Children’s Ministry Resources

New resources that are available in the Children’s Ministry Hallway.

4 New take Home Bags:
Miracles of Jesus
John The Baptist
Being Special and Being Loved
Kindness

For more info, contact Lisa Michelle Wilson
Lisa@1stumc.org

Final Week of "And The Survey Says..."

This will be the third and final week of our sermon series entitled, "And The Survey Says..." So far we have answered your questions about Judgment in Haiti, Sins, and last week we answered the question "What is a Methodist." This final week we are opening up the floor and taking your questions directly on Sunday morning. It is our hope to give time to 5-7 questions each service that comes from the congregation via cards or text message.

Andover Office Closed Today

Everyone stay inside if you can and stay safe! We will be open on Thursday again from 9:00am to Noon.

What Makes A Methodist?

Good question and one that we will be discussing this weekend. I am excited to say that Ken Kinghorn and Jerry Mercer will be joining me for the sermon time as we tackle this question about Methodism. From the earliest of times Methodism has been a movement of people who are concerned about growing close to Christ, caring for the less fortunate, and making a difference in their communities. We will explore our heritage and what it means for us today. Look forward to seeing you at either 9:40 or 11:00.

Thank You Sunday School Teachers

Wanted to take a moment to thank our Sunday School leaders for a great beginning to 2010. Yesterday, during a cold and snowy day, we set a record attendance in Sunday School! This does not begin to happen without a group of dedicated and talented teachers who give of themselves unselfishly each week. As I said on Sunday, Sunday School is the place to get connected, grow, and be cared for. If you haven't found a class yet, this is a great time to start.

Visitors to the Andover Blogsite; Thanks for your support!

Andover Site This Year's Visits and Page Views by Month

Sermon Manuscript: And the Survey Says 2010...Why Do I Continue to Struggle with the Same Old Sin(s)??

Text: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

One of the greatest myths in the church is that it is filled with people who have no problems. We are all well dressed, put together, very rich, and of course have the best family life. And if you are not, you will not fit in or be welcome. Well, here at Andover we are out to change that perception in this world. Today, our tag line is “A Traditional Church for Today’s Living. I was thinking of some other’s that would fit me personally a bit better. Andover, Our Pastor couldn’t hold a job in the 1990’s. What about? Andover, We Do Not Have It All Together But We Are Joyful. That one will be sure to grow attendance. I, of course, say these things tongue in cheek, but I hope you get my point. If one thing is for sure, we all struggle and that God loves us and your Pastor loves you.

Now that we have gotten that out of the way. Leveled the playing field so to speak, we can move onto how to address those issues, struggles, difficulties, mistakes, and failures in our lives. The Bible uses the word “sin” to describe a break in our relationship with God that is caused by actions and even inactions that violate God’s prescribed order. Sin keeps us from fully knowing, serving, and experiencing God. Just like a wall is a barrier between two rooms, so is sin a barrier between us and God. It is a barrier that we build and that only God can tear down through God’s grace in the form of forgiveness. Therefore, we are encouraged throughout Scripture to avoid sin and if we do get caught up in it to quickly admit our wrongdoing and ask for God’s forgiveness. And 1 John 1:9 tells us that God is faithful to forgive. We sin. We admit and turn from that wrongdoing. God forgives.

But what happens when we do the same thing twice, three times, or for a decade or more? What happens when we fail, ask for forgiveness and turn around and do the same thing again, and again, and again. Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to:

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a

cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which

doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that

is set before us,”

The word beset is translated in other versions as “trips us up”, “entangles us”, “clings so closely”. The word beset is defined as to attack from all sides or to trouble persistently or harass. It is those things in our life that we find ourselves caught up in so deep that we cannot escape no matter what we do. And we try for sure. With overwhelming guilt and shame we pray, “Lord, I will never do that again.” And the next time with disgust we pray, “Lord, I will never do that again.” And the next time questioning our ability to do anything good we prayer, “Lord, I will never do that again.” And the next time...you get my point. You might have even lived it as I have. Please know that God is on your side and continues to love you and offer grace even in the midst of these overwhelming struggles. We may not love ourselves, but God does and for that we can be thankful! This is not a beat you up sermon. I don’t want us to focus on our failures; I want us to focus on God’s faithfulness.

Let’s look at a few passages that may help us develop a new understanding of how to deal with sin.

First of all, in Matthew 26:41 Jesus tells his disciples who are with him on the Mount of Olives as he was praying for his life to “keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Jesus acknowledges that we have a struggle even within our own person between what we want to do and following through.

Paul picks up on this theme in Romans 7: 14-25 when he says,

But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes. So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

When I first looked at this passage, I thought that this held the key to our question. We fail because we are enslaved to sin. A slave is under obligation to do what the master demands regardless if that is something he wants to do. It would stand to reason that besetting, or recurring and harassing, sin is out of our control. But a closer reading shows that Paul was not talking about himself in this passage or any other follower of Christ. He is talking about a person without Christ’s power. That person is powerless to overcome the sin that entangles and harasses and overwhelms. But freedom comes from the “answer” and that is Jesus. With Jesus we do have a chance to overcome these actions that seem to demand their way with us.

Turn to 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 and hear about Paul’s own personal struggle. Now before we read this, it is important to note that we do not know if this was a health issue or an emotional or even spiritual issue that Paul struggles with. But listen as Paul tells us how he came to be at peace.

That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

For when I am weak, then I am strong. When we reach the end of our rope, that is where God’s rope begins. Where we are weak, there God is strong. God’s grace is sufficient. There is hope.

But how? First of all, it begins with a relationship with Jesus the Christ. Faith that what Jesus did on the Cross was for us personally because of our need for salvation.

Secondly, we admit that we are powerless on our own to overcome that which so easily entangles us. Here is a difficult part. Admit to both God and someone else that which entangles you. James 5:16 instructs us to “confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” We were intended to live in community for support, encouragement, and yes help with freeing ourselves from the sin that entangles us. There is a real humility that comes with confession to one another. And we are promised in Proverbs 3:12 that “God opposed the proud and shows favor to the humble and oppressed.”

Thirdly, we are given an insight by Jesus into the realm of struggles that entangle in Luke 11: 24-26.

“When an evil spirit comes out of anyone, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”

So we repent, ask for forgiveness, and are set right to begin living, then it is important that we quickly begin to fill the void that was left when the struggle was removed. By filling it with things of God, we can fill the space that is left and continue the process of removing it from our life. Let me use this water pitcher as an example. If it is filled with water, there is no longer room for anything else to exist. Leave it for long enough and the water evaporates and is then able to be filled with other things. Same with our spiritual life. Without fresh filling, room is left for other things to be an influence in our lives. It is not a one-time event, but a constant re-filling of our souls with the things of God such as prayer, Scripture, worship, and fellowship with God’s people.

Hear again the words from Hebrews 12:1-3,

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”

May we begin running together the race that is set before. Throwing off all the weight, the sin, that holds us back. It is not easy. But it is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives to overcome the most difficult of things that trip us up.

Weather Update

We will have services tomorrow at Andover. As always, please do not get out if you at all feel uncomfortable!

And the Survey Says Sermon Series

For the upcoming week we are asking the question, "Why do I continue to struggle with the same old sin(s)?" Have you ever asked God to free you from something particular in your life only to find that it might go away for a little while and then come back more controlling than ever?Hebrews 12 in the King James Version calls these "besetting" sins and cautions us that they weigh us down in the life that God has called us to live. How do we begin to deal with these struggles?

Join us at 9:40 or 11:00 as we examine this important and often puzzling question.

Andover Update

SECOND SERVICE (which is actually the 1st service!)
Things are working smoothly with the 9:40 service in terms of flow and service format. We continue to be recognize the need for people to come in after the service starts and go to Sunday School or to the choir room. At this point, we have not noticed this to be a disturbance and are encouraged by that fact. We do need to be mindful to NOT have conversations in the back as the sound travels all over the Sanctuary even in whisper tones.

HAITI HEALTH KITS

We collected and put together supplies for 251 health kits that will be making their way to Haiti! A great big thank you to everyone who helped in this effort. We continue to look for ways to be helpful to the people of Haiti and it seems that the kits and our cash are the best things right now. So please continue to keep the people of Haiti in your prayers and generously support the relief effort. Click here for more information.

LENT IS COMING

We will be publishing a complete listing of Lenten events, but go ahead and save the following dates. Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday March 27. Maundy Thursday Upper Room Re-enactment, Thursday, April 1. Easter is April 4th this year.

Sermon Manuscript: And the Survey Says 2010...Did God Judge the People of Haiti Through the Earthquake?

Text: Jeremiah 21:1-10, Matthew 5:38-48

Video Link

Each time we have a natural disaster, some well meaning person makes comments about “why” these things happen. And instead of admitting that no one really knows, they usually try find a way to assign blame on the people of the area. It is no different this time with the earthquake in Haiti. Some well meaning TV commentator made the case that 200 years ago the Haitian people made a pact with the devil and God is finally getting around to punishing them. He boldly stated that the earthquake was a judgment on the people of Haiti for their sin. So this morning we are going to look at this important question of judgment, sin, and God’s wrath. Should be a load of fun! But, in all seriousness, this is important that we deal with this subject as earnestly as we can.

Let me begin by walking through a few facts that we build our faith around. First of all, God is omnipotent (all-powerful) and omniscient (all-knowing). While this sounds good on the surface, it also comes with some distinct uncomfortable moments for us. Since God is all-powerful and all-knowing, that means God knew about the earthquake and could have stopped it but did not. I told you this was not going to be easy. But that is why it is called a faith journey and not a scientific experiment or a debate or a philosophy.

God’s omnipotence and omniscience leads to the natural question, “Is God heartless, disinterested, or simply cruel?” No. We must go back to Genesis to understand geologically why these sort of things happen. Earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados and other natural disasters are a result of a creation that has gotten off-course due to humanity’s sinful actions. What began in Genesis 1 and 2 as a world created “good” turns decidedly “not good” in Genesis 3 when sin is introduced into the world. Not only does humanity suffer the consequences through our imperfect bodies that are susceptible to disease and final death, but we also suffer injustice in this world, and many other things which were never intended but are now a reality due to sin. Natural disasters were not God’s intention for creation. Romans 8 helps us understand this idea when it says,

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (Romans 8:18-25 TNIV)

These things came about as a result of humanity’s sinful nature. In a way, they are a judgment, or maybe better put, a reminder that things are not as they should be. I told you this would not be too comfortable.

Secondly, there is such a thing as judgment. This life does have consequences. It is not a free ride. This life matters. And for that we should all be grateful. For it is far too difficult a journey to be taken in vain.

What we see in Scripture is a distinct progressive revelation of judgment. As time moved forward from Adam and Eve through Moses to King David to the period of the Exile through Jesus, we see a progressively growing understanding of God by how God relates to the people. God did judge the people in the Old Testament in some pretty harsh ways up to and including natural disasters such as Noah’s flood, Sodom and Gomorrah’s fire from heaven, and there were assorted plagues such as what took place in Egypt during Moses’ time. As nations began to emerge upon the earth, God began to use other nations to bring judgment more than any other way. And most of the time, the nation’s God chose to use were vile and pagan. It was a sign to the people of Israel of how far off course they were if God would choose to use such nations. Jeremiah 21 shows just such a time.

Let me set the context for us. Israel, the nation, is in the final stages of existence. It is approximately 588 B.C.E and the Babylonians led by King Nebudchanezzar are at the gates of Jerusalem ready to destroy it. King Zedekiah, the last king of Israel, asks his advisors to go inquire of the Lord about their fate. The advisors went to the prophet Jeremiah and asked him to inquire of the Lord on behalf of the king. Instead of hope and salvation, Jeremiah brings these words of doom and gloom.

Jer. 21:3 (TNIV) But Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah, 4 ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians who are outside the wall besieging you. And I will gather them inside this city. 5 I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm in furious anger and in great wrath. 6 I will strike down those who live in this city—both people and animals—and they will die of a terrible plague. 7 After that, declares the LORD, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague, sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.’

Imagine that as a bedtime story for your kids? Johnny, you child of God, then your heavenly Father said he would bring plagues, swords and famine on the people called the Chosen Ones. Night, night. Sweet dreams. Did I say that today would not make you real comfortable?

I want you to notice who this section of Scripture is directed at. It is the leadership of Israel.

Jeremiah, the prophet of sweet dreams continues. No wonder this guy only got one convert in his life of preaching!

Jer. 21:8 (TNIV) “Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. 9 Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives. 10 I have determined to do this city harm and not good, declares the LORD. It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.’

Who is this section of prophecy directed to? The people in the city. Jeremiah relays the information to the people that Jerusalem is about to fall. If they want to save their lives they need to go and surrender to the Babylonians right away. Do not wait until they get into the city. Go right now and submit to the authority of the raiding forces. What a strange way to save the people? Submit to the enemy and you will be saved?

The trend we begin to see is that God uses judgment as a way to hold the leaders accountable while protecting the people by giving them an opportunity to seek safety.
The other theme we see is that the way of salvation is submission. Follow God’s plan and find salvation. Ignore God’s plan and find destruction. Not only in this section do we see it, but throughout the Bible it holds true.

As human history progressed, we reached what the Bible calls the “fullness of time” in the person of Jesus. And with Jesus, we begin to see judgment in a new light. In the New Testament we see a picture of God’s judgment having an end of days focus. In Matthew 28, Jesus told us that God had given him all authority in heaven and earth. Part of this authority is judgment which is declared to us in Revelation 21:1-8. . Are there current consequences for sin? Absolutely. You don’t have to go much past the seat you are sitting to find a life that has suffered consequences for poor choices.

But Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 how the Father in heaven views this world when he says,

Matt. 5:38 (TNIV) “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’f 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

This passage shows that God is more concerned about grace than reciprocity. Why would he tell us to turn the other cheek and then go about wiping out tens of thousands of people? Many of whom were innocent victims. In my estimation, God does not.

The earthquake in Haiti was not a judgment of the people of Haiti any more than Katrina was a judgment on New Orleans or Ike was a judgment on Galveston. In fact, if God is in heaven waiting to wipe us out for past sins and mistakes, none of us better rest easy in our beds tonight. But that is not how God views this world. Here is how God views this world per John 3:16,

“For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him will not die but have everlasting life.”

God is not looking for an opportunity to strike us down. God is looking for every opportunity to lift us up. And that includes the people of Haiti prior to two weeks ago and it is the same for the people of Haiti today. May we not get hung-up on “why” this happened but “how” we can make it better. For that is God’s heart. And that is our call.

Updates from Andover

Devotional Thought from Genesis

Genesis 15: 1-6 says,

After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:

“Do not be afraid, Abram.

I am your shield,b

your very great reward.c”

But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inheritd my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspringe be.”

Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Each of us has an image of God that we trust. It is a box that we put God in that fits within our experience, hopes, and dreams for our life. Abram (before his name was changed to Abraham) was that way. God promised Abram that Abram's legacy would be the father of a great nation. But all Abram could see was that his wife Sarai was barren and that they were both getting up there in age! But notice what happens when God assures Abram that he would have a son from his own body. Abram believed! He was open minded enough to trust that God might just work in a way that was totally unexpected.

Do we allow our preconceived notions of God limit what we will trust God with? Will we be open enough to the Holy Spirit that if God calls us to something dramatically different we would be willing to say yes?

And The Survey Says...Part 3

It is January, and that must mean we are ready for our third annual installment of the sermon series entitled, "And The Survey Says..." This is a time that we talk about your questions about the Bible, theology, Methodism, social issues or anything else that is on your mind concerning your spiritual journey. Each year this series has been impactful and informative as we wrestle with your great questions.

The series begins on January 24th and end February 14th which is the week before Lent starts.

Please email Todd with your questions at todd@1stumc.org. The sermon topics will be published as soon as possible so you can begin doing some background reading and preparation!

Sermon Manuscript: I Believe! Help My Unbelief! Part 2

Text: Mark 9:14-27, Mark 11:11, Jude 22

What happens when we go through periods of doubt? Does God cut us off from God’s presence, blessings, and future? Are we forever condemned and forced to start over from scratch with our relationship with God? That is the question we will be wrestling with today.

“Be merciful to those who doubt;” (Jude 22 TNIV)

“Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist;” ( Matt. 11:11a TNIV)

These words were uttered by Jesus concerning John the Baptist at a most interesting time. You would think that these would be words of affirmation after a particularly successful time of ministry. Or perhaps a reflection upon a life well lived at the person’s time of death. But you would be mistaken. These words were said about John after a time of his doubting that Jesus was the Messiah. Never mind that John was Jesus’ cousin. Never mind that in Matthew 3 John baptizes Jesus, sees the heavens open and a dove come down, and then hears a voice say “This is my son, in whom I am well pleased.” But soon thereafter, John is in prison and is beginning to question all he has seen, heard and experienced about Jesus. And it is on the heels of this doubt that Jesus says these words about John.

Let’s look at a passage together from Mark 9 and see how this works.

14 When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. 15 When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him. 16 “What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked. 17 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. 18 And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” 19 Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. 21 “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. 22 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” 23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes. 24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!” 26 Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.

To begin with, this reminds me of the Exodus 32 passage in which Moses is meeting with God on Mt. Sinai and comes down the mountain to find chaos among the Israelites who have asked Aaron, Moses’ right hand man, to make an idol so they can worship and pay tribute. In this passage, Jesus arrives on the scene after having met with Moses and Elijah and experienced what we call the Transfiguration. And upon arriving, he finds the crowd which included Jewish religious leaders arguing with the disciples.

When Jesus asks about the argument, a man comes forward and shares that his son is possessed by an evil spirit which throws the boy into violent convulsions which threaten the boys’ life. The man had come to find Jesus in order for the boy to be healed. In Jesus’ absence, the man asked Jesus’ disciples if they could help him. This was not a strange request to be made of the disciples. In Mark 6 they are sent out in pairs to preach, cast out demons, heal people, and anoint with olive oil. But on this occasion, it does not work out.

At this point, Jesus makes a strong statement about the faithless generation who are standing around him. Do not overlook the fact that this includes the disciples as well as the religious leaders in addition to the others present. He then requests that the boy be brought to him and the boy immediately begins convulsing as the evil spirit comes face to face with the Son of God.

Jesus asks a peculiar question, “How long has this been happening?” A question that establishes the gravity of the situation and the power of the miracle that will soon take place. The convulsions had been taking place since early childhood and had regularly threatened his life by taking place near a fire or water. You get the picture that the evil spirit waited for the boy to be in dangerous situations and then acted upon him.

And then the father gives us an insight into his soul when he asks for mercy and help “if” it is possible. You see, the man did not know for sure. How could he? Over time, doubt must have crept in about his son’s future. Would the boy always live with these attacks at the worst of times? Could there be anything done? Did he come to Jesus with anything more than “hope” and “prayer”? No.

And watch what Jesus did not do. He did not chastise him. He chastised his disciples and those gathered for causing such a seen, but not this man for sharing his heart with great honesty. He did not send him away until he got more faith. He did not choose to walk away and teach some sort of “tough” love lesson involving the need for the man to get a better theology or prayer life or give more to the church or anything else. Jesus did what only he could do because of his powerful connection to his Almighty Creator Father. Jesus rebukes not the boy nor the father but the evil spirit. “Come out and never enter him again!”

Jesus’ compassion surpassed whatever inadequacies that existed in the father. Let me say that again. Jesus’ compassion surpassed whatever inadequacies that existed in the father.

It is clear from this passage that Jesus did not condemn the man for doubt. He did not delay action. He did not rebuke. Truly God operates from the principle in Jude 22 and offers mercy for those who doubt. Including you. Including me. But there is more. Faith, by its definition, is clinging to a belief in the face of logical proof. Uncertainty is the definition of doubt. You cannot have faith without the potential for doubt. And I would take it a step further and say you cannot have faith without first having doubt.

We talked last week about the fact that we all have periods of doubt. And it is clear that God does not condemn us for doubt. These periods of doubt also do no have to be destructive forces in our life, but rather they can be opportunities for growth. Yes, I just said that doubt can be an opportunity instead of a threat.

But how does that happen? It is a progression that moves from trust to risk that creates vulnerability which leads to God’s faithfulness, and ends with intimacy. Okay, let’s unpack this passage and see what we can learn today about how periods of doubt may be the doorway to greater intimacy with God. Or to put another way, doubt can lead us to grow closer to God. But how? How do we go from a person who doubts like this father to become a person who grows through their doubt?

First of all, we trust God. Trust that we do not have all the answers but God does. Trust that we are unable to do it on our own but God can. Trust that God’s love and care for us exists despite our inadequacies. Trust that the God we trust in does not treat us like we treat one another. Trust that we, as the father did, that God will seek us out if we will be available and willing to hear. Sometimes that is as much faith as we can muster. Doing the right things not because of any reason except that it is the only thing we can do. The father did not have the answers, nor the assurance, he simply went to where he thought he could find Jesus!. That was his greatest leap of faith! And it may be with us as well.

Secondly, understand that when we trust God we risk and become vulnerable. We risk that there is a God and this God cares for us enough to act on our behalf. We risk that someone who we have never seen actually exists and is willing and capable of caring for us and those we love. We risk being disappointed and finding ourselves in the same situation with our hope being gone.

Thirdly, after we have done all we can do. It is up to God. Will God be faithful? Will God have the power? Our situation depends upon God’s faithfulness. You see, this is a two way street. Can we trust God?

And finally, when we risk and place our trust in God. He is faithful to hear and answer and act upon our behalf and it leads us into a ever growing and deepening relationship with God. Think with me about how this event changed the father and the boy in this story. This encounter would be something they talked about for the rest of their lives. Argue all you want about theology. They wouldn’t care. Debate about the reason for evil in this world. They wouldn’t waver. But you cannot have a conversation with this boy and his father and not hear about how this man Jesus changed their life. For the rest of their lives they would harken back to this day and find strength as they remember how things changed. You could never take that experience away from them. Do you think it grew their faith? I think it did for them.

I know it will for us as well.

UMCOR Chief Dies in Haiti

Here is a link to the full story from UMCOR. Evidently Rev. Dixon and others were already in Haiti meeting with people concerning Global Health efforts when the earthquake hit. Continue to pray and seek ways to make a difference.

Health Kits Being Assembled January 21st

Next Thursday evening, January 21st, beginning at 5:00pm and lasting until 7:00pm, we will be gathering at Andover to put together UMCOR Health Kits for the earthquake victims in Haiti. The following is a press release from UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) with instructions and items that need to be place in the kits.

UMCOR’s two relief supply warehouses are asking United Methodists to provide health kits that can be sent to earthquake-devastated Haiti.

“For people who are feeling powerless in being able to help those in Haiti, providing health kits is a tangible way they can make an immediate difference,” said Kathy Kraiza, director of UMCOR’s relief supplies. She estimates that hundreds of thousands of kits will be needed in the days and months ahead.

The kits, valued at about $12 per kit, contain everything from towels and washcloths to sterile bandages and bar soap. They will be distributed to those who have been forced to leave their homes as a result of the recent disaster.

For individuals or groups that want to contribute basic necessities, UMCOR requests that the following NEW items be placed in a sealed one-gallon plastic bag.

1 hand towel (15” x 25” up to 17” x 27”. No kitchen towels.

1 washcloth

1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)

1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)

1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)

1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, no child-size brushes)

6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages

$1.00 to purchase toothpaste

(NOTE: Toothpaste is purchased in bulk to be added to health kits to ensure that the product does not expire before they are sent.)

Because the emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations and strict rules govern product entry into international countries, UMCOR requires that the kits contain only the requested items – nothing more.

Each packed box cannot exceed 66 pounds.

Sager Brown Depot provides the following shipping tips for the health kits.

Complete two packing lists – one for your records and one to be put on the shipping box.

Paste the shipping label/packing list on the outside of each box sent. The shipping list helps the depot to quickly process kits.

Processing and shipping costs: Please enclose an envelope containing at least $1.00 for each kit you send. This donation enables kits to be sent without delay to Haiti.

You can send assembled relief supply kits to either relief depot – UMCOR coordinates supply shipments from both locations.

UMCOR Sager Brown Depot

P.O. Box 850, 131 Sager Brown Road

Baldwin, LA 70514-0850

For help contact, 1-800-814-8765

UMCOR West Office and Depot

1479 South 700 West

Salt Lake City, UT 84104-1605

For help contact, 1-801-973-7250

Haiti Update

Here is an update from UMCOR. They have opened up an advance number which will make sure all funds received get to Haiti directly. Remember that with UMCOR, every dollar given goes directly to the field. This is made possible by the generous people of the United Methodist Church funding the budgetary needs directly through our apportionment giving.

A major earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti causing widespread destruction. Millions of people are affected and thousands are feared dead. UMCOR is assessing the needs and preparing to respond. UMCOR asks for prayers for all who are affected by the disaster. Support for relief efforts can be made to Haiti Emergency, UMCOR Advance # 418325

Here is the link if you want to give to the relief efforts: UMCOR Haiti Relief

Quake in Haiti...

Here is a partial story from the AP about the disaster in Haiti. Be in prayer for those affected by the quake. We are monitoring UMCOR's (United Methodist Committee on Relief) response to see how we can help in the relief efforts.

Strong quake hits Haiti; hospital collapses By JONATHAN M. KATZ Associated Press Jan. 12, 2010, 9:23PM The strongest earthquake in more than 200 years rocked Haiti on Tuesday, collapsing a hospital where people screamed for help and heavily damaging the National Palace, U.N. peacekeeper headquarters and other buildings. U.S. officials reported bodies in the streets and an aid official described “total disaster and chaos.” United Nations officials said a large number of U.N. personnel were unaccounted for. Communications were widely disrupted, making it impossible to get a full picture of damage as powerful aftershocks shook a desperately poor country where many buildings are flimsy. Electricity was out in some places. Karel Zelenka, a Catholic Relief Services representative in Port-au-Prince, told U.S. colleagues before phone service failed that “there must be thousands of people dead,” according to a spokeswoman for the aid group, Sara Fajardo. “He reported that it was just total disaster and chaos, that there were clouds of dust surrounding Port-au-Prince,” Fajardo said from the group’s offices in Maryland.

Sermon Manuscript: I Believe! Help My Unbelief!

We live in a world of tensions. Competing ideas, actions, or motives that place us in uncomfortable positions and force us to choose. For example: ice cream and eating healthy, Democrats and Republicans, UK and UL fans. I could go on, but you get the picture.

Over the next two weeks, we will be examining the tension that exists between faith and doubt and how it affects our journey. What we will find is that the barrier between faith and doubt is a thin strand. What we will also discover is the necessity of having doubt in terms of our personal growth. And finally, we will be examining how God chooses to deal with our doubts. At the end of two weeks, we will kick off our annual sermon series that answers your most difficult questions about faith. We will be asking for your input over the next two weeks so get the questions ready!

Do you have doubts? Maybe a better question is “what do you doubt?” Doubt is defined as the lack of certainty. While faith is defined as belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. I like how Hebrews 11:1 defines faith, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” On the surface, faith and doubt seem polar opposites. Doubt is lack of certainty while faith is belief even in the face of a lack of certainty. But upon closer inspection, faith does not exist without the potential for doubt. Let me say that again...faith cannot exist without doubt. For faith is the decision, and I do mean decision and not feeling or intuition or knowledge, to believe without all the details being known.

For if all the details are known, that is not faith, it is knowledge. Let me explain it this way. Who believes I have a $20 bill in my hand? Wait for a minute. What if I told you that I had one in my hand? What if I were a person known to carry $20 bills around? What if you had seen me in another setting use the same example? All these things make it a bit easier to say “yes”, but there is still a leap you have to make. All your knowledge, intuition, and feeling will only take you so far. You can work the probabilities in your head but when it comes right down to it, you must make a decision. Do you “believe” that I have a $20 bill in my hand? Yes or no?

Think about it for a moment while we look at some famous doubters in the Bible. Yes, I did say famous doubters. For I think it is important to know that if, no when, we doubt that we are not the first nor will we be the last to do so.

We have all probably heard of Thomas or better known as doubting Thomas. Let’s look at two passages that define Thomas for us.

The first is in John 11. Listen to John at this point.

11 After saying these things, Jesus said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Let us go so that we may die with him. Thomas has chosen to identify himself with Jesus to the point that he is willing to walk into the midst of a death trap in Jerusalem. That is a far cry from the person we see in John 18.

24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

One scene he is willing to go to his death and the next he wants full proof that Jesus was who he said he was. That never happens anymore does it? Especially not to one of us?

Let’s look at another apostle. Peter.

15 Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

You are “rock” and upon this “rock” I will build my church! The most bold and accurate pronouncement of Jesus up to this point in Scripture. But wait, we find Peter a few chapters later taking it back.

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.” 71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will v deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

One moment pronouncing boldly, the next moment rejecting and denying as if the only thing that mattered was his personal security.

And just in case you are doubting that people really doubted, let’s look at Jesus’ own cousin, a man by the name of John.

Matthew 3: 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Cousin John baptizes Jesus after acknowledging that John is not worthy for such a task and then a dove descends from the heavens and a voice says, “This is my son, with whom I am well pleased.” Does it get any more clear cut than that? But wait and hear

the rest of the story from Matthew 11.

2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of he Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

If those closest to Jesus were not inoculated to doubt, who are we to think that we will be any different? There will be seasons of doubt. In fact, our faith journey begins in the cloud of doubt and grows from there. And rather than allow doubt to destroy our faith, it can be the very thing that grows it.

Doubt provides the impetus to grow our faith by keeping us humble. When we admit that we don’t have all the answers is makes us teachable. Being teachable is a key to discovering truth and as the Bible tells us, the truth will set us free. In the end, doubt in its best since is the starting point for our faith to grow.

That is not to say that doubt can be unproductive and harmful to our faith as well. For just as a flood does not nourish the soil but erode it, doubt that goes unchecked and unmanaged has the capacity to erode our faith. For doubt unchecked can create skepticism which means we suspend judgment and refuse to make a decision. Doubt can be paralyzing for sure. We must be careful the doubt doesn’t lead to cynicism as well. Always looking at the negative potential outcomes and focusing and promoting them as the “answer”. Doubt can eventually lead to rebellion. We no longer seek the truth, but we seek what makes us happy and feel good.

We all have doubt if we have faith. We live in a relationship with a Creator God who no one in this room has seen or heard. In the stillness of heart we have to admit that we do not have all the answers nor will we ever. But that shouldn’t stop us.

Back to my $20 bill analogy. Yes or no? You must choose. Not choosing is a choice in itself. You must choose. Yes or no? Here it is....

This is a small example of what the first day in Jesus’ presence will be like. 1 Corinthians 13:22 says, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. The choice we are faced with today and every day until that day is will live out of faith or will we stop at doubt? Will we be satisfied with staying on the fence and not committing, which is a commitment in itself, or will we commit to someone much greater than our understanding? That is the choice we must make. Doubt is the first step in faith if we make it so.