Thoughts from Pastor Dennis Bailey
January 23, 2012 Newsletter...
“They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” (Mark 1: 27)
A teacher of a Sunday School class was having trouble keeping control. The main problem was a little 4 year old named Thomas. The teacher, now getting tired of struggling with the strong-willed Thomas decided to look him straight in the eye and ask him a pointed question. “Thomas”, he explained, “who is in charge here?” Little Thomas paused only for a moment, rolled his eyes and said “Jesus is!”
When Jesus first came onto the scene people were amazed at his “authority”. They watched him have power over evil spirits, over sickness and over evil circumstances. There was power in His words as well as in His actions.
Often when we most need power in our lives we look for it in all the wrong places. We search for it in ourselves, in material things, in substances, or anything the world can offer. Wouldn’t it be better if we looked for it in Jesus?
One man, who had been an alcoholic for 35 years, when he encountered Christ, his whole life changed. Speaking to a group of medical people he told them he had changed, even his personality. One psychiatrist protested to the now changed man that at his age a person could not have such a radical transformation.
The now sober recovering alcoholic replied, “Well, that may be true. But you see I am now under new management. I answer to another authority now – the highest and the truest.”
Jesus can come into any circumstance with power and authority to make a change for the good. Let Him be the authority in your life!
God be with you…
10:30 AM Sunday worship
6:00 PM Saturday worship
COMING SOON!!!
[NOTE: Channel 6 has revised the Broadcast Schedule so our Sunday services are now shown
6 days a week at various times. Please check local CAAT6 listings.]
January 28/29 - Mark 1:21-28 “We Will Triumph in the Lord”
“Greater is He that is within me that he who is in the world” – this is the mantra of Jesus’ followers. His ability and power even includes His power over evil and the “evil one”. How does this affect us? Jesus, our Lord, has all authority!
--- Sunday service followed by Chili Cook-off
February 4/5 - Mark 1:29-32 “Jesus Has Authority Over Sickness” COMMUNION
One of the very first signs of Jesus’ authority and His power was his ability to bring healing to others. Jesus’ power was shown in many ways. But through healing he got attention of the needy. (Psalm 103)
February 11/12 - Mark 1:35-39 “Jesus Believed in Prayer”
It was Jesus’ habit to go off to the desert or the hillside and pray. If the Son of God believed that prayer was an important part of His life, then shouldn’t we? Let’s look at His example and what it could mean for us.
February 18/19 - Mark 9:2-9 “Jesus Was Transfigured”
The “transfiguration” is an integral part of the story of Jesus. It was a time for three of the disciples to realize that there was something very special about Jesus and to witness God’s announcing of Jesus as His Son. What does this mean for us?
** February 22 -- Ash Wednesday Service - 6:30 p.m.
Matthew 6:5-6; 16-21 “Where Is Your Heart?”
Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent. We will begin the season with a short worship service that emphasizes repentance, self reflection, prayer, and coming home to God. We will offer using the ashes as a symbol at the altar for those who would want them.
February 29 - BISHOP TRIMBLE TO COME TO CARROLL, FIRST UMC
Iowa's United Methodist Church Bishop Julius Trimble will be
with us and will give the sermon on this first Sunday of Lent.
Come early for 9:00 AM Coffee Fellowship which will include a Q & A
session with the Bishop. Pastor's Lenten Study begins at 4:00 PM.
