Gracious God,
Most of our lives we seek comfort, hope, love and peace. We involve ourselves in activities where we desire to receive these blessings. We pray you will forgive us, O Lord, when our focus is primarily on ourselves. The life of Jesus teaches us that we receive as we give away. May our focus be to provide comfort, hope, love and peace for others. In Jesus name, we pray, AMEN.
______________________________________________________________
Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Eric Koegel. Eric died yesterday morning at his home in Edmond. Please pray for his mother, Connie; his sister, Cindy Worthington; his former brother-in-law, Harry Hammonds and all his family.
The graveside for Betty Waddell is this afternoon. Please pray for her family.
Fig Newton sent the following email:
John, I got an email from a military friend saying that her mother had fallen a broke her hip and had to have it replaced. During the process they discovered she had a clogged carotid artery and needed immediate surgery. All surgeries were successful but he road to recovery will be long and difficult for her. Nancy has asked for prayers for her mother whom I call "Mom Sternisky" as she is from Switzerland and her first name is difficult to say. Fig
We welcome Mike and Tammy Skaggs into the membership of Central Christian Church. They joined during the 10:15 a.m. sanctuary service last Sunday.
Please pray for Sally Wheeler. She is a director at Crosspoint Camp.
The scripture for today is Matthew 24:36-44:
“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Prayer for Today, May 30 - Memorial Day
O Lord our Lord,
Today is a day of remembrance. We honor those who have gone before us on whose shoulders we stand. We honor those who have given their life in service to their country. We remember and we offer our respect. Surround us, O Lord, with Your love and empower us with Your grace. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.
________________________________________________
Tomorrow family and friends will honor Betty Waddell during a graveside service. The church is also providing a meal.
The tentative time for Abe Preston’s funeral is Friday at 2:00 p.m. Please watch the newspaper and future emails for a confirmation.
A number of us honored John McFaggen’s on his 101st birthday Saturday at Golden Oaks. It was a wonderful celebration.
The scripture for today is Matthew 24:32-35:
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Today is a day of remembrance. We honor those who have gone before us on whose shoulders we stand. We honor those who have given their life in service to their country. We remember and we offer our respect. Surround us, O Lord, with Your love and empower us with Your grace. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.
________________________________________________
Tomorrow family and friends will honor Betty Waddell during a graveside service. The church is also providing a meal.
The tentative time for Abe Preston’s funeral is Friday at 2:00 p.m. Please watch the newspaper and future emails for a confirmation.
A number of us honored John McFaggen’s on his 101st birthday Saturday at Golden Oaks. It was a wonderful celebration.
The scripture for today is Matthew 24:32-35:
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Prayer for Today, Sunday, May 29
O Lord our Lord,
Today and tomorrow we remember those who have gone before us, family, friends, those who served during time of war. We owe them all a great debt. May we honor their memories and pass on the legacy we have received. May we also, Dear Lord, catch a glimpse of Your eternity and their place in it. We are so blessed and we give You thanks. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
______________________________________________________
Mae Clark’s daughter, Gailene Squires, who lives in Virginia is dying. Please keep Mae and Gailene and their family in your prayers.
We pray for the families of Betty Waddell and Abe Preston as they make their way through the valley of the shadow of death. May God bring them comfort.
We will honor those loved ones who have died since last Memorial Day during our services of worship today.
Tomorrow the office will be closed for the holiday.
The scripture for today is Matthew 24:15-31:
“So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand),then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house; the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There he is!’ —do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Take note, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.“Immediately after the suffering of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The Psalm for this week is Psalm 46:
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Come, behold the works of the LORD; see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.”
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Today and tomorrow we remember those who have gone before us, family, friends, those who served during time of war. We owe them all a great debt. May we honor their memories and pass on the legacy we have received. May we also, Dear Lord, catch a glimpse of Your eternity and their place in it. We are so blessed and we give You thanks. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
______________________________________________________
Mae Clark’s daughter, Gailene Squires, who lives in Virginia is dying. Please keep Mae and Gailene and their family in your prayers.
We pray for the families of Betty Waddell and Abe Preston as they make their way through the valley of the shadow of death. May God bring them comfort.
We will honor those loved ones who have died since last Memorial Day during our services of worship today.
Tomorrow the office will be closed for the holiday.
The scripture for today is Matthew 24:15-31:
“So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand),then those in Judea must flee to the mountains; the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house; the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath. For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There he is!’ —do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Take note, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.“Immediately after the suffering of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven’ with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The Psalm for this week is Psalm 46:
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Come, behold the works of the LORD; see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.”
The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Prayer for Today, Saturday, May 28
Most Gracious God,
Your will for us is that we be whole and live in relationship with you. Forgive us, we pray, when we turn away. May we seek guidance and strength as we study scripture. May we experience Your Presence in our worship and our prayers. May we choose a course that will bring harmony to our lives and peace to our hearts. May our desire be to serve love You, love our neighbors and make disciples of Jesus Christ. It is in his name we pray, AMEN.
_______________________________________________
Abe Preston died at midnight Thursday evening. His funeral will be mid to late next week. Please pray for Abe’s family.
Betty Waddell died in Norman. She is Rocky Waddell’s mother, Maribel Moore’s sister, and Kacy Wallace and Cassi Shaw’s grandmother. Her graveside will be on Tuesday.
Jane Mercer is our only member hospitalized. She is at St. Mary’s.
I received the following email from Jana Davis about her mother Joan Ingmire:
...She is now in room #506 at the Commons and will be assessed Tues. for placement in assisted living. We've begun sorting through her house in anticipation of an estate sale and placing her house on the market. We'd appreciate your prayers!
Please continue to pray for Joan.
Tomorrow is our traditional recognition of those members and friends who have died since last Memorial Day. This will occur during the 10:15 sanctuary service.
I hope to see you in church tomorrow……
The scripture for today is 1 Kings 21:1-22:
Later the following events took place: Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. And Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house; I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.”But Naboth said to Ahab, “The LORD forbid that I should give you my ancestral inheritance.”Ahab went home resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, “I will not give you my ancestral inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would not eat.
His wife Jezebel came to him and said, “Why are you so depressed that you will not eat?”He said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it’; but he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”His wife Jezebel said to him, “Do you now govern Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal; she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. She wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth at the head of the assembly; seat two scoundrels opposite him, and have them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out, and stone him to death.”The men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. Just as it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, they proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the assembly. The two scoundrels came in and sat opposite him; and the scoundrels brought a charge against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city, and stoned him to death. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.”As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Go, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.”As soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab set out to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria; he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. You shall say to him, “Thus says the LORD: Have you killed, and also taken possession?” You shall say to him, “Thus says the LORD: In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will also lick up your blood.”Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you. Because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, I will bring disaster on you; I will consume you, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel; and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Your will for us is that we be whole and live in relationship with you. Forgive us, we pray, when we turn away. May we seek guidance and strength as we study scripture. May we experience Your Presence in our worship and our prayers. May we choose a course that will bring harmony to our lives and peace to our hearts. May our desire be to serve love You, love our neighbors and make disciples of Jesus Christ. It is in his name we pray, AMEN.
_______________________________________________
Abe Preston died at midnight Thursday evening. His funeral will be mid to late next week. Please pray for Abe’s family.
Betty Waddell died in Norman. She is Rocky Waddell’s mother, Maribel Moore’s sister, and Kacy Wallace and Cassi Shaw’s grandmother. Her graveside will be on Tuesday.
Jane Mercer is our only member hospitalized. She is at St. Mary’s.
I received the following email from Jana Davis about her mother Joan Ingmire:
...She is now in room #506 at the Commons and will be assessed Tues. for placement in assisted living. We've begun sorting through her house in anticipation of an estate sale and placing her house on the market. We'd appreciate your prayers!
Please continue to pray for Joan.
Tomorrow is our traditional recognition of those members and friends who have died since last Memorial Day. This will occur during the 10:15 sanctuary service.
I hope to see you in church tomorrow……
The scripture for today is 1 Kings 21:1-22:
Later the following events took place: Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. And Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house; I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.”But Naboth said to Ahab, “The LORD forbid that I should give you my ancestral inheritance.”Ahab went home resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, “I will not give you my ancestral inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would not eat.
His wife Jezebel came to him and said, “Why are you so depressed that you will not eat?”He said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it’; but he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”His wife Jezebel said to him, “Do you now govern Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal; she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. She wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth at the head of the assembly; seat two scoundrels opposite him, and have them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out, and stone him to death.”The men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. Just as it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, they proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the assembly. The two scoundrels came in and sat opposite him; and the scoundrels brought a charge against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city, and stoned him to death. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.”As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Go, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.”As soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab set out to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria; he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. You shall say to him, “Thus says the LORD: Have you killed, and also taken possession?” You shall say to him, “Thus says the LORD: In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will also lick up your blood.”Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you. Because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, I will bring disaster on you; I will consume you, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel; and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Friday, May 27, 2011
Prayer for Today, Friday, May 27
O God Who is Experienced as Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
We pray for the family of Austin Box who will be laid to rest today. May they know Your love and find comfort in You in the midst of this tragedy. We also pray for those victims of recent storms. Lives and property have been torn apart. Only You, O God, can heal the brokenness. This is our prayer in Jesus’ name, AMEN.
___________________________________________________
Have a safe and enjoyable weekend.
After the scripture you will find information from the Christian Church in Oklahoma about the tornado damage in our region and in Joplin.
The scripture reading for today is 1 Kings 19:1-15:
Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.”Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.”Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.”He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.”He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.
At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”He answered, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”He answered, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”Then the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram.
Christian Church In Oklahoma
Respond with Gifts to Week of Compassion
100% of your designated gift to the Week of Compassion will be used to support clean up and recovery efforts. Be sure to note "Joplin Tornado" or "Oklahoma Tornado" or some other effort that Week of Compassion is responding to in the short or long term. Visit their website to see how and to whom WOC has responded in 2011.
Remembering In Prayer
We lift up these persons and situations known to us and claim, "Lord, hear our prayer."
May 24 Tornado Update
by Gary Mitchell
Associate Regional Pastor
It has been two days since the tornado outbreak that damaged or destroyed lives and homes here in Oklalhoma. Local news media are reporting on the widespread damage, but I wanted to bring you an update on how Disciples have been effected and are responding to neighbors near and far away. Information shared is based on conversations with local pastors and or individuals I spoke to about the damage they sustained.
Guthrie: Several members sustained damage.
Wagoner: At least two members of First Christian had significant to minor damage to their homes.
Chickasha: Reports of damage at an apartment complex affected a member of Shepherd Street Christian Church, and Michael Oberlender, pastor of First Christian, sustained damage to his backyard.
Calumet: Christine Bell, pastor at FCC Chandler was visiting her parents in Calumet. Her car was damaged, and their house was destroyed. Her brothers house, across the road, also received some damage. Christine reports that volunteers with chainsaws may be needed in the area in the near future. We await her call.
El Reno: Some members have damage, including the loss of at least one home.
Fairview: Pastor Ronnie Hopkins of Central Christian Church reports some damage outside of town and that some damage happened in surrounding towns.
As of now, we do not have specific requests for physical assistance. Most pastors inform us that their affected members are waiting for insurance adjusters and are well.
We continue to lift all of those affected in prayer as they continue the process of clean up, repair or rebuilding.
To help immediately, contibute to Week of Compassion! They are in contact with our Regional Church and stand ready to help thanks to your previous and continuing generosity. Just click the WOC logo to the left for more info!
Joplin Tornado Clean Up Continues
Reaching Out to "Each as Any Had Need": Deadly Twisters Devastate Joplin Disciples
May 25, 2011 | Brandon Gilvin, WOC Associate Director
The numbers coming out of Joplin, MO, are overwhelming. According to news reports as of this morning, 123 people were killed by the tornado that ripped through Southwest Missouri this past Sunday, making it one of the deadliest tornados in the state’s history. Property damage is estimated in the millions, and the loss of life and livelihood will inevitably have a catastrophic impact on this close-knit community. We have been in touch with South Joplin Christian Church and Joplin’s First Christian Church. Many, many families from those congregations have lost their homes. Others have sustained extensive damage. Each and every member has a neighbor or friend or relative who is suffering unbelievable loss. The situation can only be described as devastating—with so many of our own Disciples families gravely affected. With the needs mounting, we need your help and hope. [Click the title to read more]
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
We pray for the family of Austin Box who will be laid to rest today. May they know Your love and find comfort in You in the midst of this tragedy. We also pray for those victims of recent storms. Lives and property have been torn apart. Only You, O God, can heal the brokenness. This is our prayer in Jesus’ name, AMEN.
___________________________________________________
Have a safe and enjoyable weekend.
After the scripture you will find information from the Christian Church in Oklahoma about the tornado damage in our region and in Joplin.
The scripture reading for today is 1 Kings 19:1-15:
Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.”Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.”Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.”He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.”He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.
At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”He answered, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”He answered, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”Then the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram.
Christian Church In Oklahoma
Respond with Gifts to Week of Compassion
100% of your designated gift to the Week of Compassion will be used to support clean up and recovery efforts. Be sure to note "Joplin Tornado" or "Oklahoma Tornado" or some other effort that Week of Compassion is responding to in the short or long term. Visit their website to see how and to whom WOC has responded in 2011.
Remembering In Prayer
We lift up these persons and situations known to us and claim, "Lord, hear our prayer."
May 24 Tornado Update
by Gary Mitchell
Associate Regional Pastor
It has been two days since the tornado outbreak that damaged or destroyed lives and homes here in Oklalhoma. Local news media are reporting on the widespread damage, but I wanted to bring you an update on how Disciples have been effected and are responding to neighbors near and far away. Information shared is based on conversations with local pastors and or individuals I spoke to about the damage they sustained.
Guthrie: Several members sustained damage.
Wagoner: At least two members of First Christian had significant to minor damage to their homes.
Chickasha: Reports of damage at an apartment complex affected a member of Shepherd Street Christian Church, and Michael Oberlender, pastor of First Christian, sustained damage to his backyard.
Calumet: Christine Bell, pastor at FCC Chandler was visiting her parents in Calumet. Her car was damaged, and their house was destroyed. Her brothers house, across the road, also received some damage. Christine reports that volunteers with chainsaws may be needed in the area in the near future. We await her call.
El Reno: Some members have damage, including the loss of at least one home.
Fairview: Pastor Ronnie Hopkins of Central Christian Church reports some damage outside of town and that some damage happened in surrounding towns.
As of now, we do not have specific requests for physical assistance. Most pastors inform us that their affected members are waiting for insurance adjusters and are well.
We continue to lift all of those affected in prayer as they continue the process of clean up, repair or rebuilding.
To help immediately, contibute to Week of Compassion! They are in contact with our Regional Church and stand ready to help thanks to your previous and continuing generosity. Just click the WOC logo to the left for more info!
Joplin Tornado Clean Up Continues
Reaching Out to "Each as Any Had Need": Deadly Twisters Devastate Joplin Disciples
May 25, 2011 | Brandon Gilvin, WOC Associate Director
The numbers coming out of Joplin, MO, are overwhelming. According to news reports as of this morning, 123 people were killed by the tornado that ripped through Southwest Missouri this past Sunday, making it one of the deadliest tornados in the state’s history. Property damage is estimated in the millions, and the loss of life and livelihood will inevitably have a catastrophic impact on this close-knit community. We have been in touch with South Joplin Christian Church and Joplin’s First Christian Church. Many, many families from those congregations have lost their homes. Others have sustained extensive damage. Each and every member has a neighbor or friend or relative who is suffering unbelievable loss. The situation can only be described as devastating—with so many of our own Disciples families gravely affected. With the needs mounting, we need your help and hope. [Click the title to read more]
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Prayer for Today, Thursday, May 26
O God,
In this still, quiet, beautiful morning we come to You with grateful hearts. As the day unfolds before us may we remember scripture’s mandate, emphasized by Jesus, to love You and love our neighbor. May we also recall Jesus’ specific call for his followers to “make disciples”. Often we are reluctant to share our faith with others. Please forgive us, Lord. May we find ways this day to share and live the Good News. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
______________________________________________
Today is Randy McWilliams’ father-in-law’s funeral in Drummond. Please pray for Randy’s family.
Linda Shaw’s sister, Sandra Sparks, died. Please pray for Sandra’s family.
Jane Mercer is hospitalized at St. Mary’s. Please pray for Jane.
This is Memorial Day weekend, the first holiday of the summer. May we remember for honor God with our worship. During the 10:15 a.m. sanctuary service we will remember those members who died since last Memorial Day.
The scripture for today is 1 Kings 18:20-39:
So Ahab sent to all the Israelites, and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel.
Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets number four hundred fifty. Let two bulls be given to us; let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it; I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the LORD; the god who answers by fire is indeed God.” All the people answered, “Well spoken!”Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many; then call on the name of your god, but put no fire to it.”So they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, crying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no answer. They limped about the altar that they had made. At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud! Surely he is a god; either he is meditating, or he has wandered away, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”Then they cried aloud and, as was their custom, they cut themselves with swords and lances until the blood gushed out over them. As midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice, no answer, and no response. Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come closer to me”; and all the people came closer to him. First he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down; Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, “Israel shall be your name”;with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he made a trench around the altar, large enough to contain two measures of seed. Next he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.”Then he said, “Do it a second time”; and they did it a second time. Again he said, “Do it a third time”; and they did it a third time, so that the water ran all around the altar, and filled the trench also with water. At the time of the offering of the oblation, the prophet Elijah came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your bidding. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and even licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD indeed is God; the LORD indeed is God.”
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
In this still, quiet, beautiful morning we come to You with grateful hearts. As the day unfolds before us may we remember scripture’s mandate, emphasized by Jesus, to love You and love our neighbor. May we also recall Jesus’ specific call for his followers to “make disciples”. Often we are reluctant to share our faith with others. Please forgive us, Lord. May we find ways this day to share and live the Good News. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
______________________________________________
Today is Randy McWilliams’ father-in-law’s funeral in Drummond. Please pray for Randy’s family.
Linda Shaw’s sister, Sandra Sparks, died. Please pray for Sandra’s family.
Jane Mercer is hospitalized at St. Mary’s. Please pray for Jane.
This is Memorial Day weekend, the first holiday of the summer. May we remember for honor God with our worship. During the 10:15 a.m. sanctuary service we will remember those members who died since last Memorial Day.
The scripture for today is 1 Kings 18:20-39:
So Ahab sent to all the Israelites, and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel.
Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets number four hundred fifty. Let two bulls be given to us; let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it; I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the LORD; the god who answers by fire is indeed God.” All the people answered, “Well spoken!”Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many; then call on the name of your god, but put no fire to it.”So they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, crying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no answer. They limped about the altar that they had made. At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud! Surely he is a god; either he is meditating, or he has wandered away, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”Then they cried aloud and, as was their custom, they cut themselves with swords and lances until the blood gushed out over them. As midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice, no answer, and no response. Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come closer to me”; and all the people came closer to him. First he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down; Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, “Israel shall be your name”;with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he made a trench around the altar, large enough to contain two measures of seed. Next he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.”Then he said, “Do it a second time”; and they did it a second time. Again he said, “Do it a third time”; and they did it a third time, so that the water ran all around the altar, and filled the trench also with water. At the time of the offering of the oblation, the prophet Elijah came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your bidding. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and even licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD indeed is God; the LORD indeed is God.”
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Prayer for Today, Wednesday, May 25
O Loving God,
We know how we feel in our hearts, yet our actions often betray us. We seek to be loving, kind and encouraging, but our interactions with others are impacted by tight schedules, confrontations and competing voices that seek our attention. May others forgive us as we seek to make amends. May You forgive us, Dear Lord, when we allow the pressures of life to smother our loving responses to You and to others. Today, may we take deep breathes that help to calm our spirits and clear the clutter from our lives. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
_____________________________________________
Our prayers go out to all those impacted by yesterday’s storms. We had over 100 people in the Storm Central room (youth room) and basement for a couple of hours.
We received the following email from Jana Davis:
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi, guys!
Just to let you know...Mother will be moving to skilled nursing at the Commons on Thurs. She will probably be assessed on Fri. or Mon. then move into assisted living (Trinity House) there sometime next week. An apartment came open sooner than expected (a God thing, I believe), so she'll be able to move in as soon as we get her things moved in.
Her address will be 3706 King St., #3025. Maybe this could be published in next week's VISITOR? John, I think this could go out in the email; just be sure people are aware she won't be there for a week or so. Also, I know she'd appreciate receiving homebound communion. Hopefully I'll get her to services occasionally, but I don't see that happening in the near future.
Thanks so much for your prayers,
Jana
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Anita Townley’s funeral is today at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Please pray for her family and friends.
The scripture for yesterday and today is 1 Kings 17:1-24:
Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”The word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Go from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the wadi, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”So he went and did according to the word of the LORD; he went and lived by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the wadi.But after a while the wadi dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying,“Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.”So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.”As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”But she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth.”She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.
After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. She then said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!”But he said to her, “Give me your son.” He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed. He cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?”Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, let this child’s life come into him again.”The LORD listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.”So the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.”
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
We know how we feel in our hearts, yet our actions often betray us. We seek to be loving, kind and encouraging, but our interactions with others are impacted by tight schedules, confrontations and competing voices that seek our attention. May others forgive us as we seek to make amends. May You forgive us, Dear Lord, when we allow the pressures of life to smother our loving responses to You and to others. Today, may we take deep breathes that help to calm our spirits and clear the clutter from our lives. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
_____________________________________________
Our prayers go out to all those impacted by yesterday’s storms. We had over 100 people in the Storm Central room (youth room) and basement for a couple of hours.
We received the following email from Jana Davis:
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi, guys!
Just to let you know...Mother will be moving to skilled nursing at the Commons on Thurs. She will probably be assessed on Fri. or Mon. then move into assisted living (Trinity House) there sometime next week. An apartment came open sooner than expected (a God thing, I believe), so she'll be able to move in as soon as we get her things moved in.
Her address will be 3706 King St., #3025. Maybe this could be published in next week's VISITOR? John, I think this could go out in the email; just be sure people are aware she won't be there for a week or so. Also, I know she'd appreciate receiving homebound communion. Hopefully I'll get her to services occasionally, but I don't see that happening in the near future.
Thanks so much for your prayers,
Jana
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Anita Townley’s funeral is today at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Please pray for her family and friends.
The scripture for yesterday and today is 1 Kings 17:1-24:
Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”The word of the LORD came to him, saying, “Go from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the wadi, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”So he went and did according to the word of the LORD; he went and lived by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the wadi.But after a while the wadi dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying,“Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.”So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.”As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”But she said, “As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. For thus says the LORD the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth.”She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.
After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. She then said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!”But he said to her, “Give me your son.” He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed. He cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?”Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, let this child’s life come into him again.”The LORD listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.”So the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.”
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Prayer for Today, Tuesday, May 24
O God,
Our prayer today is for the people of Joplin, their family and friends. Give them strength, Dear God, as they search, rescue, recover and start to rebuild. May Your Presence empower them during this heart-wrenching time. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
____________________________________________________
Yesterday afternoon we received the following email from Gary Mitchell and Tom Jewell:
++++++++++++++++++
Dear Friends,
The Oklahoma Regional Church stands ready to assist our sisters and brothers in Joplin, Missouri following yesterday’s devastating tornado.
We have been in touch with the Mid-America (Missouri) Area Minister, the Rev. Mike Weinman who reports: “Initial information is that South Joplin CC has suffered damage, windows blown out, probably roof damage and water in the sanctuary. First Christian was not damaged and was being used as a shelter on Sunday night. Both congregations have families who have lost homes, businesses and places of employment. Both congregations are trying to identify and locate members of their congregations to see how the church can respond. ”
We are volunteering housing and transportation to those in need. Week of Compassion has already been in touch with the pastors of the congregations affected and will be offering direct financial aid.
For now, the best thing all of us can do is reflected in the phrase: Pray, Pay, and Stay. If your congregation would like to make a financial gift you may do so through Week of Compassion or through the Oklahoma Regional Church. Please indicate “Joplin Tornado Relief”. While many might want to travel to Joplin, please wait. Stay in your community until we know exactly the kind of assistance that will be most helpful. We will send out notice when and as it is appropriate for volunteers to be involved.
Please keep the people of Joplin in your prayers.
In Christ,
Rev. Gary Mitchell, Associate Regional Pastor (Disaster Relief Coordinator)
Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Jewell, Regional Pastor
++++++++++++++++++++
I am in OKC. I will include today’s scripture reading in tomorrow’s email.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Our prayer today is for the people of Joplin, their family and friends. Give them strength, Dear God, as they search, rescue, recover and start to rebuild. May Your Presence empower them during this heart-wrenching time. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
____________________________________________________
Yesterday afternoon we received the following email from Gary Mitchell and Tom Jewell:
++++++++++++++++++
Dear Friends,
The Oklahoma Regional Church stands ready to assist our sisters and brothers in Joplin, Missouri following yesterday’s devastating tornado.
We have been in touch with the Mid-America (Missouri) Area Minister, the Rev. Mike Weinman who reports: “Initial information is that South Joplin CC has suffered damage, windows blown out, probably roof damage and water in the sanctuary. First Christian was not damaged and was being used as a shelter on Sunday night. Both congregations have families who have lost homes, businesses and places of employment. Both congregations are trying to identify and locate members of their congregations to see how the church can respond. ”
We are volunteering housing and transportation to those in need. Week of Compassion has already been in touch with the pastors of the congregations affected and will be offering direct financial aid.
For now, the best thing all of us can do is reflected in the phrase: Pray, Pay, and Stay. If your congregation would like to make a financial gift you may do so through Week of Compassion or through the Oklahoma Regional Church. Please indicate “Joplin Tornado Relief”. While many might want to travel to Joplin, please wait. Stay in your community until we know exactly the kind of assistance that will be most helpful. We will send out notice when and as it is appropriate for volunteers to be involved.
Please keep the people of Joplin in your prayers.
In Christ,
Rev. Gary Mitchell, Associate Regional Pastor (Disaster Relief Coordinator)
Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Jewell, Regional Pastor
++++++++++++++++++++
I am in OKC. I will include today’s scripture reading in tomorrow’s email.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Monday, May 23, 2011
Prayer for Today, Monday, May 23
Eternal Hope,
Our trust is in You. From Everlasting to everlasting You are our God. Forgive us when we let doctrines, interpretations, and formal and informal creeds separate us from one another. With Christ as our Polar Star may we find ways to work together to share the Good News, to live the Good News, and to be the Good News for a broken and hurting world. Pour out Your Spirit, we pray, that our faith might burst into flames and our desire to serve You consume us. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
__________________________________________________________
Randy McWilliams father-in-law died. His funeral will be in Drummond on Thursday. Please pray for Randy and his family.
Maxine Shepherd had back surgery this morning. Please pray for a speedy recovery.
Myrla Powell will have eye surgery on Wednesday in OKC. Please pray for Myrla.
Judie Stocks and Eric Koegel have been released from the hospital. Please pray for continued healing.
The scripture for today is 1 Kings 8:22-43:
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven. He said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart, the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand. Therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father David that which you promised him, saying, ‘There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me. ‘Therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant my father David.“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built! Regard your servant’s prayer and his plea, O LORD my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today; that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed and forgive.“If someone sins against a neighbor and is given an oath to swear, and comes and swears before your altar in this house, then hear in heaven, and act, and judge your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing their conduct on their own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding them according to their righteousness.“When your people Israel, having sinned against you, are defeated before an enemy but turn again to you, confess your name, pray and plead with you in this house, then hear in heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land that you gave to their ancestors.“When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, and then they pray toward this place, confess your name, and turn from their sin, because you punish them, then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk; and grant rain on your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.“If there is famine in the land, if there is plague, blight, mildew, locust, or caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in any of their cities; whatever plague, whatever sickness there is; whatever prayer, whatever plea there is from any individual or from all your people Israel, all knowing the afflictions of their own hearts so that they stretch out their hands toward this house; then hear in heaven your dwelling place, forgive, act, and render to all whose hearts you know—according to all their ways, for only you know what is in every human heart—so that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our ancestors.“Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name—for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm—when a foreigner comes and prays toward this house, then hear in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Our trust is in You. From Everlasting to everlasting You are our God. Forgive us when we let doctrines, interpretations, and formal and informal creeds separate us from one another. With Christ as our Polar Star may we find ways to work together to share the Good News, to live the Good News, and to be the Good News for a broken and hurting world. Pour out Your Spirit, we pray, that our faith might burst into flames and our desire to serve You consume us. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
__________________________________________________________
Randy McWilliams father-in-law died. His funeral will be in Drummond on Thursday. Please pray for Randy and his family.
Maxine Shepherd had back surgery this morning. Please pray for a speedy recovery.
Myrla Powell will have eye surgery on Wednesday in OKC. Please pray for Myrla.
Judie Stocks and Eric Koegel have been released from the hospital. Please pray for continued healing.
The scripture for today is 1 Kings 8:22-43:
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven. He said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart, the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand. Therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father David that which you promised him, saying, ‘There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me. ‘Therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant my father David.“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built! Regard your servant’s prayer and his plea, O LORD my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today; that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed and forgive.“If someone sins against a neighbor and is given an oath to swear, and comes and swears before your altar in this house, then hear in heaven, and act, and judge your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing their conduct on their own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding them according to their righteousness.“When your people Israel, having sinned against you, are defeated before an enemy but turn again to you, confess your name, pray and plead with you in this house, then hear in heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land that you gave to their ancestors.“When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, and then they pray toward this place, confess your name, and turn from their sin, because you punish them, then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk; and grant rain on your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.“If there is famine in the land, if there is plague, blight, mildew, locust, or caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in any of their cities; whatever plague, whatever sickness there is; whatever prayer, whatever plea there is from any individual or from all your people Israel, all knowing the afflictions of their own hearts so that they stretch out their hands toward this house; then hear in heaven your dwelling place, forgive, act, and render to all whose hearts you know—according to all their ways, for only you know what is in every human heart—so that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our ancestors.“Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name—for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm—when a foreigner comes and prays toward this house, then hear in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Prayer for Today, Sunday, May 22
Divine Love,
You are the God of all creation. You watch over us, care for us, sustain us with Your Presence and encourage us with the many ways You are revealed to us. We see You in the beauty of the world, because You have given us the ability to observe and reflect. We see You in scripture, the sacred texts which have come to us through time. We see You in the great tradition of the church. While many interpretations are different, tradition is one of the vehicles for Your revelation to all generations. And, O God, we see You in the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Forgive us, Loving God, when we squabble over our different understandings of You. May we come to know and experience You in all Your mystery and glory. It is in Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.
________________________________________________
Please pray for the Townley and Box families as they lay their loved ones to rest this week.
Bring a friend to Sunday school and church today.
The scripture reading for today is 1 Kings 3:16-28:
16Later, two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.17The one woman said, “Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house.18Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were together; there was no one else with us in the house, only the two of us were in the house.19Then this woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on him.20She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your servant slept. She laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast.21When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, I saw that he was dead; but when I looked at him closely in the morning, clearly it was not the son I had borne.”22But the other woman said, “No, the living son is mine, and the dead son is yours.” The first said, “No, the dead son is yours, and the living son is mine.” So they argued before the king.23Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead’; while the other says, ‘Not so! Your son is dead, and my son is the living one.’”24So the king said, “Bring me a sword,” and they brought a sword before the king.25The king said, “Divide the living boy in two; then give half to the one, and half to the other.”26But the woman whose son was alive said to the king—because compassion for her son burned within her—“Please, my lord, give her the living boy; certainly do not kill him!” The other said, “It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it.”27Then the king responded: “Give the first woman the living boy; do not kill him. She is his mother.”28All Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered; and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him, to execute justice.
The Psalm for this week is Psalm 9:1-11:
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
When my enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished before you.
For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment.
You have rebuked the nations, you have destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name forever and ever.
The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins; their cities you have rooted out; the very memory of them has perished.
But the LORD sits enthroned forever, he has established his throne for judgment.
He judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with equity.
The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion. Declare his deeds among the peoples.
Grace and Peace,
John McLemore
You are the God of all creation. You watch over us, care for us, sustain us with Your Presence and encourage us with the many ways You are revealed to us. We see You in the beauty of the world, because You have given us the ability to observe and reflect. We see You in scripture, the sacred texts which have come to us through time. We see You in the great tradition of the church. While many interpretations are different, tradition is one of the vehicles for Your revelation to all generations. And, O God, we see You in the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Forgive us, Loving God, when we squabble over our different understandings of You. May we come to know and experience You in all Your mystery and glory. It is in Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.
________________________________________________
Please pray for the Townley and Box families as they lay their loved ones to rest this week.
Bring a friend to Sunday school and church today.
The scripture reading for today is 1 Kings 3:16-28:
16Later, two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.17The one woman said, “Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house.18Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were together; there was no one else with us in the house, only the two of us were in the house.19Then this woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on him.20She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your servant slept. She laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast.21When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, I saw that he was dead; but when I looked at him closely in the morning, clearly it was not the son I had borne.”22But the other woman said, “No, the living son is mine, and the dead son is yours.” The first said, “No, the dead son is yours, and the living son is mine.” So they argued before the king.23Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead’; while the other says, ‘Not so! Your son is dead, and my son is the living one.’”24So the king said, “Bring me a sword,” and they brought a sword before the king.25The king said, “Divide the living boy in two; then give half to the one, and half to the other.”26But the woman whose son was alive said to the king—because compassion for her son burned within her—“Please, my lord, give her the living boy; certainly do not kill him!” The other said, “It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it.”27Then the king responded: “Give the first woman the living boy; do not kill him. She is his mother.”28All Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered; and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him, to execute justice.
The Psalm for this week is Psalm 9:1-11:
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
When my enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished before you.
For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment.
You have rebuked the nations, you have destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name forever and ever.
The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins; their cities you have rooted out; the very memory of them has perished.
But the LORD sits enthroned forever, he has established his throne for judgment.
He judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with equity.
The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion. Declare his deeds among the peoples.
Grace and Peace,
John McLemore
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Prayer for Today, Saturday, May 21
O Lord of All Creation,
So often our prayers are filled with “asks”. Today, instead of “asking” we will focus on Your love and grace.
We remember the power of Your forgiveness.
We open our hearts to Jesus.
We come to You now in silence to listen and receive. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
We pray in Jesus’ name, AMEN.
___________________________________________________________
Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Anita Townley. She died yesterday morning and her funeral will be at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday in the sanctuary.
Please continue to pray for the Box family.
Marianna Powell is now at Golden Oaks Skilled Nursing.
Gene Carlson and Judie Stocks are at St. Mary’s.
Joan Ingmire is at St. Mary’s. She will go to skilled nursing at the Commons on Thursday.
Please pray for all our hospitalized and grieving.
The scripture for today is Matthew 24:1-14:
As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. Then he asked them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birthpangs.“Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
So often our prayers are filled with “asks”. Today, instead of “asking” we will focus on Your love and grace.
We remember the power of Your forgiveness.
We open our hearts to Jesus.
We come to You now in silence to listen and receive. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
We pray in Jesus’ name, AMEN.
___________________________________________________________
Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Anita Townley. She died yesterday morning and her funeral will be at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday in the sanctuary.
Please continue to pray for the Box family.
Marianna Powell is now at Golden Oaks Skilled Nursing.
Gene Carlson and Judie Stocks are at St. Mary’s.
Joan Ingmire is at St. Mary’s. She will go to skilled nursing at the Commons on Thursday.
Please pray for all our hospitalized and grieving.
The scripture for today is Matthew 24:1-14:
As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. Then he asked them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birthpangs.“Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Friday, May 20, 2011
Prayer for Today, Friday, May 20
O Divine Presence,
We believe, forgive our unbelief. There are times when we are unable to reconcile our understanding that You are a loving and gracious God in the midst of the horror and tragedies of life. Natural disasters, crippling disease, the death of those still young. . .none of it makes sense to us. In the midst of the doubt and the pain we hear, continually, the words of the lamenting psalmist, “But still will I trust in You”. Help us to realize, Loving God, that You don’t cause these things to happen, but You walk with us through the experiences. May we know that our tears and pain cause tears to stream down Your face. In the depths, in the sorrow, in the grief, and in the pain, You are there. You surround us with Your everlasting arms and You empower new life to rise from of the ashes. We trust in You. AMEN.
___________________________________________________________
Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Austin Box. Austin spent his younger years at Central Christian Church.
Judie Stocks is in the hospital.
Please offer special prayers for Anita Townley. She is getting weaker every day.
Offer special prayers for those children, youth and teachers who are already out of school and those whose last day is today.
The scripture for today is Matthew 23:37-39:
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
We believe, forgive our unbelief. There are times when we are unable to reconcile our understanding that You are a loving and gracious God in the midst of the horror and tragedies of life. Natural disasters, crippling disease, the death of those still young. . .none of it makes sense to us. In the midst of the doubt and the pain we hear, continually, the words of the lamenting psalmist, “But still will I trust in You”. Help us to realize, Loving God, that You don’t cause these things to happen, but You walk with us through the experiences. May we know that our tears and pain cause tears to stream down Your face. In the depths, in the sorrow, in the grief, and in the pain, You are there. You surround us with Your everlasting arms and You empower new life to rise from of the ashes. We trust in You. AMEN.
___________________________________________________________
Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Austin Box. Austin spent his younger years at Central Christian Church.
Judie Stocks is in the hospital.
Please offer special prayers for Anita Townley. She is getting weaker every day.
Offer special prayers for those children, youth and teachers who are already out of school and those whose last day is today.
The scripture for today is Matthew 23:37-39:
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Prayer for Today, Thursday, May 19
Dear Creator God,
Often we fail to acknowledge that You surround us, each moment of our lives, with Your love. Forgive us, Dear God. Today we will practice Your presence with us. We will take brief moments during the course of our work, play, study and rest to say “Thank You” to You. The mystery of Your grace abounds in our midst. Even as we draw an intentional, deep breath, may our gratitude be expressed to You. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
______________________________________________
Joan Ingmire is still in St. Mary’s Hospital. Please pray for Joan.
Gene Carlson has been moved to St. Mary’s rehab. Cindy says he is improving and will probably be there for a couple of weeks.
Eric Koegel is hoping to be released from the hospital in Dallas this week and return to his home in Edmond. Please pray for Joan, Gene and Eric.
At the Board meeting last night it was decided we will open our facility to Calvary Chapel, the congregation that lost their building to fire. Some of the details need to be worked out, but they should begin their services on June 5th. I am so proud of our church and this expression of love and hospitality.
I am free!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The doctor removed the dressing on my nose yesterday and the graft is healing. I will be using a band-aid for a while, but I am free of that sewn on dressing and can now be seen in public. Thanks again for your expressions of love and concern.
The scripture for today is Matthew 23:25-36:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets. ‘Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors. You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell?
Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that upon you may come all the righteous bloodshed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Often we fail to acknowledge that You surround us, each moment of our lives, with Your love. Forgive us, Dear God. Today we will practice Your presence with us. We will take brief moments during the course of our work, play, study and rest to say “Thank You” to You. The mystery of Your grace abounds in our midst. Even as we draw an intentional, deep breath, may our gratitude be expressed to You. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
______________________________________________
Joan Ingmire is still in St. Mary’s Hospital. Please pray for Joan.
Gene Carlson has been moved to St. Mary’s rehab. Cindy says he is improving and will probably be there for a couple of weeks.
Eric Koegel is hoping to be released from the hospital in Dallas this week and return to his home in Edmond. Please pray for Joan, Gene and Eric.
At the Board meeting last night it was decided we will open our facility to Calvary Chapel, the congregation that lost their building to fire. Some of the details need to be worked out, but they should begin their services on June 5th. I am so proud of our church and this expression of love and hospitality.
I am free!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The doctor removed the dressing on my nose yesterday and the graft is healing. I will be using a band-aid for a while, but I am free of that sewn on dressing and can now be seen in public. Thanks again for your expressions of love and concern.
The scripture for today is Matthew 23:25-36:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth. So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets. ‘Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors. You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell?
Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that upon you may come all the righteous bloodshed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Prayer for Today, Wednesday, May 18
O Love That Will Not Let Us Go,
You surround us with Your tender mercies and we give You thanks. Today we reflect on those who were pillars of faith upon whose shoulders we figuratively stand: those in our family, those in our church, former ministers, youth ministers, elders, teachers and friends. We do not come to this day solely by our own efforts. We are in relationship with You, O God, because others showed us Your Love, others introduced us to an understanding of Your grace, others taught us the Bible passages, and others modeled the Christ-like life. Now, Dear God, the responsibility is ours. May the sacrificial efforts of our mentors be lived out in us. May we seek to influence and lift up those who are following. We live in changing times, but, with Your guidance, we are equal to the task. Give us strength and courage as we pass the torch of faith to new generations. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
___________________________________________________
Eric Koegel is still hospitalized at the Baylor Medical Center. They did surgically implant a tube. He hopes to be able to return home by the weekend. Please continue to pray for Eric and his family.
I go to the plastic surgeon this morning to have the dressing removed. I am optimistic that things will be back to normal.
The Bell Choir is rehearsing tonight at 6:00 p.m.
The Board meets this evening at 7:30 p.m.
Today’s scripture reading is Matthew 23:16-24:
“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath. ‘You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath. ‘How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; and whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears by it and by the one who dwells in it; and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
You surround us with Your tender mercies and we give You thanks. Today we reflect on those who were pillars of faith upon whose shoulders we figuratively stand: those in our family, those in our church, former ministers, youth ministers, elders, teachers and friends. We do not come to this day solely by our own efforts. We are in relationship with You, O God, because others showed us Your Love, others introduced us to an understanding of Your grace, others taught us the Bible passages, and others modeled the Christ-like life. Now, Dear God, the responsibility is ours. May the sacrificial efforts of our mentors be lived out in us. May we seek to influence and lift up those who are following. We live in changing times, but, with Your guidance, we are equal to the task. Give us strength and courage as we pass the torch of faith to new generations. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
___________________________________________________
Eric Koegel is still hospitalized at the Baylor Medical Center. They did surgically implant a tube. He hopes to be able to return home by the weekend. Please continue to pray for Eric and his family.
I go to the plastic surgeon this morning to have the dressing removed. I am optimistic that things will be back to normal.
The Bell Choir is rehearsing tonight at 6:00 p.m.
The Board meets this evening at 7:30 p.m.
Today’s scripture reading is Matthew 23:16-24:
“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath. ‘You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred? And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath. ‘How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it; and whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears by it and by the one who dwells in it; and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Prayer for Today, Tuesday, May 17
Creator of All That Is,
You have blessed us with the bounty of Your hands and have called us to be good stewards. Help us to understand, O Lord, that we are caretakers, not owners. We are caretakers of the earth, of resources, even of the talents and abilities you have gifted us. May we take these responsibilities to heart, being wise in our choices and generous in our actions. May we do deeds today, for others and for your creation, that will please You, O Lord. Empower us to act in Jesus name, AMEN.
___________________________________________________
The Worship Committee meeting scheduled for this evening has been canceled.
The Board will meet tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m. All Elders, Deacons, Committee Chairs and Board Officers are encouraged to attend.
Please pray for Anna Coffman and her family, Anna’s son-in-law died unexpectedly.
The scripture reading for today is Matthew 23:13-15:
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
You have blessed us with the bounty of Your hands and have called us to be good stewards. Help us to understand, O Lord, that we are caretakers, not owners. We are caretakers of the earth, of resources, even of the talents and abilities you have gifted us. May we take these responsibilities to heart, being wise in our choices and generous in our actions. May we do deeds today, for others and for your creation, that will please You, O Lord. Empower us to act in Jesus name, AMEN.
___________________________________________________
The Worship Committee meeting scheduled for this evening has been canceled.
The Board will meet tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m. All Elders, Deacons, Committee Chairs and Board Officers are encouraged to attend.
Please pray for Anna Coffman and her family, Anna’s son-in-law died unexpectedly.
The scripture reading for today is Matthew 23:13-15:
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Monday, May 16, 2011
Prayer for Today, Monday, May 16
Gracious God,
You have placed with us a yearning to be in relationship with You. There is an emptiness only You can fill, yet we often attempt to be completed by consumption, seeking power and influence, or acquisitiveness. All our attempts are empty and vain. Forgive us, O God. May we turn to You, knowing You are always there. Our decision must be to open our hearts to the power and mystery of Your grace, then we are filled to overflowing. Grant us the courage to live as You call us to live, loving You and loving our neighbor. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
__________________________________________
Barb Newton had a successful procedure in OKC on Friday to implant a port for dialysis. She is not on dialysis yet, but this is in preparation to a future possibility. Please continue to pray for Barb.
Mary Johnson is having cataract surgery this morning at the Surgery Center. Please pray for Mary and a successful surgery.
I am “masked” until Wednesday morning. Thank you for all your prayers and concerns. I should be “back in the saddle” Wednesday afternoon.
There is a very important Board meeting this Wednesday evening. It is the last one for this planning year. The Nominating Committee will present a slate of new Elders, Deacons, Elders Emeritus and Special Gifts Trustees. All will require later congregational approval.
May we discern God’s will for us as we proceed ahead.
The scripture for today is Matthew 23:1-12:
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
You have placed with us a yearning to be in relationship with You. There is an emptiness only You can fill, yet we often attempt to be completed by consumption, seeking power and influence, or acquisitiveness. All our attempts are empty and vain. Forgive us, O God. May we turn to You, knowing You are always there. Our decision must be to open our hearts to the power and mystery of Your grace, then we are filled to overflowing. Grant us the courage to live as You call us to live, loving You and loving our neighbor. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
__________________________________________
Barb Newton had a successful procedure in OKC on Friday to implant a port for dialysis. She is not on dialysis yet, but this is in preparation to a future possibility. Please continue to pray for Barb.
Mary Johnson is having cataract surgery this morning at the Surgery Center. Please pray for Mary and a successful surgery.
I am “masked” until Wednesday morning. Thank you for all your prayers and concerns. I should be “back in the saddle” Wednesday afternoon.
There is a very important Board meeting this Wednesday evening. It is the last one for this planning year. The Nominating Committee will present a slate of new Elders, Deacons, Elders Emeritus and Special Gifts Trustees. All will require later congregational approval.
May we discern God’s will for us as we proceed ahead.
The scripture for today is Matthew 23:1-12:
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Prayer for Today, Sunday, May 15
O Divine Presence,
This is the day You have made. It is the Sabbath, a day to worship You, to participate in the bounty of creation, a day for leisure, rest and reflection. May we use this Sabbath day to be refreshed and renewed. May we allow the power and presence of Your Spirit to enter our hearts. Embolden us, Loving God, to stand in contrast to the busyness of the culture this day, and to bask in the wonder of Your love. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
____________________________________________________
Please pray for our hospitalized: Marianna Powell, Joan Ingmire, Gene Carlson, and Eric Koegel.
Today we honor our high school seniors. CONGRATULATIONS!
We are back in the New Testament for our scripture reading this week (plus a Psalm). Today ‘s scripture is Matthew 22:34-46:
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. ‘This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ‘On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question:“What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.”He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”‘? If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?”No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
The Psalm for this week is Psalm 5:
Give ear to my words, O LORD; give heed to my sighing.
Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.
For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil will not sojourn with you.
The boastful will not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.
You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful.
But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house, I will bow down toward your holy temple in awe of you.
Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.
For there is no truth in their mouths; their hearts are destruction; their throats are open graves; they flatter with their tongues.
Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of their many transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult in you.
For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover them with favor as with a shield.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
This is the day You have made. It is the Sabbath, a day to worship You, to participate in the bounty of creation, a day for leisure, rest and reflection. May we use this Sabbath day to be refreshed and renewed. May we allow the power and presence of Your Spirit to enter our hearts. Embolden us, Loving God, to stand in contrast to the busyness of the culture this day, and to bask in the wonder of Your love. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
____________________________________________________
Please pray for our hospitalized: Marianna Powell, Joan Ingmire, Gene Carlson, and Eric Koegel.
Today we honor our high school seniors. CONGRATULATIONS!
We are back in the New Testament for our scripture reading this week (plus a Psalm). Today ‘s scripture is Matthew 22:34-46:
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. ‘This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ‘On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question:“What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.”He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”‘? If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?”No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
The Psalm for this week is Psalm 5:
Give ear to my words, O LORD; give heed to my sighing.
Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.
For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil will not sojourn with you.
The boastful will not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.
You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful.
But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house, I will bow down toward your holy temple in awe of you.
Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.
For there is no truth in their mouths; their hearts are destruction; their throats are open graves; they flatter with their tongues.
Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of their many transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult in you.
For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover them with favor as with a shield.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Prayer for Today, Saturday, May 14
O God our God,
We awaken to the beauty of Your creation all about us. Our morning prayer is, "Thank You". Today is a day filled with promise and hope. We celebrate our graduating seniors. Please pour out Your Spirit on them as they ponder the next part of their journey. We thank you for the approaching summer and opportunities for play and leisure. Help us to pause and make time for Sabbath, where our schedules are free and we can rest in the glory of Your Presence. All this we ask in Jesus name, AMEN.
_________________________________________________
I received the following email from Eric Koegel, Connie's son. He has been at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas for over two weeks. I edited it somewhat.
5/12-13/2011
Day 14… Things are looking up. Maybe I’ll be leaving soon, but I’m not rushing it. I definitely don’t want to go too soon. If after I go home and start feeling like I was before, then I have to come back down and have a permanent tube inserted in my belly. They are talking Monday if things progress like they are. One can only hope. That’s where the prayers come in. I really don’t want to have a permanent tube just yet.
My spirits are up. I’m missing my dog, my bed, my church, my internet connection… well, you know.
Day 15… Well I got the potassium disconnected yesterday so I’m free from one of the tubes now. I look for the TPN to come off sometime this weekend maybe.
Thanks for keeping the prayers alive!
Please continue to pray for Eric.
Today John and Carol Ingram celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary with a reception at the church from 2 - 4 p.m. Come celebrate with the Ingrams.
Tomorrow is Senior Sunday. WOW! They will have a breakfast at 9:00 a,m, and then will participate in both 10:15 a.m. services. Be sure to look at their tables in the loggia.
I am doing fine, actually enjoying the unplanned vacation. My neck, where they took the graft, is healing nicely. It appears my nose is doing OK, although it is hard to tell with the "sewn on" bolster/covering. I am ready for this to be over. I know....patience. I have been doing copious amounts of reading and that is good and I have gotten out from time to time to run an errand or two. I should be back on Wednesday.
The scripture reading for today is 1 Kings 3:3-15:
Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places.4The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.”6And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today.7And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.8And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted.9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”10It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.11God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,12I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.13I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you.14If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.”15Then Solomon awoke; it had been a dream. He came to Jerusalem where he stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. He offered up burnt offerings and offerings of well-being, and provided a feast for all his servants.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
We awaken to the beauty of Your creation all about us. Our morning prayer is, "Thank You". Today is a day filled with promise and hope. We celebrate our graduating seniors. Please pour out Your Spirit on them as they ponder the next part of their journey. We thank you for the approaching summer and opportunities for play and leisure. Help us to pause and make time for Sabbath, where our schedules are free and we can rest in the glory of Your Presence. All this we ask in Jesus name, AMEN.
_________________________________________________
I received the following email from Eric Koegel, Connie's son. He has been at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas for over two weeks. I edited it somewhat.
5/12-13/2011
Day 14… Things are looking up. Maybe I’ll be leaving soon, but I’m not rushing it. I definitely don’t want to go too soon. If after I go home and start feeling like I was before, then I have to come back down and have a permanent tube inserted in my belly. They are talking Monday if things progress like they are. One can only hope. That’s where the prayers come in. I really don’t want to have a permanent tube just yet.
My spirits are up. I’m missing my dog, my bed, my church, my internet connection… well, you know.
Day 15… Well I got the potassium disconnected yesterday so I’m free from one of the tubes now. I look for the TPN to come off sometime this weekend maybe.
Thanks for keeping the prayers alive!
Please continue to pray for Eric.
Today John and Carol Ingram celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary with a reception at the church from 2 - 4 p.m. Come celebrate with the Ingrams.
Tomorrow is Senior Sunday. WOW! They will have a breakfast at 9:00 a,m, and then will participate in both 10:15 a.m. services. Be sure to look at their tables in the loggia.
I am doing fine, actually enjoying the unplanned vacation. My neck, where they took the graft, is healing nicely. It appears my nose is doing OK, although it is hard to tell with the "sewn on" bolster/covering. I am ready for this to be over. I know....patience. I have been doing copious amounts of reading and that is good and I have gotten out from time to time to run an errand or two. I should be back on Wednesday.
The scripture reading for today is 1 Kings 3:3-15:
Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places.4The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.
5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.”6And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today.7And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.8And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted.9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”10It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.11God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,12I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.13I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you.14If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.”15Then Solomon awoke; it had been a dream. He came to Jerusalem where he stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. He offered up burnt offerings and offerings of well-being, and provided a feast for all his servants.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Prayer for Today, Friday, May 13
O Divine Mercy,
We live in a world that places so much emphasis on cures and much less emphasis on healing. We thank You, Loving God, for the amazing advances in medicine and the wonderful gifts shared by physicians that allow us to be cured of so many diseases and maladies. We pray also for healing, healing of body, but also mind and spirit. You are the source of true healing. May Your Spirit flow through us and bring us to an understand that we must depend on You. Attune our minds and spirits to Your grace and ever-present love. We pray for wholeness, physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally, for ourselves and those near to us. Bring healing, O Lord. We pray in the name of the Healer from Nazareth. AMEN.
_________________________________________________
Please pray for cures and healing for our sick and hospitalized.
Senior Sunday is upon us. Please pray for our high school graduates. They will process and be recognized at the 10:15 a.m. traditional service and then move to the Revive and Renew service to hear Austin Hula and Zach Jones speak to them. It will be a great day. Sorry I will miss it.
I am doing fine. I looked at the schedule again. It won’t be until Wednesday when I go back to the plastic surgeon and, hopefully, return to normal outside activity. I am getting a lot of reading done, however.
The scripture for today is 2 Samuel 23:1-7:
Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, son of Jesse, the oracle of the man whom God exalted, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the favorite of the Strong One of Israel: The spirit of the LORD speaks through me, his word is upon my tongue. The God of Israel has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: One who rules over people justly, ruling in the fear of God, is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land. Is not my house like this with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. Will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire? But the godless are all like thorns that are thrown away; for they cannot be picked up with the hand; to touch them one uses an iron bar or the shaft of a spear. And they are entirely consumed in fire on the spot.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
We live in a world that places so much emphasis on cures and much less emphasis on healing. We thank You, Loving God, for the amazing advances in medicine and the wonderful gifts shared by physicians that allow us to be cured of so many diseases and maladies. We pray also for healing, healing of body, but also mind and spirit. You are the source of true healing. May Your Spirit flow through us and bring us to an understand that we must depend on You. Attune our minds and spirits to Your grace and ever-present love. We pray for wholeness, physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally, for ourselves and those near to us. Bring healing, O Lord. We pray in the name of the Healer from Nazareth. AMEN.
_________________________________________________
Please pray for cures and healing for our sick and hospitalized.
Senior Sunday is upon us. Please pray for our high school graduates. They will process and be recognized at the 10:15 a.m. traditional service and then move to the Revive and Renew service to hear Austin Hula and Zach Jones speak to them. It will be a great day. Sorry I will miss it.
I am doing fine. I looked at the schedule again. It won’t be until Wednesday when I go back to the plastic surgeon and, hopefully, return to normal outside activity. I am getting a lot of reading done, however.
The scripture for today is 2 Samuel 23:1-7:
Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, son of Jesse, the oracle of the man whom God exalted, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the favorite of the Strong One of Israel: The spirit of the LORD speaks through me, his word is upon my tongue. The God of Israel has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: One who rules over people justly, ruling in the fear of God, is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land. Is not my house like this with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. Will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire? But the godless are all like thorns that are thrown away; for they cannot be picked up with the hand; to touch them one uses an iron bar or the shaft of a spear. And they are entirely consumed in fire on the spot.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Prayer for Today, Thursday, May 12
Lord of All Creation,
You create symphonies in our souls. There is a rhythm and rhyme to Your Presence in the universe. You invite us to “tune” ourselves to the major chords of Creation so that we might be in harmony with You. Our hearts leap when Your melodies are played within us. Grant that we may always be able to hear and to respond with our own songs of life, love and hope. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
________________________________________________
Birdene Schoonover is now at Greenbriar. Please pray for her continued recovery.
Plan to celebrate Senior Sunday with our high school graduates this Sunday.
I am doing fine. I got out a little yesterday with my mask. The skin graft seems to be doing OK, it just still looks terrible. I am taking the opportunity to use this time at home to do long overdue correspondence and a lot of reading.
The scripture for today is 2 Samuel 19:1-8:
It was told Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops; for the troops heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.”The troops stole into the city that day as soldiers steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle. The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!”Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your officers who have saved your life today, and the lives of your sons and your daughters, and the lives of your wives and your concubines, for love of those who hate you and for hatred of those who love you. You have made it clear today that commanders and officers are nothing to you; for I perceive that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. So go out at once and speak kindly to your servants; for I swear by the LORD, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night; and this will be worse for you than any disaster that has come upon you from your youth until now.”Then the king got up and took his seat in the gate. The troops were all told, “See, the king is sitting in the gate”; and all the troops came before the king. Meanwhile, all the Israelites had fled to their homes.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
You create symphonies in our souls. There is a rhythm and rhyme to Your Presence in the universe. You invite us to “tune” ourselves to the major chords of Creation so that we might be in harmony with You. Our hearts leap when Your melodies are played within us. Grant that we may always be able to hear and to respond with our own songs of life, love and hope. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
________________________________________________
Birdene Schoonover is now at Greenbriar. Please pray for her continued recovery.
Plan to celebrate Senior Sunday with our high school graduates this Sunday.
I am doing fine. I got out a little yesterday with my mask. The skin graft seems to be doing OK, it just still looks terrible. I am taking the opportunity to use this time at home to do long overdue correspondence and a lot of reading.
The scripture for today is 2 Samuel 19:1-8:
It was told Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops; for the troops heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.”The troops stole into the city that day as soldiers steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle. The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!”Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your officers who have saved your life today, and the lives of your sons and your daughters, and the lives of your wives and your concubines, for love of those who hate you and for hatred of those who love you. You have made it clear today that commanders and officers are nothing to you; for I perceive that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. So go out at once and speak kindly to your servants; for I swear by the LORD, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night; and this will be worse for you than any disaster that has come upon you from your youth until now.”Then the king got up and took his seat in the gate. The troops were all told, “See, the king is sitting in the gate”; and all the troops came before the king. Meanwhile, all the Israelites had fled to their homes.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Prayer for Today, Wednesday, May 11
O Holy Presence,
It is difficult, at times, to see You in the faces of others, because we allow envy, strife, frustration, and anger to separate us from those around us. Such attitudes blind us to reality that everyone is created in Your image. It is too easy to embrace the values of the world which dictate response rather than initiative. We let the deeds of others cloud our understanding of Jesus’ mandates to “turn the other cheek”, “walk the second mile”, “forgive seventy times seven” and even to “love your enemies”. Please forgive us, Lord. Help us to move the rhetoric of the faith into the actions of life. We offer this prayer in the name of the one who, while dying, said, “Father, forgive them”. AMEN.
___________________________________________________
Jean Long’s hip replacement surgery was successful. She will be in St. Mary’s Hospital for a few days. Please pray for her recovery.
My little nose issue has turned into quite an ordeal. I had a skin graft at the Surgery Center yesterday morning where skin was removed from my neck and attached to my nose. Frankly, it was much more involved than I had anticipated. I am fine, but, because of the way it was done, I am staying out of the public eye for a while. When I do go out for brief times I will be wearing a mask just to cover the site. Right now a bandage won’t do. I go back to the plastic surgeon next Tuesday. After that everything should be fine. Right now I am taking vacation time and will be reading and writing at home. If you need me, please call my cell phone at 402-2522.
The scripture for today is 2 Samuel 18:24-33:
Now David was sitting between the two gates. The sentinel went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he looked up, he saw a man running alone. The sentinel shouted and told the king. The king said, “If he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth.” He kept coming, and drew near. Then the sentinel saw another man running; and the sentinel called to the gatekeeper and said, “See, another man running alone!” The king said, “He also is bringing tidings.”The sentinel said, “I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good tidings.”Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “All is well!” He prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground, and said, “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.”The king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I do not know what it was.”The king said, “Turn aside, and stand here.” So he turned aside, and stood still. Then the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, “Good tidings for my lord the king! For the LORD has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you.”The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to do you harm, be like that young man.”The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
It is difficult, at times, to see You in the faces of others, because we allow envy, strife, frustration, and anger to separate us from those around us. Such attitudes blind us to reality that everyone is created in Your image. It is too easy to embrace the values of the world which dictate response rather than initiative. We let the deeds of others cloud our understanding of Jesus’ mandates to “turn the other cheek”, “walk the second mile”, “forgive seventy times seven” and even to “love your enemies”. Please forgive us, Lord. Help us to move the rhetoric of the faith into the actions of life. We offer this prayer in the name of the one who, while dying, said, “Father, forgive them”. AMEN.
___________________________________________________
Jean Long’s hip replacement surgery was successful. She will be in St. Mary’s Hospital for a few days. Please pray for her recovery.
My little nose issue has turned into quite an ordeal. I had a skin graft at the Surgery Center yesterday morning where skin was removed from my neck and attached to my nose. Frankly, it was much more involved than I had anticipated. I am fine, but, because of the way it was done, I am staying out of the public eye for a while. When I do go out for brief times I will be wearing a mask just to cover the site. Right now a bandage won’t do. I go back to the plastic surgeon next Tuesday. After that everything should be fine. Right now I am taking vacation time and will be reading and writing at home. If you need me, please call my cell phone at 402-2522.
The scripture for today is 2 Samuel 18:24-33:
Now David was sitting between the two gates. The sentinel went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he looked up, he saw a man running alone. The sentinel shouted and told the king. The king said, “If he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth.” He kept coming, and drew near. Then the sentinel saw another man running; and the sentinel called to the gatekeeper and said, “See, another man running alone!” The king said, “He also is bringing tidings.”The sentinel said, “I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good tidings.”Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “All is well!” He prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground, and said, “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.”The king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I do not know what it was.”The king said, “Turn aside, and stand here.” So he turned aside, and stood still. Then the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, “Good tidings for my lord the king! For the LORD has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you.”The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to do you harm, be like that young man.”The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Prayer for Today, Tuesday, May 10
Dear God,
We affirm the life you have given us. May we be mirrors for Your love and grace. Sometimes we are drawn away from You by the currents of the culture or our desire to impress others. Forgive us we pray. May our heartfelt desire be to live as You have called us to live. In Jesus name we pray.
_________________________________________________________
Ruth Webb has been dismissed from the hospital. Gene Carlson is back at Bass Hospital. Please pray for both of them.
The plastic surgeon decided I needed a skin graft on my nose. That will now be done today. Thank you for your continued prayers.
The scripture for today is 2 Samuel 18:1-15:
Then David mustered the men who were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. And David divided the army into three groups: one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the men, “I myself will also go out with you.”But the men said, “You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore it is better that you send us help from the city.”The king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands. The king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders concerning Absalom. So the army went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. The men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand menthe battle spread over the face of all the country; and the forest claimed more victims that day than the sword.
Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. A man saw it, and told Joab, “I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”Joab said to the man who told him, “What, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.”But the man said to Joab, “Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying: For my sake protect the young man Absalom! On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.”Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” He took three spears in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive in the oak. And ten young men, Joab’s armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him, and killed him.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
We affirm the life you have given us. May we be mirrors for Your love and grace. Sometimes we are drawn away from You by the currents of the culture or our desire to impress others. Forgive us we pray. May our heartfelt desire be to live as You have called us to live. In Jesus name we pray.
_________________________________________________________
Ruth Webb has been dismissed from the hospital. Gene Carlson is back at Bass Hospital. Please pray for both of them.
The plastic surgeon decided I needed a skin graft on my nose. That will now be done today. Thank you for your continued prayers.
The scripture for today is 2 Samuel 18:1-15:
Then David mustered the men who were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. And David divided the army into three groups: one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the men, “I myself will also go out with you.”But the men said, “You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore it is better that you send us help from the city.”The king said to them, “Whatever seems best to you I will do.” So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands. The king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders concerning Absalom. So the army went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. The men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand menthe battle spread over the face of all the country; and the forest claimed more victims that day than the sword.
Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. A man saw it, and told Joab, “I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.”Joab said to the man who told him, “What, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.”But the man said to Joab, “Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not raise my hand against the king’s son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying: For my sake protect the young man Absalom! On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.”Joab said, “I will not waste time like this with you.” He took three spears in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive in the oak. And ten young men, Joab’s armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him, and killed him.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Monday, May 9, 2011
Prayer for Today, Monday, May 9
O God of Mystery and of Grace,
We rejoice in this day, may it be a day of wonder for us. Forgive us, O Lord, when our life is devoid of pauses. Help us to find brief moments today and every day to absorb the beauty of Your creation, to see Your movement in the lives of others, to feel You with us, and to give You thanks. Perhaps it is no more than the time for a deep breath, but it is time when we focus on You. Paul tells us in Romans that the Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. May our pauses open us to the movement of the Your Spirit. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
____________________________________________________
Yesterday was a wonderful Mother’s Day at Central Christian Church. Congratulations to Eunice “Barney” Barnes for being this year’s Mother of the Year.
Please continue to pray for Birdene Schoonover, Ruth Webb, Marianna Powell, Joan Ingmire and Eric Koegel, who are all hospitalized.
Please pray for me today. I see the plastic surgeon this morning so he can repair my nose.
May God touch our hearts in ways that empower us to invite and welcome others into our faith community.
The scripture for today is 2 Samuel 12:14-24:
Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child that is born to you shall die.”
Then Nathan went to his house. The LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became very ill. David therefore pleaded with God for the child; David fasted, and went in and lay all night on the ground. The elders of his house stood beside him, urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, “While the child was still alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us; how then can we tell him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.”But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, he perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.”Then David rose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes. He went into the house of the LORD, and worshiped; he then went to his own house; and when he asked, they set food before him and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive; but when the child died, you rose and ate food.”He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me, and the child may live. ‘But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”Then David consoled his wife Bathsheba, and went to her, and lay with her; and she bore a son, and he named him Solomon. The LORD loved him,
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
We rejoice in this day, may it be a day of wonder for us. Forgive us, O Lord, when our life is devoid of pauses. Help us to find brief moments today and every day to absorb the beauty of Your creation, to see Your movement in the lives of others, to feel You with us, and to give You thanks. Perhaps it is no more than the time for a deep breath, but it is time when we focus on You. Paul tells us in Romans that the Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. May our pauses open us to the movement of the Your Spirit. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
____________________________________________________
Yesterday was a wonderful Mother’s Day at Central Christian Church. Congratulations to Eunice “Barney” Barnes for being this year’s Mother of the Year.
Please continue to pray for Birdene Schoonover, Ruth Webb, Marianna Powell, Joan Ingmire and Eric Koegel, who are all hospitalized.
Please pray for me today. I see the plastic surgeon this morning so he can repair my nose.
May God touch our hearts in ways that empower us to invite and welcome others into our faith community.
The scripture for today is 2 Samuel 12:14-24:
Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child that is born to you shall die.”
Then Nathan went to his house. The LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became very ill. David therefore pleaded with God for the child; David fasted, and went in and lay all night on the ground. The elders of his house stood beside him, urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, “While the child was still alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us; how then can we tell him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.”But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, he perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.”Then David rose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes. He went into the house of the LORD, and worshiped; he then went to his own house; and when he asked, they set food before him and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive; but when the child died, you rose and ate food.”He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me, and the child may live. ‘But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”Then David consoled his wife Bathsheba, and went to her, and lay with her; and she bore a son, and he named him Solomon. The LORD loved him,
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Prayer for Today, Sunday, May 8 Mother's Day
O Loving and Gracious God,
We stand before You as Your grateful children. You are beyond gender, but, on this Mother’s day, we reflect on all the qualities of mothers who love their children that exemplify Your love for us. Hold us in Your arms, O God, and draw us close to You. May our hearts resonate with the beat of Your heart. You care for us. You nurture us. You love us, regardless of our response to You. Even when we walk away from You we live in Your memory and in Your heart. Your forgiveness knows no bounds. Your tender and gentle touch encourages us to step out on our own to become the people You have created us to be. Thank You, Creator God, for Your mothering Spirit. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
_________________________________________________
Joan Ingmire was admitted to St. Mary’s hospital yesterday. She joins Birdene Schoonover, Marianna Powell, and Ruth Webb.
Eric Koegel, Connie’s son, is still hospitalized in OKC. Now, he too, is receiving these daily email prayers. Please continue to pray for Eric.
Our hearts go out to our sisters and brothers at Calvary Chapel. They will meet in the Oakwood Activity Center today.
Thank you for all the kind words about my nose surgery. I will have a smaller bandage on it today (less clown-like). Tomorrow I see the plastic surgeon. Remember to wear and put SPF 45 on your children and grandchildren!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tammy Hromas sent the following announcement: “Please join John and Carol Ingram as they celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary from 2-4pm on May 14th in the Fellowship Hall.”
We are back in the Old Testament this week. The scripture for today is 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13:
When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD,
and the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.”Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the LORD: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very sun. For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.”David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan said to David, “Now the LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die.
The Psalm for this week is Psalm 105:1-10, 24-28:
O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually.
Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
He is mindful of his covenant forever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,
which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
And the LORD made his people very fruitful, and made them stronger than their foes,
whose hearts he then turned to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.
He sent his servant Moses, and Aaron whom he had chosen.
They performed his signs among them, and miracles in the land of Ham.
He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they rebelled against his words.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
We stand before You as Your grateful children. You are beyond gender, but, on this Mother’s day, we reflect on all the qualities of mothers who love their children that exemplify Your love for us. Hold us in Your arms, O God, and draw us close to You. May our hearts resonate with the beat of Your heart. You care for us. You nurture us. You love us, regardless of our response to You. Even when we walk away from You we live in Your memory and in Your heart. Your forgiveness knows no bounds. Your tender and gentle touch encourages us to step out on our own to become the people You have created us to be. Thank You, Creator God, for Your mothering Spirit. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
_________________________________________________
Joan Ingmire was admitted to St. Mary’s hospital yesterday. She joins Birdene Schoonover, Marianna Powell, and Ruth Webb.
Eric Koegel, Connie’s son, is still hospitalized in OKC. Now, he too, is receiving these daily email prayers. Please continue to pray for Eric.
Our hearts go out to our sisters and brothers at Calvary Chapel. They will meet in the Oakwood Activity Center today.
Thank you for all the kind words about my nose surgery. I will have a smaller bandage on it today (less clown-like). Tomorrow I see the plastic surgeon. Remember to wear and put SPF 45 on your children and grandchildren!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tammy Hromas sent the following announcement: “Please join John and Carol Ingram as they celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary from 2-4pm on May 14th in the Fellowship Hall.”
We are back in the Old Testament this week. The scripture for today is 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13:
When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD,
and the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.”Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul; I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. Thus says the LORD: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very sun. For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.”David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan said to David, “Now the LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die.
The Psalm for this week is Psalm 105:1-10, 24-28:
O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually.
Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
He is mindful of his covenant forever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,
which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
And the LORD made his people very fruitful, and made them stronger than their foes,
whose hearts he then turned to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.
He sent his servant Moses, and Aaron whom he had chosen.
They performed his signs among them, and miracles in the land of Ham.
He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they rebelled against his words.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Prayer for Today, Saturday, May 7
O Divine Presence,
There are times in our lives when we need comfort. There are times when we need encouragement. There are times when we need to be booted out of our complacency. In the midst of life’s complexities and our responses, You are our God. May we experience Your grace in all our circumstances and may we be open to Your movement toward us, as comfort, as encouragement, or as a boot in the pants. We strive to trust in You, O God. Please forgive our failures. May we always trust the You are there and that You draw us unto Yourself. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
__________________________________________________________________
Eric Koegel, Connie’s son, has been hospitalized the last few days in OKC. He has an NG tube and is struggling with an intestinal blockage. Please pray for Eric.
Birdene Schoonover will remain at St. Mary’s for a few days. Marianna Powell and Ruth Webb are also at St. Mary’s Please pray for them all.
I received a brief email from Connie Baker, thanking us for our prayers. Please continue to lift up Connie and her family.
My nose surgery went well. Currently I have a huge bandage, that if painted red would make me look like a clown. Tomorrow I will have a smaller dressing. I still have a nose, but the site is rather large. I will go to a plastic surgeon on Monday to have it “closed.” I am in no pain. I am just frustrated at the circumstance and my current appearance. Thank you for your prayers.
The scripture for today is Matthew 22:23-33:
The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother. ‘Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. Last of all, the woman herself died. In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her.”Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is God not of the dead, but of the living.”And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
There are times in our lives when we need comfort. There are times when we need encouragement. There are times when we need to be booted out of our complacency. In the midst of life’s complexities and our responses, You are our God. May we experience Your grace in all our circumstances and may we be open to Your movement toward us, as comfort, as encouragement, or as a boot in the pants. We strive to trust in You, O God. Please forgive our failures. May we always trust the You are there and that You draw us unto Yourself. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
__________________________________________________________________
Eric Koegel, Connie’s son, has been hospitalized the last few days in OKC. He has an NG tube and is struggling with an intestinal blockage. Please pray for Eric.
Birdene Schoonover will remain at St. Mary’s for a few days. Marianna Powell and Ruth Webb are also at St. Mary’s Please pray for them all.
I received a brief email from Connie Baker, thanking us for our prayers. Please continue to lift up Connie and her family.
My nose surgery went well. Currently I have a huge bandage, that if painted red would make me look like a clown. Tomorrow I will have a smaller dressing. I still have a nose, but the site is rather large. I will go to a plastic surgeon on Monday to have it “closed.” I am in no pain. I am just frustrated at the circumstance and my current appearance. Thank you for your prayers.
The scripture for today is Matthew 22:23-33:
The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother. ‘Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother. The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh. Last of all, the woman herself died. In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her.”Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is God not of the dead, but of the living.”And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Friday, May 6, 2011
Prayer for Today, Friday, May 6
O Lord Our Lord,
Your are the God of centuries and seconds. We pause at the beginning of this new day to be aware of Your presence with us and to give You thanks. May the rhythm of our hearts remind us of Your love. May each breath we take assure us of Your grace. Thank You, God. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
___________________________________________________________
Birdene Schoonover is back in the hospital. Please pray for Birdene.
I covet You prayers as the doctor removes a skin cancer from my nose this morning.
Please continue to pray for Connie Baker and her family as they mourn the death of her sister, Charlene.
Don’t forget, Sunday is Mother’s Day.
The scripture for today is Matthew 22:15-22:
Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodias, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?”But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?”They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Your are the God of centuries and seconds. We pause at the beginning of this new day to be aware of Your presence with us and to give You thanks. May the rhythm of our hearts remind us of Your love. May each breath we take assure us of Your grace. Thank You, God. In Jesus name we pray, AMEN.
___________________________________________________________
Birdene Schoonover is back in the hospital. Please pray for Birdene.
I covet You prayers as the doctor removes a skin cancer from my nose this morning.
Please continue to pray for Connie Baker and her family as they mourn the death of her sister, Charlene.
Don’t forget, Sunday is Mother’s Day.
The scripture for today is Matthew 22:15-22:
Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodias, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?”But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?”They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Prayer for Today, Thursday, May 5
Loving God,
There are times in our lives when we are frustrated and angry at life because of certain circumstances. Then we realize the heartache and plight of those around us and our situation doesn’t seem so overwhelming. There is so much need and neediness in our world. Forgive us, O Lord, when we don’t count our blessings. Forgive us when we feel better because others around us feel worse. May the power of Your Eternal Presence sustain us and comfort us in the difficult times and may we find was to reach out to others as friends and as Christians, supporting them on their journey. The faithfulness of the community lifts us all. Sometimes our faith is tenuous and we must rely on the faithfulness of those around us. Sometimes they must rely on us. Please bless us on the Way. In Jesus name, AMEN.
________________________________________
Kathy Eck forwarded this “mass” email from Connie Baker regarding her sister. It was sent Monday evening.
We will be meeting with neurosurgeon tomorrow at 11:00 am to discuss the future. The PA told us today that she will never be any better. She will always be in this state. She is not responding and is just breathing with the vents help. She is retaining fluid and is very swollen. She is pretty much already gone and is just existing.
So tomorrow will be a very difficult day for us all. We pray that God will help her to her next step on this journey and help us to handle this difficult situation.
We feel like her spirit is already in Heaven cause today we found a nickel!! That was Mother telling us that everything is going to be ok and not to worry.
God Bless Charlene.
Our love. C and L
I have not received any updates after this email. Please pray for Charlene, Connie and Lindy.
I JUST RECEIVED AN UPDATE (9:00 a.m.). CHARLENE DIED.
Jana Davis sent me a text message a little while ago. She had to take her mother, Joan Ingmire, to the emergency room at 4 a.m. They have gone home, but Joan is in a lot of pain. Please pray for Joan and Jana, her sole caregiver.
Marianna Powell and Ruth Webb are both hospitalized at St. Mary’s Hospital. Please pray for them.
You will see the Nikki Vance’s obituary in today’s paper. The funeral is tomorrow here at Central. Nikki and her family did not have a church home. The funeral home said it will be a large crowd and asked to use our facility. I said “absolutely”. We are also opening the Fellowship Hall for a meal provided by their family and friends. I joyfully put this in the category of “radical hospitality”. Thank you for your continued support of our congregation and the help maintaining this wonderful facility which allows us to help families like Nikki’s. Please continue to pray for them.
On a positive and uplifting note, I received the following email from John Westervelt, Maude Purnell’s son-in-law:
Rev John McLemore
Central Christian Church
Enid, OK
While cleaning out my computer files, I came across the story below written in 2004 about my mother-in-law Maude Purnell while she was living alone in her home.
Warmed My Heart
In our Sunday phone conversation, Mom Purnell, my mother-in-law, told me that the Central Christian Church of Enid has a group of caregivers that call on shut-ins. Mom said, “I’m not a shut-in, but a couple calls on me anyway.” Mom is ninety-nine years old and gave up driving last spring when a strong wind blew her off the back step of her home where she lives alone. She has been nursing a hurting leg.
Her ironing board was up when the caregiver couple stopped by on Saturday. Mom explained to her guests that she was fixing to iron and discovered that her iron wouldn’t heat.
After visiting for a while, the man said, “Let me take your iron and I’ll see if I can fix it.” A little later, the couple returned with a new iron. They insisted it was a gift.
On Sunday, Mom said, “I wish they would let me pay, but they wouldn’t.”
The couple, unknown to me, warmed my heart.
John Westervelt – Tulsa
The story warmed my heart as well. You never know how simple acts of care and kindness can effect others.
Don Johnson was asked to share his testimony at an Ohio State Gideon’s convention. He and Tary left this morning from Oklahoma City and will be returning Sunday afternoon. Pray for safe travels.
Tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. I will be at the OU Dermatology clinic in OKC. Dr. Garcia, a Mohs surgeon, will be removing a skin cancer from my nose. I solicit your prayers. There is no telling what I will look like the next few days.
The scripture for today is Matthew 22:1-14:
Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying:“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet. ‘But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet. ‘Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ‘For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
There are times in our lives when we are frustrated and angry at life because of certain circumstances. Then we realize the heartache and plight of those around us and our situation doesn’t seem so overwhelming. There is so much need and neediness in our world. Forgive us, O Lord, when we don’t count our blessings. Forgive us when we feel better because others around us feel worse. May the power of Your Eternal Presence sustain us and comfort us in the difficult times and may we find was to reach out to others as friends and as Christians, supporting them on their journey. The faithfulness of the community lifts us all. Sometimes our faith is tenuous and we must rely on the faithfulness of those around us. Sometimes they must rely on us. Please bless us on the Way. In Jesus name, AMEN.
________________________________________
Kathy Eck forwarded this “mass” email from Connie Baker regarding her sister. It was sent Monday evening.
We will be meeting with neurosurgeon tomorrow at 11:00 am to discuss the future. The PA told us today that she will never be any better. She will always be in this state. She is not responding and is just breathing with the vents help. She is retaining fluid and is very swollen. She is pretty much already gone and is just existing.
So tomorrow will be a very difficult day for us all. We pray that God will help her to her next step on this journey and help us to handle this difficult situation.
We feel like her spirit is already in Heaven cause today we found a nickel!! That was Mother telling us that everything is going to be ok and not to worry.
God Bless Charlene.
Our love. C and L
I have not received any updates after this email. Please pray for Charlene, Connie and Lindy.
I JUST RECEIVED AN UPDATE (9:00 a.m.). CHARLENE DIED.
Jana Davis sent me a text message a little while ago. She had to take her mother, Joan Ingmire, to the emergency room at 4 a.m. They have gone home, but Joan is in a lot of pain. Please pray for Joan and Jana, her sole caregiver.
Marianna Powell and Ruth Webb are both hospitalized at St. Mary’s Hospital. Please pray for them.
You will see the Nikki Vance’s obituary in today’s paper. The funeral is tomorrow here at Central. Nikki and her family did not have a church home. The funeral home said it will be a large crowd and asked to use our facility. I said “absolutely”. We are also opening the Fellowship Hall for a meal provided by their family and friends. I joyfully put this in the category of “radical hospitality”. Thank you for your continued support of our congregation and the help maintaining this wonderful facility which allows us to help families like Nikki’s. Please continue to pray for them.
On a positive and uplifting note, I received the following email from John Westervelt, Maude Purnell’s son-in-law:
Rev John McLemore
Central Christian Church
Enid, OK
While cleaning out my computer files, I came across the story below written in 2004 about my mother-in-law Maude Purnell while she was living alone in her home.
Warmed My Heart
In our Sunday phone conversation, Mom Purnell, my mother-in-law, told me that the Central Christian Church of Enid has a group of caregivers that call on shut-ins. Mom said, “I’m not a shut-in, but a couple calls on me anyway.” Mom is ninety-nine years old and gave up driving last spring when a strong wind blew her off the back step of her home where she lives alone. She has been nursing a hurting leg.
Her ironing board was up when the caregiver couple stopped by on Saturday. Mom explained to her guests that she was fixing to iron and discovered that her iron wouldn’t heat.
After visiting for a while, the man said, “Let me take your iron and I’ll see if I can fix it.” A little later, the couple returned with a new iron. They insisted it was a gift.
On Sunday, Mom said, “I wish they would let me pay, but they wouldn’t.”
The couple, unknown to me, warmed my heart.
John Westervelt – Tulsa
The story warmed my heart as well. You never know how simple acts of care and kindness can effect others.
Don Johnson was asked to share his testimony at an Ohio State Gideon’s convention. He and Tary left this morning from Oklahoma City and will be returning Sunday afternoon. Pray for safe travels.
Tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. I will be at the OU Dermatology clinic in OKC. Dr. Garcia, a Mohs surgeon, will be removing a skin cancer from my nose. I solicit your prayers. There is no telling what I will look like the next few days.
The scripture for today is Matthew 22:1-14:
Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying:“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet. ‘But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet. ‘Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ‘For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Prayer for Today, Wednesday, May 4
Passionate God,
So often we find ourselves in a “rut”. The daily routine is the same. We don’t see much change in the future. We feel stale and life is mundane. Forgive us, O Lord, for our shortsightedness. Each day is a gift and You are present in every moment of our lives. Help us to open our eyes to see You. May we be like Brother Lawrence and “practice the presence of God” even when our journey seems lifeless and we think we are reduced to menial tasks. You are Abundant Grace. You are the Everlasting Arms. May we feel Your embrace and experience You as we practice Your presence in all we do. This we pray in Jesus name, AMEN.
_________________________________________________
Our prayers go out to the family of Nikki Vance, the young girl who was tragically killed on Monday in a car wreck. She has no church home and we are hosting her funeral in our sanctuary on Friday at 11:00 a.m. Dan O’Daniel will be presiding. Please pray for her family and friends.
Please pray for our friends and neighbors in the Southeast and Midwest who have suffered from severe storms and who are facing terrible floods.
Please pray for Will and Judie Stocks. They were in a car wreck yesterday that totaled their car. They are home, but I sure will be very sore. The wreck also caused them to cancel a trip to Florida to attend the college graduation for their granddaughter.
The scripture for today is Matthew 21:33-46:
“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son. ‘But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.”So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.”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’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
So often we find ourselves in a “rut”. The daily routine is the same. We don’t see much change in the future. We feel stale and life is mundane. Forgive us, O Lord, for our shortsightedness. Each day is a gift and You are present in every moment of our lives. Help us to open our eyes to see You. May we be like Brother Lawrence and “practice the presence of God” even when our journey seems lifeless and we think we are reduced to menial tasks. You are Abundant Grace. You are the Everlasting Arms. May we feel Your embrace and experience You as we practice Your presence in all we do. This we pray in Jesus name, AMEN.
_________________________________________________
Our prayers go out to the family of Nikki Vance, the young girl who was tragically killed on Monday in a car wreck. She has no church home and we are hosting her funeral in our sanctuary on Friday at 11:00 a.m. Dan O’Daniel will be presiding. Please pray for her family and friends.
Please pray for our friends and neighbors in the Southeast and Midwest who have suffered from severe storms and who are facing terrible floods.
Please pray for Will and Judie Stocks. They were in a car wreck yesterday that totaled their car. They are home, but I sure will be very sore. The wreck also caused them to cancel a trip to Florida to attend the college graduation for their granddaughter.
The scripture for today is Matthew 21:33-46:
“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son. ‘But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.”So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.”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’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Prayer for Today, Tuesday, May 3
God of Peace,
You have planted within us the seeds of faith, hope and love. They have been watered and fed by those who love us, the church, and the presence of Your Spirit. For many they have matured and produced the fruits of compassion, faithfulness and service to others. Forgive us, O Lord, when we allow the weeds of personal and professional busyness to choke them out. Help us to tend to our garden, O God. Help us to celebrate true Sabbath, finding time for rest and renewal, weeding out that which limits our ability to follow Your call. We are blessed, Dear God. May we be a blessing to others in Christ’s name. AMEN.
____________________________________________________________
Sunday is Mother’s Day. Join us as we celebrate our mothers.
I misspoke yesterday. Birdene Schoonover is celebrating her 97th birthday. She is to be released from the hospital today.
The scripture for today is Matthew 21:28-32:
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today. ‘He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
You have planted within us the seeds of faith, hope and love. They have been watered and fed by those who love us, the church, and the presence of Your Spirit. For many they have matured and produced the fruits of compassion, faithfulness and service to others. Forgive us, O Lord, when we allow the weeds of personal and professional busyness to choke them out. Help us to tend to our garden, O God. Help us to celebrate true Sabbath, finding time for rest and renewal, weeding out that which limits our ability to follow Your call. We are blessed, Dear God. May we be a blessing to others in Christ’s name. AMEN.
____________________________________________________________
Sunday is Mother’s Day. Join us as we celebrate our mothers.
I misspoke yesterday. Birdene Schoonover is celebrating her 97th birthday. She is to be released from the hospital today.
The scripture for today is Matthew 21:28-32:
“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today. ‘He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
Monday, May 2, 2011
Prayer for Today, Monday, May 2
Ever Present Spirit,
The news tells us of devastating storms in this country and the death of a terrorist on the other side of the world. We are reminded we do not live in a vacuum and events next door and in distant places impact our lives. Help us to celebrate, when justified, and grieve when it is appropriate. In all things, O Lord, we trust in You. Forgive us when our reliance on You is lacking. Forgive us when we seek to be the masters of our own fate. You are our God and we are Your people. Surround us, O Lord, with Your love and grace. And lead us down the path of faith and hope as we understand we are citizens of the world. This is our prayer in Jesus name, AMEN.
_________________________________________________
Birdene Schoonover is in St. Mary’s Hospital. Please pray for Birdene. Her 87th birthday is tomorrow.
Gene Mason was hospitalized on Saturday and released yesterday morning. Please pray for Gene.
Please pray for Paul Denny and his daughter, Paula, and her family. Her husband, Doug De Wolf, died last week.
The scripture for today is Matthew 21:12-27:
Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.”The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became angry and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself’?”He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.
In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?”Jesus answered them, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done. Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.”
When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.”So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
The news tells us of devastating storms in this country and the death of a terrorist on the other side of the world. We are reminded we do not live in a vacuum and events next door and in distant places impact our lives. Help us to celebrate, when justified, and grieve when it is appropriate. In all things, O Lord, we trust in You. Forgive us when our reliance on You is lacking. Forgive us when we seek to be the masters of our own fate. You are our God and we are Your people. Surround us, O Lord, with Your love and grace. And lead us down the path of faith and hope as we understand we are citizens of the world. This is our prayer in Jesus name, AMEN.
_________________________________________________
Birdene Schoonover is in St. Mary’s Hospital. Please pray for Birdene. Her 87th birthday is tomorrow.
Gene Mason was hospitalized on Saturday and released yesterday morning. Please pray for Gene.
Please pray for Paul Denny and his daughter, Paula, and her family. Her husband, Doug De Wolf, died last week.
The scripture for today is Matthew 21:12-27:
Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.”The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became angry and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself’?”He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.
In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?”Jesus answered them, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done. Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.”
When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.”So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
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