Posts by firstumc-admin (Page 8)

Greetings, Brothers and Sisters in Christ! As I write this article, I am on a bus headed to the airport in Israel, to fly home from the most incredible experience I have ever had. Just hours ago, I was praying inside the Garden Tomb of Jesus before sharing in communion worship with brothers and sisters in Christ. How could I dream of any moment greater than that moment? How can my life ever be the same after walking the path…

Dear Friends and Family, It all started with twelve.  Twelve ordinary individuals were called to drop everything and follow, and they did just that. Without hesitation they left their nets, their families and their lives to become disciples of Christ, and their lives were changed forever.  Today we hear the same call to follow, to learn and to be changed into a disciple of Christ.  Disciple is not a passive word.  A disciple is not a spectator or a fair-weather…

Dear Friends and Family, Happy New Year!!  I send this message with wishes for a blessed year of good health, good family and good faith to each one of you.  I know that there were many rollercoasters throughout 2017 with struggles and challenges, but as I look at 2017 as a whole I see a multitude of blessings throughout it and those are the memories that I am choosing to focus on as we move into a new year. What…

Greetings, Brothers and Sisters in Christ! William Butler is quoted as saying, “Education is not the tilting of a poll, but the lighting of a fire.” Education can come in the classroom, but ll also comes from the experiences In our life and our education does not stop when we receive a degree or certificate, but education is a life-long process Each day is an opportunity for us to be set on fire by the learning that takes place. We…

Greetings, Brothers and Sisters in Christ! There are many things in life that excite me, and ministry is one of those things. I get excited when I see smiling kids running around the church for Vacation Bible School. I get excited for Filipino Heritage Sunday when the church comes alive with passion and praise for our heritage. I get excited when the choir sings and the children dance. I get excited when new people visit our church, and, especially, when…

Greetings, Brothers and Sisters in Christ! This Sunday is Pentecost, the birthday of the Christian church and it comes just a week after I celebrated both my girls’ birthdays. I have been neck deep in baking cupcakes, buying decorations, planning games, making goodie bags and wrapping presents. A birthday is not about any of these things, but these are the things that help us to celebrate such a wonderful occasion. On Pentecost we wear red, hear the scripture and songs…

Greetings, Brothers and Sisters in Christ! The difference between knowledge and wisdom comes from experience. We learn knowledge from books and classrooms, but we gain wisdom from living life. Week after week I teach and preach from the Bible, both from the knowledge I have gained in my training, and also from my experience of God through my life and through my faith. There is one experience that I long to have to increase my wisdom and that is the…