Devotionals

We rarely get a chance to see another country’s editorial about the USA.
Read this excerpt from a Romanian Newspaper . . .
The article was written by Mr. Cornel Nistorescu and published under the title ‘Cântarea Americii,’ meaning ‘Ode to America’ in the Romanian newspaper Evenimentulzilei ‘The Daily Event’ or ‘News of the Day’.

~ An Ode to America ~

Why are Americans so united? They would not resemble one another even if you painted them all one color! They speak all the languages of the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations and religious beliefs.
On 9/11, the American tragedy turned three hundred million people into a hand put on the heart. Nobody rushed to accuse the White House, the Army, or the Secret Service that they are only a bunch of losers. Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts. Nobody rushed out onto the streets nearby to gape about.
Instead the Americans volunteered to donate blood and to give a helping hand.
After the first moments of panic, they raised their flag over the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps, and ties in the colors of the national flag. They placed flags on buildings and cars as if in every place and on every car a government official or the president was passing. On every occasion, they started singing: ‘God Bless America!’
I watched the love broadcast and rerun after rerun for hours listening to the story of the guy who went down one hundred floors with a woman in a wheelchair without knowing who she was, or of the Californian hockey player, who gave his life fighting with the terrorists and prevented the plane from hitting a target that could have killed other hundreds or thousands of people.
How on earth were they able to respond united as one human being? Imperceptible, with every word and musical note, the memory of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes. And with every phone call, millions and millions of dollars were put into collection aimed at rewarding not a man or a family, but a spirit, which no money can buy. What on earth unites the Americans in such a way? Their land? Their history? Their economic Power? Money? I tried for hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases with the risk of sounding commonplace, I thought things over, I reached but only one conclusion . . . Only freedom can work such miracles.
I would add “By God’s Grace!”

In the book Gaily The Troubadour, published in 1936, Arthur Guiterman wrote the following poem. Reading his observations, you wouldn't guess it was written 90 years ago.

First dentistry was painless,
Then bicycles were chainless
And carriages were horseless
And many laws, enforceless.
Next, cookery was fireless,
Telegraphy was wireless,
Cigars were nicotineless
And coffee, caffeinless.
Soon oranges were seedless,
The putting green was weedless,
The college boy hatless,
The proper diet, fatless,
Now motor roads are dustless
The latest steel is rustless,
Our tennis courts are sodless,
Our new religions, godless.

The last line of this poem is the most telling. We must guard against, what I call, “creeping secularism.” God has been mostly taken out of public life and there are those who would take any mention of God out of our country, if they could. It’s more important to go to church and take our children and grandchildren then ever before in our history.
The sad fact is, today’s society is having more influence over churches, when the Church should be influencing our society. We must remember, Jesus calls for unity in the Church and unless there is unity, it’s hard to do all the other things Jesus calls us to do, and therefore be a positive influence. However, there can be no real unity unless there is agreement on biblical truth.
“Creeping secularism” is another name for “Spiritual Warfare.” The Devil knows he has the most success when he does things slowly. I have seen a big change in spiritual matters in my lifetime and it has taken place slowly. In the last fifty years there has been a huge erosion of tolerance for Christianity. What we need is a Spiritual Awakening in our country and in our churches.

The best way for our church to fight back is to know the Truth, live the Truth and share the Truth - Jesus!
We do this when we come to Church on Sundays and Wednesdays, Guthrie Ladies Gatherings and when we invite others. There are many other opportunities to grow as disciples and be trained as Christian Soldiers.
With A Grateful Heart
Pastor Mark

Father’s Day, contrary to popular misconception, was not established as a holiday in order to help greeting card manufacturers sell more cards. In fact when a “father’s day” was first proposed there were no Father’s Day cards.
Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington, first proposed the idea of a “father’s day” in 1909. Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife (Mrs. Dodd’s mother) died in childbirth with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state. It was after Mrs. Dodd became an adult that she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent.
The first Father’s Day was observed June 10th, 1910 in Spokane, Washington. At about the same time in various towns and cities across the America other people were beginning to celebrate a “father’s day.” In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Fathers Day. Finally in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father’s Day.
There is no perfect earthly father. We pray our heavenly Father will help us do a better job.

Come, and bring the whole family, invite friends,
for our Father’s Day Celebration (June 21st, 9:30 a.m.)

You will find out ways to be a godly father.
All fathers present will receive special recognition.

Fathers….
4 years: My Daddy can do anything!
7 years: My Dad knows a lot… a whole lot.
8 years: My father does not know quite everything.
12 years: Oh well, naturally Father does not know that either.
14 years: Oh, Father? He is hopelessly old-fashioned.
21 years: Oh, that man-he is out of date!
25 years: He knows a little bit about it, but not much.
30 years: I must find out what Dad thinks about it.
35 years: Before we decide, we will get Dad’s idea first.
50 years: What would Dad have thought about that?
60 years: My Dad knew literally everything!
65 years: I wish I could talk it over with Dad once more.

God Bless You & Keep You!
Pastor Mark

Behind every great man is…his mother:
Mrs. Washington: “Oh George, you never did have a head for money.”
Mrs. Morse: “Sam, stop tapping your fingers on the table, it’s driving me crazy!”
Mrs. Lindbergh: “Charles, can’t you do anything by yourself?”
Mrs. Armstrong: “Neil has no more business taking flying lessons than the man in the moon.”
Where would we be without our mothers? My mother left this earth 36 years ago. I think about her often. I miss her. I remember how hard she worked on the farm to raise her family and take care of my Dad. I remember her sage sayings. I remember her prayers and her love. My mother had a lot to do with who I am today.
Proverbs Chapter 31 describes a godly wife and mother:
“She is clothed with strength
and dignity; she can laugh at
the days to come. She speaks
with wisdom, and faithful
instruction is on her tongue.
Her children arise and call
her blessed.”
On Mother’s Day you will hear a message titled:
“Turning Houses Into Homes”
you will hear how we need God’s plan, God’s power, God’s protection, and God’s provision and God’s blessing. All mothers in attendance on Mother’s Day (May 10) will be prayed for, recognized in a special way and
receive a special gift. All of us know folks who don’t have a church
home. Mother’s Day is a great day to invite
them to worship.

God Bless our Mothers and Grandmothers!
Pastor Mark

Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus . . . . John 19:38
Joseph of Arimathea is mentioned four times in the Bible — once in each of the Gospels. In Matthew 27:57, we’re told he was a rich man from Arimathea who had become a disciple of Jesus. Mark 15:43 adds that he was also a prominent member of the Jewish counsel who nonetheless had to summon all his courage to approach Pilate for the body of Christ.
And John 19:38 tells us Joseph was a secret disciple for fear of the Jews. He and Nicodemus worked together to bury the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here was a wealthy and prominent man whose heart was afraid; but when push came to shove, he mustered his courage, trusted in God, and did what was right.
It’s often hard to stand for what’s right, but it helps to remember the example of Joseph of Arimathea. Most of all, it helps to remember that the tomb he loaned to Jesus is empty.
Easter says that you can put truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there.
Because He is alive, we have the assurance of eternal life!
With much love for you and our risen LORD!
Pastor Mark

Bishop Richard Wilke, in his book Signs And Wonders: The Mighty Work of God in the Church, tells about interviewing sixty pastors and the churches were a cross-section from all over the United States.
Bishop Wilke writes, “I asked what was important to them. Overwhelmingly, worship was tops. Visitors touch the hem of the garment of Christ on Sunday morning. Sunday worship is exciting to them, and they want it to be exciting for their congregation. They try to preach with passion. They want the people to sing with enthusiasm and pray with power.”
Dear friends, Sunday morning is not the end of all Church life, it is not the end of the mission of the Church, but it is the beginning, and it cannot be side-stepped. Sunday worship is the catalyst by which most things are done in the Church. It is a time to be the Body of Christ gathered. With this being the case, God does not want it to be dry and mechanical.
Worship is usually the first contact people have with a Church. If worshiping God is not important to us, visitors will know it, and they are not likely to come back. On the other hand, if there is enthusiasm, excitement, a loving spirit, and a longing for Sunday morning to come, so we can go to Church, people will know we are not just another social club.
Sure, we go to Church to have our batteries charged for another week, but that is not our primary purpose. Worship means giving to God. We give Him our prayers, our praises, our singing, our resources, our time and ourselves. What we receive is icing on the cake. What we give to God is out of gratitude for the mighty works of Jesus Christ, our Lord!
I am excited about being your pastor at Guthrie Methodist Church. I am praying for you and ask your prayers for me. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday and worshiping God with you!
With Much Love For You & Our Lord!
Pastor Mark
P.S. May we give glory to God every day!

Last Sunday in the Children’s Message I had an hour-glass and explained how an hour-glass works. I explained the grains of sand could represent the seconds in an hour, the hours in a year; or the days in a lifetime. Any way we look at it, our time is running out like grains of sand through an hour-glass.
The psalmist writes:
“Teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).
This Hebrew word for “number” means “to weigh” or “to measure.” God intends that we do the best we can with the time we have been given. This is especially important as we began a new year. I can’t think of anything better to do this year, with our time, than to read and preach through the Bible, to pray, to attend worship and Sunday school, to invite people to church, to help people in need, and to tell people the Good News of Jesus Christ (the greatest need of everyone)!
Each day is a great gift from God. Again, the psalmist writes:
“This is the day the Lord has made,
We will rejoice and be glad in it”
(Psalm 118:24).
We are to place each day God gives us in the balance and make it tip the scales in a way that will glorify God and bless the lives of others!
Happy Christ filled New Year to you and your family!
Pastor Mark & Robin

Several years ago we were blessed to see a very small portion of God’s universe that we don’t often get to see, a total lunar eclipse. We were living in Nashville at the time and we set our alarm clock for midnight. When the alarm went off we ran out into the night air and looked up into the heavens. Lights were on in some of the houses up and down our street. We saw the folks directly across the street come out and look up with us at God’s handy-work.
I wonder how many people looked up into the night sky two thousand years ago and saw the star that led the Wise Men to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem? Someone said, “Wise men still seek Him.”
Can it be as easy as following a star? Maybe.
The following poem was written by a dear friend of mine, Mrs. Anna Grim.
FOLLOW THE STAR
We see the stars above us at night
And wonder why they shine so bright.
But it was only one star long ago
That made the heavens all aglow,
So the wise men could find their way
To where the little Christ child lay.
Away in a manger — it must have been
Because there was no room in the inn.
The star of the east just led them there
So praises and blessings they could share.
For each one of us must always try
To keep following that bright star up in the sky
And if we ever lose it from sight
Look for it carefully the very next night.
For we must follow, follow that star;
No, it doesn’t matter where we are;
Just so we will not be led astray
From being with our dear Lord someday.
I hope you follow The Star to church this Sunday, because our Star is Jesus Christ!
With much love for you,
Pastor Mark

George Washington wrote the first Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamation on November 26th 1789. He began his message by acknowledging God’s providence. He concluded that message by recognizing the Lord as the giver of national prosperity, and in between were no less than two dozen forceful references to the goodness of God. There was no doubt in Washington’s mind that the birth of this nation and its marvelous blessings were cause for deep gratitude to God.
The observance of Thanksgiving is rooted in our national heritage, but it has always been understood as directed toward God. Thanksgiving is a major theme in the Bible. It is my prayer that we will celebrate a wonderful Thanksgiving by keeping our thanks ever directed toward God.
The poet has said,
 He who thanks but with his lips,
 Thanks but in part;
 The full, true Thanksgiving
 Comes from the heart.
      (author unknown)
Happy Thanksgiving! We’re thankful to God for you!
Pastor Mark & Robin

Someone gave me this poem. It sounds like a Social Club but if you change the word “president” on the second line to “pastor” it would sound a lot like a church.
What is the Value of One Member?
Ten little members standing in line,
One disliked the president, then there were nine.
Nine ambitious members offered to work late;
One forgot his promise, then there were eight.
Eight creative members had ideas good as Heaven.
One lost enthusiasm, then there were seven.
Seven loyal members got into a fix;
They quarreled over programs, and then there were six.
Six members remained with spirit and drive;
One moved away, then there were five.
Five steadfast members wished there were more;
One became indifferent, then there were four.
Four cheerful members who never disagree,
Till one complained of meeting, then there were three.
Three eager members, what to do?
One got discouraged, then there were two.
Two lonely members, our rhyme is nearly done;
One joined a bridge club, then there was one.
One faithful member was feeling rather blue;
Met with his neighbor and then there were two.
Two earnest members, each enrolled one more;
Doubling their numbers, and then there were four.
Four determined members just couldn’t wait,
Till each won another, then there were eight!
Eight excited members signed up 16 more;
In another six verses, there’ll be a thousand twenty-four.
Please don’t get the idea we are here to simply sign up new members. But we are “Ambassadors for Christ.”
We are told to “make disciples.” Invite someone to church this Sunday.
With Much Love,
Pastor Mark

My brother-in-law, my sister’s husband, Robert, died at the age of 54, from a heart attack. (1993)

We made the long, cold drive to Swainsboro, Georgia and arrived about three hours before the funeral was scheduled to start at 2:00 pm on a Sunday.

I went around and asked family members what they would remember most about Robert. One niece said she would remember Robert as the peace maker in the family. A sister said Robert was always there for her (he had spent the day before he died sitting with her after surgery). Another said everyone loved Robert and Robert loved everyone.

The pastor who gave the eulogy grew up with Robert and was a life-long friend. He gave glowing attributes and all were very truthful.
When I got up to give the funeral message I explained Robert had another attribute that was most important. Robert had taken Jesus at His word when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
Christianity offers the only way of salvation, to the exclusion of all others. There are not any number of doors or ways to get to Heaven. There is only one way, one door, one bridge, and that door leads to His Heaven: the crucified, Risen Son of God, Jesus the Christ!
There are no detours or alternate routes into the Family of God. Not if you take Jesus at His Word. And that excludes many who have glowing attributes, many who are good and sincere but sincerely wrong.

Many in Jesus’ day and people in our day think they can attain salvation by keeping the law and being good. Many others have worked out their own procedures to gain salvation and they hope they are right. But procedures don’t save and there is only one hope, Jesus Christ.
“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”
And the rest of the Good News is, Jesus doesn’t say “Good Luck” and leave us on our own. He gives us the Holy Spirit who gives us the power to live good lives.

You won’t always be popular for pointing the way. But then, if one person finds the Way of eternal life because you cared enough, will it really matter what others may say and think?

With Love For Jesus and You,
Pastor Mark