Pastor’s Page | August 14th, 2025
Sermon Prep (Read James 4:13-5:6)
I am not a planner. I like to think of things to do, but I am more of a “let’s just wing it” kind of guy. My wife and daughters (except my oldest, she is my through and through), on the other hand, are planners. They live by the list. Every thing is scheduled, anticipated, prepared for, and locked in. If it is on the list, then it goes into the shopping cart. If not, then you wait until the next trip to Walmart. This goes for future plans. Savannah has our vacation for the end of this month planned for us (I will not miss a Sunday, so no playing hookie!). She has our departure time, how long we will drive, the hotel picked out for us to spend the night, what we will do when we are at the hotel and where we will eat, then she has a departing at a certain time in the morning so that we will be set to arrive at just the right time. If it was me…we would leave when we leave, stop when we stop, and get there when we get there. (FYI…I am not the one planning the itinerary for the trip to the Red Bird Mission. I have others helping me)
I say this because I have used this verse in the past in jest as a way to poke fun at the planners. James 4:13-14 says, “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.” I wish this verse was that easy. This verse has little to do with actual planning (which the bible actually encourages!) but more about the arrogance of trying to live your life without God. How involved is your faith in the planning for not just your daily activities but your dreams and goals? When you think about how you go about your life, how much thought do you put into asking, “God, where do You want me to be and what do You want me to do?”
There is also a level of trust involved in these verses. When we commit ourselves to the Lord and to His will, we can take comfort that we are always safe in Him. Things may happen to where our plans can change, but that doesn’t mean that we are not exactly where we need to be. Think about a time in your life when all of your plans fell apart. Where did you end up? What was God able to do through you because your plans fell apart?
As you read these verses, keep these things in mind. Also, it may seem like James 5:1-6 is a completely different section from James 4:13-17, but think of how the arrogance of planning (or do we dare say controlling?) our life connects to the arrogance of those whose life is consumed by greed and who do not care about doing what is right by others.
Also, focus on James 4:17. This is what we refer to as “Sins of Omission”. Sins of Commission are the sins that you do, Sins of Omission are the sins you commit because of what you did not do. We will discuss this concept more on Sunday, but take this idea and connect to what James says in 5:1-6.
Here are some other verses to help guide our time together on Sunday:
Proverbs 16:3, 9, Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 20:4, Psalm 143:8, Proverbs 23:4, Psalm 90:12, Isaiah 28:29, Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 2, Acts 18:21, 1 Cor 4:19, Luke 12:17–18, Amos 8:4–5, Proverbs 27:1, Daniel 4:28-35, and Romans 1:10.
Updates, Thoughts and More
We will be having a church wide prayer service on September 3 rd at 5 pm. We will be praying together for specific needs within our church, our community, and our nation. We will also take time to individually pray over people who are in need of prayer. Please start preparing your hearts for this time of prayer.
It is the time of year for us to start thinking about the leadership for 2026. The Church Nominating Committee is about to begin selecting nominees for the 2026 Church Leadership. They will be nominating at- large members of the Church Council, Trustees, and members of the following committees: Finance, Staff Pastor Relations (SPR), Missions, Education, and Nominations. We have a form located in the Narthex for you to write in the names of members you would like to suggest to the Nominating Committee. There is a form at the bottom of this blog post.
We are starting something new on Sundays. After every service, I will make my way to the library to meet with anyone who has questions about becoming a member of our church or about being baptized into Christ. If you have had thoughts about wanting to join the church or have questions about other issues related to taking the next step in your spiritual journey, come by and talk with me.
It’s been awhile since I updated everyone on what I am reading. I started a new fiction book by Dean Koontz called “Your Heart Belongs to Me”. It is not a romance novel, but a thriller about a man who receives a heart transplant and apparently the person who donated the heart upon his death (or someone pretending to be them) wants it back. So far, I have just gotten to the heart transplant. I’ll let you know how it turns out. My spiritual book that I am reading is by Bradley Jersak called “A More Christlike God”. I appreciate the authors attempt to paint God in a more loving and kind way, but at times in the book he seems almost dismissive of any biblical text he doesn’t agree with. He makes some good points, and I think he misses on others. It is still a good read. Remember to read books that you don’t always agree with. Diversity of viewpoints leads to growth. If you only read those books that you agree with, you end up in an echo chamber.
TWO MORE WEEKS UNTIL COLLEGE FOOTBALL RETURNS!!!!!!
What’s Going On This Week
Sunday (07/27)
Sunday Service - 9am & 10:30am
Celebration of Life for Susan Ficklin - 3pm
Monday (07/28)
Stitching Angels - 1:30pm
Church Council - 6:30pm
Tuesday (07/29)
Men’s Meeting - 7:30am
Wednesday (07/23)
Prayer Warriors - 9am
Sip and Share - 10am
Youth and Kids - 6pm
Bell Choir - 6pm
Choir - 7pm
Open Gym - 7pm
Learning our Faith
Catechism of the Global Methodist Church (Ecumenical Affirmations)
For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered death and was buried.
On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.
How does God reconcile us in Christ?
God reconciles us to himself through the death of Christ upon the cross. (Matt. 27:26, 50, 59-60; Mark 15:15, 37, 45-46; Luke 23:23-25, 46, 53; John 19:16, 30, 33-34, 38-42; Rom 3:21-26; 5:6-11; 1 Cor. 15:3-4.)
Did Jesus Christ rise bodily from the dead?
Yes! On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. (Matt. 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-11, 36-43; John 20:1-17, 27; Acts 2:22-36; 1 Cor. 15:3-8, 1 Pet. 1:3.)
Is Jesus Christ Lord of heaven and earth?
Yes. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. (Luke 1:33, 24:51; John 5:22-29; Acts 1:9- 11; 10:42; Rom. 8:34; 2 Cor. 5:10; Phil. 2:9-11; 2 Pet. 1:11; Rev. 11:15.)
Is Jesus Christ our great high priest?
Yes. Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 4:14- 16; 7:11-28; 1 John 2:1-2.)
Who is under judgment?
All stand under the righteous judgment of Jesus Christ both now and in the last day. (Matt. 7:21-23; 25:31-46; John 5:22-29; Acts 10:42; 17:30-31; 2 Cor. 5:10)
Are we made righteous by works?
No. We are never made righteous inwardly nor accounted righteous before God through our works or merit. (Luke 5:32; Rom. 3:21-30; 4:2-5; 11:6; Gal. 2:15-16; Eph. 2:8-10; Titus 2:14; 3:4-7; 1 John 1:9)
How can we escape the wrath of God?
God justifies, or accounts righteous, penitent sinners who confess faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. (John 3:36; Rom 3:21-30; 4:6-8; 5:6-11; Eph. 1:7-14; 2:3-7; 5:5-10; Col. 3:5-17; 1 Thess. 5:8-10)
Joke of the Week
An old Italian man lived alone in New Jersey. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden; but it was very difficult work as the ground was very hard. His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:
“Dear Vincent, I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days. Love, Papa” A few days later he received this letter from his son:
“Dear Pop, DON’T DIG UP THAT GARDEN! That’s where the bodies are buried. Love, Vinnie”
At 6 am the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left. That same day the old man received another letter from his son.
“Dear Pop, go ahead and plant the tomatoes now. That’s the best could do under the circumstances. Love, Vinnie”
Memory Verse of the Week
“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. “
~James 4:17 (NIV84)
Quote of the Week
“Yes, I don’t know why God is doing many of the things he’s doing, but I do know he loves you because he became human, he came to earth, he lost control, and he was destroyed. You are never going to be able to take your mitts off of your life and admit you don’t have control until you see him losing all control to save you.
Why did the Eternal become mortal like a puff of air that could be snuffed out? The Eternal became mortal so we mortals could become eternal, so we could last. Sin was eating out our insides like a fire, but Jesus put the fire out.
~Tim Keller
