complete (so sit back, relax, read what is here, and listen to Pastor Jim…) Click on the following “Play”...
read morePastor’s Ponderings: Faith in the Face of Opposition
Pastor’s Ponderings: Faith in the Face of Opposition The following “Pastor’s Ponderings” devotional was submitted by Pastor Jim on August 22, 2015. Our sermon for August 23 is entitled “The Life and Music of Charles Wesley”… this devotional gives a preview into that theme… Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Matthew 28:19-20 (Jesus...
read moreSongs for the Road (8/9/15)
Are you on a trip somewhere? Looking forward to where you’re going but wondering how to occupy your time in the long car drive? Our sermon on August 9 2015 was given by Larry Bakely (PUMC Lay Leader). Click on the below “Play” button, then scroll down to follow along. Note that the recording begins immediately with the scripture reading, starting with Psalm 130:1… The scripture reading was from Psalm 130, one of the “Songs of Ascents.” Click the drop down box to read it… Psalm 130 Out of the...
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