Good Morning! It is Friday, and with it comes a change in the weather.  The clouds have rolled in and the chance of rain is 100%.  The good news for those of you that don’t like snow is that it is too warm, if not we would be in for a big one.  If you are a runner, the run will be at 9:00 rather than 10:00 in the morning due to the service for Fritz Norfleet.  Plan on worship Sunday, always wonderful to be a part of what God is doing.  Have a blessed weekend. 

PS: Jay made changes to the website and delivery.  Please share your comments.

If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth  1 John 1:6

This sounds a lot like James don’t you think?  Well it should, the message of Christ is the message of Christ.  This is a verse packed with stuff.  I won’t try to dig into all of it this morning, but think of it on a very basic level.  Can we believe in God, yet deny we have any need for a Savior?  Can we ever walk in the light if we deny that only Christ can remover the darkness from our lives and yes we all have some darkness.  It is about recognizing our condition.  The Good News is in recognizing our need and allowing Him to Jesus meets our needs. Just a thought for today. 

Yesterday’s question: Confession is good for what?   Soul    Sarah Huff is our winner.  (Note *  Click on the blue Morning Message header at the top of the page to go to the website to answer the question.)

Today’s question: What did John Wesley recommend for accountability?

To respond to this question, go to this entry on our website (do by clicking on its title), then post  your answer using the “Leave a reply” form at the bottom of the page.  First to get it right gets the credit! Check us out online at www.salemmoumc.com Also catch up on missed daily messages.  (IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS PLEASE EMAIL   COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MESSAGE BOX ON THE HOME PAGE,

If there are folks that you think would like to receive this have them email me.  If you want off the list simply drop me a note.

Have a great day!

In Christ,

Doug

Good Morning! Happy Ground Hog Day to you all.  It looks as if we are in for 6 more weeks of winter. I heard many jeers as that was the verdict this morning, but if it is 6 more weeks of this we really can’t complain.  Mizzou roped the number one draft pick in the nation yesterday and rounded out the new recruiting class with some great folks.  Don’t forget that Fritz Norfleet’s service is here on Saturday.   While the nice weather holds (it is changing) get out and enjoy and may your day be blessed.

PS: Jay made changes to the website and delivery.  Please share your comments.

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  1 John 1:5b

This Sunday we continue our series, “Lord, Help My Unbelief (I Believe)”. I grew up in a decade where, “I’m OK, you’re OK” was bantered around.  It has a nice ring to it, but it isn’t true.  I am not OK and you are not OK.  Let me rephrase that.  We are not OK on our own.  We are OK because we have a savior in Jesus Christ.  Jesus makes us OK when we seek Him. It is the light of Christ that flushes the darkness (sin) from our life.  Do we want the light to shine in our life?  There is a way to be OK.   Just a thought for today. 

Yesterday’s question: What big event is today?  College Football Signing Day    Pete Walter is our winner today. (If you answered, I didn’t get it, please email me at revwalt@fidmail.com and let me know I missed your answer.)

Today’s question: Confession is good for what?

To respond to this question, go to this entry on our website (do by clicking on its title), then post  your answer using the “Leave a reply” form at the bottom of the page.  First to get it right gets the credit! Check us out online at www.salemmoumc.com Also catch up on missed daily messages.  (IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS PLEASE EMAIL   COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MESSAGE BOX ON THE HOME PAGE,

If there are folks that you think would like to receive this have them email me.  If you want off the list simply drop me a note.

Have a great day!

In Christ,

Doug

Good Morning! A sunny Wednesday morning.  Mo and Snap were very glad Carol was home last night.  They no doubt love her the most.  Remember to join us for dinner tonight, and Prayer Team has moved to Wednesday at 6:00.  Keep the Norfleet family in your prayers today, as Fritz’s mother will be buried today.  Fritz service will be at the church Saturday at 1:00pm, visitation 2 hours before.  While the nice weather holds get out and enjoy and may your day be blessed.

PS: Jay made changes to the website and delivery.  Please share your comments.

The whole town gathered at the door  Mark 1:33

People need Jesus.  People are generally looking for something and they don’t know what.  Have you ever been hungry and you want something but you don’t know what?  That is the best illustration I can think of for this.  In this passage Jesus has changed a life forever and people have come.  Many probably don’t know why, but they are drawn to this Jesus. Their lives are changed literally by His touch, but they first need to find Him.  Can you help someone find Jesus?   Just a thought for today. 

Yesterday’s question: How did Jesus deal with the demons in the passage?  Drove them out and would not let them speak.  There is no winner today. (If you answered, I didn’t get it, please email me at revwalt@fidmail.com and let me know I missed your answer.)

Today’s question: What big event is today?

To respond to this question, go to this entry on our website (do by clicking on its title), then post  your answer using the “Leave a reply” form at the bottom of the page.  First to get it right gets the credit! Check us out online at www.salemmoumc.com Also catch up on missed daily messages.  (IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS PLEASE EMAIL   COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MESSAGE BOX ON THE HOME PAGE,

If there are folks that you think would like to receive this have them email me.  If you want off the list simply drop me a note.

Have a great day!

In Christ,

Doug

Good Morning! Warmer this morning, but not sunny like Monday.  Mizzou pulled out a close one last night and were blessed to only fall to #4 in the polls.  Carol is in St. Louis for a meeting, the animals were very restless last night.  She is their favorite.  Keep Brock Summers in your prayers this am, he is having surgery. Don’t forget Prayer Team has moved to Wednesday this week. Enjoy and may your day be blessed.

PS: Jay made changes to the website and delivery.  Please share your comments.

That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.  Mark 1:32

This passage in Mark is a beautiful illustration of witness.  We can say lots of stuff, but what people want to see is our relationship with Jesus.  Does Jesus make a difference in your life?  This verse comes about because Jesus has just healed and there were witnesses.  The word spread like wildfire.  When people see Jesus move they are drawn to what He is doing.  When is the last time you let someone see Jesus move in your life?  Just a thought for today. 

Yesterday’s question: Who from our congregation is taking a boat ride this week?   Jimmy Cotner     Joyce Jones is our winner today.

Today’s question: How did Jesus deal with the demons in the passage?

To respond to this question, go to this entry on our website (do by clicking on its title), then post  your answer using the “Leave a reply” form at the bottom of the page.  First to get it right gets the credit! Check us out online at www.salemmoumc.com Also catch up on missed daily messages.  (IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS PLEASE EMAIL   COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MESSAGE BOX ON THE HOME PAGE,

If there are folks that you think would like to receive this have them email me.  If you want off the list simply drop me a note.

Have a great day!

In Christ,

Doug

Good Morning! A very sunny start of the week.  It is predicted to get to 67 today!  Wow!  I want to encourage you to join a Bible Study, there new studies we have are wonderful.  Great day at church, great to see many new faces.  We continue to struggle with the Lord helping our unbelief.  We have a great, but short time with my family.  Thanks for covering Friday night so I could get away.  Busy week, Carol is in St. Louis for a conference, I however have plenty to keep me busy while she is away.   May your day be blessed.

PS: Jay made changes to the website and delivery.  Please share your comments.

Everything is possible for one who believes    Mark 9:23b

Sunday we looked at our fear of prayer.  Not the everyday, kind of routine prayer, the real deep need kind of prayer.  The prayer where we are pleading with God almost.  We are afraid because we fear God won’t answer of prayer.  I offered this thought.  We tend to pray not the situation, we pray the answer we want.  Everything is possible, but scripture doesn’t say it will happen as we file the flight plan.  What if we in faith laid our problem before God and sought Him.  Do we believe He will answer?  Scripture promises He will.  Do we trust His love enough to walk in faith into the answer?  Just a thought for today. 

Yesterday’s question: How many times have we served the Head Start dinner?  4  Sarah Huff is our winner today.

Today’s question: Who from our congregation is taking a boat ride this week?

To respond to this question, go to this entry on our website (do by clicking on its title), then post  your answer using the “Leave a reply” form at the bottom of the page.  First to get it right gets the credit! Check us out online at www.salemmoumc.com Also catch up on missed daily messages.  (IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS PLEASE EMAIL   COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MESSAGE BOX ON THE HOME PAGE,

If there are folks that you think would like to receive this have them email me.  If you want off the list simply drop me a note.

Have a great day!

In Christ,

Doug

Good Morning! A little sun peeking through here and there.  They are talking about potential for a bit of snow, we will see.  We have a chance to spend some time with my parents this weekend, certainly looking forward to that.  It also comes with the added perk of Jess, Eric, and Pete.  Fritz Norfleet passed away last night.  Arrangements are pending, I will let know something when I know something. If you call the church today, it is Natalie’s Birthday.  May your weekend be blessed.

PSS…….Tonight it the Head Start Dinner.  We could really use some help 5:30 to 6:00 to set up and serve.  Call or simply come on over, the dinner is at church. 

PS: We made some changes to the website and the delivery of the Morning Message.  Many of you have had some difficulty, we are addressing those problems.  I realize some of you have answered.  I have not received those answers, that is one thing we are working on.  Please know we will get it fixed as quickly as possible.  Thanks.

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.    Matthew 21:22

This has a ring of name it and claim it, but don’t rush to that conclusion.  I you believe you will receive.  That is true, however think about what you ask.  Do you ask in tune with God’s will?  There is sometimes more that we see going on.  Remember Paul asking for the thorn in his side to be removed?  God did answer Paul’s prayer and Paul understood.  God is going to be with you and will answer your prayer.  Do we listen when we pray or simply file a flight plan with God?  Just a thought for today. 

Yesterday’s question: How does this passage direct us to seek God?  Prayer    Pete Walter is our winner today.

Today’s question: How many times have we served the Head Start dinner?

To respond to this question, go to this entry on our website (do by clicking on its title), then post  your answer using the “Leave a reply” form at the bottom of the page.  First to get it right gets the credit! Check us out online at www.salemmoumc.com Also catch up on missed daily messages.  (IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS PLEASE EMAIL   COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MESSAGE BOX ON THE HOME PAGE,

If there are folks that you think would like to receive this have them email me.  If you want off the list simply drop me a note.

Have a great day!

In Christ,

Doug

Good Morning! It is still drizzly this morning.  I just now (9:35) have our internet connection restored.  We lost service last night and things kind of grind to a halt around here without internet.  I had thought maybe solar flares, but to tell you the truth, it is up again and I don’t really know how.  We hooked and unhooked things and it just came back up.  Hmmm. We had a house full last night at church.  I am so happy with the growth in our youth group and the guidance provided by our new youth pastor, Rich Beckett.  Hope you have a great day.  Stay dry and have be blessed. 

PS: We made some changes to the website and the delivery of the Morning Message.  Many of you have had some difficulty, we are addressing those problems.  I realize some of you have answered.  I have not received those answers, that is one thing we are working on.  Please know we will get it fixed as quickly as possible.  Thanks.

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.”        Matthew 21:21

If you have faith and do not doubt.  Interesting statement.  I want to take a moment to look at this statement.  I find it very important to look at the faith statement.  We are talking about what you can and can not do.  We have to be careful here or we will forget the source of our faith.  The question is not faith that we can do whatever, is the faith that God through us can accomplish anything.  It is not about our will, but God’s will.  It is more than saying I believe in God, now I can do anything I set my heart to doing.  What does God have in mind, that is the part of the faith statement we must include.  Do we have the faith to allow God to move through us?  Just a thought for today. 

Yesterday’s question: Who is our Sunday night Bible Study leader?  John Maledy  There is no winner today.

Today’s question: How does this passage direct us to seek God?

To respond to this question, go to this entry on our website (do by clicking on its title), then post  your answer using the “Leave a reply” form at the bottom of the page.  First to get it right gets the credit! Check us out online at www.salemmoumc.com Also catch up on missed daily messages.  (IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS PLEASE EMAIL   COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MESSAGE BOX ON THE HOME PAGE,

If there are folks that you think would like to receive this have them email me.  If you want off the list simply drop me a note.

Have a great day!

In Christ,

Doug

Good Morning! It is rainy this morning, but thankfully it is warm.  Looks like most of what we have will pass us by.  Great meal tonight, hope to see many of you.  We kicked off a great new Bible Study last night.  It is not too late to join, we meet every Tuesday at 5:30.  We also have a great Sunday evening Bible Study going if that is a better fit.  Stay dry and have a blessed day. 

PS: We made some changes to the website and the delivery of the Morning Message.  Many of you have had some difficulty, we are addressing those problems.  I realize some of you have answered.  I have not received those answers, that is one thing we are working on.  Please know we will get it fixed as quickly as possible.  Thanks.

When the disciples saw this they were amazed.  “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.       Matthew 21:20

One of the issues we see in the passage is timing.  There was the issue of the tree not being in season for figs.  However, this is a different issue of timing.  It is what God can do when God chooses to do it.  We understand human constraints, how could the tree wither so quickly?  Well certainly in the course of nature it could not.  The divine intervention is powerful.  The power of God is limitless.  We are being asked to fathom God’s power.  Do we trust in the power of God?  Just a thought for today. 

Yesterday’s question: What does Jesus tell us we can do in this passage?  What God empowers us to do.  There is no winner today.

Today’s question: Who is our Sunday night Bible Study leader?

To respond to this question, go to this entry on our website (do by clicking on its title), then post  your answer using the “Leave a reply” form at the bottom of the page.  First to get it right gets the credit! Check us out online at www.salemmoumc.com Also catch up on missed daily messages.  (IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS PLEASE EMAIL   COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MESSAGE BOX ON THE HOME PAGE,

If there are folks that you think would like to receive this have them email me.  If you want off the list simply drop me a note.

Have a great day!

In Christ,

Doug

Good Morning! What a sunny day!  They even give us a message of warmth for today, however a winter advisory is around the corner.  Missouri, a place where anything can happen.  Tonight the new James study begins, it is not too late to join.  There are several guys in this study.  Have a blessed day. 

Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves.  Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.      Matthew 21:19

This is a curious passage.  The fig trees would not be expected to have fruit this time of year, and if they had fruit it would not be good.  Many of the trees might have no fruit and would not bear fruit that year.  So what is the point.  Jesus is talking about faith, this is a lesson in faith.  It is about trusting in God.  This verse doesn’t bring us to the heart of the story, but we will get closer tomorrow.  The point Jesus is leading to is that we can do impossible things if god is doing them through us.  Is God using you to do something you could never do on your own?  Just a thought for today. 

Yesterday’s question: Who spoke in worship on Sunday and about what?  Dr. Wayne Bertz spoke about Gideons  There is no winner today.

Today’s question: What does Jesus tell us we can do in this passage?

To respond to this question, go to this entry on our website (do by clicking on its title), then post  your answer using the “Leave a reply” form at the bottom of the page.  First to get it right gets the credit! Check us out online at www.salemmoumc.com Also catch up on missed daily messages.  (IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS PLEASE EMAIL   COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MESSAGE BOX ON THE HOME PAGE,

If there are folks that you think would like to receive this have them email me.  If you want off the list simply drop me a note.

Have a great day!

In Christ,

Doug

Good Morning! I awoke this morning to what I thought was a storm.  No rain, but plenty of wind.  Oh, Missouri weather you keep us ever vigilant.  The Tigers got a signature win Saturday against Baylor, I am excited to see the polls today.  Big football day yesterday, the Super Bowl is cast.  Carol and I watch Courageous this weekend, what a great and life changing movie.  I am still trying to process it all, but I will be using the things I learned to allow God to make me a better person. I hope you have a great day today and live into the blessing. 

Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.      Matthew 21:18

This week our congregation has the sermon outline a week before the message.  I hope it is helpful in preparing for our time together next Sunday.  The current series of messages addresses the statement, “I believe, Lord help my unbelief”. The verse this morning opens the passage of Jesus cursing the fig tree.  No doubt this is a difficult passage, but an powerful one to examine.  It is a question of faith.  We have doubts, but where do our doubts fit in with our faith.  Can you doubt and believe?   Just a thought for today. 

Yesterday’s question: I used an illustration last night in my message.  Who remembers what the color purple represented?  A deep bruise   There is no winner today.

Today’s question: Who spoke in worship on Sunday and about what?

To respond to this question, go to this entry on our website (do by clicking on its title), then post  your answer using the “Leave a reply” form at the bottom of the page.  First to get it right gets the credit! Check us out online at www.salemmoumc.com Also catch up on missed daily messages.  (IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS PLEASE EMAIL   COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE MESSAGE BOX ON THE HOME PAGE,

If there are folks that you think would like to receive this have them email me.  If you want off the list simply drop me a note.

Have a great day!

In Christ,

Doug