Author Archives: Max Brennan

Max’s Corner

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Last Sunday

Quite a good day. It was actually a “Mary Picnic”—and not a picnic at all, but a nice lunch after worship. I preached on joy, and we had a great time singing “Peace Like a River.” Johnny and Judy said they thought we might break out into revival.

And we gathered at the Lord’s Table.
And, oh!—it rained.
As Jesus said, it fell on the just and the unjust.
We Methodists are, of course, the just.

The Class—Discovering God

We are having quite a remarkable time. It is different from any study I have ever done of religious experiences. It is actually opening new doors for me—and it is changing the opening chapters of my book, Discovering God. We are discovering the extent to which God communicates with us and the ways in which God does that.

You are welcome at any time.
Class at 9:45—followed by breakfast.

Speaking of Breakfast

This is a “We-bring” Sunday. If we do not bring—no breakfast. I will bring my usual—those pigs in blankets. Food and fellowship at 10:30, followed by worship.

This Sunday

Mary preaches.
Blake is back. Our choir will sing.

Upcoming

Two things: A week from this Saturday—Nov. 16 at 6:00—we will have a concert. It is a “Creason Production”—as in Mel and Barb. It will feature Mel, Blake, Shannon, and Julian. Sandwich and chips supper after. Yes—we will need sandwiches and chips.

Thing Two: we have moved the Thanksgiving Dinner back to Thanksgiving Sunday—Nov. 24. Let’s gather. Let’s rejoice.

See you this Sunday.
God Bless,
MB

Our love to Ronnie Sullivan and family. Her brother’s memorial will be Saturday at the church. Check “Mary’s Room” for the time.

Lord, Save Us

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It’s on our minds—here, four days before.
The great Carl Jung, noted psychiatrist, said that, in a crisis, we could depend on only 40 percent of the population to act rationally.
We know already that 46 percent of Americans will not act rationally. They support someone who is clearly racist, vengeful, and cruel.
They have made a firm commitment to values that are nowhere close to Christian.

I used to think we were getting better. I thought people had become less racist, less ugly to the neighbor.
Now, I don’t know.
We may be worse.

There was a time when anyone who admired Hitler would not be considered for any job.
Now, 46 percent of our people don’t seem to care.
And here’s the sad thing:
Most of those people go by the name Christian.

That would suggest to us that something is seriously wrong in the church.
Not in all churches—but in many churches, even in whole denominations.

We need an explanation.
We need to figure out why so many Christians are so accepting of racism, vengeance, and cruelty.
And I do think I know. God, in the Old Testament, is often pictured as racist, vengeful, and cruel.

And for the biblical inerrantists, all scripture is equal. They feel free to choose that vengeful image of God over the God of grace we have in Jesus.
The Gospel has no priority at all with many Christians.
They think God hated the Amalekites, so they can hate immigrants.

Lord, save us.

Max’s Corner

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THE PICNIC!

This is our annual Brian McKosky picnic—with sausage hauled all the way from Wisconsin to Texas.
Some of you have signed up to bring some of “the fixin’s” to go with the wieners.

Now listen!—if it rains, the picnic will move inside. So, not to worry. Rain or shine, we eat after worship this Sunday.

Last Week’s Sermon

Women are dying needlessly because of radical laws preventing abortions—even in medical emergencies. So, I talked about the “A” word last week. I told the story of Sophie, distraught over expecting a baby with a cruel man she had been dating. She was in agony over whether to keep the baby. Crying beside the road in her car, she opened her eyes to see a light all around her. And from the Light came this word: “The child will be fine either way.” Then she was reminded that she was loved. God can handle any situation. The laws being passed are cruel, destructive, and unnecessary.

The Class—Discovering God

This week, we will look at the second (perhaps third) most famous religious experience of all time.
Class at 9:45—followed by breakfast.

Speaking of Breakfast

This is a “Winston Sunday”—so expect a great meal. We do need the breakfast to feed the Discovering God Class and others, even if we are having a picnic after church.
Food and fellowship at 10:30.

This Sunday

This Sunday—the sermon first intended for last week: “Joy.” I hope it will be uplifting.
Blake will be in Mexico celebrating Day of the Dead. No choir. Shannon will sing.
AND!!!—we gather at the Lord’s Table.

God Bless,
MB

We Are Like Them

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This is a strange time.

This may turn out to be the quiet before the storm, the days before the fall, the last light before darkness comes.

In just 11 days, we may lose that which so many have died to save: our democracy.

I used to think Germany must have been a truly perverse nation to elect Hitler.

(Yes, he was elected.)

In 1932, the Nazi Party won only 33 percent of the vote, but that was enough for Hitler to insist that he be appointed Chancellor.

That 33 percent looks pretty good compared to us.

Nearly half of our people are vulnerable to the same prejudicial hatreds that drove the Germans.

Germans hated Jews and gay people.

In our country, the reviled groups are still the Jews and gay people, but add immigrants.

Germany was a mostly Christian nation, the land of Martin Luther. But as in America today, Christians in Germany held onto their hatreds and fears of anyone different.

Recently, millions of Methodists left the UMC so they could continue to marginalize gay people.

Millions of American Christians today support someone who called immigrants “vermin.”

(That, by the way, was Hitler’s word for Jews.)

However things go in 11 days, we are looking at a massive failure of the church.

I will tell you again: at the root of our problem is biblical inerrancy.

A majority of Christians worship the Bible, not Jesus. They have never accepted his call to love all people. Now we face the cost of that failure.

May God help us.

Max’s Corner

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The Class—Discovering God

We had one of the most interesting classes we have ever had last week—and we are only getting started.

We are studying the deepest and most meaningful experiences of our lives—every Sunday.

Class at 9:45—followed by breakfast.

Speaking of Breakfast

This is a “We-Bring Sunday.” I will be there with my pigs-in-blankets. You help me. Bring something good. I’m hungry.

Food and fellowship at 10:30.

This Sunday

I’ll make this short and—well, it may or may not be sweet. Jason needs this copy immediately. He is out of town and will have trouble getting this newsletter out.

This Sunday—less excited than last week.

The sermon will be called “Joy.”

Kristi will be out—so no choir.

Blake will be doing double duty—which means playing piano and singing—or Shannon or Julian will sing. Whoever it is, it will be beautiful.

Keep our sick folk in your prayers.

Love to all of you. And—

God Bless,

MB

MEETING: PPR Committee—again, for a few minutes after church to finalize forms. Thanks.