Mitchell Town Methodist Church - Mitchell Town Jamaica

In 2011 Warren's Grove sent out a letter to the people of Mitchell Town Methodist Church in Jamaica.  We sent this letter in hopes to form a covenant with the people of Mitchell Town.  They accepted our covenant offer and we have been linked together in covenant with the congregation of Mitchell Town ever since.  We have covenanted to pray for one another.  To intentionally lift each other up in prayer on a regular basis.  We have also covenanted to send a mission work team, once a year, to go and help rebuild their church building.  The building has been devastated by hurricanes over the many years.  We have also been in covenant to take a collection of school supplies for the local children of Mitchell Town.  The elementary school in Mitchell Town is run by this church.  This has been a beautiful friendship and relationship.  In 2012 we sent our second mission work team to Mitchell Town.  We are proud to form this partnership and to be in ministry with the congregation that serves our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Jamaica.  Please be in prayer for the people of Mitchell Town and their pastor Rev. Janis Jack-Watson. 

2 Samuel 6.1-19

This Sunday we will be focusing on 2 Samuel 6.1-19.  In this passage we see how David takes the Ark of the Covenant to the new capitol city of Jerusalem.  The ark had been laying low for quite some time.  It actually had been laying low ever since it showed up in 1 Samuel 7.  In this passage the ark is brought by a pair of cows to the city of Kiriath-jearim ------ specifically the home of Abinadab.  Here in 2 Samuel David is parading the ark to Jerusalem.  But, on the way there is a problem.  The ark was touched by a man named Uzzah and God struck him dead (2 Samuel 6.6-7).  This caused fear and horror to come on David and he left the ark ----- so David left the ark at a man's house named Obed-edom the Gittite.  After three months David changed his mind and brought the ark to Jerusalem.  On the way David dances.  He dances up a storm.  He dances so hard in his linen ephod that his wife describes him as "uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' maids, as any vulgar fellow might shamelessly uncover himself!" (2 Samuel 6.20).  There was some twirling and some twisting, and it became quite a scene. 

Something that sticks out to me in this passage is how David goes from being fearful (v9), to dancing (v14).  And this isn't just dancing by going from foot-to-foot.  Instead this is dancing with all of his might.  One of those dances where you are almost embarrassed for the person because they are exerting so much effort.  What is the change?  How does David come to this place?   

Vacation Bible School 2012

We would like to invite all of the children of Person County and the surrounding areas to Adventures on Promise Island.  This will be held at Warren's Grove on July 8th-12th from 5:30pm-8:30pm.  Come on out for a great time to learn about God's great promises that we find in Jesus Christ.  We will have Bible stories, skits, crafts, snacks, recreation, and music.  Each night we will also have a meal right at 5:30pm. 

Lastly, invite your friends and family to the commencement program that will be on Sunday, July 15th at our 11am worship service.  This is a time for us to discover God's life-saving love.

We will be taking up canned foods for the Christian Help Center this year.  You will receive more information about this on the first night of Vacation Bible School. 

2 Samuel 5.1-10

This Sunday we will be focusing on 2 Samuel 5.1-10. In this passage we see the culmination of David's rise to power. Previously, David had been made King of Judah ----- but not of all of Israel. Instead, there was one of Saul's sons that had been made King of the other tribes. That son was Ishbaal. Ishbaal had been assassinated by some of the captains of his raiding bands [2 Samuel 4]. So, now the 11 other tribes had no king ----- so they came and gave into David's rule. This was done with a great deal of humility where the elders made a covenant with David and anointed David King over Israel [2 Samuel 5.3]. Interestingly, David's first act as the newly anointed King was to take Jerusalem from the Jebusites and make Jerusalem the center of power for the Kingdom of Israel. This move was of huge significance for David and all of Israel. For Jerusalem was not a city that was occupied by any tribe of Israel. By David taking a city that was not in any particular tribes political grip he was making a statement about how he would rule. His rule would not be to favor a particular tribe or family ----- but instead it was to be King for all of Israel.

In considering the significance of Jerusalem at the time of David ----- I was thinking about how significant that city has been on the world stage since that time. Jerusalem has become the place that is the focus of tension for Jewish people and Muslims. But it has also seen tension from Christians with the Crusades. It was also the scene of tension as Jesus paraded into the city on a donkey ----- and a few days later he was crucified on a Roman cross. The shepherd boy David had the city of David for him to shepherd the people of Israel [2 Samuel 5.2]. Jesus now promises us the new Jerusalem that will come down out of heaven from God. The light of this city is the very Lamb of God [Revelation 21.23]. Those will enter into the gates whose names are written in the lamb's book of life [21.27] And Christ says from his throne: "See, I am making all things new" [21.5]. Let us go up to Jerusalem ---- the city of David ----- the very place where victory was claimed by dying on a Roman cross.

2 Samuel 1.1-27

This coming Sunday we will be focusing on 2 Samuel 1.1-27. In this passage David gets word that King Saul had been killed in battle. This word comes to him from an Amalekite who is the son of a resident alien of Israel (v13). Come to find out this Amalekite claims to be the one who killed King Saul because he had been mortally wounded in battle and convulsions had seized him (v9). David ends up calling for the Amalekite's life because he had taken the life of King Saul. What is perplexing is the fact that Saul had been seeking to kill David ---- yet David avenges the King's life. After fasting and mourning for King Saul, David then issues a command to teach "The Song of the Bow" to all of Judah (v18).

In this song David says three times: "How the mighty have fallen!" (vv19,25,27). The mighty that David is singing about are Saul and Jonathan. In reflection on this phrase I cannot deny that I have seen the mighty fall. I have seen the mighty of politics, religion, Hollywood, business, sports stars, and the like ------ fall! Over and over in the media we see the mighty fall. Some have fallen ----- and have never risen from the devastation. Some have fallen ------ and have grown in success and respect. What are the differences in these "mighty" that have fallen? What causes the "mighty" to fall?

N.T. Wright Singing Bob Dylan

Video about Superintendency

Reclaiming the Method in Methodism from NCCUMC.org on Vimeo.

Annual Conference 2012

We are here at Annual Conference 2012. We are meeting at the Raleigh Convention Center. This year we are expecting some really exciting things for us as Warren's Grove. On Friday at 2pm our own Ms. Virginia Wrenn will be receiving a tremendous recognition. She is being given the 2012 Saints of God Award for Outstanding Christian Stewardship and Service. Like you all know ----- we are blessed to be in ministry with Ms. Virginia Wrenn and I would like to encourage all of you to congratulate Ms. Virginia for this award.
Also, on Saturday at 9:30am there will be the Ordination Ceremony for Pastor Philip Chryst. This has been a long process for me that started 8 years ago. If any of you are interested in attending this service please plan on being at the Raleigh Convention Center by 8:45am for a seat. Follow this link to find out about parking. Follow this link to find a map of downtown Raleigh and how to find the Raleigh Convention Center.
I am planning on blogging throughout the Annual Conference. Please check back and I will write about some of the pastors that I run into that have served at Warren's Grove.
Lastly, you can see a live feed of Annual Conference by clicking this link. Post any questions you might have.

1 Samuel 15.34 - 16.13

This coming Sunday we will be focusing on 1 Samuel 15.34 - 16.13. In this passage we see how the Lord chooses David to be the new king of Israel. The Lord tells the prophet Samuel in 16.1: "Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." As we read further the Lord tells Samuel not to look on the outward appearance when choosing a new King. After seeing all of the sons that Jesse parades before Samuel ----- Samuel asks if there are any others ----- and there is! ----- the one who is tending the sheep. When the young shepherd boy comes in the Lord says to Samuel in v12: "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." The one who is with the sheep and is a ruddy young boy is the one! How mysterious and magnificent. King David emerges as the one.

The Lord says in v7: "for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." The interesting thing is that we too often look at the outward ----- without ever taking into regard the heart motivations and inclinations. When the Lord looks at your heart, what does God see?

King David

During the months of June, July & August we are going to study the life and character of King David. In the book of 1 Samuel it says that David was "a man after God's own heart" [1 Samuel 13.14]. While at the same time the Lord was not too pleased the elder's desire to have the monarchy. What a mysterious beginning for this King whose life helps identify a new King in the New Testament. In the book of Matthew Jesus has people call out to him and they say: "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" [Matthew 9.27]. Obviously King David has a prominent role in all of scripture ----- so what we are going to do is study his rise to power and how he acts in that powerful position. As we journey through King David's life we will see great peaks and valleys as he lives into being a man after God's own heart. We would like to invite you to journey with us at Warren's Grove. We will be doing this study during our 8.45am & 11am worship services. If you need to know how to get to Warren's Grove please follow this link.

1 Samuel 8.4-20 & 11.14-15

This coming Sunday we will be focusing on 1 Samuel 8.4-20 & 11.14-15. In these passages we get a glimpse at why the people of Israel decided that they wanted a king. This was something that displeased the prophet/priest Samuel. For he felt that the people were turning away from the Lord as their ruler, and instead were following the path of the surrounding nations. Up until this point the people of Israel had not been ruled by a centralized government. Instead God would raise up judges to help set free the various tribes of Israel from outside forces. But, when Samuel (the last judge) begins to get older, the elders of Israel (1 Samuel 8.4-5) thought this was as good of time as any to introduce the monarchy.

Interestingly, the Lord does not seem to be quite as mad as Samuel is about introducing the monarchy. Instead, the Lord tells Samuel to "listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you" (1 Samuel 8.7). As we then turn to chapter 11 we find the king installed ----- King Saul.

As we read these verses we understand that the people rejected the Lord in their desire for the monarchy (1 Samuel 8.7). But, we have read about how King David was a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13.14). How do those two things go together? Do we know what God has in mind when it comes to the monarchy?

Ezekiel 37.1-14

This coming Sunday we will be focusing on Ezekiel 37.1-14. In this passage the prophet Ezekiel is taken out to a dire scene ----- it was a valley that was full of bones. The Spirit of the Lord then leads him all around this valley ---- stepping in between those who had been slain and killed. It was full of bones ----- and they were dry. And then the Lord asks the prophet a ridiculous question: "Can these bones live?" Ezekiel, the one-dimensional character that he is, answers: "O Lord God, you know." The Lord's imperative comes upon Ezekiel with power when he says: "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel obeys the Lord's imperative and the bones are formed together ---- the sinews came ---- the flesh came ---- the skin came. Then the prophet called forth the breath to fill them, and they stood on their feet. In the midst of death ---- the Lord calls us forth to prophesy life and life more abundantly. For the Lord can even open up the graves to produce a multitude. How are you prophesying to death today?