This month’s series looks at the life of faith through the lens of Joseph, son of Israel/Jacob. He was the pampered youngest son of a family that put the fun in dis-functional. We will explore four answers to the questions we have about faith in real life and in real time. Joseph’s story is an important cross road in both Jewish and Christian history. Join me in studying through his story! Joseph is more than a colorful coat!
Author: Rev. Alan Van Hooser
An Honest Joe: Worship and Study Guide
The Bible is a living connection to God and people. In Joseph, the son of Jacob/Israel, found in Genesis 37-50 is a life full of those connecting moments. Honest Joe’s story is more than just a colorful coat and contains tips for successful living. Our Cheatham Memorial United Methodist Church family will being studying through these chapter in our August 2017 sermons.
We welcome you to follow along and comment. Begin with this “Infographic”, follow the study guide and make comments from your own experience. Everyone is welcome to comment. Check out our Cheatham Memorial website for more details. ( Put your US Mail address in a comment and I will send you a paper copy if you wish)
Here are the four topics that I picked and a 30-Day reading guide. This is less than one page per day f reading! Please leave comments to those things that gave you something that adds value to your life!
August 6, 2017: Weekley Reading Genesis 37-39
Genesis 37:12-28 “Faith is a Journey”.
August 13, 2017: Weekly Reading: Genesis 40-42
Genesis 39:1-23 “Life Can Be a Dream”
August 20, 2017: Weekly Reading: Genesis 43-46
Genesis 45:1-18 Forgiveness: A New Beginning”
August 27, 2017: Weekly Reading Genesis 47-50
Genesis 50:22 “Faith Gives Birth to Faith”
Where do you find yourself in Joseph’s story? LEAVE A COMMENT! Thanks for reading along with us! Looking for a church home? We have a great church family. Join us!
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Cheatham Memorial United Methodist Church
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Edgewood, TX 75117
Tel: 903-896-4935 Fax: 903-896-4935
www.cheathamumc.net
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Balancing Heart and Life
This is a comment on this week’s GODWORD text devotionals.
On a usual morning, speaking on the usual phone, to a print shop about mundane things, in my everyday office, I look down at my feet….
My first thought was that Karen was messing with me. Then it moved.
I didn’t say anything that momma Jean would spank me for but this fellow did hijack the conversation. My speech was less than grace-filled and reflected, shall we say, an anxious response. Most of it was not heard by any other person.
This is a chicken snake and a beneficial animal. I sweep them off of the back porch now and then. They won’t hurt you but in a surprised moment can make you hurt yourself. Beneficial or not-snakes don’t belong in my office.
This week’s GODWORD’s have been looking at some poisonous words directed toward me and our congregation. Some from without but sadly, some from within. Toxic words, toward me or from me, don’t belong in my life either.
Jesus had a run in with church-folks who sought to straighten him out. He said in Matthew 12:34-35 , “You family of snakes! How can you say good things when you are sinful? The mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man will speak good things because of the good in him. A bad man will speak bad things because of the sin in him. ”
Messiah is standing fast and correcting them without hate. The mouth can fool you. But, You cannot bless and curse with the same heart. The truth of our heart always reveals itself in our words.
I have little control over what others say but total control over my response. My response reflects what is in my heart. If Christ is in my heart, my response can be uplifting even in an angry moment where no one but God is listening.
Do you need uplifting? Could you use a little encouragement? Ask Christ to give you encouragement to share. Send an encouragement to someone else. Build your own heart by sharing a Christ wrapped word with another soul in need .
Our church is sharing a verse or two each day If you are interested in a daily text devotional, click here.
https://thethoughtfulpastor.com/2017/04/25/want-a-godword-to-wake-up-your-morning/
Holy Week 2017:Good Friday
Welcome to my Lenten journal for Holy Week. You are welcome to follow along and comment.
On Good Friday Jesus died on the cross for us. The full reading is in John 18-19. its worth the time on this Good Friday to read it all and know our blessing. Here are a couple of observations out of many that are running through my mind.
“Into thy hand I commit my spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. ” psalm 31:6
“So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. 17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.19 Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. 20 Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. 21 The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” John19:16-22
So why is it”good” Friday after all of that? Used to be that any day observed as special by the church was prefixed as “good”. So Monday of this week was technically “good” Monday. It is the outcome of the day and not this horror that we celebrate.
I am filled with wonder that Jesus would use the same words than the psalmist was led to use in his own moment of spiritual breakthrough.
I am filled with wonder at how easy a crowd of believers could be whipped up ito a violent frenzy while the hard hearted Pilate was hard to convince.
I am filled with wonder that those who knew more about the coming messiah than anyone would demand that his identity be changed. They would not allow him to be king, regardless. Jesus and Pilate got it. The crowd didn’t.
So, here we are on the eve of our highest holy day. Do we get it? Will we claim our identity as God’s child or will we allow the crowd to who why and why we are?
As for me, I am going to decide what a Christian is by searching scriptures, scrutinizing church tradition, filtering with my own experiences and Spirit led reason. I am not suggesting a systematic theology class but a lifestyle of intimate reflection on God and the amazing life in Christ.
We have a decision to make on this Good Friday. Will the sad bureaucrats of television and social media define our King through our screen time? Or, will we choose our King by a life of faith.
The greatest proof of Christ is our life lived healthy, peacefully and boldly. Today I will choose Jesus as King.
So this Holy Week thing? How does it work?
Simply put Holy Week is a collection of scriptures that lead you to Easter. God will lead you to your own breakthrough as you search them. How does this work? There is no single right way. Search these scriptures at your own pace and find yourself in them. Here is a help.
Bible gateway dot com ( click here for that site) has assembled an infographic drawn from these scriptures to help us visualize our personal journey and have given permission to use it it worship. I have followed this route for my journey this year.
In this article they also have a link to the 2015 Newsweek issue where this came from. There is also a reference to the 2015 series AD produced by Roma Downing and Mark Burnett.
A series of books has come from that mini-series that I find very interesting and helpful. I understand that this show is coming soon to another cable network. A series of books has also emerged from it. I am currently reading “David Jeremiah’s “A.D. The Bible Continues : The Revolution That Changed the World” which follows this series. It is an excellent devotional read.
God’s richest blessing to your Holy Week! May Jesus come alive through his Word for you.
Fire, Shipwrecks and Serpents: Worship for Preparation and Easter
You are invited to join our Cheatham Memorial Church family for worship! This is a brief sketch of our Lent and Easter worship. You can also follow us on Facebook and our website www.cheathamumc.net . If you are in our corner of East Texas, don’t drive by, drive in. We would be honored to show you our “Welcome Home”. Here is our worship journey toward Easter
We need a breakthrough. In our hearts, homes and communities we need that breakthrough of awareness of God. God is already at work in the parts of our lives that hold us spiritually hostage. Have we intentionally sought God? Have we taken personal responsibility for a breakthrough of Grace. What we lack is the intimacy with God that is key to breaking the chains.
For our part of the breakthrough, we will focus on three spiritual practices. They are to GIVE-time talent or tithes, FAST-at least missing lunch on Wednesdays, and PRAY-specifically for that particular move of God we desperately want and need. This is not a weight loss program nor manipulating God for a new car but a celebration of the living resurrection of Jesus! God will provide direction and BREAKTHROUGH
Where is God moving in your life? What is holding you hostage-habits, addiction, relationship, employment, finances fear, health, or other?
The sermons are a 5 part journey through Acts . We will gather each Wednesday Evening at 5:30 for studies, centered on our Spiritual Gifts and practices. We will have many of our traditions but our goal is to be prepared for a personal, walking around, and living resurrection.
March 1: Ash Wednesday
Matthew 4:1-11 “The Desert Journey”. We are setting the stage for our Lenten preparation by meeting in the desert. In the desert we are all on the same level and totally reliant on God. The contest for the Christ’s will is the same temptations that we experience in our daily living. Where will our BREAKTHROUGH come? It starts with intentionally becoming more intimate with God.
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March 5: The First Sunday of Lent , Lent Begins, Holy Communion Sunday
Acts 2:42-47 “A Community on Fire”
Pentecost started a spiritual fire in the homes and workplaces of the believers. After the overwhelming breakthrough, the new “Christian” community responded by church worship, personal worship, prayer, charity, and fellowship. Faith was for everyday living. Where are we being led to take the Pentecost fire?
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March 12:The Second Sunday of Pentecost
Acts 6:8-7:3, 7:54-8:1 “Discipleship’s Cost
The walk with Christ is free of charge but very Costly. What will we pay? What riches will be receive?
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March 19: The Third Sunday of Pentecost- We will have a guest Preacher, Jesse Brannen
Acts 8:25-40 “Living Water Alive” (This is my study text for the series.
We wear our baptisms and others find the living water for themselves. There is not shame in needing a guide! In our words, ways and relationships, we will share our water with others.
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March 26: The fourth Sunday of Lent
Acts 9:1-31”The New Transfiguration
Paul’s conversion mirrors the Christ at the mount of Transfiguration. Where did God meet you on the road. Where is the road before you headed?
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April 2: The Fifth Sunday of Lent Holy Communion
Acts17:16-31 “Knowing the Unknown”
God is made known to us with the images and experiences of daily living. God is shared with those who live with and around us. It is not accidental that we have the story in the exact way we need to share with those around us.
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April 9: Palm Sunday: with a reading by a child at the beginning, A Children’s Play, Special Music, Procession of Palms!
Matthew 21:1-11 read by a young person or persons and possibly using the “Voice” version as a format.
Acts 28:1-23 “The 29th Chapter of Acts”
Help me read the 29th chapter of acts! Oh wait, you must write it first. The Holy Spirit is writing it through you! Thank you Terry Teykl-Check out his book here!
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April 10-15: Holy Week
We will focus our attention on a Good Friday ,“7 Final Words Service, with several speakers . We will also offer a prayer Labyrinth and a time of praying through the Scriptural Stations of the Cross. Pat and are using the stations with Children’s Church. We will plan further use of the art work throughout the church.
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April 16: Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday will be tradition rich with special music, breakfast at 8:30, Easter Eggs by age group at 9:00 and rousing worship! Watch for further details on the CMUMC Website
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THE THOUGHTFUL PASTOR 