Bakers Chapel UMC

Bakers Chapel UMC Bakers Chapel United Methodist Church
Worship service at 9:30am on Sunday

08/11/2026

Thought of the Day

Then Jesus demanded, "What is your name?" And he replied, "My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man." Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place. - Mark 5:9-10 (NLT)

This is the story about how Jesus comes to the region of the Gerasenes and confronts a mad man who's been living in a cemetery. This man is filled with demons, and they know that Jesus is the Son of God. They know His power. And they are obedient to him when he sends them out of the man and into a herd of pigs that are nearby.

Even the demons obey Jesus. Yet I have to ask myself, "How often is it that I don't?"

We all know Jesus as loving, so much so that he willingly died for our sins. We've all heard the scriptures that tell us about Jesus' character and how he taught us. We've felt the mercy of His saving grace (hopefully). But do we realize that obedience to Him is one of the essential foundations of our Christian lives in much the same way obedience to parents is for small children?

He knows what's best for us. He knows how our lives interact with His other brothers and sisters. He knows what we need and what will fulfill us and bring us joy. He also knows what will bring us down. So let's take some time to search for the ways that we're not being obedient. That's the first step to actual change.

In the love of Christ,
greg

08/10/2026

Thought of the Day

For you have been born again. Your new life did not come from your earthly parents because the life they gave you will end in death. But this new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. - 1 Peter 1:23 (NLT)

God spoke, and we came into existence. His word is powerful. With it He creates, condemns, tears down, and punishes.

God's word is instructive. With it He teaches and gives guidance.

God's word is gentle. With it He gives mercy and shows love.

God's word is eternal. With it He gives new life that lasts forever; a life that will see no death, no pain, and no suffering. In this world we are born because of the act of a man and woman. But it is God who created us with an eternal soul while we were still in our mother's womb. And this eternal soul is meant to live forever in a relationship with the ultimate Creator, through His Son.

There's a story that I've heard at funerals (and even used once or twice). It's about a dying woman who brings in her new pastor to make the arrangements for her funeral. She tells him that she wants him to make sure a fork is placed in her hand as she lies in her coffin. When the people asked about this peculiar sight, she told the pastor to explain all the church meals she had attended. At each meal, when the plate was taken up, she would be told to keep her fork, for the best was yet to come (the dessert).

She wanted everyone to know that she knew that the best was yet to come. And so it goes with us. Some will struggle with more physical ailments than others. Some will have more emotional stress than others. Some will be born with more defects than others. But we all suffer to some degree in this life because of the fact that sin came into this perfect world.

The eternal soul that God created in our mothers' wombs, however, will continue on past this lifetime; a lifetime of pain and sorrow...of joy and happiness...of fear and trembling. And for those of us who decide to accept the invitation into a loving relationship with God, through His Son, the best is yet to come.

In the love of Christ,
greg

08/04/2026

Thought of the Day

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. - Colossians 4:2 (ESV)

Prayer should be a major part of our lives. It's how we communicate with God. Therefore, let us be thankful that we have a God who loves us enough to want us to stay in touch.

Whenever you pray, you come closer to God. Something magical happens when I simply open my mouth and say the word, "Lord". He hears me. Millions of other people may be calling out to Him at the same time, but He hears me. And that's an awesome thing to wrap my mind around. I have enough problems tuning in to one person sometimes without my mind wandering, but my Father in Heaven hears every soul that is calling out to Him and knows each word, each syllable that each person on earth utters. Wow!

So, as I am thankful for the love of our Lord, who wants to speak to me often, I am also amazed at His greatness. Think about how amazing our God is today. And thank Him for being mindful of you.

In the love of Christ,
greg

08/03/2026

Thought of the Day

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. - Philippians 3:18-19 (NLT)

As Paul is writing to Christians in Philippi, he is in tears. It hurts to think about how those he has preached the good news to, who call themselves believers, have gone so wrong. Their god is their appetite, which means not only food but anything they desire for themselves. It means that instead of Jesus and His ways ruling their lives, their own desires come first. How many Christians today might fall into this category of proclaiming Jesus as Lord and denying that claim by living their lives for themselves?

Paul also says that these Philippian "believers" brag about shameful things. You would think that Christians today would try not to do shameful things. And when they do them, you would think they would not share them with their pastor, unless maybe in a moment of confession and guidance. But you might be surprised by how many church members have come to me over my years of ministry and, in what can only be deemed bragging, joyfully told me the shameful things they've done. How do you think God feels when we're more proud of a drunken excursion than a time when we experienced Him?

Lastly, Paul says that they think only about this life here on earth. As faithful followers of Jesus, how can we live as though this world and what it has to offer us is all there is? Many live as though their citizenship is here on earth, which means that they must get as much out of it as they can, and sometimes to the detriment of others. Paul continues in the next couple of verses to share that we are to live as citizens of Heaven, not this world. This means living by the standards Jesus set forth so that we, as well as those around us, can find joy and peace. It means living as though what we have now are gifts from God, mere cheap imitations compared to what we will have one day. It means loving God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves.

In the love of Christ,
greg

07/30/2026

Thought of the Day

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. - Colossians 3:1-4 (NLT)

Paul tells us to set our sights on the "realities of heaven". When I hear someone say they've set their sights on something, I take it to mean it's their goal. I noticed this morning that Paul didn't tell us to set our sights on "heaven". He didn't say make it your goal to get to heaven. He said something, I think, to be much different.

Making our goal in this life to get to heaven kind of seems like the goal is to get out of this life "alive" and "in tact". It seems to mean more of a destination instead of a way of life. When Paul tells us to "set our sights on (or make our goal) the realities of heaven," I take it to mean the kind of life we will be living when we get there.

We'll be living a totally different life in heaven than we do here on earth. Our thoughts will be on others as much as on ourselves. "Getting ahead" won't mean beating someone out for a position, but instead lifting others up by serving. Work won't be something often dreaded, but something we enjoy. Worship won't be about an hour or two on Sunday morning, singing songs some don't like and listening to a sermon some believe is too long. It will be about joyful praise in the presence of the Creator and the Savior.

These things are to come. But they can also be enjoyed in this life as we practice them in our daily lives. Sometimes all it takes to find happiness is a change in attitude. Other times, circumstances can make our lives much more difficult. But in those too, we can set our sights on the "realities of heaven" when circumstances will be different. May this bring us peace and joy in times when this life does all it can to bring us down.

In the love of Christ,
greg

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1965 Johnston Road
Hernando, MS
38632

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