Aldersgate Day & Pentecost

I remember having to do a report in elementary school. The topic was a historical figure. Who did I choose? I chose to do a report on John Wesley! And I willingly chose this man for this report in 4th or 5th grade!
Ever since then I have read about John, Charles, and the much of the Wesley family. It was only today that I realized the date in which Charles knew that he stood in faith. It was Pentecost!
John knew indeed that his sins were forgiven 3 days later. And the world has never been the same.
I have come to realize that God has forgiven me, Jesus has called me to preach, and the Holy Spirit has provided the words to do such. My life has not been the same since Jesus came into my heart.
What about you, what have you realized about God? How is the Holy Spirit working in your life since you discovered that you can stand in faith or since you have known that your sins have been forgiven?

Doubts about this technology stuff. . .

OK, so I have a Twitter account (@JohnGrimm5).  So I am blogging, well at least sporadically I am.  How can one keep up with when the last time one posted on either format?  Oh, then there is the Facebook page.  There you get to see who can goad you into typing something about a controversial topic.  I dropped MySpace years ago because of the raunchy nature of the content.  

I am considering dropping all three.  Would I have more time for other things?  Maybe.  Would I be able to communicate just as effectively with family, friends, and colleagues via other means?  Maybe.  

I am not like some super pastors.  Paul, in the Bible, called them super-apostles.  There is a time for everything, as the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote.  Paul, again from the Bible, says that “All things are permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial.  All things are are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:1).  This verse, and its context, could lead us into a deeper discussion about how the American culture is operating, but I could be deemed judgmental.

Maybe, if I used the time on Twitter, Facebook, and in this blog as time for me to be an ambassador for Christ, then I wouldn’t doubt the time spent on this technology stuff.  And the Lord knows that I don’t need to spend every waking moment on social media to represent Jesus.  There is something good that can be said about a handshake, a firm handshake, and a conversation over some good sweet tea.  And I don’t think I can find that with this technology stuff.

Holy Week

It is good when youth are ready to claim their faith!  Two of our youth will be doing that and a third one will be getting baptized in May!

What a minute, aren’t they the same thing.  Well, I am the pastor of United Methodist churches.  In the United Methodist Church, parents have their infants baptized and later the child claims that faith for their own.  Some youth will not claim this faith.  Most, however will.  When a person has not been baptized as an infant, then they have the opportunity to get baptized when they believe they are ready.  Either is valid in the United Methodist Church.

Whichever way one has been baptized, then there is still growth in faith, hope, and love.  There may be adults who do not understand their baptism yet.  Some youth have a great understanding of their baptism.  

Hard

It is hard to be a Christian.  I definitely need other believers to be with me along the way.  Some may try to harm other believers, like when they do not believe the same way.  Our battle is not against flesh and blood.  We who believe in Jesus need to stick together.  Lord Jesus, guide those believers who are looking to tear down other Christians.  May we have your Holy Spirit guiding us.  Amen.

God is good.

It is good to be a Christian.  You join a church not be eligibile for a scholarship, but to be apart of the body Christ.  There is accountibility in the church.  I wonder if folks don’t get baptized/join the church because they will be held accountable.  Sure does make one think.

Science & Faith

Wow! A recent article from the AP gives some good information. The Interstellar Boundary Explorer {Ibex} is 200,000 miles from Earth and is collecting particles that are seeping through the bubble that is around our solar system (http://news.yahoo.com/scientists-puzzled-region-outside-solar-system-231423099.html).

Now, some will say that science and faith do not mix. While others will say it does. It can be spurious to find something in the Bible and point to a “new” find as proof of what the Bible says as being right. I placed parentheses around new because it is new to us. What if the Bible and the primitive, less-Enlightened minds whom wrote/edited the Bible are correct in the description of how things are and how they work in this universe? There is a bubble around our solar system that keeps cosmic radiation from entering our solar system, and therefore keeping it from us. That is what the article says.

What does the Bible say? Isaiah 40:22 says that the Lord sits above the “circle of the earth” (NSRV). Job 22:14 has Eliphaz telling Job that God walks on the “dome of the heaven.” The context of this statement is that God is high in the heavens and yet God knows what is going on here on Earth.

Just from these two passages we see that there is more to Creation (which includes all of space) were made, maintained, and interacted with by the Lord God. I am not saying that science is wrong in describing the material that is around our solar system as a “bubble.” I am saying that faith allows us to see this article and comprehend the science fact as confirmation of a Biblical premise.

The great, big God who made the heavens and the earth has set up protection for those whom He loves. God loves all of His creatures (that would include you and me) and He does what is necessary to show that love. Our atmosphere protects us from solar radiation. The space giants, Jupiter & Saturn, protect us by absorbing meteors/comets that could have impacted Earth. Now, science says there is a “bubble” around our solar system protecting us from cosmic radiation. My faith in God is not based solely on this science fact. However, this science fact confirms/reinforces to me the knowledge of God’s love.

On the other hand, faith leads me to believe that there is much in Creation that God uses to show His grace and love. Let us explore, hypothesize, and confirm the Biblical premises that God has concern for us, the ones He has created. Science need not be our “god.” Faith need not be our “god.” But together science and faith can help us understand who God is and what He wants for us.

In Christ’s Service,
John Grimm

Resurrection

Friends,

To prepare for the Resurrection, we are to live for/with Christ now. Otherwise, how can we know the gain the God has for us? We live as forgiven people. We forgive people. We keep close to Jesus in our living days. The youth at the Resurrection event in Gatlinburg were reminded a bit of this idea. Committing ourselves to Jesus Christ is not just a one-time thing. We re-commit ourselves to Jesus Christ everyday. Who knows who is watching you live with Christ? There is more than God watching you! May all who see you live with Christ know Jesus Christ.

In Christ’s Service,

John Grimm

Gladeville-Mt. Olivet Circuit

The United Methodist Church

Calling

Jesus wants everyone. But does everyone want Jesus? When we do call upon Jesus, our life changes. We are not the same. This happens because we admit that we are no longer in control of our lives, but that Jesus is Lord of our lives.

I like the quote: “Believing in Jesus is a personal decision, but it is not private.” I don’t remember to whom this is credited to, but the statement is evident in how we live. Continuing to call on Jesus therefore means that our actions, attitudes, and words show that in deed Jesus is Lord of our lives.

I pray that all who read this may be able to call upon Jesus, and that continually throughout their lives. All of our lives will be different when we do!

Grief

As a pastor, I have witnessed people leave the church. Some were hurt by someone in the church. Others were forgotten by the church. Even others did not like what the church was doing. Each of these situations of leaving the church causes more pain. Paul, in Romans 9, mentions his grief and anguish about his own people not placing faith in Jesus.

As a pastor, it causes me grief to see people leave the church. What about you, do you grieve for people who have left the church? Or is your grief more about those who have not found Jesus through the church?

We can pray for those who have left the church. God will soften our hearts as we pray for them. And God will give us the words to say to those for whom our hearts are in anguish.

Will you pray for those who left the church?

Tips on Avoiding Temptations

Where in your life do you need God to help you fight temptation? Wherever it is, God can help you. He has give you His word – you can live with it. God is available – He is not far from you. He has you in His sights. God is able to give you more than the world can.

God can get you through your temptations. Are you ready for God in your life?