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WELCOME TO EBENEZER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

WHERE HUGS ARE FREE AND FREELY GIVEN!

Bill’s Lines:

I have had an interesting experience with my mother’s health this month.    My sister and I had taken mother to the emergency room at Heartland.  The doctors were all busy so they had a nurse practitioner look at her instead.    She sent mother home when she should have been admitted to the hospital.   When the doctors learned of this on her next trip to the emergency room they were shocked.    Now, nurse practitioners have their place, they are to take care of small things you really don’t need a doctor for.   The problem is too many of them are playing doctor in our hospitals, and nursing homes.

What does that have to do with life in the church?   Well, just like you should not get medical advice from people who are not fully qualified you really shouldn’t get religious advice from people who are not qualified either.   The health of the soul and spirit is just as important as the health of the body. Yet how many of us do just that.  People embrace religious advice from individuals who have just read the book.  Could you imagine going to a non medical person who had been reading the medical books for advice?    Or worse yet, self diagnose.   I was with an individual at the Emergency room following a car accident.   She couldn’t see correctly and so she decided she must have had a stroke!    When the doctor saw her he asked her if she wore glasses.  She said yes, and he reminded her she did not have them on.

What our trained clergy and tradition teach us is salvation is an ongoing process.   We are not saved we are being saved.   We are justified (seen as righteous by God) through our faith.   But we are sanctified (made holy) through living a holy life.    It is the holy life lived out following the example and teaching of Jesus that each Christian should be seeking.    Therefore, the religious leaders of the church have advised you follow three simple rules:

1, Do no harm to others with what you say or do, but instead let love be genuine.

2. Do good of every kind and avoid evil of all kinds.

3. Stay in love with God by attending worship,  participating in the sacraments, study of Scriptures, fasting and prayer, both family and public, reading of devotions, Christian conferring,  and again by doing no harm.

Now you may very well find people who think there is another way.   However, when you take such advice are you visiting with the doctor or the nurse practitioner?

Our tradition has always taught if you follow these three simple rules you will grow ever near to God and be filled with love for others.    This is important to continue to grow in Christ and reflect Christ’s love into the world.

(Colossians 2: 6-7)  As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built in him and establishes in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Bill