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WitnessIntroducing JesusThis is a short video showing Steve Harvey, a comedian, addressing a secular audience. The subject is "How Would You Introduce Christ to a Room Full of People?" It's hard to imagine that this is a comedian and not a preacher, and this is an audience...and not a congregation. It must have been at the end of his routine, because...well, you will see. This introduction from comedian Steve Harvey to a secular audience was absolutely awe-inspiring. I thought it might brighten your day like it did mine. Click here to see the video. Head of the class: Longtime TISD teacher continues following passion in retirementWhen Paula Raynes retired from Terrell ISD after the 2009-2010 school year, she could have settled down and written a how-to book for teachers. Instead, Raynes simply set up shop with a school of her own on the upper floor of the First United Methodist Church of Terrell.
"I love public school, and I did want to go back, but there are rules against that," Raynes said. "At my age, I just had to look at what made sense to take part in the Texas Teacher Retirement System and continue teaching. They gave me the option to be a long-term substitute teacher, but I like having my own ideas and my own students." For the full story in The Terrell Tribune, click on or type the URL below: http://www.terrelltribune.com/articles/2010/11/19/features/doc4ce133b7b9c0c734949848.txt Never Ending Love Laity Sunday brought a unique prospective on God's unfailing love and grace. Anne Davidson introduced us to this amazing gentleman... " I would like to tell you a little about our friend, Ron Kolb, a native Texan, a US Army veteran and lives in Plano. He is married t o Linda Murray and has a daughter; Emily who he says is 8 going on 12. He is a Systems Engineer with Brainware, a DC based software company. Ron and his family are active members of Christ United Methodist Church in Plano where he teaches Sunday school. He loves reading, music, movies and the theater. Ron has 3 brothers. And an interesting note, his mother and two of his brothers live in Wills Point and attend Russell Memorial United Methodist Church there. Ron had a liver transplant shortly after my husband John and is here to share his unique story with us today." Click here to read Ron's amazing story.
Answering the CallAngie Cooper, our Director of Childrens' Ministries, was recently recognized as the "Favorite Sunday School Teacher" of Terrell, Texas, in The Terrell Tribune's Reader's Choice 2010 supplement this October. We are also blessed that she has recently become the Youth Ministry Director at FUMC-Terrell!
Article reproduced from The Terrell Tribune.
A "Vision" for FUMC-Terrrell Several months ago some members of our church had a vision that we need to purchase a drumset for the church. They enjoyed having someone play drums during service, helping liven things up. They also wanted to have drummer (adult or youth) play more often. So I was asked, “What does a drumset cost?” My first thought was that they were asking about the cost for their kids/grandkids so I told them under a $1000 or less for a starter set. These adults decided to raise funds for the purchase of a drumset. The kids, youth, and adults cooked a wonderful meal to raise funds with a $1000 goal. $821 was raised that day. The next week the total amount had grown to $901. With that in mind, we set out to find the best deal and the best set we could purchase. We went to 5 music stores that Saturday. I talked with salesman, tested the drums and cymbals, looked at construction, and even spent time looking at color. With all this testing I decided that an entry-level set is not the best option for our church. This is a one-time purchase and it needs to last and sound good for many years to come. We found a great deal on the cymbals and that was all we purchased that day. We went home and my wife put her research skills to the test and looked for the specs of construction for each set we looked at, and checked to see if we were getting the best deals possible. The next day after church we purchased the set, and on Monday I assembled, tuned and adjusted the set. I turned in the paperwork to the church office even though we had gone over the amount raised and asked Johnette to cut me a check with what ever funds were raised, expecting it to be the $901. I went to pick up the check the next day and was shocked when I looked at the check. An anonymous donor had come in and donated the final $400+ for the entire cost of the set and cymbals. God works great things through us and provides for us. Because of this we have a drumset that can be used by youth or professional drummers. A set that will be used to bring praise to our God. It is appropriate that this is a new drumset made by Pearl and the model name of this set is called “Vision.”
And Right There He WasIn today’s service, Brother David reminded us of the things we love and how we express our love in different ways as our moods and circumstances change but that God’s love is ever present and unchanging. This weekend, the Methodist Men made a visit to the Kaufman County Children’s Shelter in Kaufman. Our plan was to spend time with the children, play some games, cook some burgers and perhaps offer an ear to a child who has experienced the darkest side of humanity disguised as parents or family members. I was there to give these kids the gift of little of my time but instead it was I who received a gift I will be a long time forgetting. I met a little girl with bright eyes, a head of curly hair and a big smile who immediately set about introducing us to her two younger siblings and the other house residents and visitors. As we ate lunch, I sat next to her and listened as she told me of her love for reading books and writing stories and her dreams to write stories for children. When I asked, she produced 9 handwritten pages which I sat a read as she went off to play with her new friends and family. I will be the first to admit that I am about the last person who looks at the world to find examples of God’s love for us. But as I read these pages in the hand of a little girl, one forced to mature and endure far beyond her years, I knew there was something very powerful at work there in front of me. Right there He was! Despite what I was later told about her situation and that of her two younger brothers and sisters, someone has loved her and blessed her with an ability to look at and write about life with hope, optimism, energy and the pure fantasy of a child. This practical, skeptical man learned a lesson that I can only attribute to something I cannot even pretend that I understand. I guess that’s about as good a definition of love that I can muster. And right there He was.
A Holy TrinityAll alone, tired, frustrated from a hard day at work, I sat at the table eating, staring out at the new hummingbird feeder I had hung, hoping to attract some hummingbirds. It had been up about a week, and no birds. I said in exasperated tone, "God, show me you are here, somedays I just can't tell. My workdays are so hard. Just bring me a hummingbird, to let me know you're here." Well, it was dusk, and no hummingbirds appeared. I closed the blinds and headed out to run an errand. I completely forgot about the incident, after all, it was late and hummingbirds were probably not hungry anymore. The next morning, (a Saturday) my husband and I sat down to eat breakfast. We opened the blinds to a bright, sun-shiny day. Lo and behold, buzzing around the feeder were not one, not two, but THREE hummingbirds!!! I was overwhelmed! I told my husband about the night before.... and look, how God was absolutely here, showing us, we are definitely not alone! |
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