Coker UMC

Justifiable Anger

2010-04-07T13:02:00.003-05:00

Anger is one letter short of danger. Anonymous

"Anybody can become angry, that is easy. But to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time for the right purpose and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy." Aristotle

You may be angry, so long as you do not sin. Ephesians 4:26

All of the above can be correct. There is indeed great danger in being angry because, as Aristotle points out, humans are very poor at controlling, directing and using anger. Add to that Paul's permission to be angry BUT only if we do not sin in the process and we leave ourselves wondering if there is ever a set of circumstances when a righteous anger is not only permissible but is also the correct emotion to feel.
Weren't Americans right to be angry after 9/11 ? Shouldn't you be angry if someone steals your car? What if your neighbor will not mow his lawn? After all, even God gets angry from time to time, and if He is sinless, then there must be some anger that is alright with God. Right? What are the Biblical guidelines for anger? That's what this lesson will focus on, so read on, be honest about what you learn, and most importantly...don't get angry! Enjoy!

Numbers 11:1-3
Psalm 30:5
Psalm 103:8
Psalm 37:8
James 1:19-20
Proverbs 14:29

Sneek peek at next week : SETBACKS - Our bad luck or God's provision?

Divorce and remarriage

2010-03-29T13:26:00.002-05:00

"Why divorce? What is needed is not a change of partners, but a change in partners." Family Altar Crusader.

"I hate divorce," says the Lord God of Israel. Malachi 2:16

Once in an interview, Ruth Bell Graham, the wife of evangelist Billy Graham, was asked if in all their years of marriage, through all their trials and tribulations, if she ever considered divorcing her husband. She replied, "Divorce him? No! Killing him? Yes!"

Today the divorce rate among Christians is the same as it is among non-believers. Churches have very different opinions about divorce and whether or not a divorced person can remarry. Some denominations are quite strict about this subject while other denominations pay no heed to it. Is there a balance between the "letter of the law" and the gracious care of people? Are there circumstances today that were not mentioned in the Bible? Let's explore what the Scriptures have to say about this topic. And again, please be honest with your answers while also being considerate of those who have experienced the pain of divorce. Blessings, Pastor Damon

Matthew 5:31-32
Matthew 19:1-12
Romans 7:4-7
Mark 2:23-28
1 Corinthians 7:10-17

Sneak peek at next week - Justifiable anger?

Tithing in the 21st Century

2010-03-22T15:11:00.002-05:00

"I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 a week." John D. Rockefeller

"Not only will a man rob God, but he will figure out how to take an income tax deduction for it." Anonymous

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this", says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10

The Church is often criticized for speaking too often about money, after all doesn't the Bible say that the love of money is the root of all evil. Yet, everyone knows that a church, like any other organization, has bills to pay. But since we do not sell a "product", we depend solely on the generosity of the congregation.
God set up guidelines for giving throughout the Bible. What He expects is called a tithe, that is ten percent, of what we make. But given today's soaring cost of living, wages that do not keep up with expenses, and easily available debt, is the Biblical concept of the tithe still possible? What if you are on a fixed income? What if you truly could not pay all your bills if you were limited to 90% of your income?
Let's see what the Bible says about the tithe and the circumstances of faithful giving! Enjoy!

(And I apologize for no posting last week. I was on vacation, got sick and forgot to post anything.)

Genesis 14:17-20
Numbers 18:20-24
Proverbs 3:9
Matthew 23:23
Luke 18:9-14

Sneek peek at next week: Divorce and remarriage

The Death Penalty

2010-03-09T10:08:00.002-06:00

"The United Methodist Church cannot accept retribution or social vengence as a reason for taking human life. It violates our deepest belief in God as Creator and the Redeemer of humankind. In this respect, there can be no assertion that human life can be taken humanely by the state. Indeed, in the long run, the use of the death penalty by the state will increase the acceptance of revenge in our society and will give official sanction to a climate of violence."
The Book of Resolutions - United Methodist Church

"John Locke argued that a person forfeits his rights when committing even minor crimes. Locke justifies punishment for two reasons: (1) from the retributive side, criminals deserve punishment, and (2) from the utilitarian side, punishment is needed to protect our society by deterring crime through example." The Encyclopedia of Philospohy

"Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death. However, if he does not do so intentionally, but God lets it happen, he is to flee to a place I will designate. But if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately, take him away from my altar and put him to death." Exodus 21:12-14

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye and tooth for tooth', but I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other one also." Matthew 5:38-39

There are few topics today that can stir up greater controversy, debate and strong feelings like that of capital punishment. As Christians we look to the Scriptures for direction but even there we get a mixture of messages. So we try to support or condemn the death penalty through scientific study, social outcry and ethical arguments. The "official" stand of the United Methodist Church is against all uses of the death penalty. It is not the intent of this forum to come to a consensus of opinion nor to draw the line and see who stands on each side. It is my intent that you be better informed of what Scripture has to say along side of today's best secular arguments.

Since this topic can be volitile, here is the one guideline I will require of anyone posting a comment. Feel free to discuss your belief and the reasons for it, but do so without referencing anyone else's comment to try and point out why you disagree with their points.

Here are a few extra Scriptures to reference as you create your responses. I will trust that everyone will respond with a proper degree of decorum. Enjoy!

Leviticus 20:1-21
John 8:1-11
Matthew 5:17-48
Acts 5:1-11

Sneak peek for next week - Tithing in the 21st Century

Unjust Death

2010-03-01T09:37:00.003-06:00

"When it's your time to go, it's your time to go. But what if it's the pilot's time?" Robin Williams

"There is a story behind the sculpture known as The Sculptor and the Angel of Death. It is the figure of a young ambitious sculptor who has already carved a most beautiful face from the marble and is about to work on the body. With his chisel ready to strike, the Angel of Death stops him and thus the work of art is left unfinished. " M.S. Rice

"Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sins." Deuteronomy 24:16

We have all known situations where it seems like the death of someone is senseless, either because they were innocent bystanders or because death was more punishment that fit the crime.
So how do we make sense of "unjust death" from a faith perspective? Why does a holy and loving God allow this kind of death to happen? And what do we make of Scripture that suggests that God actually orders death to happen?
Do we believe that everyone has a specific time and situation for death, as the humorous quote from Robin Willimas suggests? Or does God put events into motion and then leaves the rest up to us?
Basically it boils down to this - how can a just God allow injustice, especially when it results in untimely death? Take a look at the following Scriptures and let me know what you think? Enjoy!

Genesis 4:1-16
Joshua 10:34-42
Acts 7:55-60
Matthew 18:12-14
Isaiah 55:8-9

Sneak peek into next week - The Death Penalty

Forgiveness and Reconciliation

2010-02-22T11:30:00.002-06:00

"Forgiveness is more than the remission of penalty; it should mean the restoration of a broken fellowship." - Anonymous

The story is told of a father in Spain who was estranged from his son for many years. His father searched constantly for him but always came up empty. Finally in a desperate attempt to find him the father put an ad in the Madrid newspaper that read: "Dear Paco, meet me in front of the newspaper office at noon. All is forgiven. I love you, your father." The next day at noon in front of the newspaper office, more than 800 "Paco's" showed up, all seeking forgiveness and love from their fathers.

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come. All this is from God who reconciled Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

We have all probably heard the phrase, "To err is human, to forgive, divine." But the Bible will not stop that short. God gives believers the power of forgiveness too. But to forgive is only one step in the process. The next step is reconciliation, that is, putting back together the relationship that was broken. Few Christians seems to be willing to go the extra step.
So what does God say about this? Is forgive and forget the minimum standard by which we can get by or does God expect more than a minimum of effort? Let's see what Scripture has to say about it. Enjoy!

Matthew 6:9-15
Matthew 18:21-22
Matthew 5:23-24
2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Sneak peek into next week - Unjust death

Unanswered Prayer

2010-02-16T10:01:00.002-06:00

"Some of God's greatest gifts, are unanswered prayers." - Country singer, Garth Brooks

"God answers prayers; sometimes when hearts are weak. He gives the very gifts we seek. But often faith must learn a deeper rest, and trust God's silence when He does not speak." - M.G. Plantz

"The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective." - James 5:16

Some people believe, like Garth Brooks, that God does not answer some prayers but allows us to wrestle out solutions on our own. Others believe that God answers all prayers; sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes it is no and other times the answer is yes, but not right now. Still others say that God answers prayers but because the answer is different than what we expect, we actually miss the answer.
Are there prayers that God will not answer? And what do we do while waiting for an answer? How should our faith respond when we fervently pray but appear to receive no answer? Check out some of these Scriptures and your own search as well. Let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Hebrews 5:7
Proverbs 1:24-29
Hebrews 11:13 & 39
Luke 2:25-32
Psalm 27:13-14

Sneak peek for next week - Forgiveness AND Reconciliation

Asking for Signs

2010-02-08T13:45:00.002-06:00

A sign outside a church in Wisconsin reads, "You aren't too bad to come in and you aren't good enough to stay out."

There was a woman who had worked hard all her life as a teacher, but lately she had been feeling a call from God to go into the mission field. After much prayer she asked for a sign - but not just any sign. Her request was very specific because she did not want there to be any doubt. So she asked God that if He wanted her in missions, that Sunday morning at worship the old hymn, Peace Like a River, would be played at the normally contemporary service. She waited all through the service and at the very end the recessional hymn was indeed, Peace Like a River.

"...this salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to His will." Hebrews 2:3-4

I cannot tell you how many times parishioners of mine have asked me about some decision they were about to make in their lives and whether or not it was alright to ask God for a sign. Somewhere our culture has picked up the idea that asking for a sign is a demonstration of a lack of faith. Or they have been taught that asking for signs is forbidden by God. At the same time, however, asking for signs can be done rather flippantly without regard to serious prayer and meditation.
So - when, what, how and where is it appropriate to ask for signs from God? Check out some of these Scriptures and let me know what you think! You can even share your personal stories if you would like. Enjoy

Genesis 9:8-17
Judges 6:36-40
john 2:1-11
Mark 16:14-20

sneak peek for next week - Unanswered Prayer

Faith and Doubts

2010-02-01T12:46:00.003-06:00

"...if we begin with doubts, and are patient with them, we shall end in certainties." Francis Bacon

The renowned lawyer, Clarence Darrow, was once invloved in a public debate with a certain Mr. Roy L. Smith. Darrow proclaimed, "They tell me there is a God; but I have never seem him, I have never touched him, I have no personal acqaintance with him." To which Mr. Smith replied, "It is credibly reported that Mr. Darrow has a mind; but I have never seen it, I have never touched it, I have no proof of it at all."

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

No matter where you are in your faith-walk, you have experienced doubts somewhere along the path. Some people see this as an indication of a lack of faith and are embarrassed by it. In Greek the word for doubt is an antonym for the word for faith. But Francis Bacon saw doubt as nothing more than a place where faith had not yet developed to maturity. So is doubt the opposite of faith or a prelude to it? Let me know what you think! Here are some Scripture passages to help you along the way. Enjoy!

James 1:5-8
Mark 9:14-29
Matthew 14:22-33
John 20:24-29

Sneak peek at next week: asking for signs - okay or not?

Compromise and Tolerance

2010-01-24T15:55:00.002-06:00

"A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes they got the biggest piece." Ludwig Erhard

"Tolerance is the vision that makes one see things from any others' viewpoint." Anonymous

When Rome had been humbled by Carthage, some members of the Roman Senate suggested that Rome seek some compromise. An old senator leapt to his feet and cried, "Stop! Remember this - Rome does not go to battle. Rome goes to War."

At first glance what possible problem would anyone have with compromise or tolerance? These seem to be noble traits that help keep peace between people. But what if compromise or tolerance for someone else's standards actually causes you to undermine your own standards? What should we do as Christians when the two come into conflict? How do we know when to be gracious enough to see things from another's point of view and when we must "go to war" and stand firm for our own beliefs? Let's see if the following Scriptures can shed some light on this matter. Enjoy!

1 Corinthians 10:23-33
Acts 5:17-32
1 Corinthians 5:9-11
1 Corinthians 9:19-23

PSSSST! Here is a sneak peak into next week's topic - Faith and Doubts

Political Correctness

2010-01-19T09:57:00.002-06:00

"If all printers were determined not to print anything until they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed." Benjamin Franklin

"If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Thumper, in the movie, Bambi, (and millions of moms all over the world.)

Examples of political correctness:
Vehicle appearance specialist - car washer
Horizontally challenged - fat
Vertically challenged - Short
Chronologically gifted - old
In transition between careers - out of work

We have all heard the term politcal correctness used in our language today. The Wikipedia describes it as "A linguistic concept aimed at removing words or terms that would be perceived as offensive to certain groups, especially racial or cultural groups." Some people find it helpful or tolerant, while others find it repulsive to speaking the truth. Some can be humorous, like the examples above, but the use of language has always been one of the most powerful means of either lifting someone up or tearing them down. The old children's rhyme that ends with "...but words can never hurt me..." missed out on the reality of being at the wrong end of brutal language. Still it often seems that many have taken political correctness to an extreme. Here are a few questions for you to consider: Is there a place for politically correct language in the Christian life? What makes the difference for determining when politically correct language is a mask for a lack of conviction and when it is truly sensitive to the feelings of others?

Here are a few Scriptures to help get the conversation rolling. Enjoy!

Colossians 4:6
Titus 2:6-8
Proverbs 16:21
James 5:12

Faith in a Public Forum

2010-01-11T11:27:00.002-06:00

"Faith is found beside the most refined life, the freest government, the profoundest philosophy, the noblest poetry and the purest humanity." Theodore T. Munger

A daredevil once strung a tightwire between two skyscrapers in New York City. As a crowd formed he asked how many believed he could walk across without falling. A few cheers went up. So the man carefully and successfully walked across to the other building and back. Next he asked hoiw many believed he could cross the wire while carrying a 75 pound bag of sand. A few more people joined in their approval and watched as the man once again crossed the chasm and back, returning this time to loud cheers. A third time the daredevil asked how many believed he could successfully make it across and back this time carrying two sacks of sand loaded in a wheelbarrow! The crowd roared their encouragement as the man once again completed the amazing feat. Finally the man asked if the crowd believed he could carry another man in the wheelbarrow across and back? The throng erupted with shouts of approval, but when the daredevil asked for a volunteer to sit in the wheelbarrow ...there was silence.

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33

The daredevil in the story above publicly demonstrated his belief in his ability to perform a death-defying act of balance. The crowd, after seeing several successful crossings professed their belief in his abilities as well. But when asked to participate in the event, their faith suddenly shrunk and no one was found to do more than be a spectator.
This lesson deals with the question of whether or not Christians should be open and visible with their faith, especially in public forums, from politics to schools or workplaces to the grocery store. Is there any place where we should not be open about our faith? Are there any circumstances under which we should perhaps not hide our faith but not be particularly demonstrative about it? Can we always declare that our faith is what guides our decision-making no matter what the topic of conversation?

Here are a few Scriptures to consider as you post your comments. Again I will wait until Sunday to post my own. Enjoy!

Matthew 5:14-16
Romans 14:9-13
Acts 4:1-20

Little White Lies

2010-01-04T11:06:00.002-06:00

"Those who are given to little white lies soon become color blind." - Anonymous

"Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only for a moment" - Proverbs 12:19

Once there was a mother who asked her young daughter, "Do you know what happens to little girls who tell lies?" To which the young daughter replied, "Of course I do. They grow up and tell little girls they'll get curly hair if they eat their spinach."

Is the mom in the above story guilty? Does it really make a difference if no one is being harmed? Or does the harm being done seem as little to others as it does to us? Is harm being done to the relationship even if the particular circumstance causes no pain? Does the degree of the lie make any difference to the integrity of the person telling it?

Here is the question for the week - Is there really any difference between a "little white lie" and a big fat lie?

Here are a few Scriptures to help you determine your answers and responses, feel free to quote your own as well. You'll get my response on Sunday, January 10th. Enjoy!

Judges 16:4-21
Acts 5:1-11
Colossians 3:9
James 3:1-12

Welcome!

2009-12-02T12:29:00.001-06:00

Welcome to Pastor Damon's "Cokernet Bible Study!" Please watch this space for updates over the coming weeks.