Thursday, April 10, 2014
Welcome, Jordyn!
Jordyn Elizabeth was born at 2:17 pm on April 8. Congratulations to Josh and Beck, and also Jacob!!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Pastor's Penpoint - "Simon, the First" - April 2014
Simon grumbles beneath his breath. His patience is as limited as space on the Jerusalem streets. He'd hoped for peaceful Passover. The city is anything but quiet.
"There he is!"
Simon's head and dozens of others turn. In an instant they know.
"It's a crucifixion," he hears someone whisper. Four soldiers. One criminal. Four spears. One cross. The inside corner of the cross saddles the convict's shoulders. Its base drags in the dirt. Its top teeters in the air. The condemned man steadies the cross the best he can, but he stumbles beneath its weight. he pushes himself to his feet and tilts forward before falling again. Simon can't see the man's face, only a head wreathed with thorny branches.
The centurion grows more agitated with each declining step. He curses the criminal and the crowd. "Hurry up!"
The cross-bearer stops in front of Simon and heaves for air. Simon winces at what he sees - the beam rubbing against and already raw back. Crimson streaks the man's face. His mouth hangs open, both out of pain and out of breath.
"His name is Jesus," someone speaks softly.
"Move on!" commands the executioner.
But Jesus can't. His body leans and feet try, but he can't move. The beam begins to sway. Jesus tries to steady it, but can't. Like a just-cut tree, the cross begins to topple toward the crowd. Everyone steps back, except one. Simon instinctively extends his strong hands and catches the cross.
Jesus falls face-first in the dirt and stays there. Simon pushes the cross back on its side. The centurion looks at the exhausted Christ and then to Simon and needs only an instant to make the decision. He presses the flat of his spear on Simon's shoulders.
"You! Take the cross!" Simon dares to object. "Sir, I don't even know the man!"
"I don't care. Take up the cross."
Simon growls, balances the timber against his shoulder, and steps out of the crowd onto the street and into history ... and becomes the first in a line of millions who will take up the cross and follow Christ.
He did literally what God calls us to do symbolically - take up the cross and follow Jesus.
"If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me" (Luke 9:23).
~ Pastor Todd
"There he is!"
Simon's head and dozens of others turn. In an instant they know.
"It's a crucifixion," he hears someone whisper. Four soldiers. One criminal. Four spears. One cross. The inside corner of the cross saddles the convict's shoulders. Its base drags in the dirt. Its top teeters in the air. The condemned man steadies the cross the best he can, but he stumbles beneath its weight. he pushes himself to his feet and tilts forward before falling again. Simon can't see the man's face, only a head wreathed with thorny branches.
The centurion grows more agitated with each declining step. He curses the criminal and the crowd. "Hurry up!"
The cross-bearer stops in front of Simon and heaves for air. Simon winces at what he sees - the beam rubbing against and already raw back. Crimson streaks the man's face. His mouth hangs open, both out of pain and out of breath.
"His name is Jesus," someone speaks softly.
"Move on!" commands the executioner.
But Jesus can't. His body leans and feet try, but he can't move. The beam begins to sway. Jesus tries to steady it, but can't. Like a just-cut tree, the cross begins to topple toward the crowd. Everyone steps back, except one. Simon instinctively extends his strong hands and catches the cross.
Jesus falls face-first in the dirt and stays there. Simon pushes the cross back on its side. The centurion looks at the exhausted Christ and then to Simon and needs only an instant to make the decision. He presses the flat of his spear on Simon's shoulders.
"You! Take the cross!" Simon dares to object. "Sir, I don't even know the man!"
"I don't care. Take up the cross."
Simon growls, balances the timber against his shoulder, and steps out of the crowd onto the street and into history ... and becomes the first in a line of millions who will take up the cross and follow Christ.
He did literally what God calls us to do symbolically - take up the cross and follow Jesus.
"If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross each day and follow me" (Luke 9:23).
~ Pastor Todd
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Upcoming Events in March and April
March 9 - April 13, Sunday Evenings at 6pm - COMING ALIVE 2014 Lenten Bible Study at Sangerville Church of the Brethren
April 5, 8:30am - Trash pickup along Freemason Run Road and church cleanup day
April 6 - SKIDS and VIBES youth meet after the morning worship
April 20, 7am - Easter Sunrise Service at Natural Chimneys Park
April 27, 10am - Homecoming Service with guest speaker Bishop Phil Whipple. A carry-in meal will follow in the fellowship hall.
April 5, 8:30am - Trash pickup along Freemason Run Road and church cleanup day
April 6 - SKIDS and VIBES youth meet after the morning worship
April 20, 7am - Easter Sunrise Service at Natural Chimneys Park
April 27, 10am - Homecoming Service with guest speaker Bishop Phil Whipple. A carry-in meal will follow in the fellowship hall.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Pastor's Penpoint - "Limping to the Cross" - March 2014
"Restore to me the joy of your salvation." ~Psalm 51:12
I know how you feel ... cold temperatures, brown grass and nature lying dormant has taken a toll on us all. Surely it was years ago since we lamented "Can't we just make this Christmas thing last?" Now here we are, creeping through the months following the holiday season, looking for signs of hope, renewal and life. It seems as if we are limping through these days, looking for something.
I wish I could fast forward a little, move past these "blah" days and get to the good stuff, the warm breeze of spring, the greening of the foliage and the beginning of a new life cycle.
Truth is, that is how every disciple of Jesus Christ feels this time of year. Can't we just fast forward past this dark and horrific time? Can't we just skip the stories this year of Christ's tempting, suffering and death? Can't we just fast forward to Christ emerging victorious from the grave? The answer, thankfully, is "no".
To do that, we may know the ending, but not why the ending is so powerful and complete. That would be like reading only the last chapter of a book ... we would know what happens - but not why it matters.
During this time, we journey with Jesus, behold his ministry, witness his betrayal and death and will get swept up in the joyous news of His victory over death.
During this time of repentance and self denial, may we be attune to Christ's suffering for our sake, and be renewed again. Sisters and brothers, we must first limp to the cross to be able to run to the empty tomb.
Grace and strength this season of Lent,
~ Pastor Todd
I know how you feel ... cold temperatures, brown grass and nature lying dormant has taken a toll on us all. Surely it was years ago since we lamented "Can't we just make this Christmas thing last?" Now here we are, creeping through the months following the holiday season, looking for signs of hope, renewal and life. It seems as if we are limping through these days, looking for something.
I wish I could fast forward a little, move past these "blah" days and get to the good stuff, the warm breeze of spring, the greening of the foliage and the beginning of a new life cycle.
Truth is, that is how every disciple of Jesus Christ feels this time of year. Can't we just fast forward past this dark and horrific time? Can't we just skip the stories this year of Christ's tempting, suffering and death? Can't we just fast forward to Christ emerging victorious from the grave? The answer, thankfully, is "no".
To do that, we may know the ending, but not why the ending is so powerful and complete. That would be like reading only the last chapter of a book ... we would know what happens - but not why it matters.
During this time, we journey with Jesus, behold his ministry, witness his betrayal and death and will get swept up in the joyous news of His victory over death.
During this time of repentance and self denial, may we be attune to Christ's suffering for our sake, and be renewed again. Sisters and brothers, we must first limp to the cross to be able to run to the empty tomb.
Grace and strength this season of Lent,
~ Pastor Todd
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Heart For Hunger Spaghetti Supper Benefit
There will be a free will offering dinner at the Mt. Olivet fellowship hall on Saturday February 8th from 4:00 - 7:00pm to benefit the Stokesville Area and Verona Community food pantries. The menu includes spaghetti, salad, rolls and butter, assorted desserts, coffee, tea and water. Combined, these two agencies serve over 2,800 households in the Stokesville, Mt. Solon, North River area and beyond.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Pastor's Penpoint - "Sweet!" - February 2014
It's the month of valentines, chocolates, flowers and those little heart candies that read "SAY YES" and "ONLY YOU" and "BE MINE". Sweet! This time of year always reminds me of grade school, when the teacher allowed us to make an individual homemade "mailbox" so we could hopefully receive a landslide of paper valentines. I never got that many but each year I found myself surprised by receiving one or two valentines from kids I never dreamed even knew my name. It's possible those came from kids whose parents made them send valentines to everyone so no one in the class would feel left out, but I didn't care. At least my mailbox had valentines in it.
Wouldn't you be surprised to know that someone is crazy in love with you!? Well, it's true ... and it's God himself.The whole purpose of us being alive is to know Him and His love for us. Each day He sends a unique and personal valentine. A gorgeous sunset, a peek at a newborn baby, spring flowers popping out of the ground, the beat of a song you like, the endless and tasty variety of food... Well, you get what I mean. God's valentine never stop.
I still have trouble grasping a love that deep from the Creator and Lord of the universe. I mean, who am I to deserve something like that? And God doesn't love us as a mass group. He loves us individually! It's hard to get my arms around - but I sure feel His arms around me to know it's true.
Whether you're having a joy-filled morning, a ridiculously busy lunch, a boring afternoon, a crazy chaotic evening, or a sleepless night, you can be sure that God feels everyone of your emotions and wants you to talk about it with Him. And when you speak to Him, He cherishes your voice, did you know that? Yep, that's why He made it sound just the way it does.
God himself tells us He is the lover of our souls. He has planned our lives with all the anticipation and excitement of a surprise party. Each day is an opportunity to open His presents and presence. But instead of looking for these loving gifts, we sometimes become numb and bored toward them. We even stop noticing they occur.
So this February 14th, please don't only look in your mailbox for valentines. Because God's expressions of love don't always fit in there. Look around you and inside of yourself for messages of passion from the One who loves you more than anyone ever could ... God. I promise you will hear His voice calling out to you with the words "SAY YES" and "ONLY YOU" and "BE MINE". Sweet!
~ Todd
Wouldn't you be surprised to know that someone is crazy in love with you!? Well, it's true ... and it's God himself.The whole purpose of us being alive is to know Him and His love for us. Each day He sends a unique and personal valentine. A gorgeous sunset, a peek at a newborn baby, spring flowers popping out of the ground, the beat of a song you like, the endless and tasty variety of food... Well, you get what I mean. God's valentine never stop.
I still have trouble grasping a love that deep from the Creator and Lord of the universe. I mean, who am I to deserve something like that? And God doesn't love us as a mass group. He loves us individually! It's hard to get my arms around - but I sure feel His arms around me to know it's true.
Whether you're having a joy-filled morning, a ridiculously busy lunch, a boring afternoon, a crazy chaotic evening, or a sleepless night, you can be sure that God feels everyone of your emotions and wants you to talk about it with Him. And when you speak to Him, He cherishes your voice, did you know that? Yep, that's why He made it sound just the way it does.
God himself tells us He is the lover of our souls. He has planned our lives with all the anticipation and excitement of a surprise party. Each day is an opportunity to open His presents and presence. But instead of looking for these loving gifts, we sometimes become numb and bored toward them. We even stop noticing they occur.
So this February 14th, please don't only look in your mailbox for valentines. Because God's expressions of love don't always fit in there. Look around you and inside of yourself for messages of passion from the One who loves you more than anyone ever could ... God. I promise you will hear His voice calling out to you with the words "SAY YES" and "ONLY YOU" and "BE MINE". Sweet!
~ Todd
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Pastor's Penpoint - "Walking Close to Thee" - January 2014
It's the start of a New Year so we all begin thinking towards those resolutions. Actually I am not a big fan of them. I think that we generally don't follow them anyway. When we really resolve to do something to change our lives, it is usually at a time in our life when we see the need for change. Of course if a resolution works for you, then great!
A resolution usually means that we want to resolve to improve or better ourselves and that's always good, especially in the spiritual areas of our lives. I'm always for anything to improve our lives and relationships with our Lord. When it boils down to it, bettering ourselves as Christians involves bettering our relationships with God. We have to draw closer to Him before we can improve our Christian lives. Sure we can make a New Year's resolution to do that but I think just resolving, day by day, gets the job done in a better way.
Do you remember the old hymn? "Just a Closer Walk with Thee." I can remember that playing off a record when I was little. Okay, some of you don't know what those are? Round things us ancient people used to play on machines that went round and round called record players. An old form of a cd:) We had a record in our family, I think by Tennessee Ernie Ford with that old song on it and I can remember learning the words when I was quite young.
I am weak but Thou art strong, Jesus keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long, as I walk let me walk close to Thee!
Just a closer walk with Thee, grant it Jesus, is my plea;
Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be dear Lord, Let it be.
We've all got to walk the Christian life just one day at a time. That in turn will cause us to have that improvement in our Christian life that we all so greatly need. Just resolve to live better for God, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment and that will add up to our best for Him not only for this New Year but for our entire lives as well.
May you New Year be blessed ... and may you be a blessing!
~ Pastor Todd
A resolution usually means that we want to resolve to improve or better ourselves and that's always good, especially in the spiritual areas of our lives. I'm always for anything to improve our lives and relationships with our Lord. When it boils down to it, bettering ourselves as Christians involves bettering our relationships with God. We have to draw closer to Him before we can improve our Christian lives. Sure we can make a New Year's resolution to do that but I think just resolving, day by day, gets the job done in a better way.
Do you remember the old hymn? "Just a Closer Walk with Thee." I can remember that playing off a record when I was little. Okay, some of you don't know what those are? Round things us ancient people used to play on machines that went round and round called record players. An old form of a cd:) We had a record in our family, I think by Tennessee Ernie Ford with that old song on it and I can remember learning the words when I was quite young.
I am weak but Thou art strong, Jesus keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long, as I walk let me walk close to Thee!
Just a closer walk with Thee, grant it Jesus, is my plea;
Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be dear Lord, Let it be.
We've all got to walk the Christian life just one day at a time. That in turn will cause us to have that improvement in our Christian life that we all so greatly need. Just resolve to live better for God, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment and that will add up to our best for Him not only for this New Year but for our entire lives as well.
May you New Year be blessed ... and may you be a blessing!
~ Pastor Todd
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