2015-1-4 Messages received from Sermon “Redeeming the Time”, Tezenlo Thong

“Redeeming the Time”

Messages received:

• Life is short, don’t waste it.
• Clock time is short and stressful, try not watching the clock and enjoying time.
• Be aware are you are servicing time or is time servicing you?
• Redeem time in a valuable way, make time for important and soul nourishing experiences.

Ephesians 6:15-20

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

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2015-1-4 Sermon “Redeeming the Time”, Tezenlo Thong

“Redeeming the Time”

Ephesians 6:15-20

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

—————————————————————————————

At the beginning of a New Year, I think it would be good for us to consider the importance of time. Time (chronos time and kairos time) is in fact a continuation of what we talked about last Sunday.

The New Year’s day is just like any other day. The sun sets and rises like any other day. We sleep and wake up like any other day. What then is really new about the New Year? Is time real? Or is it just a perspective?

“What is time?” Augustine is believed to have asked once. He replied, “If no one asks me, I know; if I want to explain it to someone who does ask me, I do not know.” In speaking of time, I do not speak as a physicist for I am not one. Instead, I speak as a “lay” person. With regard to time, there is the “make-believe” time; and there is the “real” time. By make-believe time, I mean the clock time, the mechanical time, because there was no such time at one point in time. In the West, the clock or mechanical time is crucial and indispensable. But there are many cultures to this day where time is not dictated by the clock. By the “real” time, I mean the time in which we live and age. It is the time that takes its toll on everything, on all of us. Irrespective of age, place and social status, we all experience the real time.

The Bible encourages us to redeem the time. What does it mean to “redeem the time”? The Greek word for time here is “kairos” which is translated by some as “the right time, the fullness of time or the opportune time.” Also, we see several translations for redeeming the time: make the most of the time, making good use of the time and buying up your opportunities. To redeem the time means to convert time into value. It means to make a good use of our time to serve one another, to live and love. May the New Year be a year of value, love and service.

Tezenlo Thong, Pastor

Simpson United Methodist Church

2014-12-7 Messages From Sermon “Make the Path Straight” Tezenlo Thong

“Make the Path Straight”

Mark 1:1-8

Messages received:

• I try to act like there is no prejudice
• For those who are following us make the path:  straight, level, smooth, with equality, with righteousness, without violence.
• Make the journey down the path with faith and life and love and hope and justice as you prepare it for those who are following
• We must do our best to help God make the path safe for other followers

 

2014-11-23 messages received from Sermon “Finding God in Discarded Places” Tezenlo Thong

“Finding God in Discarded Places”

Messages received from sermon by Tezenlo Thong:

• People are thankful for different things.
• Moments of grief, fear, loneliness.
• Focus on blessings, be a better person.
• God can show up in ordinary places, not just “holy” places.
• Where have I encountered God, experience God, not always church.
• Find Jesus in the streets, prisons, hospitals, where people NEED.
• Thought on serving others, prepare meal for the homeless AND serve it, in place of one of the gatherings we have, what can we do for the less fortunate to share our bounty.
• Go where God is, where people need us, as we need Him.
• Faith needs to be accompanied with action.
• Where will you find God?
• God is found in the forsaken places.

Wish for Peace, Joy and Blessings Received Today

My friend Pat sent me the following message today.  This came after I drove through a cold snowstorm to get to work this morning.  What an inspirational message when I just wanted to be cold, wet and cranky!

I sincerely hope that with each passing day, you will feel more empowered and feel a greater sense of peace from within.  A wise pastor once told me to have faith.  That when in a winter’s phase of life, to remember that spring follows with new growth, new signs of life.  It is by this journey that we are given the opportunity for personal growth.

God’s abundant blessings to you.   Wishing you peace and joy, Pat

2014-11-9 Messages received from Sermon Simpson UMC “Awaiting the Fullness of the Kingdom of God” Pastor Tezenlo Thong

Sermon “Awaiting the Fullness of the Kingdom of God” Pastor Tezenlo Thong

Messages received:

• As we journey through life we must have hope, help others to have hope and make a difference.
• Consider whether our actions are guided by belief.
• As we wait for the end of any journey, big or small, it is our responsibility to wait actively and not be idle but continue our service to God.
• We can serve God by recognizing and serving those in need.
• Keep hope and patience.
• Don’t be lulled into inactivity, don’t let life’s journeys be unfulfilled.
• To give is to receive, to replenish those in need is to replenish oneself.

 

 

2014-11-9 Sermon by Tezenlo Thong, “Awaiting the Fullness of the Kingdom of God”

“Awaiting the Fullness of the Kingdom of God”

(Matthew 25:1-13)

Tezenlo Thong

As we near the Season of Advent, you will realize that the lectionary texts are leading us to what is called parousia, an eschatological event the Christians have always believed will happen soon. The parable for this Sunday talks about waiting for an important event, an event that no one knows when it might occur. The waiters are therefore kept in suspense. We all know what it is like to be in a state of constant suspense, waiting for something to happen any moment.

What is important is that our Christian life is not a passive waiting. We are to wait in active readiness. Some early Christians thought that Jesus would return in their lifetime and decided to wait passively. They became disengaged and disinterested in “earthly” matters. They became fixated on the “hereafter” and lost relevance in the “here-and-now”.

We are not called to wait passively as the world suffers, as God’s children go hungry or as oppression and injustice grow. We are to wait actively. That is why the Season of Advent is a busy time for the Church. We give, and we serve more than we normally do. This Advent, God will come. God will come moment by moment. Sometimes we are foolish, and we miss the coming; sometimes we are wise, and we see him/her in the face of someone in need – “Whatever you do unto the least of these, you do unto me.” Let us wait actively for the coming of God!

 

 

 

Messages Received from Sermon “Unfinished Journeys” Pastor Tezenlo Thong

“Unfinished Journeys”

Pastor Tezenlo Thong

October 26, 2014

 Messages received from Sermon by Tezenlo Thong:

• What can your personal ministry do to help another on their journey?
• What can your personal ministry do to help yourself on your journey?
• Do journeys need to be finished to be successful?
• Big dreams and journeys are not always fulfilled in the lifetime of the dreamer.
• The journey itself is important.
• What is the finishing line of a journey?
• The lessons learned and your personal acceptance of the same may be the finished journey.

Messages received from Sermon “Religion and Violence: Does Religion Promote Violence?”

Messages received from Sermon “Religion and Violence: Does Religion Promote Violence?” by Tezenlo Thong:

• Religion can be used to promote violence and prejudice
• So many Christians hide behind the Bible teachings
• Interpretation can be anything
• Do we really live by “The Golden Rule”?
• The Golden Rule is found in all religions.
• A small minority use religion as an excuse for violence
• Great leaders have been known to use religion for good
• Religion, good or bad, it is up to the interpretation of the people
• Responsible leaders wishing to do good use religion in a thoughtful and unselfish manner
• Love others as you would have them love you

2014-10-19 Sermon Simpson UMC “Religion and Violence: Does Religion Promote Violence?” Tezenlo Thong

“Religion and Violence:

Does Religion Promote Violence?”

(Micah 4:1-4)

Is religion inherently bad? Does it promote violence? Does it foster hate, fear and conflict? Or does religion make human beings better people? Are human beings better off because of it? Or is religion neither inherently good nor bad?

On one hand, we don’t have to look far to find atrocious examples of violence done in the name of religion. On the other hand, some of the greatest historical figures who have exhibited strong moral leadership are people with deep religious convictions, such as Mother Theresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Dalai Lama, Thích Nhất Hạnh and others.

No religion is immune from violence. All are guilty of perpetrating hatred and division. Religion, including Christianity, can be and has been used as an excuse for violence. However, we must never condone, much less perpetrate, violence in the name of religion or God. On the contrary, we ought to be a people of peace, love and goodwill and treat people of all faiths with respect, love and dignity they deserve.

“Do to others what you would have them do to you.”

—

Tezenlo Thong, Pastor
Simpson United Methodist Church

(Micah 4:1–4 CEB)

But in the days to come, the mountain of the LORD’s house will be the highest of the mountains; it will be lifted above the hills; peoples will stream to it. Many nations will go and say: “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of Jacob’s God, so that he may teach us his ways and we may walk in God’s paths!” Instruction will come from Zion and the LORD’s word from Jerusalem. God will judge between the nations and settle disputes of mighty nations, which are far away. They will beat their swords into iron plows and their spears into pruning tools. Nation will not take up sword against nation; they will no longer learn how to make war. All will sit underneath their own grapevines, under their own fig trees. There will be no one to terrify them; for the mouth of the LORD of heavenly forces has spoken.