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 MoreIf 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 MoreChasing 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 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 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 MoreA Rock ‘n Roll Resurrection! (3/27/16)
Christ our Lord is Risen Today! This is not only a historical event, but a reality that should shake our being on each and every breath we take. Pastor Jim’s Easter Sermon encouraged us to Experience the Resurrection; not just to commemorate it once a year. Click the below “Play” button and scroll down to follow along (the recording is from the 11:00 service)… The scripture was Matthew 28:1-10. Click the following Drop Down box to follow along. Pastor Jim...
Read MoreFor Lent, Let’s Lose a Bad Habit (2/28/16)
We are now into a season of preparation for the passion and resurrection of our Lord. This preparation- which we call Lent- involves reevaluating our Walk and then getting rid of anything that’s getting in the way. Last Week, Pastor Jim showed us how to give up the “bad attitude” of being judgmental. This week, we continued the series of “Bad things” by focusing on Bad Habits. Click the below “Play” button and scroll down to follow along (the...
Read MoreFor Lent, Lose the ‘Tude! (2/21/16)
We are now into a season of preparation for the passion and resurrection of our Lord. This preparation- which we call Lent- involves reevaluating our Walk and then getting rid of anything that’s getting in the way. With this message, Pastor Jim began a Lenten series called: “For Lent, Give Up Something Bad!” Too often we think of lent as being a time to temporarily give up something that’s not really bad… just to give up something as an act of sacrifice. But...
Read MoreWho’s Your Valentine? (2/14/16)
February 14… Valentine’s Day! Is it just another “Hallmark Holiday?” What is Love? What do we do with it? And bigger than that, what does it mean to be loved by God? And- really important- what do we do with THAT??? Pastor Jim took a look at these questions (and at some questionable pop music) during his sermon of February 14, 2016. Click the below “Play” button and scroll down to follow along (the recording is from the 9:30 service)… The...
Read MorePlaying on God’s Super Team (2/7/16)
Super Bowl Sunday! The day of the Big Game! In a few hours the Denver Broncos would battle the Carolina Panthers; each team trying to reach the endzone and to win the Super Bowl prize. Both teams taking their turns making mistakes (fumbles and turnovers). During our worship service we observed this “special day” by dressing down and wearing our favorite team jerseys. Our goal wasn’t to worship Sports; our goal was to learn whatever spiritual lessons we could from this...
Read MoreThe Surprise Gift (1/17/16)
This message is the third in a three part series called “Three Men and a Baby.” The first part focused on the gift of Gold; of how the Wise Men challenged us to give our best. This second part focused on the gift of Frankincense; of how Jesus is our great High Priest who bridges the wide gap between humanity and God. Before listening to this week’s sermon, you might want to take a look at the first two parts of this series… GOLD FRANKINCENSE Gold reminds us of the...
Read MoreGod’s Bridge Over Troubled Water (1/10/16)
This message is the second in a three part series called “Three Men and a Baby.” The first part focused on the gift of Gold; of how the Wise Men challenged us to give our best. This second part focuses on the gift of Frankincense; of how Jesus is our great High Priest who bridges the wide gap between humanity and God. Click the below “Play” button and scroll down to follow along (the recording is from the 9:30 service)… Note: Pastor Jim opens by inviting...
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