Cokesbury UMC - Houston TX - News

09/16/11 Newsletter is Available

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:47 CDT

September 16 Courier now available

09/02/11 Newsletter is Available

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:27 CDT

September 2 Courier is now available!

08/19/11 Newsletter is Available

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:21 CDT

August 19 Courier is now available

Across the Way

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:50 CDT

Maureen had been enjoying her vacation in Dimwit Junction, but still had trouble understand the unique way the Dimmies thought and reasoned. Still, she discovered for the first time for many days that she could finally relax once she was settled into a lovely little country hotel along a river.

This morning as she was sitting on the terrace, watching the slow running river flow past, she decided to take a walk. After a short time, she came to a park along the river where she stopped to sit on a bench. Looking across the river, she noticed an inviting park on the other side. But how could she get over there? Just then, she saw another young woman walking along a path on the other side and she thought that she might know if there was a bridge nearby so she could cross over.

"Hello!" Maureen shouted, and waved her arms to get the other's attention. "Yoo hoo! Can you help me?"

The other woman paused to look around and then turned to notice Maureen. "Were you talking to me?" She called across.

"Yes!" Maureen shouted. "Can you tell me how to get to the other side?"
Even from that distance, Maureen could see the other woman seemed puzzled. She cocked her head, and then glanced up and down the river before she responded. "Why would you want to do that? You are on the other side!"

That Dimmie lady was certainly seemed confused but from her point of view, it was a legitimate question. And in our spiritual journey, having the right point of view is very important.
So what's the right POV? In a spiritual sense, it's how you see your life and future? Do you anticipate great service for God because you've learned to trust him? Or do you dread the future because you fear of what might – or might not – happen?
Of course our spiritual POV determines the way we live our live, whether we stride forwarding with faith and trust in God, or whether we shuffle along, cringing in fear, fretting and frustrated.

In other words, are you on God's side of the river?

08/05/11 Newsletter is Available

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:27 CDT

August 5 Courier is now available!

Across the Surface

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 20:24 CDT

After several rainy days, little Tony was anxious to get outside to play, but probably not more anxious than his mother who was tiring of being cooped up with an active five year old. So on the first sunny day, Diana pulled his plastic pool out of the garage, filled it with the hose and found a seat on the patio with a magazine to watch him.
First, he played with his toy boats, and then when he tired of that he slid down the attached slide into the water. Then Diana became involved in her magazine and when she looked up again Tony was walking back and forth from one side of the pool to the other, his arms outspread.
Again she looked down to read, but when she looked up again, she saw that he had crossed the lawn to his sandbox, obtained a pail and had brought it back to the pool. Using the small bucket, he began to scoop the water out of the pool and poured it on the grass. Before she knew it, he was pulling the hose toward the pool.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Diana called out. "I just filled the pool."
"But I need new water. The stuff in there now isn't any good."
"What are you talking about?
"Well, in Sunday School the teacher was talking about how Jesus walked on the water." Tony told her.
"Yes, he did that but what's that got to do with the water in your pool?"
"Well, I thought I'd try to do walk like that," Tony shuffled from one foot to the other. "But this water doesn't work."
Obviously Tony tried to improve on what God had done, and sometimes we do the same when we insert our own ideas into some area of service where God directs us. Or if that doesn't work then we might figure our improvements are better than his, so then we forget what God wants us to do, and complete the task with our plans in our own energy.
And when we do that then what do we accomplish? Nothing of course because it doesn't serve God and can only hamper his purposes and plans for us. And the remedy? It's easy - return to God's purposes and plans. Moreover, when we do while we may not walk on water we certainly won't be all wet!

07/22/11 Newsletter is Available

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:45 CDT

July 22 Courier is now available!

A Sure Course

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:28 CDT

It was a foggy night at sea when the marine radio crackled with some vital communication:
Voice 1: "Our radar has you on a collision course with our ship. Suggest you alter your course 10 degrees south."
Voice 2: "We see you on our radar but we cannot follow your request. Suggest you alter your course 10 degrees north."
Voice 1: "Repeat request. You must alter your course 10 degrees south. Vital you do so!"
Voice 2: "Cannot comply. Suggest you alter your course 10 degrees north."
Voice 1: "You must alter your course 10 degrees south! We have priority here! We have Admiral Jones aboard and we are a battleship!"
Voice 2: "Priority not an issue. We cannot alter our course - we are a lighthouse!"
Confronting the immovable isn't just a problem at sea, because it sometimes happens in our spiritual life when we come up against God's unchanging standards.
Most often, the conflict comes when it comes to our personal conduct. It happens when we're tempted to do something that seems harmless on the surface but which we know is not what God wants us to do. Perhaps it's not being entirely honest in some way, or repeating some "innocent" gossip about someone but no matter what it is, often a twinge of conscience lets us know it's not right.
Despite our wanting to do so, we just can't get around his holy demands of us.
Of course, the best approach would be to keep aware for the twinges and avoid deviations. After all, God's immovable standards are like that lighthouse – the source of his light and truth.

07/08/11 Newsletter is Available

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 15:52 CDT

July 8 Courier is now available!

A Striking Idea

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:32 CDT

"So have you found a substitute bell ringer yet?" The pastor asked Gerald, his church sexton. "We're due to start the church anniversary service this evening, and the bell ringing is an important part of it." He paused. "What a time for the regular ringer to get the flu!"
"I think we've got the right guy," Gerald told the pastor. "He's had quite a lot of experience with ringing bells like ours and he's ready to step in immediately."
"Okay, get him started immediately," the pastor returned.
Gerald met the substitute bell ringer in the parking lot where the newcomer had a request. "I have to go up the tower and see the bell before I start pulling the rope."
"But our regular bell ringer doesn't do that," Gerald told him.
"Maybe not, but it's what I have to do," said the other. "If I can't check out the bell then I can't ring." Gerald reluctantly agreed.
They entered a side room off the narthex and Gerald pointed to the length of rope dangling from the ceiling. "That's the bell rope and there's the door to the bell tower." He indicated a narrow door along one wall.
Once inside the door, they began the slow trek up the winding steps and since it was a steep climb, both Gerald and the substitute were short of breath by the time they got to the top. They emerged out on the platform that circled the bell flanked by arched and railed openings in the surrounding wall. Gerald was first up the steps with the huffing and puffing substitute following.
"I guess I'm not used to that sort of climb," he panted. "I'll just rest a moment..."
However, he wobbled a bit, and then fell face forward right into the bell. "Bong!" The ringing sound was soft as the man crumpled onto the floor.
Gerald called for help on his cell phone and soon the paramedics were scurrying up to the bell tower. They determined the substitute was apparently just stunned but as a precaution, they helped him down the stairs to the ambulance for a more thorough checkup. Then as one medic checked the man over the other talked to Gerald.
"We've got to file a report," He said, "What's his name?"
"You know, I never asked him," Gerald then got an idea. "But his face rings a bell."
That's silly of course but just as Gerald didn't recognize who he had encountered sometimes I do the same when I don't recognize God at work in my life. Of course who else could it be? For I know he's always providing for my needs and if I don't interfere, he guides and directs me. And while I serve him best when I'm both aware of his presence and follow his will for me, even if I fail to do so his care continues. For it depends not on me but on him - the omnipotent God who loves me.

A Shift of View

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 14:28 CDT

Farmer Joe was bored.
Though his property was prosperous, he had grown tired of the place and had come to believe that there were so many things wrong with the farm he could not be happy there. Surely, he reasoned, there had to be somewhere more exciting – and profitable! But where?
To find a new place and sell his old one he listed the farm with a local real estate agent and asked the same fellow to find him a new place.
Several weeks later, he was reading the newspaper and came across an enticing advertisement for a farm. The ad eloquently described what seemed like an ideal property. It had a great location, fertile land, a roomy house and other appealing features that made it irresistible. He had to see it!
The listed agent was the one he'd used so he called the man to describe the farm.
"That farm you listed sounds great, just what I'm looking for." The farmer told the agent. "I want to see it - where is it?"
The agent paused. "But that's your place!"
"Huh? I don't understand. It sounded so great."
"Well I wrote the ad to include all the details that might attract a buyer. After all, it is a great farm."
"Cancel the ads," the farmer said. "If my farm sounds that great then I don't want to sell!"
That fellow surely needed to get a new perspective to appreciate what he had and sometimes I need the same thing, and particularly when I have to learn to appreciate what God has done in my life.
What usually happens is that something happens that shakes me up – maybe the loss of something I rely on, or maybe just meeting someone with more serious problems than mine. Yet whatever it is, in such situations I have to pause and reconsider what God might be trying to tell me. Am I relying on him or on putting too much emphasis on things or people? What's really important – what I have or the God behind it all?
Surely, such events can transform my thinking and help me see God in my life and appreciate all he has done for me. And with that new outlook, I can go on with new purpose to serve God even better.

06/24/11 Newsletter is Available

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 15:15 CDT

June 24 Courier is now available!

A Real Drag

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:09 CDT

Two fellows once rented a tandem bike in a resort mountain area, and after riding a while they finally paused for rest at a scenic overlook at the top of a hill. However, while one fellow was winded and exhausted, the other wasn't. "Boy, that was a steep hill!" the first guy panted. "I thought since we were both pedaling it would be easier."

The other nodded. "Yeah, it was steep." Then he went on: "And I was so scared that we'd start coasting back down the hill that I had my brake on the entire way."

Often I find it's the same way when as I serve God and I don't seem to be getting anywhere. I'm trying to make progress and something seems to be holding me back and often I discover that I'm the reason.

It might be a hampering habit, or an out and out sin, or more likely my trying to insert my own ideas into the project instead of going with God's. Yet no whatever it is, then it not only hinders what God plans for me but it also keeps me from experiencing his presence in my life.

Still, whatever might be the problem then if I'm the cause then I must correct the situation. I can confess the sin and also remove my ideas and learn to rely on God's plans. Then once the problems are eliminated, I can move ahead to his wonderful new plans for me.

A Nagging Concern

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:57 CDT

A major league baseball manager was surprised one practice day when his newest team applicant was a horse.

"I'd like to try out for your team," The horse told him.

The manager was skeptical. "What position can you play?"

"I can bat."

"Let's see."
The horse picked up a bat in his teeth and when the ball was pitched to him he hit it out of the park. The manager was impressed.

"What else can you do?"

"I can play first base - and shortstop."

"Let's see."

Again the horse proved a superb player in both positions.

"All right," said the manager, finally convinced and thinking up contract details. "Can you pitch?"

"Don't be ridiculous," the horse scoffed, "who ever heard of a horse pitching?"

That's silly of course but did you ever think there was something you couldn't do when asked?

When that happens to me it's usually when I believe God is asking me to take on a new challenge. My usual response is - "Who? Me? I don't think so - I've never done anything like that before!"

However, it's one thing to reject a human request because we'd be relying on our own ability, but with God's challenges we have an extra advantage. Aftger all, when God asks us to accomplish something then he not only directs us through it but provides his strength and provision for the task.

All it takes is the decision to start - and the faith to continue because with God's guidance and provision - I can accomplish whatever he asks me to do.

06/10/11 Newsletter is Available

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:13 CDT

June 10 Courier is now available!