How did my life end up going so wrong? What happened to all my promise, all my potential? Can I get it back? How did they get their lives together? Why hasn't God fixed my situation?
The Lord has answers to all of these question. Follow Pastor Anderson T. Graves II as the Lord leads him from the Old Testament to the New and back again. Listen well and hear the Word that sometimes the only way forward is by "Getting Back to Where You Were Supposed to Be All the Time."
Monday, March 15, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Lessons from Jesus' Other Last Words
I did not compose the following, but I wish I had. I don't even know the preacher who wrote this, but everyone who is a loyal church-member should read it.
...
There’s no doubt in my mind that these words about belief shape what churchgoers actually do the rest of the week. This continuity between what we say we believe in church on the one hand, and what we do out of church on the other, is, quite simply, called integrity. And God help us if it that continuity between what we “say” and what we “do” ever be greatly broken.
There is a little non-Biblical parable I like to rehearse every once and again that’s about just this subject – the integrity between what we believe as a church and how we live as a church in the world. It goes like this: "Along a windswept and rocky coastline there were a great many shipwrecks. The survivors of these shipwrecks were forever in need of rescue from the icy waters. They needed food, warm shelter, and some loving reassurance after their ordeal. To accomplish this service, numerous life-saving stations grew up along the coast. Volunteers gave their time and resources, often risking their lives for others. They braved the surf in their lifeboats to rescue the drowning. They fed, housed and comforted countless storm-tossed survivors.
As the centuries passed, many of these life-saving stations grew in reputation as bright and safe havens from the storms of life. The members of the life-saving stations enjoyed each others' company, enjoyed their meetings and club ceremonies. Some members found great satisfaction in keeping the stations neat and their lifeboats ship-shape.
As the ages rolled by, some life-saving station members suggested that risking your neck in small boats for the sake of strangers was well, foolish. ‘People who put out to sea ought to know the risks they’re taking and accept responsibility for themselves. After all,’ they asked, ‘is their safety really our problem?’ Other members noted that the survivors who washed up on the beach made a real mess in the life-saving stations, wet and sick as they were, and that all the food and blankets and lifeboats were a strain on the budget.
Some of the stations stopped sending out boats at all, and no longer offered care for the survivors of storms. They kept their lifeboats, however. In fact, they painted them beautifully and moved them inside as objects of veneration and remembrance. And they kept up the buildings. They had meetings, continued to enjoy each others' company, and held their traditional ceremonies. But outside their doors, the storms still blew and ships still foundered.”
+++
The mortal (and I mean mortal) danger that every church eternally faces is that it become just a pleasant fellowship of the like-minded, a vaguely spiritual club for people who are culturally comfortable with each other.
The mortal (and I mean mortal) danger that every church eternally faces is that it become a weekly liturgical cult, enjoying fine music, relishing a little oration, and reveling in some marching about in uniform.
The mortal (and I mean mortal) danger that every church eternally faces is that it become no more than a successful business that never makes a profit, but keeps the building up, pays the oil bill, employs some nice people, and worries on little more than all that.
The challenge to new members, the call to you who are about to be ordained, in fact, the task of every one of us who takes Jesus Christ even a little bit seriously is nothing less than this: to guard and strengthen the connection, the continuity, the integrity between what we believe and what we do.
Jesus only got two and a half verses for his “other last words,” these last words of the First Gospel. And he used them to remind us to do what we believe.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
from "JESUS’ OTHER LAST WORDS"
by Michael L. Lindvall,
May 18, 2008
at The Brick Presbyterian Church in the City of New York
from brickchurch.org/383030373D646926656372756F7365727465673D716572.res
...
There’s no doubt in my mind that these words about belief shape what churchgoers actually do the rest of the week. This continuity between what we say we believe in church on the one hand, and what we do out of church on the other, is, quite simply, called integrity. And God help us if it that continuity between what we “say” and what we “do” ever be greatly broken.
There is a little non-Biblical parable I like to rehearse every once and again that’s about just this subject – the integrity between what we believe as a church and how we live as a church in the world. It goes like this: "Along a windswept and rocky coastline there were a great many shipwrecks. The survivors of these shipwrecks were forever in need of rescue from the icy waters. They needed food, warm shelter, and some loving reassurance after their ordeal. To accomplish this service, numerous life-saving stations grew up along the coast. Volunteers gave their time and resources, often risking their lives for others. They braved the surf in their lifeboats to rescue the drowning. They fed, housed and comforted countless storm-tossed survivors.
As the centuries passed, many of these life-saving stations grew in reputation as bright and safe havens from the storms of life. The members of the life-saving stations enjoyed each others' company, enjoyed their meetings and club ceremonies. Some members found great satisfaction in keeping the stations neat and their lifeboats ship-shape.
As the ages rolled by, some life-saving station members suggested that risking your neck in small boats for the sake of strangers was well, foolish. ‘People who put out to sea ought to know the risks they’re taking and accept responsibility for themselves. After all,’ they asked, ‘is their safety really our problem?’ Other members noted that the survivors who washed up on the beach made a real mess in the life-saving stations, wet and sick as they were, and that all the food and blankets and lifeboats were a strain on the budget.
Some of the stations stopped sending out boats at all, and no longer offered care for the survivors of storms. They kept their lifeboats, however. In fact, they painted them beautifully and moved them inside as objects of veneration and remembrance. And they kept up the buildings. They had meetings, continued to enjoy each others' company, and held their traditional ceremonies. But outside their doors, the storms still blew and ships still foundered.”
+++
The mortal (and I mean mortal) danger that every church eternally faces is that it become just a pleasant fellowship of the like-minded, a vaguely spiritual club for people who are culturally comfortable with each other.
The mortal (and I mean mortal) danger that every church eternally faces is that it become a weekly liturgical cult, enjoying fine music, relishing a little oration, and reveling in some marching about in uniform.
The mortal (and I mean mortal) danger that every church eternally faces is that it become no more than a successful business that never makes a profit, but keeps the building up, pays the oil bill, employs some nice people, and worries on little more than all that.
The challenge to new members, the call to you who are about to be ordained, in fact, the task of every one of us who takes Jesus Christ even a little bit seriously is nothing less than this: to guard and strengthen the connection, the continuity, the integrity between what we believe and what we do.
Jesus only got two and a half verses for his “other last words,” these last words of the First Gospel. And he used them to remind us to do what we believe.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Friday, March 12, 2010
FROM BITTER TO SWEET
We thirst for life. We thirst for meaning. We thirst for happiness. We thirst for success. We thirst for a sense that our existence matters and matters in a positive way. Yet, when we come to the wells of promised pleasure and prosperity we often find our circumstances bitterly poisoned. What relief is there for a thirsty heart.
Listen as Pastor Graves opens the Word of God and share the Lord’s answer. Jesus offers refreshing for the thirsty soul.
Listen as Pastor Graves opens the Word of God and share the Lord’s answer. Jesus offers refreshing for the thirsty soul.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Before and After
"Before and After"
Before I was saved
I'd take a breath of air
And lie without blinking
Cause I didn't much care
How me being me
Hurt who He wanted me to be
Before I was saved
A sunset was just the refraction
Of light from afar
Yeah, it was pretty
But the sun was just another star
Before I was saved
I didn't care
About nothing and nobody nowhere
I just wanted to do me
I just kept breathing air
Now that I have Jesus
Now that He has me
Heaven's my promise
I Love and I see
God in the sunset
Christ in all who pass me by
Now I live for my Savior
Now I breathe sky.
--- Rev. A. T. Graves II
Before I was saved
I'd take a breath of air
And lie without blinking
Cause I didn't much care
How me being me
Hurt who He wanted me to be
Before I was saved
A sunset was just the refraction
Of light from afar
Yeah, it was pretty
But the sun was just another star
Before I was saved
I didn't care
About nothing and nobody nowhere
I just wanted to do me
I just kept breathing air
Now that I have Jesus
Now that He has me
Heaven's my promise
I Love and I see
God in the sunset
Christ in all who pass me by
Now I live for my Savior
Now I breathe sky.
--- Rev. A. T. Graves II
JESUS IS LOOKING FOR YOU
The Bible contains history, prophecy, poetry, miracles, drama, etc. But there are two things the Bible does not contain: contradiction or coincidences. A look at the one of the conversion of Simon, aka Peter, prompts sharp consideration of that assertion. Peter is a character of many contradictions. In fact, his story is presented in 4 different versions across the Gospels. His inclusion in the fellowship of apostles seems to happen despite against all logic. Peter's journey from fisherman to apostle reveals principles that, if we are honest, are true of each of us.
Listen well as Pastor Anderson T. Graves II delivers the Word. You may learn something about the contradictions and "coincidences" in your own spiritual journey.
Listen well as Pastor Anderson T. Graves II delivers the Word. You may learn something about the contradictions and "coincidences" in your own spiritual journey.
ENCOURAGEMENT & CONVICTION
Many Christians like certain aspects of the gospel but not others. The gospel of the Jesus Christ as declared by the entire Bible is a message of duality. It offers encouragement and it evokes conviction. As illustrated by the lessons Jesus Himself taught in His hometown house of worship, the fullness of our walk with God lies in receiving both aspects of this message.
Listen as Pastor Anderson T. Graves II delivers the message: Encouragement & Conviction
Listen as Pastor Anderson T. Graves II delivers the message: Encouragement & Conviction
Friday, February 12, 2010
A SPECIAL INVITATION TO YOU
Family and Friends: Closer to God and Closer to One Another
In fact, the celebration will encompass the entire day:
At 11 Sunday morning, Feb. 21st, instead of the usual morning service, put on your jeans and join us for a special prayer service and church-hour prayer walk.
We hope that you, our dear friends who are our family in Christ will join in worship with us Feb. 21st at 3 P.M., and as much as possible, share in the rest of the weekend celebration.
We are collecting medical supplies and non-perishable food items, which Rev. Winston Williams will deliver to the needy in Haiti on Feb. 24th.
For directions. Click on the church picture above. For more information call (334)288-0577 or e-mail HallMemorialCME1@aol.com.
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