time to Celebrate, Grateful People Celebrate

Time to Celebrate

The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.—Exodus 15:2

The most grateful persons I know are those who have been through great hardships. The Pilgrims of 1620 and origins of our modern Thanksgiving holiday serve as one example. During the first winter on America’s shores, they lost ½ of their party. As they faced a second winter, grateful for having survived another year, they prepared for the hard, cold winter with a celebration of rejoicing and thanksgiving.

The children of Israel, spent over 400 years in Egypt. In the beginning they experienced blessing and favor. The final years, however, consisted of hardship and cruel forced labor. God finally delivered them from Egyptian enslavement through Moses’ leadership. They fled to freedom in the wilderness only to have Pharaoh change his mind and pursue them with his army.

In Exodus 15, they praised God for delivering them from their enemies. God parted the Red Sea, and the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. The sea flowed back onto the Egyptians and drowned them all. Their enemies were defeated, and they were finally free. They sang this song of celebration, “I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him” (vss. 1-2).

Considering the many opportunities we have to rejoice, give thanks, and celebrate, I am reminded how simplistic our rejoicing can be. For those of us who have lived life with few struggles, thanksgiving becomes an exercise in trying to consider what we should be thankful for. Those who suffer from great challenges, immediately know what to be thankful for.

Looking through the scriptures, one might be a bit shocked at the things the people of God rejoiced about. In Acts 5, after being arrested, threatened to never teach again in the Name of Jesus, and flogged, the Apostles rejoiced, “because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name” (vs. 41). 

Paul, the missionary evangelist, late coming Apostle, and human author of half of the New Testament, asked the Lord to remove from his life, a physical impairment, a thorn in the flesh. The Lord did not deliver him, but told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Paul responded by saying, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

One of the greatest reasons to rejoice and celebrate is for salvation. Through Jesus Christ, because of His sinless life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, we have been accepted, forgiven, and made children of God. Jesus taught, “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).

What struggles have you faced this past year? You may rejoice in the many ways God has sustained you. Celebrate the victories God has wrought in your life. And most of all, rejoice and celebrate that God loves you and included you when He said, “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Today is a good time to celebrate.

Randy Bain is the Senior Pastor of Oakland UM Church at 1504 Bedford Street, Johnstown, PA 15902. You may reach him through the church website www.oaklandonline.org.

Why church? because Jesus said so!

Why Church?

I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.—Mathew 16:18b

On membership Sundays at Oakland, those, who have taken the membership class and publicly professed Jesus as their personal Savior, join the church. I introduce this portion of the service with a paragraph from our Book of Worship:

Dear church family, the Church is of God, and will be preserved to the end of time, for the conduct of worship and the administration of His Word and Sacraments, the maintenance of Christian fellowship and discipline, the edification of believers, and the conversion of the world. All, of every age and station, stand in need of the means of grace which it alone supplies.

This paragraph gives a carefully thought out reason why the church exists. The Church exists to bring believers together to worship. Proclaiming the Word of God and celebrating the Sacraments are central to the universal Church and every local church. Christian fellowship is more than coffee and stories. It includes accountability, growth, and support. The Church exists for its members, “edification of believers,” and for those not yet members, “conversion of the world.”

A simpler and more authoritative reason for “Why Church” is because Jesus said so. My children and grandchildren used to ask a lot of questions. What is this? What is that for? And the inevitable, “Why questions?” Why do I have to keep my diaper on? Why do I have to share? Why can’t I play with matches? Why can’t I drive the family car to the after prom party? Why, why, why? As parents and grandparents, we do our best to give perfect and accurate answers to the whys? But eventually, we all get to the correct answer, “Because I said so.” End of discussion.

Why Church? Because Jesus said so—end of discussion. After Peter’s Confession of Jesus as the Christ the Son of the Living God, Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:17-18). Jesus said that He would build His Church and nothing could overcome it.

Why is there light? Because in the beginning God said, “‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). Why must we come to Jesus to be saved? Because Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Because the Bible says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Jesus Christ’s Church will be built and nothing can stop it. A bigger question is not “Why” but “Will you be part of God’s Kingdom?” Will you like Peter confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God? Will you receive God’s forgiveness in Jesus and invite the Holy Spirit to come live and lead in your life? There are many whys out there that you may never understand on this side of eternity. But, one thing you can know for certain. God loves you and calls you to come to Jesus to be saved.

Why Attend Church Services?

Why Attend Church Services?

Not giving up meeting together … but encouraging one another.—Hebrews 10:25

In America, church attendance seems to be dropping to all-time lows. Although many polls have reported that for the last 70 years about 40% of the population attend church on a regular basis, newer studies (cited in Outreach Magazine, April 10, 2018), have concluded the number to be now less than 20%. This must not be just a current problem because the Book of Hebrews urged the first century church to continue to meet regularly, “not giving up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing” (10:25).

Why do we attend church services? Many would say to worship God. This past Sunday, our worship leader commented that praise, at its simplest, means to compliment someone. In the case of worship, to compliment God. I had never thought of it that way. He went on to encourage us to spend the next 30 seconds complimenting God for who He is to us. These 30 seconds between songs became a very meaningful experience of worship for many of us.

The Oxford Living Dictionary defines “compliment” to mean, “Politely congratulate or praise (someone) for something,” or to “Praise (something) politely.” Some of my favorite persons are those who encourage others. They always seem to compliment things and people. I wonder if that is how God feels about us as we worship.

Many people today say they can worship God anywhere. We have turned church attendance into something we can take or leave because we have reduced worship to something we can do privately anywhere and anytime. It is true that Jesus told the woman at the well that “true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). “In the Spirit and in truth” does not mean by oneself.

Reading the context around Hebrews 10:25, we see the motivation for meeting together was not only to worship God, but to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” and “encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Spurring one another on and encouraging each other are not worship, but when we worship corporately, we become part of something bigger than ourselves and our own private agendas. We are part of a church family.

When we talk of worship, many of us think of singing. This is partially true. Even if we limit worship to singing, we find that we still encourage and spur each other on. Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 both teach us to use “Psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit” to speak to one another and to “teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.”

Our praise and worship are definitely directed toward God. We sing to and compliment an audience of One. I am always reminded that Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is Number One on a list of one, but as we sing and worship the Lord in the Spirit, we also encourage those around us. We worship God as a family. You can surely worship the Lord anytime and by yourself, which you should, but do not give “up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Randy Bain is the Senior Pastor of Oakland UM Church at 1504 Bedford Street, Johnstown, PA 15902. You may reach him through the church website www.oaklandonline.org.

What Does My LIfe Consist of? Finances

What is My Life?

One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.—Luke 12:15

When I was ten years old or so, I thought I got blamed for everything. I remember when my six siblings and I would get into trouble. Our parents would ask, “Who did this? Each of the three older children would respond, “I didn’t do it.” “Not me.” My parents’ question wasn’t “Did you do this;” rather, “Who did do it?” By the time it got to me, I guess my parents figured I had to have done it. The three younger children were still so innocent; so, I got blamed.

Think how silly it would be if we always answered questions with a negative. What time is it? It’s not noon. It’s not five o’clock. These negatives do not answer the question. When approached by a man with a request for money, Jesus warns him in a similar negative way.

A man came to Jesus and ask Jesus to command a brother to divide the inheritance with him. Jesus refused and then warned him about greed and covetousness. Jesus said, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Some translations phrase it as, “Watch out! Be on guard against all kinds of greed.”

Jesus said, “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” If our lives do not consist in the abundance of things; then, what do they consist of?

To covet means to desire, crave, or set your heart on something. Greed carries that desire to focus on things that belong to others. Jesus may have used this negative way of teaching because human beings appear to believe exactly the opposite of what Jesus said. We do think our lives consist of how many things we possess. Even after we quit using those things, we rent storage spaces, buy storage tubs, and fill our attics with things.

Our schedules reflect this same insatiable desire to have it all. We want our children in every activity, sport, and event. We try not to miss out on anything that might move us ahead. We stretch ourselves so thin because we fear saying, “No” may mean will have to sit still for a moment and consider what our lives do really consist of. We are so busy, going, getting, and trying to get even more. But Jesus warns us, “Watch out! Be on guard of every form of greed.”

In order to understand what Jesus was saying our lives do consist of, one must read the rest of the 12^th chapter of Luke. Jesus tells a story of a farmer who built bigger and bigger storage barns only to die rich in earthly things but poor toward God (12:16-21). Jesus then instructs us not to worry because we are more important than birds and lilies. Jesus makes a very profound statement that I believe tells us what our life does consist of. “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms…for where your treasure is there your heart will be also” (12:32-34).

As I read it, we consist of what we focus our hearts on. If we give away earthly things to show God’s love to others and focus on God’s Kingdom which has already been given to us, then we consist of God’s love, God’s heart, and God’s riches. Where is your focus today? What does your life consist of?

Randy Bain is the Senior Pastor of Oakland UM Church at 1504 Bedford Street, Johnstown, PA 15902. You may reach him through the church website www.oaklandonline.org.

Made to Serve, Jesus washes disciples' feet

Made to Serve

After that, he [Jesus] poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.—John 13:5

I remember hearing of a man who complained about a church’s request for a special offering to meet a specific need. In the same service, they asked for volunteers to help move a family from their flooded home. Finally, as the service concluded, worshippers were invited to join the community in a walk to raise money to feed the world. The man could not take it any longer. He greeted the pastor on the way out of the church with this rebuke, “Christianity! It is give, give, give. I think that’s all you people care about!” The minister paused to consider the complaint and responded, “Yes, I think you are about right. Christ gave for us and expects us to give in return.”

Although our tradition, the United Methodist Church, does not regularly practice foot washing as an ordinance, I have participated and led foot washing services many times. Recently, I conducted a wedding where the bride and groom washed each other’s feet immediately after saying their vows and before their first kiss as husband and wife.  It was so moving, and even though my position behind the couple partially blocked my view, it was a priceless moment filled with overwhelming emotion. Love and service are so intertwined.

This past week, Oakland was privileged to host the installation service for our new Johnstown District Superintendent. After being consecrated by the Bishop, members of the district gave him symbolic gifts. One of those gifts was a basin and a towel because leaders are among us to serve.

Jesus, at the Last Supper, took off His clothes, girded Himself as a slave, and “poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (John 13:5).  When Jesus finished washing the Disciples’ feet, He put His clothes back on and returned to His place at the table. He then began to teach them the meaning of the foot washing. Jesus said, “‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet’” (13:12-14).

When Jesus sent out the 12 Disciples, He did so with this commission, “Freely you have received; freely give” (Matthew 10:8). Jesus concluded the foot washing at the Last Supper by saying, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you…Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:15, 17).

Our good works of service will not and cannot save us. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us we are saved by grace as a gift of God. Our works do not save us so no one may boast. We have been saved, reconciled to God, and given a home in heaven by grace through faith as a gift. Ephesians 2:10 goes on to say, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Human beings are made and Christians are recreated in Christ to serve. Jesus has shown us by example that even leaders and teachers are made to serve. So, where are you serving? How are you serving at home, in the community, in the Church, and in our world? Jesus has given us an example and a command. Let us go and wash one another’s feet. You were made to serve.

Randy Bain is the Senior Pastor of Oakland UM Church at 1504 Bedford Street, Johnstown, PA 15902. You may reach him through the church website www.oaklandonline.org.

Triple-do-dare, Living in Victory over our enemy

Triple-dog-dare

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

—1 John 2:17

Growing up, we would often get each other into trouble by daring someone to do something risky or not permitted. Who would do it first? “I dare you” was the first response. If the dared person was unwilling or afraid, he could always reply, “I double dare you.” Now the challenge was squarely back on the other. Then, there was an ultimate, unable to be topped challenge, the “triple-dog-dare.” Now, the originally dared person must act or be labeled a chicken or fraidy-cat.

In the Christian life, the power of Satan and worldly desires have been defeated by Jesus’ blood and His sacrificial death and resurrection, but Satan continues to use lies and temptations to lead Christians astray. Colossians 1:3 tells us, “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.” If God has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and the world and its desires pass away, why do so many Christians live defeated lives?

Just like the triple-dog-dare, Satan and this world launches a triple attack upon those who would live godly lives. If we back up one verse in 1 John 2, we find verse 16 shows us three ways we get sucked back into wanting what the world offers. “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” We are not alone in this. Jesus Himself was tempted in these exact ways by Satan.

After His baptism, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. The first temptation concerned the lust of the flesh. Jesus was fasting—had not eaten for 40 days and was hungry. Satan tempted Him to turn the stones into bread. Jesus, with ultimate power and unlimited resources, could do anything He wanted. Jesus responded, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone’” (Luke 4:4).

How many of us are challenged in our bodily needs and desires. Our human need for food can become abused as gluttony. The world also uses triple-dog-dares to tempt us to eat more. The Chinese recipe for the Happy Family meal is also called Triple Delight because it includes shrimp, chicken, and beef. Many restaurants offer a tempting dessert, Triple Chocolate Delight, combining chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate fudge topping. Take it. Eat it. You can afford it. Food, clothing, intimacy, and shelter are all human, God-given needs that can be taken to the extreme and abused as sin.

Satan then tempted Jesus with “the lust of the eyes.” Satan offered all the kingdoms of this world to Jesus if He would worship Satan. Jesus could have it all without suffering and without the Cross, but the world would have remained lost in sin. Jesus refused. God alone is worthy of worship. Finally, Satan tempted Jesus with the “pride of life.” By jumping off the highest point of the Temple, angels would have rescued Jesus, and He could have said to all, “Look at Me.”

Let us keep our eyes on Jesus and receive the victory He purchased for each of us. We can defeat the attacks of the evil one and live in victory through the power of God’s Holy Spirit within each believer. Jesus has already “rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.” Let us live as children and heirs of the King.

Double-Down Faith, from the Sermon, "Where is God in Suffering?"

Double-Down Faith

The God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not.—Daniel 3:17-18

Doubling down began as a gambling term. Although I’m not a gambler, I believe “double-down” means to double your bet after seeing the first of two cards dealt to you. In modern politics, double-down has become frequently used to push a questionable position by doubling support for it in the face of increased criticism. I guess even preachers double-down sometimes. I remember a joke I heard about a preacher who would put the letters, “WPPP” in his sermon notes. WPPP stood for, “Weak Point, Pound Pulpit.”

Doubling-down is not always risky or ill-advised. At Oakland, we are in week 4 of a 10-week sermon series and small group study entitled, “Rooted.” The reading for Day 3 describes the “Double-Fisted Faith” of the three Hebrew children. In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego doubled-down on their faith when facing the fiery furnace for refusing to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s image of gold.

King Nebuchadnezzar erected a ninety foot image of gold. To dedicate the image, he decreed that whenever the music was played, every official and all peoples who heard the music must bow and worship the image. The three Hebrew children serving in the king’s court, being Jews, could not and would not bow. The punishment, “Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace” (Daniel 3:6).

The King gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego one last opportunity to bow, but before the music played, they refused again. Their response may be understood as a double-fisted or doubled-down faith. With one fist, they declared that God is all powerful and can rescue them from the blazing furnace. They believed He would. The second fist comes up, and they say with equal confidence, “But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (3:18).

The Hebrew children had faith in an all-powerful God. They also had hope that God would be with them and deliver them. But they surrendered to whatever circumstances they would face for their faith and disobedience to the government—faith, hope, and surrender.

As I read this passage, my mind immediately connected with Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest and crucifixion. He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus knew all things were possible with God. He had performed many, many miracles: fed the multitudes, healed the sick, and even raised the dead. Jesus knew His Heavenly Father could deliver Him, but then Jesus surrendered to what was to come.

You may be facing big challenges, today. Those around you, your circumstances, family or employer may be pressuring you do what you know you cannot do as a Christian. Follow the example and faith of the Hebrew children and Jesus. Double-down on your faith. Believe that God can do all things. Rest in the hope that the Lord is with you and will never let you down. And surrender to the consequences for doing what is right and following Jesus. Faith, hope, and surrender is a doubling down that is neither foolish nor risky.

Randy Bain is the Senior Pastor of Oakland UM Church at 1504 Bedford Street, Johnstown, PA 15902. You may reach him through the church website www.oaklandonline.org.

God Speaks

Speak, for your servant is listening.—1 Samuel 3:10

People often say, “I have never heard from God.” Many wonder if it is really possible to hear from God. We often look suspiciously upon people who continually say that God told them this or that. Does God still speak to people, today? My answer is a definite, “Yes!” God still speaks, and people can really hear and understand what God says.

God seeks to communicate with us. God speaks to us through the world and the universe He created. Psalm 19 tells us that “The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (vs. 1). Romans 1:20 says that God reveals Himself through creation, “For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.”

If God seeks to speak to us and we are willing to listen, hearing from God is very simple. God speaks in many ways: through creation, through the Bible, through circumstances, through other people, and in various supernatural ways. The Bible is full of stories where God spoke through angels, dreams, visions, and even once through a man’s donkey (Numbers 22). Most of all, God has given the Holy Spirit to every believer to teach, remind, and direct us in the ways of God.

In the Garden of Eden, God would walk in the garden and commune with Adam and Eve. After their fall into sin, God called to them, “Where are you” (Genesis 3:9)? God is not only the creator of all things, but God initiates communication with us. He calls to us.

The boy Samuel, who served in the Temple from childhood, had not yet heard God’s voice. Then God called to him in the night. Samuel arose from his bed and ran to the Eli the Priest thinking he was calling. This happened three times. On the third time, Eli realized God was speaking to the boy. He instructed Samuel, if it happened again, to reply, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9, 10). God called to Samuel again. Samuel replied as instructed, and Samuel began to regularly hear God’s voice.

Have you ever heard from God? If not, have you taken the time to quiet your life and circumstances and listen? Have you ever said like Samuel, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening?” God can speak as loud as a waterfall or tornado, but often only speaks as soft as a whisper. We must quiet ourselves, listen, and learn to recognize God’s voice.

God is still speaking; are you listening? Actually, God is continually speaking. Revelations 3:20 says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” The verb “knock” could be translated as “am knocking.” God continually seeks to communicate with human beings. If we seek to hear from God, take time to listen, and read God’s Word, the Holy Spirit will reveal what God is saying to your heart, mind, and soul.

We would do well to heed the old railroad crossing signs that read, “Stop, look and listen.” Stop; take time away from busyness and distractions. Look; read God’s word, observe God’s hand in creation. Listen; allow the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s voice to you. You just may be amazed to realize that God has been speaking to you all along.

Randy Bain is the Senior Pastor of Oakland UM Church at 1504 Bedford Street, Johnstown, PA 15902. You may reach him through the church website www.oaklandonline.org.

God Is Watching

So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”—Genesis 32:30

I am reading Charles Colson’s book, Being the Body, an updated and expanded edition of his original work, The Body. He titles Chapter 12, “Coram Deo.” Coram Deo literally means in the presence of God. It is a Latin phrase indicating Christians and the Church should live their lives for an audience of one, The One.

If we believe God is all-powerful (omnipotent), all-seeing, and all-knowing (omniscient), then Christians should live their lives as if God is watching. Living in God’s presence means we live under God’s authority and to God’s honor and glory. “God is watching” does not mean God functions as a cosmic policeman trying to catch us in every miscue like speeding or running a stop sign. God is our heavenly Father who loves us and cares about every aspect of our lives.

In Genesis 32, Jacob returns home to face his long estranged older twin brother, Esau. Jacob had bargained Esau out of his birthright for a bowl of soup (Genesis 25) and then stole Esau’s blessing from their dying father, Isaac (Genesis 27). Jacob, under the direction of his mother, flees to her brother, Laban’s house. There he meets and marries Laban’s two daughters, Leah and Rachel[RB1] . After working for 14 years for Laban and increasing his personal possessions, Jacob runs away from Laban back to face Esau.

To this point in Jacob’s life, Jacob lived up to the meaning of his name, heel grabber or supplanter. The idea of a supplanter is one who gets ahead by tripping up or overthrowing someone else. He succeeds at the expense of another. Jacob had always looked out for number one, himself not God. Jacob got ahead at home at Esau’s expense. He then improved his lot in life at Laban’s expense. Jacob lived life, like many of us today, for himself.

Up until his Peniel experience where he wrestled with the Angel of the Lord before facing Esau, Jacob lived in the presence of himself and his welfare. After wrestling with God, his name was changed to Israel, meaning one who struggles with God and with men and prevails (Genesis 32:28). From this time onward, Jacob (Israel) becomes a different person. Israel now begins to “coram deo,” live in and under the authority of God’s presence.

What about you? As many around us, even professing Christians, seem to live for themselves, are you living your life in God’s presence? If we seek to please and benefit ourselves only, we often sink lower and lower into failure and unhappiness. We might be climbing the ladder to success and even have more toys than many others, but we live defeated and frustrated lives.

Hebrews 12:2 tells us to turn our eyes upon Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith.” God is watching. God is looking upon your life with love and pity. God so loved the world, you, me, and every other person, that He gave His only begotten Son that we might live life to its fullest. We experience this full, joy-filled life when we live our lives as if God is watching. Coram deo: live your life in the presence of God today.

Randy Bain is the Senior Pastor of Oakland UM Church at 1504 Bedford Street, Johnstown, PA €15902. You may reach him through the church website www.oaklandonline.org.

---

 [RB1]

Showing Up

Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?—Matthew 26:40

I was thinking about a business quote I heard many years ago, “80 percent of success is just showing up.” I could not remember who said it first, but he/she must have been a very smart person. With a little research, I finally tracked down the quote’s originator, Woody Allen. As I read many of his other quotes, I began to wish someone else had said it first. Regardless of the source, there is a good spiritual lesson for each of us, “Show up.”

Whether it be as an employee, a parent, a student, a spouse, or a Christian, show up. Be there! As the fall season begins at Oakland, we are introducing a sermon and small group series entitled, “Rooted.” Roots are a good illustration for us as we often use the Oaktree and oak leaf as a logo. Folks will benefit most from the sermon series if they show up for Sunday morning worship and actually listen to and apply the sermon. The life groups will be beneficial only for those who sign up and then show up each week.

We are saved by grace. We cannot save ourselves, but growing as a follower of Jesus depends upon us showing up. Spiritual disciplines: prayer, a daily quiet time, worship attendance, sacrificially giving, telling our story, and serving are our responsibilities. God does what only God can do: save us, forgive us of our sins, and transform us into Jesus’ image. Then we must do what only we can do, show up! God will not do for us what we must do ourselves.

Jesus warned the Disciples in the Upper Room that they would all fall away from Him that night (Matthew 26:31). Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you” (vs. 35).  Jesus warned Peter to pray. Later in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked Peter, James, and John to pray with Him. Upon returning and finding them sleeping, Jesus commented, “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour” (vs. 40)?

The secret to success in prayer is to keep praying. The key to standing up to temptation is to obey the voice of the Holy Spirit and pray. I can do only what I can do. I cannot make God answer prayer and bless me. Like the water that comes out of the shower in my bathroom. Plumbers, the water authority, and someone else makes that happen. But I can stand under the shower head when the water comes out. I can show up each day to be cleansed.

The same is true spiritually. I cannot transform my heart and soul from the weak and fallen person that I am into the child of God Jesus sees in me, but, I can show up in prayer, show up in worship, show up in reading God’s word, show up in giving, and show up in positioning myself under the shower head of God’s blessings.

Yes, much of the success of growing into the image and likeness of Jesus is showing up. If I do my part and show up where Jesus instructs me to be, then God through the Holy Spirit will do God’s part of transforming and using me each day. Where do you need to show up, today? Your walk with the Lord? At home, at work, or in a relationship? Showing up is 80 percent of success on our part. The rest may not be up to us, but we must show up to receive and to contribute.

Randy Bain is the Senior Pastor of Oakland UM Church at 1504 Bedford Street, Johnstown, PA 15902. You may reach him through the church website www.oaklandonline.org.

Rooted in Community

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.­­—Acts 2:42

A funny thing happened last summer along Route 219 south. My wife and I had noticed some wisteria growing wild along the highway. The bluish-purple flowers vining up the trees broadcast their presence from a distance. Once, we wanted to transplant some from our vacation spot in South Carolina but had no access to the property. The hill along 219 looked like public land, and the wisteria was more like a weed than a valuable plant so we came up with a plan.

We would pull along the side of 219. I would run up the hill to the wisteria while Darlene watched for oncoming cars and the police. I wasn’t doing anything wrong but still felt a little guilty. When I got to the plants, I noticed vines were everywhere. Every stem seemed rooted into the ground at several places and was connected to every other vine. No real root-ball existed.

As I looked down to the road, I was shocked to see a local police car stopped behind my car and the trooper talking to my wife. She said, “My husband is just up there digging some weeds.” Now, I’m not sure, but I don’t think one should use the word husband and weed in the same sentence when speaking to the police. He said we were fine. He was checking out a report of an unconscious person in a car around the exit. Whew!

I was able to get a few rooted plants back home but was never able to get the wisteria to grow. It grew so well when connected via runners, vines, and roots to the rest of the plants, but by itself, it did not thrive. It actually rotted, shriveled up, and died.

Acts 2:42-47 is the classic passage describing the early growth of the 1^st Century Church. After the Disciples’ first sermon on the Day of Pentecost when 3,000 persons came to faith in Jesus, the new believers grew into their new found faith by becoming rooted in community. Verse 42 tells us they met together for instruction, fellowship, eating, and prayers. Verse 46, tells us they continued “with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart.” They worshipped in large numbers at the Temple. They met in smaller groups in individual homes. They served and practiced sacrificial generosity by providing for the needs of those around them.

In my own life, the times when I grew the most and was most joyful, were when I was rooted deeply in community. When Jesus first became a reality in my life, I was part of a Bible Study group in my college dorm. When I left school and joined a local church, I also joined a cottage Bible study of youth and young adults that met from house to house. On my first appointment as a pastor, a group of young people met in our home (often way past my bedtime) for study, prayer, food, and games. One of the sustaining elements at seminary was the Friday night prayer group and Sunday School class we attended. During all of these times, we were rooted in community. We met, prayed, laughed, studied, cried, ate, and served together.

Many folks today choose a church by the style of worship and the quality or delivery of the preacher but miss the point that they will grow best and be most blessed when they are rooted in a community of believers in small groups where they can pray, serve, and give sacrificially together. Just like the wisteria plant. Christians grow and thrive when rooted in community. Where is your community of faith? How are you sinking your roots deeply?

Randy Bain is the Senior Pastor of Oakland UM Church at 1504 Bedford Street, Johnstown, PA 15902. You may reach him through the church website www.oaklandonline.org.

A God Revolution

“I have not come to abolish them [the Law or the Prophets] but to fulfill them.”—Matthew 5:17b

During difficult economic times we often hear stories about the good old days. I have many treasured memories from my childhood but never thought of them as the good old days. My childhood would be better described as a time of innocence, or at least ignorance. I didn’t know how poor we were. My dad worked for a brick plant that was owned by the local clay mining company in St. Charles, PA. We did have an indoor toilet, but we bathed in a galvanized tub in the basement. Didn’t everyone? A special treat was when Dad would take my older brother and me to work and give us a shower in the company locker room.

When Jesus Christ began His earthly ministry at age 30, He proclaimed, “The time has come, the Kingdom of God is near” (Mark 1:15). Jesus began a God revolution. I am not referring to a rebellion, but a revolution. The original meaning of the word revolution is “the movement around something, one complete turn.” The earth makes one revolution around the sun every year. The moon makes a complete turn around the earth every month. Jesus came to bring the world one complete turn back to God’s original purpose in creation.

When we think of revolutions, we think of countries or peoples rebelling against the current government. They may be wishing to return to former better times, “the good old days,” but they seldom seek to return to God’s intended purpose. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. Jesus did not come to throw off the rule of God but to re-establish it. Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect human life, died, and rose again to reconcile fallen humanity to an intimate relationship with God.

Spiritually speaking, if we are to return to the good old days, we must go back farther than good memories from our childhood or a boom period for the church in the 1950s or 70s. We must return to the good old days of God’s intent for creation in the Garden of Eden. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had intimate fellowship with God and a carefree enjoyment of the natural world—no pollution, no recession, and no terrorism.

The New Testament describes a future where the blessings of God’s original creation are restored. The similarities between the opening chapters of the Bible and the last two chapters, Revelations 21-22 are amazing. The environment is described as a paradise. The river of God waters the land. The Tree of Life is available with an abundance of fruit to eat. God and human beings have close communion. Revelation 21:3 says, “Now the dwelling of God is with men … God himself will be with them and be their God.” Genesis describes streams watering the land and God walking with man and wife in the garden (Gen. 2:6, 3:8).

The God Revolution that Jesus brings makes it possible for you, me, and the entire world to make one complete turn back to God’s intended perfect world. Jesus Christ invites you and me to see, enter, and receive His Kingdom. Brian McClaren writes, “To see it, we need to repent and acknowledge how blind we have been, becoming teachable and ‘young’ again, like children. To enter it, we need to become a part of it, and to receive it, we let it become a part of us.”

Think about the best good old days you can remember. Wouldn’t returning to God and God’s good and perfect plan for your life be a thousand times better than anything you can imagine? Turn to God, receive His love and forgiveness. Start a God revolution in your life.