Lent is almost here!
Can you believe it? More than 4 weeks of the New Year are already in our rear view mirror…wow! Hopefully, you’ve been enjoying 2024 so far, but apparently time flies whether you’re having fun…or not! 😀
We’re moving—inch by inch—into the 21st century.
One development I want to share with you, especially if you’re no longer close enough to attend our church services on a regular basis, is that: You can now watch our recorded services on YouTube. Simply log on to YouTube.com. In the search bar type Taylors Falls UMC. One of the options has a little round picture of the outside of our church next to it. Click on that channel and the services are posted there. Click on the service you want, and then just sit back and watch. Turn your sound up as loud as needed. With the help of one of our members, Craig Draxten, I’m currently working on a solution to improve the sound on these recordings. He’s much more technically gifted than I am! Wish us luck and say a prayer… not necessarily in that order 😉.
I’m also working on a way to post the recorded links right here on our church website. Another pastor showed me how to do it once, but I’m struggling to remember the details… Must be my old-age memory loss 🙄.
What has God been teaching us lately?
Meanwhile at church, the Sunday lessons have largely been coming from the Gospel of Mark. Some people like Mark’s Gospel the best, because it’s shorter than the others… you might call it the “Readers Digest” Gospel… hahaha. Mark’s account cuts right to the chase. In Mark 1:15 Jesus declares clearly and exactly what he came to earth for: ““The right time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Change your hearts and lives and believe the Good News!” When Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is near,” I picture him pointing right at himself. After all, he did literally bring Heaven to Earth! Then he started gathering the 12 apostles. He called Simon (who became Peter), Andrew, James and John with such loving charisma that they IMMEDIATELY dropped their fishing gear and went to “fish for people.” Then Mark describes Jesus in the temple casting an evil spirit out of a man with the same powerful, charismatic authority that Simon, Andrew, James and John found so appealing. And the bystanders seeing all this were utterly “astounded, astonished and amazed,” depending on which translation you’re reading. They had never seen such authority before! Why not? …Because never before had they met the Son of God, Creator of the universe, Messiah, and Savior. I sincerely hope you have met Jesus, the Son of God, and welcomed him into your heart.