Cokesbury United Methodist Church - News and Views

Highlights (Weekly Update of Happenings):    - This section contains information about recent or future events at Cokesbury UMC. This might be considered the "News" section of the web site.

Bible Verse of the Day:    - A bible verse provided for your contemplation or study. Each day a new verse is shown.

“Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”  -  John 14:23

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From the Pastor:    - A message direct from our pastor, especially prepared for visitors to this web site.

Please take a moment and read our Pastor's welcome message.

Opinions (Words of Faith from Fellow Christians):    - This section contains opinions and thought pieces written for the web site by members of our congregation. Please read and enjoy.

George fidgeted in the psychiatrist's office. "I just don't understand what's happening, Doc! I can't take it much more."

Dr. Wampas folded his hands on his desk and carefully regarded his new patient. "Well, let's see what we can do. Did you say you kept having a strange dream?"

"Yes, but actually it's two dreams. In one I'm a teepee, and the next one I've become a wigwam. Or it's the other way around - first I'm a wigwam and then a teepee. You've got to help me, Doc!"

Drm Wampas nodded slowly. "Now that I know what you're dreaming I can help you. Your problem is that you're two tents."

Whether it's an occasional nervousness or a constant sense of anxiety, tension is something we'd love to lose. Yet perhaps it's most frustrating when it affects our spiritual walk, because if we're anxious or worried then we can't concentrate on following or serving God. Of course though our tension may originate from several areas, one major cause may be because we're fearful about the future. It could be either fear of the next few days or the far future, but no matter what it is we tend to be anxious because we're not in control and that can be scary. So uncertainty breeds anxiety. So how do you handle it? I got my answer to this problem when I was browsing in a Christian gift shop and came across an interesting and reassuring sign. "Do not fear tomorrow," it said, "God is already there." And that's the answer. For if we don't know the future then he does and he's in control. So while it isn't always easy, I try to replace the tension and fear with faith. As the old staying goes, "When fear knocked, faith answered and there was nothing there!"
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The foreman addressed the rowers of the ancient Roman galley. "I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that we'll have double rations for lunch and hour's rest after that."

"Hurray!" The men shouted.

But the foreman wasn't through. "The bad news is that after that the captain wants to go water skiing."

The "good news/bad news" is a popular source of jokes but we often experience it in our spiritual life. It comes when we realize that the good news of being able to serve God means the bad news that it's not easy. With this in mind, while we often see wonderful results of God at work in our lives, it is inevitable that when we follow him we will likely face a variety of struggles. After all, he never promised his children an easy life.

Good news and bad news - yet serving him is worth it all. As the old hymn puts it there's no crown without a cross.
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Site News (Recent Changes to the Web Site):    - Any changes to the design or content of the web site are noted here. This section will keep you up-to-date on information contained on this web site.