Easter 6: Rev. 21:1-10, 22-22:5; John 14:8-14, 21-29

May 9, 2010

We have had some wonderful days recently with full sun, not too hot, not too cold, just right. There's plenty of moisture. The grass is a deep green and trees fully leafed out. The corn is up and going and bean planting right behind. Flowers are blossoming, gardens growing. This is the most beautiful time of year for me.

In the news this week was the death of Robin Roberts, the Hall of Fame pitcher from Springfield. It was inspiring to read what was said about him. He was the son of immigrant parents from Wales. He is remembered as a good and decent person who not only had a gift for striking out batters, but also for helping others.

Jason Werth of Chatham was one of those quoted about Roberts. He is the 3rd generation on his mother's side to play in the major leagues. His family story is an inspiration too despite the fact he hit a couple of home runs against the Cardinals this week.

Every time I drive by the Old...

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Pastor Mike Pennell

Easter 5: Acts 11:1-18; Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:33-35

May 2, 2010

One of our favorite programs on weekends is the "Prairie Home Companion" show with Garrison Keillor. Each week Keillor tells the story of a small town in Minnesota called Lake Wobegon where 'all the women are strong, the men are good looking and the children are above average.' In a good natured way he frequently pokes fun at various religious groups, frequently the Lutherans, but also Methodists.

"You know you are Methodist when its 100 degrees and 90 percent humidity and you still have coffee after the service. You hear something funny during the sermon and smile as loudly as you can. Donuts are a line item in the church budget just like coffee. When you watch a Star Wars movie and they say, "May the force be with you," and you respond, "and also with you." And lastly you'll know you've been in the presence of a Methodist, if it takes 10 minutes to say good-bye!"

These are fun ways of type...

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Easter 4: John 6:32-35, 51; 12:32; Matthew 21:22; 1 John 3:2                     April 25, 2010

    "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever."(Jn 6)

    "To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God."(Jn 1)

    Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'? (Mt 21)

    "Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is." (1 Jn 3)

    "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." (Jn 12)

    These scriptures show that...

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by Mike Pennell

3rd Easter: Acts 9:1-20; John 21:1-19

April 18, 2010    

    We are somewhat like the disciples in the gospel lesson from John. When we cast out the net for worship we draw anywhere from 175-200 each week, sometimes a few more. But when we cast out the net in the Family Life Center offering that famous secret recipe Poe Chicken well, we draw nearly 1000 every time.

    Think of this as a metaphor. In addition to our great hunger for good food to satisfy the natural appetite, we have an even greater hunger for the food that satisfies the soul which is the love of God. All people are hungry for love. And the greatest love of all comes from God. When our bodies are wracked in pain from disease and treatment, when loved ones pass away and life feels empty for us, when human love is broken and betrayed, when we feel left out and alone, when our hearts are filled with regret over the sins we have committed, when we feel our life is over because something doesn't work...

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"Tear it down!"

Easter 1: Acts 5:27-32; John 20:19-31

April 11, 2010

    The University of Mississippi football team was playing very poorly in the first half of the game. And so the coach gave them a good verbal shellacking inside the locker room during half time. As he ended his talk he began to say things like 'are you mice or men?' And the players answered loudly, "MEN." Are you going to roll over and give up? And again they shouted back loudly: "NO!!" Building up to crescendo, the coach yelled: "I want you to go back out there and start blocking and tackling and running like you've never done before. Are you ready?" And again the players shouted: "YES."

"Okay, let's go win this game" the coach yelled. And they all lunged for the door, but it wouldn't open.

    "Coach, the door is locked," one player shouted. And without hesitation the coach yelled back: "Then tear it down!" And they did and went on to win the game.

    Now, we have no record of Jesus...

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Easter – Acts 10:34-43; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; John 20:1-18 April 4, 2010     A few years ago we had a garage sale in anticipation of moving my mother into town. We had an old garden plow made from scrap pieces of angle iron by Norval who lived the next house down the road. He had given it to my dad. It was a neat plow because Norval customized it to fit the stature of his body. The long steel handles were set at just the right angle so that he could exert the maximum strength from of his short stocky body when pushing it along.

Norval always had a great garden. He loved his onions, peppers, beans, tomatoes and was generous to share with others. He had a good heart.

Yet, in life he had problems that he was never able to conquer. Alcohol destroyed his first marriage and also his health. He was an early heart patient of Dr. DeBakey in Texas and was among the first to have coronary bypass surgery. His only consolation at the end of his life was the love of his second wife and what he had helped Doctors learn about this new medical procedure. The knowledge gained from his case has no doubt helped many others enjoy longer lives as a result....

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Palm/Passion Sunday: Luke 19:28-40; Isaiah 50:4-9a; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 22:14-23:56

March 28, 2010

    Jesus enters Jerusalem like so many others that week to celebrate the annual festival of Passover. Because Passover is a celebration of freedom from slavery and oppression, Roman rulers would have sent additional troops to monitor the city during this time in order to prevent any public demonstrations from getting out of hand. The Pharisees, for example, who ask Jesus to calm down the excitement of his disciples, are probably afraid that such a public display might cause Roman soldiers to react with force. This was a week filled with both joyous celebration, but also fear and danger.

    It was customary in those days to pay homage to a king by having a processional. Everyone would join in the celebration by throwing their cloaks on the ground. The king would ride his horse on this carpet as he passed by the people shouting and cheering along the processional route. In Luke's...

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Lent 5: Isaiah43:16-21; Philippians 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8

March 21, 2010

Signs of spring

    As the weather has begun to warm over recent days and the grass turn green again, I know farmers, are now "forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead." They are looking ahead to a new season that hopefully will be a bit more normal than the last couple have been.

    It is transition time for many high school and college seniors too as they prepare to leave the past behind and move on to the next phase in their lives – more schooling for some, searching for a job for others, maybe marriage. This is always an anxious time of preparing to let go of what is familiar and predictable in anticipation of something new.

    Tiger Woods announced this week that he is coming back to golf and will play in the Masters tournament at the end of April. Based on what we have learned in recent months, there is probably no one more eager than Woods to "forget what lies behind"...

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Lent 4: Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

March 14, 2010

    Sibling rivalries and jealousies are very common. We could all tell our tale of what it was like to be a younger or the youngest child growing up as well as the oldest. If you are the oldest did you ever feel that your younger brothers or sisters got away with things more than you ever did, that your parents were more lenient toward them than you. You had to be the better example for them to follow. How many still think that? And if you are a younger or the youngest child did you grow up in the shadow of an older sibling(s)? How did you feel about that? Any resentment?

    Those who heard Jesus tell a story about a father with two sons would have been reminded not only of their own sibling rivalries, but also the stories in their family tree on the same theme. There are several in the Old Testament. The children of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel. There is the family of Isaac and his two sons, Esau and...

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Lent 3: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9

March 7, 2010

    Well, watch out for the Cubs this season. Geovany Soto the Cub catcher may be back after a terrible year in 2009. His stats were half of what they were when he was the National League Rookie of the Year in 2008. But last year he was like the fig tree in the parable of Jesus. He didn't bear much fruit. Someone must have sprinkled some manure around his thinking in the off season (figuratively of course) because when he checked into spring training a week or so ago, he was 40 pounds lighter than last year.

    By losing weight Soto has empowered himself to be a better player in 2010 and that should help make the Cubs a better team. Of course, (with the Cubs being the Cubs) this is no guarantee, but if Soto does have a great year, then this may not be good news for us Cardinal fans.

    Though this is a secular example Soto's weight loss fits the literal definition of "repentance" which means "to turn around" and go...

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