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Sunday, November 26, 2017

THE PRICE OF PEACE

The book of Exodus includes a lot of rules about oxen, donkeys, and sheep that seem irrelevant and (let’s be honest) boring.  But not when you realize what God was really saying, what gets lost in the translation. 

Those ancient rules are actually a contemporary guide to restoring the divided and declining communities we live in right now.  But, there is a catch:  restoration is expensive, though not in the way you might suspect.

The title is of this sermon is THE PRICE OF PEACE. 


Listen well and leave a comment.  

If you can’t get the audio on your device, visit the main podcast page at http://revandersongraves.podomatic.com/

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

Click here to support this ministry with a donation.  Or go to andersontgraves.blogspot.com and click on the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 
Miles Chapel CME Church
P O Box 132

Fairfield, AL 35064

Saturday, November 25, 2017

SUCCESS STORY?

blogging Genesis 32, 33


Jacob and his family were on their way.  They had cut the cord that bound them to Big Daddy Laban and his familia in Syria.  They had gotten out with their money and investments (sheep, oxen, cattle, camels, etc.).  Now they were on the way to Canaan, where Jacob would collect his inheritance and they would live the good life that God had promised.




On the way, a band of angels met Jacob.  It reminded him of the dream he’d had at Bethel when God had promised him land “to the west and the east, to the north and the south,” descendants as numerous “as the dust of the earth,” and a share in the destiny of Abraham that “in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed “ (Genesis 28:13-15).

It was a powerful moment for Jacob. When he’d left Canaan 20 years earlier he didn’t even have an extra bedroll to use as a pillow.  Now his family and possessions were twice the size of a typical caravan (Genesis 32:10).   “. . . And he called the name of that place Mahanaim” (Genesis 32:2). Mahanaim means double camp.

Jacob was so caught up in this double-sized moment because he sent riders 100 miles south to find Esau and describe how successful he had become.

You remember Esau, right?  The brother from whom Jacob had purchased, or extorted, or defrauded (depending on your perspective) of his birthright as firstborn.  Remember that the last time they’d seen each other 20 years earlier, he’d promised to murder Jacob?   Jacob the not-warrior leading a double-sized camp of women, children, and non-warrior goatherders sent servants to THAT Esau bragging about how rich he was and where his unprotected camp could be located. 



Clearly he didn’t think that through because when the messengers returned to inform him that yes, the brother who swore to kill you is on his way to your unprotected camp with 400 men, Genesis 32: 7 says “Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed.”

He thought about running.

“ . . . he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. And he said, ‘If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape’ “ (Genesis 32:7-8).

He tried praying.
Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord . . .  Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children. (Genesis 32:9-12).

He tried bribery.

“So he lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother. . . For he said, ‘I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.’ ” (Genesis 32:13-21). 

Night dragged on and Jacob sent his family away while he stayed where Esau knew to find him. He was waiting for Esau to kill him.  The attack came, but not from Esau. 

A Man, an angel, THE Angel wrestled with Jacob all night long (Genesis 32:24), and Job repeatedly lost, but he refused to tap out.


The “Man” dislocated Jacob’s hip but Jacob wouldn’t stop grappling.  He said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” The Angel replied, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:25-28).


The Angel could have dislocated Jacob’s shoulder or snapped his neck.  He could’ve just poof! disappeared.  Jacob didn’t “prevail” by winning.  He won by not giving up


“But he who endures to the end shall be saved(Matthew 24:13).

Now, compare your story to Jacob’s:
Has anyone believed greater for you than you believed for?  Don’t give up.

Have you gotten caught up in your family’s drama?  Don’t give up.

You ever been bullied?  Don’t give up.

Ever thought you were too smart to be played, but you weren’t?  Don’t give up.

Did you think they’d be happy for you, but realize they weren’t?  Don’t give up.

Ever press against God’s will even while you were praying for God to save you?  Left that one limping, didn’t you?  Get right.  Get humble.  But don’t give up.

You will face overwhelming odds.  You will be pressured to alter your path by people who don’t understand your destiny.  You will feel compelled to tell people what they want to hear.  Don’t give up.

Just keep going until all the world has been blessed by the life you live.

Oh, and don’t forget to praise God along the way.

“Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel.” (Genesis 33:20)

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

Click here to support this ministry with a donation.  Or go to andersontgraves.blogspot.com and click on the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 
Miles Chapel CME Church
P O Box 132
Fairfield, Al 35064

Sunday, November 19, 2017

BROKEN OR BEAUTIFUL

You can have it all and feel like you have nothing.  You can be persecuted and oppressed on every side and yet be triumphant.  In whatever circumstances, society, or season, God offers a choice.

This message, originally delivered for the 108th anniversary of Miles Chapel CME Church is about the choice.  The message is called: BROKEN OR BEAUTIFUL. 


Listen well and leave a comment.

If you can’t get the audio on your device, visit the main podcast page at http://revandersongraves.podomatic.com/

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

Click here to support this ministry with a donation.  Or go to andersontgraves.blogspot.com and click on the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 
Miles Chapel CME Church
P O Box 132
Fairfield, AL 35064

Sunday, November 12, 2017

BRINGING A SWORD TO A GUNFIGHT: The 2nd Amendment and the 2nd Commandment

The title is of this sermon is BRINGING A SWORD TO A GUNFIGHT.  It’s a timely message about the 2nd Amendment and the 2nd Commandment.   


Listen well and leave a comment.

If you can’t get the audio on your device, visit the main podcast page at http://revandersongraves.podomatic.com/

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

Click here to support this ministry with a donation.  Or go to andersontgraves.blogspot.com and click on the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 
Miles Chapel CME Church
P O Box 132
Fairfield, AL 35064

Monday, November 6, 2017

FOR THE LADIES: HOW TO AVOID SINGING THE BLUES

blogging Genesis 29, 30

Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance.
Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.”. . .  So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her

. . . Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.”
And Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast

. . .  So it came to pass in the morning, that behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I served you? Why then have you deceived me?”

. . . Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years.

. . . When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.  So Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; for she said, “The Lord has surely looked on my affliction. Now therefore, my husband will love me.”  Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the Lord has heard that I am unloved, He has therefore given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing. (Genesis 29:16-35)

For 7 years, Jacob  made it abundantly clear that Rachel was his one true love (Genesis 29: 18-20).  But, Leah believed that she could change him. 

If only he was her man. 

Leah’s dad trapped Jacob into marriage to Leah, and Jacob honored those vows until they were parted by death, but he never really loved Leah (Genesis 29:30).

If she had the chance to “put it on him right” she’d make him love her.  If she had his baby, he would be hers, truly hers.


Jacob and Leah had sex --- a lot of sex.  She bore him 6 sons and his only daughter, and with each new baby she was sure that Now therefore, my husband will love me, now this time my husband will become attached to me.

Leah's troubles may have inspired the late, great blues artist B. B. King.



Leah gave him 7 children, but Jacob never really loved her back. 

And the deep theological insight we derive from this ancient text is: 
IF HE DOESN’T LOVE YOU, HE JUST DOESN’T LOVE YOU.

He might be loving and lovable but not love you. 

He might be really good to her, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be any good to you.

He might find you relationally compatible, maternally impressive, and sexually exciting; but that doesn’t mean he loves you.
 Image result for maybe not that into you
Some men will say they love you when they really don’t.  Only time and objective discernment can test the truth of a declaration of love.

But if he told you that he DOESN’T love you, you don’t need to perform any tests.  He don’t (grammar intentional).  And he probably never will.

Move on before you fall any deeper, or you’ll end up singing the blues.Image result for moveon

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

Click here to support this ministry with a donation.  Or go to andersontgraves.blogspot.com and click on the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 
Miles Chapel CME Church
P O Box 132

Fairfield, Al 35064

THE CURE FOR MURDER (audio of sermon)

The title of this sermon from the Exodus preaching series is THE CURE FOR MURDER

At the same time I was preaching this message in our 11 A.M. worship service in Fairfield, Alabama; at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland, Texas someone was killing 26 people.

This message needs to be heard and discussed.


Listen well and leave a comment.

If you can’t get the audio on your device, visit the main podcast page at http://revandersongraves.podomatic.com/

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

Subscribe to my personal blog  www.andersontgraves.blogspot.com .

Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
Follow me on twitter @AndersonTGraves 

Click here to support this ministry with a donation.  Or go to andersontgraves.blogspot.com and click on the DONATE button on the right-hand sidebar.

Support by check or money order may be mailed to 
Miles Chapel CME Church
P O Box 132
Fairfield, AL 35064