Clever Free Methodist

We are uniquely designed and created by God for a specific purpose and mission in this world. The last thing we need to be is “all the same” as if created and built on an assembly line. We need to be different. We need to recognize this difference as a necessity and not as a threat to our own uniqueness. 1 Corinthians 12:21-27 illustrates for us that we are individually designed to function in our own special way…the way we were designed. The passage states “the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you.’ …now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” Although we are all different, we are all created for the same purpose to glorify God and to love one another as He has loved us. We may all be different, but we are all equally created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). We, being same in creation, should treat each other equally with dignity, respect and love. In today’s challenges of...

Before time began! No, I am not writing about some space odyssey movie or some wild adventure novel involving a time-machine. I am thinking about a moment long before earthly time began. A spectacular and incredible moment occurred that touches every human life that ever existed, now exists or will exist well into the future. This incident was recorded in the Bible in the New Testament book of Ephesians. We see in Ephesians 1:4-5 , “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Grasping the love of God can be very challenging for our finite, human minds. Can we work on fully grasping the fact? The fact that God took the initiative, paid the price, absorbed the penalty of sin by giving up and sacrificing His Son Jesus….all for us…all because He...

Just like you, I have seen video clips or have read a plethora of responses to the alleged racial issues plaguing our country. However good and helpful some discussions, responses, and “fixes” may be, we still have those that are a bit extreme and unnecessary to bring healing. What is the answer? What is the fix? Whether it is disbanding Police Departments, bringing down Confederate (or any) monuments and flags, or trying to “rewrite history” to make us feel better, it is still a momentary solution to an ongoing problem. All the laws of Country, State, County and City are still not enough to deter crime, hate, prejudice and other forms of lawlessness. Sadly, we don’t need any more laws. What we have in place, now, is enough to cover everything we need for a just society. So, then what’s the issue? Jeremiah 17:9 , ““The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” What we have is a heart problem. The Hebrew...

The months of March through June of 2020 have been quite the spectacle of emotions, tensions, anxiety and even fear. If a pandemic of COVID-19 were not enough to challenge us, we found ourselves staring glued to our media devices watching riots, looting, destruction and protesting take over many of our major cities. Now, take all of that and add the political climate in our country with the insipid, vile and volatile hatred many are expressing towards the President of the United States, we could be easily conclude that there is a lot of evil and hate in our Country. Jesus comforted us in John 16:33 , by saying “…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” I believe this ties in with the reason Jesus taught us to pray for such troubling times. Jesus teaches us to pray, in Matthew 6:13 “…but deliver us from evil.” For many years, I have always assumed that this part of the prayer was just referring to Satan and his demons. Although...

We have recently gone through Holy Week, Easter (resurrection) and the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. What could be our next celebration?   Oh, that is right! The fulfillment of prophecy about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit! Foretold in Joel 2:28-29 we are told,  “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” Jesus had recently ascended back into Heaven and now the disciples had been keenly focused on prayer and seeking God for the course ahead. They were still on a mission as they were quick in looking for a replacement for Judas. The lots were cast and Matthias was chosen as the newest Disciple to join their ranks (Acts 1:20-26). They had been busy and had done a lot of work so time to take a break and celebrate. After all, it was time for one of the...

There is one, concise statement of faith that appears in both the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed that states we believe Jesus ascended back into Heaven. We believe “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.” It is hard to believe that one of the most significant moments in Jesus’ life is scarcely recognized in the Protestant churches today. Maybe it is time for us to join with our Amish and Roman Catholic brothers and sisters who recognize the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ as a holy day of obligation.  A “day of obligation” is somewhat like a holiday where the faithful are expected to attend services, observe rest from work and recreation, and reflect on the meaning of the event memorialized.   Jesus accomplished a lot in forty-four days! Instituted the “New Covenant,” was crucified, buried and then rose from the dead. Then for forty-days, He appeared to many and spent even more time with His Disciples before ascending...

Here in Minnesota, it is not only Mother’s Day this weekend, but the opening of the fishing season. This is not only a beloved pastime, but a sacred tradition in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” Needles to say, many are heading out on the water and gathering along the banks. We, as Christians, have been called to fishing. Jesus invites us to join Him on the world’s greatest fishing expeditions of all time….fishing for people. Mark 1:16-20 is the Gospel story that unfolds along the shores of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus comes upon Simon and Andrew casting their nets into the water to begin their day of fishing. We are not sure how long Jesus stood there watching before engaging the two brothers in conversation, but He broke His silence by saying, in verse 17 , “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They must have gotten the message and knew exactly what he meant, because their response in verse 18 , was, “they immediately left their nets and followed him.” ...