Pastor Scott's Musings

  [Title Slide] Journey to Promise: Bread of Heaven (Exodus 16:1-12)   There on the surface of the wilderness was a thin flaky substance,  thin like frost on the earth.  When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” Exodus 16:14-15 [Slide] A priest is being chased through the woods by a hungry bear. As the priest is running, he makes an impassioned plea to God: Oh please God, in your infinite wisdom and mercy, turn this bear into a good Christian! Before he can get another word out, he trips over a log and goes sprawling. The bear catches up and approaches the terrified priest. [Slide] Suddenly, the bear puts its paws together, and says “Lord, thank you for this meal that I am about to receive.”   [Slide] I'm so hungry I could eat my watch. But that would be time consuming   [Slide] Obi-wan and Luke go to Mos Eilsey and order something. The waiter brings out chopsticks. Poor Luke cannot figure out th...

  [Title Slide] Journey to Promise: Bittersweet (Exodus 15:22-27)   Moses and the Hebrew people crossed the Red Sea and walked three days into the wilderness. Now when I hear three days, I know that God is up to something. And God is good, so whatever God is up to it’s going to be good for the world.   [Slide] They got to a place with water, but the water was bitter. They were thirsty but they could not drink the water. So, they complained.   [Slide] Psychology Today states that people have negative thoughts more frequently than positive, at a 5:1 ratio. Our tendency toward negative thinking is related to our survival instincts. As hunter-gatherers we needed to think fast to avoid dangerous predators. Snap judgements don’t always serve us well. Complaining has its rewards: protection, and self-validation. We seem to enjoy complaining because it serves as a form of self-validation. When we vent to others, we give ourselves the reward of being heard. Bu...

 Sermon for Milledgeville and Centenary UMC... Journey to Promise: Through The Sea ( Exodus 14:1-22 ) Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday school. “Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his engineers build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he used his walkie-talkie to radio headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.” “ “Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?” his mother asked. “Well, no, Mom. But if I told it the way the teacher said, you'd never believe it!”   "The Lord will fight for you. Just be still.”   Exodus 14:14 Imagine the scene. Moses followed God’s lead to the edge of the Red Sea. [Slide] Suddenly Pharaoh’s army of charioteers appeared in the distance. The people were terrified. They cried...

 Sermon for Milledgeville and Centenary UMC... [Title Slide] Journey to Promise: Staff and Stoll                      ( Exodus 5:1-9, 22-23; 6:1-8 )   [Slide] A mother told her children what to pack for vacation. Once they were done, she inspected. Instead of finding enough underwear and socks, they had packed 6 dolls and two toy trucks. The children didn’t pack what’s practical. They packed what brought them joy.   [Slide] When God sent Moses to Egypt to confront Pharaoh, God told him to take his staff.   [Slide] Take in your hand this staff , with which you will do the signs.” (Ex 4:17)   That staff was the only thing God told Moses to take to Egypt. With that staff, Moses unleashed 10 plagues upon Egypt. He turned the River Nile into blood and split the Red Sea. With that staff, God broke Egypt and freed His people.   [Slide] In...