Saint Matthew United Methodist Church

Author: Max Brennan

  • Friday’s Word – A Communicating God

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    Last week I shared an account of an experience I had at age 14.

    After my bedtime prayer, I said softly to myself, “Nobody heard me.”

    Immediately, a voice clearly replied, “I heard you.”

    I believe God spoke to me. But I asked you to say what you think.

    There are three possible choices: 1) I am lying. 2) I am mistaken. 3) You believe me.

    Six people said I was mistaken.

    One replied: I believe you think you heard the voice, but I doubt that the voice was really there.

    Another said: Sometimes our internal voice can seem like an outside voice. I heard such an answer to prayer once, back when I prayed. It startled me, but it’s not enough to make me believe in a god.

    Fifty-one people said they believe me, and some shared their own stories.

    One wrote: I was trying to decide what to do with my life after college. I was walking late at night and praying. A voice clearly spoke to me, saying, “Seek first the Kingdom of God.” I had hoped for something more specific. The same voice spoke again, “Seek first the Kingdom of God.”

    Another wrote: I was leaving for work when a voice said, “Watch for a red car.” The message came three times because I ignored it the first two times. I said, “Ok, I’ll watch.” And a red car pulling a trailer almost ran me off the road.

    I have many accounts like these last two. We are loved and watched over.

    And God can speak to us in many ways.

    Next time, I have another challenge for you.

    Worship is at 11:00.

    Give it a try.

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    Last Week’s Sermon

    The sermon was a bit unusual—about the remarkable life of our church. I have heard it said that, according to the laws of aerodynamics, the bumblebee should not be able to fly. But it does. As an older church hidden within an older community, we should not still be here, but we are alive and well.

    And, old as I am, I am probably still a necessary part of the St. Matthew mix. That is one reason I have not retired and the Conference has not put me out to pasture.

    There’s another reason: Ministry is the center of my life. So, I will soon begin my 43rd year at St. Matthew.

    “Discovering God” Class

    It will resume on Sunday, Jan. 26—the last Sunday of the month—at 9:45, before worship.

    Breakfast this Sunday

    Just coffee, orange juice, and donuts. It will be cold. Grab a donut and head for worship by 11:00.

    A New Church Directory

    The Church Council agreed last week that we need a pictorial directory, and I will be calling the people who did our last one to set up a time to do the photography. Mary and I plan to be relentless in getting all of our people into the book.

    This Sunday

    I preach this Sunday, Mary the next. I will apply the “lied, mistaken, I believe” choices to a couple of stories from Paul. Yes, I believe these stories. But—if we do believe them—we need to show it in our lives. Sermon title: If We Believe It—Live It.

    God Bless,
    MB

    NOTE: Listen—there will be no ice or snow, but it may be below 30 degrees on Sunday. Bundle up and come on. But be careful. See you Sunday.

    NOTE: We found the lid to the baptismal font. It was in the pulpit. The font is a wooden copy of a stone font from 1735 in a church in London.

  • Friday’s Word – It’s a New Year

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    Only 69% of Americans say they are Christian. Five percent are agnostic, 4% atheist, and 17% “nothing in particular.”

    When belief was common, there was a lot of pressure to believe. Now, the pressure is off.

    Truth is, many people simply don’t know what they believe and don’t trust the church to help them decide.

    Have you decided what you believe?

    Have you?

    In the first articles of the new year, I will be pushing you to decide—beginning with a story I have told many times.

    (Stick with me here.)

    When I was 14, God spoke to me. (Do you believe that’s possible?)

    I went to bed depressed and, it seems, a bit surly.

    I prayed as I did every night, but then mumbled to myself, “Nobody heard me”—my first expression of doubt ever.

    But my statement of doubt was followed by a response.

    Immediately, a voice replied, “I heard you.”

    The voice sounded in my head, but I looked around the room for the source.

    Nobody there but me.

    The voice was clear. I had no question about it. It shook me up at first. But then I felt the wonder of it.

    I prayed. God answered.

    In first person singular: “I heard you.”

    But now, I want to know what you think. There are only three options. E-mail me with your choice.

    You would say to me:

    1. You are lying.
    2. You are mistaken.
    3. I believe you.

    Be honest. Respond right now. I will give the results next week.

    Please know, if you choose number 3, the implications are huge.

  • Max’s Corner

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    Prayers for Our People

    KEITH BUTTERFIELD, about to turn 98, is not doing as well as we would hope. He is in Parkwood Healthcare, close to HEB hospital. Several in the church have visited him. He can talk—and smile—but has trouble completing a sentence. He is quite weak.

    “Living This Truth”

    That’s my sermon Sunday. How do we live the truth we know? I am going to talk about some very important scripture this week, some words from Paul—and we will explore the three responses to it I mention in my Friday’s Word article. We will read Paul’s account and consider the only three possible responses:

    1. Paul is lying.
    2. Paul is mistaken.
    3. I believe Paul.

    If we DO believe Paul—it should change the way we live.

    “Discovering God” Classes

    They will resume on Sunday, Jan. 26—last Sunday of the month—at 9:45 every Sunday. Later in February, we will begin a Thursday evening class called Basic Christianity at 6:30 every Thursday.

    Breakfast This Sunday

    This time together is important. This is a “We-bring” Sunday. I will bring the pigs-in-blankets. You bring something, too.

    Thursday Luncheon Postponed

    NOTE NEW DATE – Jan. 16 – For everyone this time, not just the women—a special program on Alzheimer’s disease. Potluck lunch will be in the fellowship hall, followed by the program.

    Church Leaders’ Meeting

    The Administrative Board will meet after church this Sunday to see where we stand as we begin a new year and to approve the budget for 2025.

    God Bless,
    MB

    NOTE: It will be clear, sunny, and 35 degrees as we meet for worship this Sunday. Bundle up and come on. The heat is on and the fellowship is warm.

    See you Sunday.

  • Friday’s Word – First Sunday of a New Year

    Max Brennan
    Categories:

    Some time back I asked you to let me know you were still reading this little box each Friday.

    It’s an expensive project. I don’t want to keep talking if no one is there.

    I got a big response—too many e-mails to answer, but I read them all. We have signed the contract with the Star-Telegram for 2025.

    Thanks for your support.

    The church in America is in trouble. It is time for honesty. The lies Christians tell turn thinking people away from faith.

    The biggest lie is that the Bible is infallible. It isn’t. And anyone who can read knows this.

    The value of the Bible is not in its perfection. The value is in the truth of its message. And the Bible is not all equally true.

    Let’s stop pretending that the Book of Revelation has anything to do with Jesus. It doesn’t.

    It is a book filled with blood and vengeance. It undermines Jesus at every turn. Preachers need to stop piously defending this vengeful work in defense of “the canon.”

    “Oh, it’s in the canon. We must be true to the canon!”

    No! It is time to be true to the teachings of Jesus—the unique teachings of Jesus.

    And it is time for preachers to proclaim that uniqueness. I was in theology school for years. Not one of my teachers mentioned the uniqueness of the message of Jesus.

    Jesus was the first person in all the world to tell us to love our enemies because God loves his enemies.

    Jesus was the first person ever to get God right.

    And you are in for another year of me pushing a God of unconditional love for all people.

    Happy New Year!