Daily Archives: September 11, 2024

No Wrath—Just Love

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One reader writes to remind me that God is “a God of eternal wrath.”

Sorry—no wrath, eternal or otherwise.

I know Paul talks about the wrath of God. I could try to twist the scripture here to save Paul’s words.

Instead, I’ll just tell the truth: God ain’t mad.

Never has been.

Never will be.

Jesus had a thing against anger. He says being mad at someone demeans that person’s value. It is a serious sin (Matthew 5:21-26).

It can get us into trouble.

But—it won’t make God mad at us.

In spite of our sins, God has only love for us.

Five hundred years ago, the great Julian of Norwich had an extensive near-death experience at the age of 30. She met the Lord face to face.

As a Catholic of the Middle Ages, she was very aware of human sin.

But she was surprised.

She expected some wrath against the sinner. But she found no anger in God.

Just love. Just kindness. Just grace.

And in the millions of experiences people have had of God through the ages, not one person has met a God of wrath.

Yes, some experienced hell, but that was never God’s doing. God is the one who breaks into that torment to pull them out.

Unconditional love is love that is never altered by any situation. It is pure, unmixed with anything.

God IS love.

This has become very clear to us in the St. Matthew class on NDEs.

We are not just loved; we are cherished.

As one NDEer put it, “Each one of us is God’s favorite person.”

Loved—as you are. Loved—forever.

Live with it.

(Sunday at 11:00.)

Max’s Corner

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Choir Practice—Sunday at 9:30

You know what that means.
Summer is definitely over—done with, gone.
Our choir won’t sing this Sunday, but very soon, they will. We already have at least two new members, and we could use more.
If you can sing, think about joining us!

NDE Class

There are four more NDE classes, but studies will continue at the same time every week.
This class has brought encouragement about our deceased loved ones. It has pushed us toward the certainty that God is real and shown us that God is always loving, always forgiving, and never angry at us.
Class is at 9:45, followed by breakfast.

Speaking of Breakfast

We continue to have a great breakfast every week. Come early for church and enjoy it. This is a “Winston Week,” and feel free to help if you’d like!
Food and fellowship at 10:30.

This Sunday

Last Sunday, Mary laid out a wonderful agenda of loving service for this church. Look for ways to bless others, for we are blessed.

Now, this Sunday, I have a problem. There are so many things I want to preach about that it’s hard to decide what comes next! I’ve decided to go with this: The Two Witnesses.
We have two absolutely reliable sources of information about God. I’ll begin my sermon by asking if you know what those two are.

I hope to see you Sunday. Don’t make me come to your house to find you! And I’m not looking for you on the golf course. You come see me—at the Lord’s house.

God Bless,
MB

Yes—keep our sick loved ones in your prayers.
When people we love are sick, we hurt too.

Mary’s Corner

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Greetings to you, the beloved of Christ,

I pray that you were able to spend some time outside this morning enjoying the beautiful 57° weather. Fall is my favorite time of the year—cooler temperatures and sweaters. I know everyone has their favorite season, except maybe summer in Texas, with its 100+ heat and oppressive humidity.

It was wonderful to be in church with you yesterday morning. Wonderful to hear your voices as you sang those old hymns, praising God and worshipping together. I am thankful for all of you who spoke to me after church about becoming prayer warriors. Many of you expressed a willingness to pray for others and to intercede “with groanings that only the Holy Spirit can understand.” Prayer is a vital part of any ministry and our congregation, as we lift each other up. It’s also important to pray without ceasing for that person in the mirror. Talking to God is the best way I know to bring peace and comfort to your own heart. It’s also the best way I know to keep yourself out of trouble! Ha ha!

I just left Bill Parker’s hospital room. This afternoon, he is surrounded by his loving wife and his amazing sons. Bill is awake and talking to them, but he told me that this morning, he had a dream about heaven. I don’t have to tell you how much Bill loves his wife, his children, and his grandchildren. The one thing he wanted me to make sure everyone knows is how much he loves our church. Bill is an important part of many of our lives, and we are blessed to call him our friend. But I also don’t need to remind you that Bill is very sick, and your prayers are so important to him right now.

I will be attending the Eastside Ministries board meeting on Friday, September 13th, at noon, standing in for Bill Parker. While I can attend this time, I may not be able to get the day off for future meetings. We are still looking for someone who can volunteer to sit on the board of Eastside Ministries as a representative of Saint Matthew United Methodist Church. The food, clothing, and counseling provided by Eastside Ministries to the 76105, 76103, and 76119 zip codes are vital to the survival of the people in these neighborhoods. Eastside Ministries has struggled since COVID, as many of us have, but now is not the time to let our generosity and efforts lag. People need help more than ever—with groceries, clothing for their children, and with occupational, financial, and mental health counseling.

I am putting together a list of items we will need to assist in the Under the Bridge Ministry. The ladies’ group has volunteered to get us started by packing bags with snacks and hygiene products. I am grateful to all of you who are so generous with your time and talents. As I said yesterday, we can’t save the whole world, but we can do our part in our own neighborhood to be the hands and feet of the risen Christ.

My love to all of you,
Mary

Kids’ News

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This week, we are learning about God’s creation! For six days, God worked, using unique ways to make the world better and better. But it wasn’t just good—it was extremely good! On the sixth day, God created human beings in His own image.

Children might wonder if being created in the image of God means we physically look like Him. While that could be, it’s important to think beyond appearances. Being made in God’s image means we reflect His creativity and goodness in the world. Just like God is a creator, each of us carries a piece of that divine creativity.

Reflecting God’s goodness isn’t always easy, but remember—God sees you as supremely good. Keep that in mind as you share your creativity with the world.

See you in church on Sunday!
Blessings,