Posts Tagged With: church

Define Church

I know that there are hundreds of different ways to describe the church as it exists today, some good, some not so good. This ambiguity leaves many confused and struggling to create a definition all their own, often with disastrous consequences. I though I would give several definitions a try. See which one describes you best and then take a stab [...]

Categories: Christ Centered, church growth, Discipleship, Emerging Church, general, Important, Inspirational, Life 101, Pastor's letter, worship | Tags: , | 1 Comment

Congregations Gone Wild!

By G. JEFFREY MacDONALD, Published: August 7, 2010, Swampscott, Mass. THE American clergy is suffering from burnout, several new studies show. And part of the problem, as researchers have observed, is that pastors work too much. Many of them need vacations, it’s true. But there’s a more fundamental problem that no amount of rest and relaxation [...]

Categories: Pastoral | Tags: , , , , | 2 Comments

The Truth in the Cross

  The Cross enforces three truths:   about ourselves, about God, and about Jesus Christ.   1. Our Sin must be extremely horrible.   Nothing reveals the gravity of sin like the Cross.  For ultimately what sent Christ there was neither the greed of Judas, nor the envy of the priests, nor the vacillating cowardice [...]

Categories: Favorite Quotes, Inspirational, Spiritual Life | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Challenges of Following Jesus

   Following Jesus is never as easy as some would have you think. If you are experiencing times of doubt, troubles, grief, anxiety, fear, and depression, you are in company with the Apostle Paul, Peter, John the Baptist, David, Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Joseph … well you get the pictures. Life is difficult and being a [...]

Categories: First United Methodist Church, PodCast, sermon notes, Sermon Slides, Values | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment

What is the Church?

Here are some of my favorite quotes about how precious and how wonderful the Church can and should be. I hope it stimulates some deeper thinking about your relationship to the Church and why you feel the way you do.   Famous Church Quotes The True Church can never fail. For it is based upon [...]

Categories: CS Lewis, Favorite Quotes | Tags: , | 1 Comment

Who Needs Church? part 2

There seems to be a movement these days to separate spirituality from community. As if a personal, private encounter Christ is better than dealing with others at church. Nothing could be further from the truth.  We were made to live in community, to practice the skills of forgiveness, grace and love and in the process [...]

Categories: CS Lewis, church growth | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Who Needs Church? part 1

Church is born out of forgiveness, grace and love. Not just flowing from Jesus to you, but from you into others! The Church then is a conduit, an overlap of Heaven and Earth in which the prayer “Thy Kingdom come, on earth as it is in Heaven” is fulfilled, at least temporarily. Is this conduit [...]

Categories: church growth, CS Lewis | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Stewardship: A Way of Life

God, What do you want to do through me this year with the life and gifts you’ve given me? Stewardship as a way of life has amazing implications for our relationships and our daily lives. It expands the horizons of our world and provides direction and focus to our busy lives. When we commit ourselves to [...]

Categories: Finance, First United Methodist Church, Pledge, Stewardship | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Connect to Grow

All people long for God. Period. Some may say the exact opposite, but our desires, actions and values suggest something completely different. We all long to connect with something greater than ourselves, we long for the heart of God. There is simply no better way to connect with God than to learn who God is [...]

Categories: Bible Study Tools, Discipleship, First United Methodist Church, general, Important, New Members, Pastor's letter, Values | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Whitewater Rafting on the Lower New River

Whitewater Rafting trip on the Lower New River, West Virginia August 13, 2011 Steve Gedon, Alex Gedon, Ron Anderson, Kalie Anderson, Bob Welch, Julie McCauley,  Joselyn (guide)

Categories: Family, Photos, Pictures | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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