Tag: Christianity

INTERNATIONAL: Deliberate Fires at United Methodist Churches in Pennsylvania

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JEFF TURNER

(Photo courtesy Woodycrest United Methodist Church)

Two fires that occurred this fall at United Methodist churches in Centre County, Pennsylvania, were set deliberately, according to a U.S. federal agency. On Friday, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), part of the U.S. Justice Department, confirmed that both incidents are being investigated as acts of arson. The agency is collaborating with police in Patton Township and Pennsylvania State Police on the investigation.

Details about the fires remain limited due to the ongoing inquiry, and Patton Township Police have not provide a statement..

The first fire happened at Woodycrest United Methodist Church in Patton Township, Pennsylvania. The fire, which broke out on September 14, caused serious damage to the sanctuary. The building was heavily affected by fire, smoke, and water damage, leading to its closure. A firefighter from Alpha Fire Co. received minor injuries to his hand and was treated at a local hospital. No one was inside the church when the fire began. Woodycrest, which was constructed in 1936 and has about 50 members, is now seeking donations to aid in the rebuilding process.

Pastor Renee Ford emphasized on the church’s website that despite the destruction of the physical building, the community remains strong. “We always say the church is not a building; the church is the people,” Ford stated, highlighting that the congregation’s work will continue despite the loss.

The second incident occurred in October at the former Fillmore United Methodist Church. The building, which had not been used as a church for several years and was functioning as a recreation centre, suffered a partial roof collapse. Investigators suspect arson since the fire seemed to have started outside the building. There were no injuries, and the building was empty at the time of the fire.

Authorities have not confirmed if the two fires are related.

Woodycrest United Methodist Church has established a Church Restoration Fund to collect financial contributions. The donations will go towards expenses not covered by insurance during the rebuilding process. The church is also requesting prayers and seeking volunteers to help with recovery efforts. Specific needs for volunteers will be updated on the church’s website as the restoration progresses.

Justification by Faith

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This is a simplified sermon based on a work by John Wesley

Based on Romans 4:5 – “To the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.”

Introduction

How can a sinful person be made right with God? This is one of the most important questions anyone can ask. Until we’re at peace with God, we can’t have true peace or joy in this life or the next. How can we find peace when our own conscience condemns us, let alone God who knows everything? What real joy can we have while God’s judgment hangs over us?

The Foundation of Justification

Let me explain how this all works:

Originally, humans were made in God’s image – perfect, holy, and pure. We were made to love God completely and live in perfect relationship with Him.

God gave humans a perfect law requiring perfect obedience. We were fully capable of following it.
But humans disobeyed God. Through Adam’s sin, death and separation from God entered the world. This affected all of us – we all inherited this broken relationship with God.

But God loved us so much that He sent Jesus, His only Son, to save us. Jesus became human to represent all of us. He took our sins upon Himself, suffered the punishment we deserved, and died to make things right between us and God.

What is Justification?

Justification is God’s pardon – His forgiveness of our sins. It’s important to understand what this means:

It’s not about making us actually righteous – that’s sanctification, which comes later.
It’s not just about clearing us from Satan’s accusations.
It’s not God pretending we’re righteous when we’re not.

Simply put, justification means God forgives our past sins because of Jesus’ sacrifice. He treats us as if we had never sinned, not because we deserve it, but because Jesus took our punishment.

Who Can Be Justified?

Here’s the amazing part – God justifies the ungodly. Not the good people. Not the almost-perfect people. The ungodly. The sinners. The broken. The ones who know they need help.
This is crucial to understand: You don’t need to become holy before God will accept you. In fact, you can’t. That’s backwards. God accepts you first, then begins making you holy.

How Are We Justified?

There’s only one requirement: faith. But what kind of faith?

It’s more than just believing facts about God.
It’s a deep trust that Christ died for your sins personally.
It’s believing that God loves you and gave Himself for you specifically.

This faith is the only condition for justification. You don’t need to do good works first. You don’t need to clean yourself up first. You just need to trust in what Jesus has done for you.
Why Faith?
You might wonder why God chose faith as the only requirement. One reason is that it completely eliminates human pride. When you come to God by faith:

You must look only at your own sinfulness
You can’t claim any goodness of your own
You must come as a sinner needing mercy
You can only rely on what Jesus has done

If you’re reading this and feeling the weight of your sins, here’s the good news: You’re exactly the kind of person God is looking to save. Don’t try to make yourself better first. Don’t wait until you feel worthy. Come to God just as you are – broken, sinful, and needy. That’s when you’ll find His mercy.

Don’t plead your good works. Don’t plead your sincerity. Don’t even plead your humility. Plead only what Jesus has done for you. If you feel completely unworthy of God, you’re exactly where you need to be to receive His grace. Trust in Jesus Christ right now, and you will be reconciled to God.

The Meaning Behind ‘Keep Turning Your Eyes On Jesus’

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JEFF TURNER

Michael Booth on the Message Behind The Booth Brothers’ Latest Song, “Keep Turning Your Eyes On Jesus”

The Booth Brothers’ latest release, “Keep Turning Your Eyes On Jesus,” is a powerful reminder of faith and perseverance. The song, written by Jim Brady, Dave Clark, and Don Cook, carries a message that Michael Booth deeply resonates with.

Booth shared some insight into the song’s creation, highlighting the significance of its simple yet profound message. “Keep turning your eyes on Jesus. Jim Brady, Dave Clark, and I believe Don Cook wrote that together. It was one of their only times they got together and wrote some songs, big writers, and I love it,” Booth said.

For Booth, the song embodies the essence of Southern gospel music, which often focuses on delivering simple truths in a relatable way. “So much of Southern gospel is simple truth, but simple is profound,” he explained. “It’s again packaged in a joyful happy way just to remind us the constant walk with Christ is keeping our eyes on him.”

With its uplifting melody and encouraging message, “Keep Turning Your Eyes On Jesus” serves as a beautiful reminder to remain steadfast in faith, no matter the circumstances.

Joseph Habedank on Adapting Methods to Reach a Broader Audience

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JEFF TURNER

Southern gospel music continues to evolve, offering a spectrum of styles from deeply traditional to more progressive sounds. Joseph Habedank, known for leaning toward the progressive side, recently discussed the direction of his latest project, Autobiography, in a conversation with gospel legend Gerald Wolfe.

While Habedank’s sound may have evolved, his core message remains unchanged. “Yeah, I was just talking to Gerald yesterday about, you know, we don’t change our message ever, but we do change our method,” Habedank shared. He emphasized the need for adapting approaches to reach a diverse audience, saying, “The Bible talks about this… preach the gospel to every creature, not just, you know, young people, old people, middle-aged people, not just Americans, everybody.”

This shift in method has proven successful for Habedank, who has witnessed significant growth in his ministry. “So far, especially in the past year, we’ve watched just amazing growth and we’re so grateful, so grateful for that,” he said.

With Autobiography, Habedank continues to balance the timeless message of gospel with a fresh, progressive sound, aiming to reach listeners from all walks of life.

The Craguns: A Gospel Family United in Music and Faith

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JEFF TURNER

The Craguns, a dynamic family gospel group, is made up of Jordan and Elena Cragun, along with Jordan’s father Ray and sister Savannah, the group has built a reputation for heartfelt harmonies and a deep, spiritual connection with their audience. The Craguns’ music is a reflection of their faith and dedication to spreading the message of God’s love and grace.

Their latest song, “Wasted Words,” is a reminder. It shows that no prayer is ever wasted. No sincere cry for help is wasted, nor are any honest words offered to God. Jordan Cragun passionately believes that as Christians, we should never hesitate to reach out to God in times of need or joy. He said, “I am so thankful for a God who cares about everything we face and that we can go boldly to Him with our petitions and our concerns and even our praises, and there are no wasted words with God.”

This sentiment lies at the heart of “Wasted Words,” a song that centers on the idea that every conversation with God is meaningful, whether spoken in moments of joy or despair. The lyrics echo Matthew 6:5–8 as the song song encourages listeners to pray sincerely, without worrying about rehearsing or performing their prayers. It is not the public display of piety that matters, but the authenticity of our hearts. God listens to the words we speak in private, knowing our true intentions.

Listen for “Wasted Words” playing now on Texas Gospel Canada!