My First Vlog: Hills and Obstacles

Did you hear the message that Emily gave?

On Sunday, June 1st @ FUMC, God worked through Emily Felgenhauer as she gave one of the best messages I have heard in any church. It was real, transparent and candid. Someone at the pulpit being real about their weaknesses? Yes! Amen! It was a breath of fresh air! FUMC and the youth of FUMC are blessed to have Emily Felgenhauer on the staff.

2 Corinthians 12:9
Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

Check out YouTube clip below to see how several people in a church displayed their weaknesses to show God's glory.

What is a Volunteer? What Does A Volunteer Do?

Click on YouTube clip below to see how one church in America celebrates volunteers.

We need volunteers at First United Methodist Church. We need you at First United Methodist Church. Just ask. We'll get you connected to the right department.

Homeless Give Back to The Church that loves them

Their names are Jo Jo, Harley, Randy, Linda, Helen, Jake, Rebel, Shirley, Mini, Cowboy and too many more to list. They make their home on the streets. We love them by giving them food, shelter and the word of God during cold nights and each Sunday morning. Each month, they come to the church that loves them and they give back by pulling weeds, sweeping, cleaning, hauling and planting. Heck, Helen even sharpened pencils. Fox 35 Orlando covered the last workday. Click on the YouTube clip below to see the "homies" in action.

You and I have nothing to complain about

Imagine living without legs or arms? Watch YouTube clip below by clicking on it.

How do you truly forgive? Watch this clip

How do you truly forgive? Listen to the words of Mother Teresa by clicking on YouTube clip below.

Who do you need to forgive? Do you need to tell someone you are sorry? When you said you were sorry to someone, what happened? Has someone asked for your forgiveness?

What if we had a Gripe Free Zone?

Stay away from complaining … so that no one can speak a word of blame against you (Philippians 2:14-15).

Every church has members who are always complaining about something. On any given Sunday, one will complain that the church is too hot and another that it's too cold. One will complain about always singing "the same old hymns" and another about unfamiliar hymns.

Hearing complaints disheartens ministers, making them less effective. Lay leaders become discouraged when the same ones who always have an excuse for not helping sit back and criticize those who do. New Christians—who expect to be uplifted—grow disillusioned when they instead encounter a thistle patch of griping.

And nothing is quite so devastating to marital happiness as an endless recitation of a spouse's unfinished projects, personal flaws, and poor eating habits and grooming. A similar negativity can pervade the parent/child relationship. One teen said, "I can do a hundred things right, but all I ever hear about are the few things I do wrong."

An appreciative tongue could have saved the Israelites in the wilderness and can save many a faltering relationship. When you give children and fellow church members an example worthy to be followed, your life will "shine brightly before them" (Philippians 2:15).

—LeRoy Koopman in Beauty Care for the Tongue

I'll commit to saying something constructive before voicing a complaint.

Some people seem to go through life standing at the complaint counter. —Fred Propp Jr.