Monthly Archives: September 2025
Watching God Work: Finding Grace in Everyday Life
Friday’s Word
Can a theological system be accurate?
Is it possible to “get it right,” or is belief in God finally just guesswork?
There are over 15,000 Christian denominations, so somebody must be guessing wrong. But we do not have to guess—any more than a scientist has to guess in their work.
All that can be known to us about God is available through the experience of God. Every religious or spiritual experience tells us something about Him. Every Near-Death Experience (NDE) tells us something about heaven and the life that awaits us beyond this one. And all of this supports what we already know from the teachings of Jesus.
The most accurate picture of God anywhere is found in Matthew 5:38–48 (and in Luke 6:27–36). How do we know it is accurate? Because it reflects the God we meet in experience. Every person who meets God in an NDE will tell you that the God of unconditional love Jesus describes is the God they encountered.
Jesus was accurate about God. And listen! He was the only person in ancient history who was accurate. What does that tell you?
Furthermore, Jesus himself appears in many of those NDEs and other spiritual experiences. What does that tell you? He appears to be, and functions as, the divine figure we call the Christ.
By the way, because I preach the God we know in Jesus and in experience, I will claim my preaching is also fairly accurate.
Check it out—live or online, Sunday at 11:00.
saintmatthewumc.com
revmaxb@tx.rr.com
Max’s Corner
It’s all about the concert this week. We’ve waited. We have HIGH expectations.
MSB Gospel Group will be here THIS SATURDAY NIGHT—SEPT. 20—6:00 P.M.
Now listen—we have sold tickets, but we can take more customers at the door. Just come with money in hand. We don’t want anyone to miss it.
Pastor’s Class
Same time, same station.
At 9:45—followed by breakfast.
Breakfast this Sunday
It’s a “Winston” Sunday. Feel free to help.
That’s at 10:30.
Sermon this Sunday
Sermon: Watching God Work
I am fascinated by the way God works to bring people to faith. This Sunday, we will watch the conversion—over many years—of a woman who was a devout atheist. She made fun of Christians. She had no Christian friends.
But then, in one sudden and overwhelming moment, the pieces all came together.
Yep! We’re going to sing Amazing Grace.
See you Sunday.
God Bless—MB
Mary’s Corner
Hello all! I am so excited about our Saturday Night Concert Series this fall. Beginning this Saturday, September 20th at 6:00 PM, we will be entertained by the MSB Gospel Choir. (I have learned what MSB stands for, but I’ll let them share on Saturday.) Thanks to your generosity, we will be able to make a wonderful contribution to Eastside Community Assistance for September.
We can also look forward to another brilliant show on October 25th at 6:00 PM, when All Peoples Church will perform the musical Lazarus in our Saint Matthew Auditorium. Dinner will follow both concerts.
For this Saturday, we need desserts. Our meal will be hamburgers and hotdogs with all the trimmings. We also need folks to help with set-up at 5:00 PM and clean-up after the festivities. And remember—I have 6 tickets to give away. If you haven’t purchased a ticket because $25 is a lot, please come to the concert anyway! There will be room and plenty of food for all.
Our dear and wonderful Faith Salfen is working daily to get the church cleaned and ready for the event. If you’re able to help with this, it would be greatly appreciated. Faith will be at the church Wednesday and Thursday afternoons beginning around 12:30. Thank you, Faith, for the love you show our church through your work!
Finally, I will be preaching in a couple of weeks. The sermon will be about lenses and the way we see the world. I hope you can join us every week—either in person or online at saintmatthewumc.com. The good news of Jesus Christ is shared each week in our worship and in our proclamation of God’s message to His beloved children.
I look forward to seeing you,
– Mary