Farmington United Methodist Church | The Long View

Grief is a natural response to change, because when things change something is lost. It’s important to take time to grieve. God walks with us through the dark shadows of grief, but will not leave us there. The following are some of God’s promises to us found in the Bible. In Isaiah 61:3 God promises to provide for those who grieve and to “bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair.” “‘For I know the plans...

Pastor Anne's First Sermon. Welcome Anne

So Used to the Crazy It's Normal

Get ready for the transition to a new pastor .

Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding party. You'd expect maybe a healing or walking on water or a raising from the dead, but Jesus launched his ministry saving a family from embarrassment at a celebration. We learn 4 things about Jesus from this: 1. Jesus is the place to go when you're in trouble 2. Jesus is no killjoy 3. Jesus values people over religious ceremonies 4. Jesus blesses in abundance

Today I noted that in Luke 6 Jesus broke a couple of Sabbath rules. This leads us to the question of religious rules and how we should regard them. I suggested 5 principles: 1. Keeping a set of spiritual rules is not the Christian's first priority. Maintaining a relationship with Jesus is the first priority. 2. Rule following can be a way of building character and becoming more like Jesus. 3. Any rule worth following will be rooted in scripture. 4. Showing love to people is always more...

I just got back from a 9 day John Wesley historical tour of England. I learned lots of things about the founder of the Methodist Church. The most valuable things I learned are things that remain in our Methodist DNA today. Some of these include: Methodists are passionate about reaching the lost Methodists want to be more like Jesus Methodists utilize small groups to "watch over one another in love." Methodists want to be the spiritual powerhouse behind their children Methodists combine heart...

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

We are tired. The crazy life leaves us exhausted. But there is a better way. - Start valuing slow - Stop fighting and pursue peace - Chase joy, not happiness - Seek God first - Be content with what you have - Rest and worship one day a week - Come to a God whose burden on us is appropriate to us. Get off the Crazy Train.

We all have some measure of affluenza... the desire to have more and more, the love of money. The Bible says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, and that the antidote is contentment. What I have is enough. This is freeing and gets us off the crazy train of acquiring more and more and more and more. You grow contentment by being generous to people. Be content. Be generous. Get off the crazy train!

We get overbooked because we try to please people. When that gets overwhelming the world teaches us to instead please ourselves. But the scripture challenges us to build a life that pleases God. Much of life revolves around the issue: who am I trying to please? Prioritize God. Build a relationship with Jesus. Build a Christian worldview and mindset. Use your gifts and talents for the Kingdom. Don't put this off. It's tempting to say that you'll make God #1 when life slows down. Life never...

Chase virtue and character and faith in God, so you can persevere. Don't seek happiness.

Today was the second message in the crazy train series. We talked about our insane pace of life, and our default setting which is fast is good and slow is bad. But this is not always true. In relationships slow is better. And our relationship with God is well, a relationship. We can't grow our connection with God trying to squeeze Him into our mad dash life. We are addicted to speed and need to slow down. Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46)

Today we began a sermon series entitled, "Jumping Off the Crazy Train." We will spend 6 weeks trying to trade our crazy lifestyles for peace, joy, rest, etc. Today we began with a plan for peace in an increasingly volatile world. To end the craziness we suggested: 1. Set a life goal to live at peace with everyone. 2. Give up all pride and conceit. 3. Empathize with others 4. Bless those who persecute you. This may seem hard, but once you've experienced peace with God, you are empowered to...

Christmas Eve Service

This morning I delivered a "State of the Church" message. I highlighted the process we employ to make spiritually thriving servants of Christ.

Some people believe and some don't, why?

A short version of the Christmas story

Where do your values come from?

What are the questions that affect your life?