we're still here.

Let me put my 'shocked face' on. I have to admit that when the clock struck 6 p.m. EST I turned on the evening news to see what the coverage would be. Was there a natural disaster somewhere? What would the news say?

We have been saturated with today's date, May 21st 2011. This was going to be the judgement day before a period of 5 months of trials and the end of the world. Right. Sadly, many are worried about the so called prophesy and it has led to fear for many. Though the second coming will be an actual event, I disagree with those who believe that this leads to an overall positive message about it.

As for me - I wish that guy would just shut up. The problem is that people believed him, even though an earlier prediction for the end of the world has already come and gone. I can't wait to hear his response to how this date didn't work out. Maybe it was wrong mathematical calculations again. So, with all of the theological and biblical answers that I could use to prove the absurdity of this guy's claim, let me close with these words from the group Public Enemy...

"Don't believe the hype."

hide and seek.

Does God play hide and seek? At times we may feel this way, but then we would be in good company with the Psalmist and even Jesus himself. Although at times it feels as if God cannot be found, the revelation of God shows us something much different.

God does not play hide and seek because He desires to make Himself known. Romans 1 reminds us of natural revelation - ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Jesus himself in seen to be the special revelation of God. If you want to know who God is, or what God is like - look at Jesus. He reveals the Father, according to John.

So if God desires to make Himself known - what will be our response when He speaks to us?

Join us at Tabernacle UMC as we seek to discover such a reality.

roll away the stone

I honestly didn't hear of Mumford and Sons until I saw them with Dylan at the Grammys. I am sitting here about to go to bed after finishing my final paper of the semester celebrating with a little bit of folk rock. Nobody can jam on an acoustic guitar like them... well maybe the Avett Bros. Here are the lyrics to a striking and very seasonal song for us... Enjoy.

By the way - shout out to Jim Reilly from Tabernacle UMC for having a straight connection to the blog from his Ipod Touch!

Roll away your stone, I’ll roll away mine
Together we can see what we can find
Don’t leave me alone at this time,
For I am afraid of what I will discover inside
You told me that I would find a home,
Within the fragile substance of my soul
And I have filled this void with things unreal,
And all the while my character it steals

The darkness is a harsh term don’t you think?
And yet it dominates the things I seek
It seems as if all my bridges have been burned,
You say that’s exactly how this grace thing works
It’s not the long walk home that will change this heart,
But the welcome I receive at the restart

The darkness is a harsh term don’t you think?
And yet it dominates the things I seek
The darkness is a harsh term don’t you think?
And yet it dominates the things I seek
The darkness is a harsh term don’t you think?
And yet it dominates the things I seek

Stars hide your fires,
And these here are my desires
And I will give them up to you this time around
And so, I’ll be found with my steak stuck in this ground
Marking its territory of this newly impassioned soul
But you, you’ve come too far this time
You have neither reason nor rhyme
With which to take this soul that is so rightfully mine

Summer Pastoral Assistant

Dear members and friends of TUMC,

It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you our summer pastoral assistant, Joshua Friedeman. I have known Josh for 10 years and he is a great young man of God. We are going to be truly blessed by his presence and ministry with us this summer. Some of his areas of responsibility will be leading worship at the 8:30 service, working with the children's, youth, and college-aged ministries, and other areas of technology and worship planning. You will get to meet him in person on Memorial Day Weekend and he will be with us through all of June and July. Please take advantage of getting to know this young man this summer. I do need your help: If you are able to providing housing or able to host Josh for the summer please contact Pastor Michael. This is going to be a great summer at Tabernacle.

ANNOUNCEMENTS and a few pieces of information for you to consider....

A Ladies Tea sponsored by United Methodist Women - Saturday, April 7th. contact church office for more information.

May 15th - Usher, Greeter, and Welcome Team Training - 12 noon. Guest Speakers are scheduled and lunch will be served.

'today was a good day'

Back in the 90's, Ice Cube released a mellowed out track where he walks one through a typical day in his life. The hook and tag was, "I gotta say, today was a good day."

As those who now journey beyond the cross of Christ and the empty tomb we are left with the reality of everyday life. The events which we just celebrated are real and true for daily living and for today's events just as they were last week in the midst of our Holy Week experiences.

What makes today a good day? Often we remember that 'today is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.' Certainly we believe this and understand that today is a day that we have not yet seen before. In this comes gladness and rejoicing because God's mercy is new every morning. Is that enough to make it good?

Or is goodness then defined by experiences or joys throughout the day? Does a nice lunch, or watching a funny TV show, or talking to a friend define a good day? Could we be able to walk someone through our typical day and as they see our decisions, choices, and impact on others they would be able to confidently say, 'today was a good day.'

Do good today.

Can you make it 3 days?

Matthew 27: 3-5
When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned; he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priest and the elders. He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself.”

It is difficult to wait. The psalmist said, “I waited patiently for the Lord, and He has heard my cry.” How are you in your waiting? I find that most of the time, patience is often hard to come by. Isaiah talks about those that “wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles.” Adam Hamilton asks the question, “What is Judas waited three days before taking his life?” How would the world be different? Imagine the testimony and story he would have. He sold Jesus out to death for thirty pieces of silver. He had come under the power of the tempter and enemy of God, and did not resist. He had done the unthinkable. But grace would have abounded. God’s sufficiency of grace would have been available to even the betrayer. We learned how Jesus fed Judas before revealing that he was the betrayer. Would Jesus not love and forgive Judas? You and I know he would- because He has done so with us. What are you waiting for? Can you make it through the night? Could you wait for three days?

Servant of All

The Measure of Greatness

²⁴Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. ²⁵Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. ²⁶But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. (Luke 22: 24-26)

²The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. ³Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (John 13: 2-5)

From an early age we discover how to distinguish between the popular and the unpopular, the normal and the different, the leaders and the followers. Just imagine the disciples as they are arguing about which of them was considered to be the greatest around the ‘Last Supper’ table. In the midst of the arguing like little middle school boys, Jesus – the Lord of all - gets up from the table and shows them what greatness truly is; Service. John shows us how he takes a towel and wraps it around his waist. Jesus pours water into a basin and washes the disciple’s feet. “The one who rules should be like the one who serves.” What are you doing with what influence you have in this world? Are you lording it over others or using it to serve others? Jesus gave us the example and said, ‘Now that you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”