Hey everyone:

Here is the text for this week! Blessing on yall!

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Acts 16:25-34

25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. 27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.

Hey eveyone! Here is the next week’s text. This one is fun! Hope yall enjoy it!

Acts 10:9-16 & 30-48

9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14″Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

15The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
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30Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

34Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39″We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues[a] and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47″Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Footnotes:

a. Acts 10:46 Or other languages

Hey everyone! Welcome to our new discussion series, “The Divine Hours”

The Divine Hours have become a lost tradition in most Protestant churches, but some of the most important acts of the Christian faith have occurred during these times. This is a discussion of such amazing times, divine times, in the divine hours!

Here is the text for this week!

Exodus 29:38-46

38 “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. 39 Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight. 40 With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah [a] of fine flour mixed with a quarter of a hin [b] of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering. 41 Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and its drink offering as in the morning—a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.

42 “For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD. There I will meet you and speak to you; 43 there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory.

44 “So I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. 45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. 46 They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.

Footnotes:

a. Exodus 29:40 That is, probably about 2 quarts (about 2 liters)
b. Exodus 29:40 That is, probably about 1 quart (about 1 liter)
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Have a great week!

Here is the text for this week. love yall! Please feel free to join the discussion in the comments. The comments sure have been blank as of late, heh. wink wink. anyone here? hello? ha ha

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John 1:10-18

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent,[a] nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[b] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ” 16From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,[c][d]who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

Footnotes:

a. John 1:13 Greek of bloods
b. John 1:14 Or the Only Begotten
c. John 1:18 Or the Only Begotten
d. John 1:18 Some manuscripts but the only (or only begotten) Son

Hey eveyone:

I know this is late coming, but, “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and (this one is not late) Happy Epiphany!”

Did you know that traditionally the church celebrated the wise men arriving at the birth of Jesus later on after his birth. So, all those nativities have it worng, becuase the wise men should not be a part of the party until later on. And the day the church celebrates Epiphany is this Tuesday the 6th. So, this Tuesday takes siome time to remember this child that has been born and come to him as a stranger in a strange land, but bring him the gift of your life to celebrate his! blessing on yall and I promise to get out the last discussion for this series in the next few days.

Follow the link to a great reminder to those of us who mightneed onearound this time of the year:

Advent Conspiracy Promo Video

Hey yall here are the texts for this week’s discussion:

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John 1:6-8

6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

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John 1:19-28

19Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.[a]”

21They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”

22Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ “[b]

24Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26″I baptize with[c] water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

28This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Footnotes:

1. John 1:20 Or Messiah. “The Christ” (Greek) and “the Messiah” (Hebrew) both mean “the Anointed One”; also in verse 25.
2. John 1:23 Isaiah 40:3
3. John 1:26 Or in; also in verses 31 and 33

This week’s discussion is titled, “Ring, Ring”…It’s For You! please read the following text through a few times and feel free to add to the discussion below.

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Mark 1:1-8

1The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.[a]

2It is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way”[b]—
3″a voice of one calling in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’ “[c] 4And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7And this was his message: “After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I baptize you with[d] water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Footnotes:

1. Mark 1:1 Some manuscripts do not have the Son of God.
2. Mark 1:2 Mal. 3:1
3. Mark 1:3 Isaiah 40:3
4. Mark 1:8 Or in

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Have a wonderful week!

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to share a love of mine and this year’s Christmas mission opportunity for Th3 Waters.

As many of you know I went last year to Guatemala and did ministry work with prisoners and a small local school in the poorest neighborhood ghetto in Guatemala City called La Limonada. Every year Tita (the lady who runs the schools) and her teachers give out shoes to the students as Christmas gifts each year that will have to last them for the entire year until they can give another pair each year next Christmas. I would love for each Gathering to see if they can give a little money towards the purchase of shoes.  Each pair of shoes costs around $15. And I think they still need to provide shoes for around a hundred kids. If you would like you all can make your donations online at the link I will provide here in this email and on Th3 Harbor, or you can give it to Florence UMC and I can make the donation through the church. What ever your gathering decides is best.

I know that last thing you need is another person asking for money for support to help, and the world bombards each of us with these kinds of opportunities around Christmas time, but even if each gathering gives $15, we can all know that a few children will be able to have shoes for this year! Thank you all for your amazing prayers for these children, their families, Tita, Monica, and the teachers! Your love that flows from Christ is beautiful! Follow the link below to be able to give right now:

We are starting a new Discussion series this week titled, Advent & Christmas ‘08, not original, but it is still a good one! here is the overview and then the text for this week:

Overview:
Week 1: Mark 13:24-37 Pardon Me, What Time is It?
Week 2: Mark 1:1-8 “Ring, Ring”…It’s For You.
Week 3: John 1:6-8, 19-28 You Got The Wrong Guy.
Week 4: Luke 2:1-14  Favor and Peace!
Week 5: Matthew 25:31-46 “You Need?” Nope, Its “They Need!”
Week 6: John 1:10-18 Knowing Without Sight!

“But why dwell on the commonplace rubbish which the starving were driven to feed upon, giver that what I have to recount is an act unparalleled in the history of either the Greeks or the barbarians, and as horrible to relate as it is incredible to hear?” –Josephus

Here is the text for this week:

Mark 13:24-37

24″But in those days, following that distress,

” ‘the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light;

25the stars will fall from the sky,

and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’[a]
26″At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
28″Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30I tell you the truth, this generation[b] will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
32″No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on guard! Be alert[c]! You do not know when that time will come. 34It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
35″Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”
Footnotes:
1. Mark 13:25 Isaiah 13:10; 34:4

2. Mark 13:30 Or race

3. Mark 13:33 Some manuscripts alert and pray