Author Archives: Max Brennan

Max’s Corner

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Our Church Family

John Reynolds, a member of St. Matthew for over half a century, has died after a long illness. John was in his 90s. He will be missed by his surviving son and daughter and by his church family. Service time is pending.

HOLY THURSDAY

Light supper at 6:00

Worship at 6:30

We gather at the table on the anniversary of that Last Supper. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” It is His call. We are following.

GOOD FRIDAY

Light supper at 6:00

Worship at 6:30

We faithfully follow Jesus from the garden to the cross—from Gethsemane to Calvary—and beyond to the tomb. The powerful music from our choir will feature our guest cellist. This service is held at the time of Jesus’ burial on that first Good Friday.

EASTER SUNDAY

Egg Hunt for the kids at 10:00

Breakfast at 10:30

Worship at 11:00

We meet “in the beauty of the lilies” to celebrate the miracle of the Resurrection.

Sermon title: Welcome to the Real World.

Breakfast this Sunday

This isn’t up to Winston, but let’s try to have breakfast ready for those here for the egg hunt and others. I’ll bring both donuts and “little piggies.” You, too, may want to help. After all, it’s our only Easter this year.

Come, as you are able, on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter.

How good to know the truth about life.

How good to be in church!

Did somebody say “Amen”?

God bless—MB

Friday’s Word – “Looks Like It’s True”

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I don’t want to offend anyone. People of all faiths have a chance at heaven.

There is truth in all the great religions. We all belong to God, and God loves all of us equally.

But evidence suggests that the essentials of Christianity are true.

However hard some may fight it, it looks like the Shroud of Turin is the real thing. A new cutting-edge X-ray dating technique sets the Shroud at the time of Christ.

The argument may be over. For the image on the Shroud tells the complete story of the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus.

It is like a snapshot of the body of Jesus at the very moment of the body’s transformation.

The Shroud tells us that the body de-materialized. As the Shroud fell through the body, it recorded the bones in the hands and the bony sockets of the teeth. These are visible on the Shroud image.

The image is over the blood, which means the blood went on first. And we know it is human blood.

Someone died and was raised 2,000 years ago. The only candidate is Jesus.

If I were not a believer, I would hate to face all the evidence that Jesus is, in fact, Lord. Just His appearance to people of many faiths in religious experiences and NDEs would shake my unbelief.

I want to live reality.

I want the truth and nothing but the truth.

And all the evidence I am aware of points to the truth of the primary claims of Christianity.

The primary claims. Not the nonsense claim that people of other faiths go to hell.

Sunday is Palm Sunday.

Choose reality in your life.

Max’s Corner

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Concerns for our Church Family

Dan Mitchell, a faithful member along with Joyce, has passed. Dan had been ill for some time, making it impossible for them to attend worship in person. But we always knew they were watching.

Carol Bennett’s brother has passed after a long illness. Carol has known this time was near.

Patsy Reaves has passed. Her life had been harder these last years due to Alzheimer’s.

Jim Goodwin’s mom passed last week. (Graveside at 11:00 Thursday at Rose Hill cemetery.)

Dewayne and Sheila Taylor face the serious illness of their daughter-in-law—only in her 40s with pancreatic cancer.

John Reynolds continues in recovery. Danny Eades saw him last week.

Things are not always easy for Mac Salfen, but he is getting better. Chemo has worked, but it can cause some problems.

Keith Butterfield is doing well in his care facility—for someone 97. He is more himself.

Carolyn Bell is in a care facility, and that alone means her life has greatly changed.

Others in our church family face difficulties. We give thanks that we have a Lord who cares. And our prayers continue.

Discovering God Class

Finally—we face the story of Mrs. Schwartz this Sunday. Be prepared for a challenge.

Breakfast this Sunday

NO BIG BREAKFAST this Sunday. (Bring donuts. I will, too.) We have Palm Sunday lunch after worship.

Last Sunday and This

Great service last week with the baptism of three of our children. And listen!—our sound has improved! The new sound board gives us much better sound.

PALM SUNDAY!

And Palm Sunday dinner after. A big day. Holy Week begins.
Holy Thursday and Good Friday worship next week:
6:00 for light supper—6:30 for worship.

God Bless—MB

Friday’s Word – “Life-Changing”

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I am working again on my book Discovering God, a project of many years.
Subtitle: What We Know through Religious and Near-Death Experiences.

I am “teaching through it” every Sunday morning at 9:45.
We are learning in the class that there is no good reason not to believe in God.
God is accessible.
God communicates.
God reveals God—to any who will listen.

I have been interested in religious (or transcendent) experiences since I was 14. God gave an audible reply to a prayer.
I was in a bit of a bad mood. I said, after I prayed, “Nobody heard me.”
A voice clearly replied, “I heard you.”

At age 19, I stepped into my front yard on the farm to look up at the sky and pray.
I did look up.
But before I could say a word of my prayer, I was hit with a joy so strong I thought it would kill me.
Literally! I asked God to stop. I could take no more joy.
I had no idea what had happened to me.

I found William James’ masterpiece, The Varieties of Religious Experience, in my college library.
I realized I had had a mystical experience.
I cover a wide range of spiritual experiences in my book, including NDEs.

Everyone!
I say everyone should have a chance to discuss the profound experiences we cover in the class.
I would offer this class on a Thursday evening, from 6:30 to 7:30, if twelve people sign up for it.
If interested, drop me an e-mail. (Or come on Sunday morning.)
It is life-changing.

saintmatthewumc.com
revmaxb@tx.rr.com

Max’s Corner

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Note: I know some in the church have signed up for a Thursday evening edition of the Discovering God class, but we would need others from beyond the church to sign up to have enough for a class. We will see what response I get.

Discovering God Class

What a good discussion we had last week!
This week, we meet Mrs. Schwartz. This will challenge us.
Class at 9:45. Breakfast after.

Breakfast this Sunday

This is a “Winston Sunday.” Feel free to help!
Breakfast is at 10:30. (Great breakfast last week!)

Last Sunday and This

I loved the music we sang last Sunday. And Julian’s solo was phenomenal.
(Shannon has also sung a moving version of Above All for us.)
Mary may preach this Sunday.
And three of our children will be baptized.

Monday Was Recovery

My sister and I went with a friend to see The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on their final tour last Friday.
Why final tour? They—and their fans like me—are old.
They were great, and the concert venue in Grand Prairie is a fine place for music, but it is not user-friendly for anyone with bad knees. Painful! Getting in and out.
I was still getting around more poorly than usual last Sunday.
Doing better by late Monday.

In spite of my wobble, Sunday was a wonderful day.
I am only saddened for our folks who are ill.

Please pray for Dewayne and Sheila Taylor’s daughter-in-law, who is facing cancer.
May God’s love surround and uphold this family.

John Reynolds, long-time member—elderly and infirm—is in recovery. He is a little improved.
Carol Bennett’s brother remains in our prayers.

Love to all of you.
See you Sunday.
God bless — MB