Dixon UMC

Matthew 25:14-30

When I learned at Choir Practice Wednesday night that we’re to sing “Onward Christian Soldiers” for the Anthem this coming Sunday, it made me think back to Halford Luccock’s story about the soldier just back from WWII who was asked to speak at church. He said, “I will, if you’ll be sure to sing the second stanza of “Onward Christian Soldiers” that begins with the words, “Like a mighty army moves the Church of God.”

Acts 5:27-32, Romans 13:1-7, Mark 12:13-17
One of the recurring problems in our time is the widespread disobedience of the law and the civil authorities. Whether it's two children stealing guns and taking revenge on their grammar school classmates, or hate groups and militia groups justifying robbing banks to finance their resistance to abortion laws by bombing clinics, or massive breaking of speed laws by the public resulting in carnage on our highways, we have a crisis in obedience to law in our time.

A mouse and an elephant became friends and went walking through the forest one day. They came to a river that was so deep that the elephant couldn’t cross it, but fortunately some people had built a high suspension bridge across it. You know those bridges with ropes on each side with logs or boards to walk on. They started across it together.

(My guest writer this week is my son-in-law, Dr. Tim Bagwell.)
Dear Friends,

When I was growing up in Baxley, Georgia (believe it our not) tractors had been invented, but nearly all the farmers in our county had mules.

Psalm 23, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30
All Saints Sunday Year A
In John's grand vision of the final end of all history, he has those in white robes gathered around the throne and the Lamb singing praises to God. These are obviously the "good guys,” not just in white hats, but white robes, signifying they're the people completely covered in purity. These are the ones finally and forever approved by God.

At the heart of the passage, an elder rings out the question to John. He says, "Who are these clothed in white robes, and whence have they come?"
John says to him, "You know."

United Methodism stands in that great stream of Christian history that claims and honors Christian tradition. With churches across the world we will celebrate All Saints Sunday this Sunday. By so doing we participate in a very ancient observance of the church. Syrus Ephraem (c. 306-373) of Nisibis, Syria, a biblical scholar and writer of over 500 hymns, mentioned All Saints Day over 1,700 years ago and this holy day has been observed on November 1st for almost 1,300 years.

Now you would expect a grandfather to tell this kind of story about his youngest granddaughter. On Halloween, Ann and three-year-old Sarah were out trick or treating. The lights at a house up a steep driveway were on, so they decided to stop there. They rang the bell and Sarah said to the lady answering the door, “Trick or treat!”
The lady looked down at Sarah and sadly said, "Oh honey, I don't have any candy.”
Sarah immediately held out her bag of candy and said, "Here, you can have some of mine.”

Deuteronomy 3:25-28, 4:22, 34:1-12, Hebrews 11:13
You get up in the morning and you say, “Boy, this looks like a nice day.” You’re kind of happy because you’re expecting your nephew and family for supper and to spend the night. You’ve got your list of things to get done and then your wife says, “There’s something wrong with the dog.”
“Well, let’s get it in the car. We’ll take it to the vet.”
Then as you pull out to go to the vet, your wife says, “I’m feeling a little woozy, myself. Maybe it’s that near stroke I had coming back on me.”
“Okay, I’ll take you and the dog.”