AUGUST, 2010

Messenger The

Church 620-492-6850

Parsonage 620-492-2495

F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H 2 0 2 S . N I P P S T . , J O H N S O N , K S 6 7 8 5 5

“ O U R M I S S I O N I S T O B R I N G G O D T O P E O P L E , A N D P E O P L E T O G O D ”

Inside this issue:

From The Pastor 2

Celebrations; Prayer List; Men’s

Breakfast; 1st day of Preschool;

Budget Report

3

Mighty Methodist pictures 4

From the Pastor, cont.; Sonshine

Kids; Youth; Ladies Laugh Nite

5

Recipes 6

August Calendar Insert

Church Website: www.fumcjohnson.com

School Bags & Supplies Monetary Donations are now being taken

for this community outreach.

Donations can be dropped off at

First National Bank or the church office.

Support the Kids Following Christ Youth Group

with your purchase of a Discount Card good at area

businesses.

Pre-Order cards in August for $15.00

each; they will be available after

September 15th.

Contact a member of the youth group; church office, 620-492-6850 or

Pastor Will at 620-493-3757 or 785-222-6891.

F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H

DO YOU HOLD A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW?

Page 2

Most mornings I eat Cheerios. I don’t say this to

promote Cheerios, or because I think you might

be interested in what I eat for breakfast. I say this

because there are so many cereals to choose

from. And so it is with worldviews.

What is a worldview? James W. Sire, in his book

The Universe Next Door, gives a detailed

definition. Here is the essence of his definition as

best I can explain it.It’s a commitment. I make a

choice as to what I believe and what guides my

life, and I stick to it.

It’s a heart orientation. The mind is involved, but

so too are the will and the emotions.

It is about how we perceive the reality in which we

live. This includes the big questions like: “Is there

a God?” If so, what is God like? Can God be

known? Is God personal or impersonal? It

includes questions like: What is the meaning of

life? Does life have a purpose? Who am I? Who

are other people? What is the relationship of

humans to other living things?

A worldview forms the foundation upon which we

make every other decision in life. Quoting Sire,

it’s where “we live and move and have our being.”

Our actions, our choices, who we are, where we

are headed, what we will become are all based on

this perception of reality to which we have

oriented our heart, and made our commitment.

Back to Cheerios, the grocery shelves are full of

competing choices for cereal. And so the earth is

full of competing worldviews. This competition is

consequential. There is Christian Theism, and

then there are Deism, Atheism, Marxism,

Darwinism, Islam, New Age Spirituality,

Existentialism, Materialism, Relativism and

countless others.

In addition to Sire’s book, I am also looking at

Steve Wilkens and Mark L. Sanford’s book,

Hidden Worldviews. They see cultural forces

such as Individualism, Consumerism, and

Nationalism infiltrating and diluting Christianity

such that at times even the Church does not hold

to a pure Christian Worldview.

Here I can only begin to expound upon a Christian

Worldview. My summary is based on and often

quoted from James W. Sire’s chapter “A Universe

Charged With The Grandeur Of God” contained in

his book, The Universe Next Door, 5th edition.

“Prime reality is the infinite, personal God

revealed in the Holy Scriptures.”

This God created everything that exists. His

creation is the context for our “external reality.”

Human beings are created by God in God’s own

image so that we have personality, morality, and

creativity among other characteristics derived from

the image of God.

Human beings can know both the world around

them and the personal God who made them

because God built this capacity into them and

because He communicates with them.

Humans were originally created good, “but

through the Fall the image of God became

defaced,” but not beyond the possibility of

restoration. This restoration is available through

the work of Jesus Christ. Each person is free to

reject this redemptive work.

For each person death is either the gateway to

eternal life or eternal separation from God.

Each person is accountable to God for their

actions. God’s holy character is the standard and

God Himself is the judge.

“History is linear, a meaningful sequence of

events leading to the fulfillment of God’s purposes

for humanity.”

Finally the core commitment of a Christian theist is

“to seek first the kingdom of God” and “to glorify

God and enjoy Him forever.” continued, page 5

T H E M E S S E N G E R

Aug. 1 Martie Garrison

Aug. 8 Loraine Geisinger

Aug. 15 Blake, Heidi, Matthew & Samantha

Gerard

Aug. 22 Richard & Beverly Glasscock

Aug. 29 Barry Goodman

Birthdays: 1 Keltin Wiens 2 Wendi Adams, Susan Lucas 4 Haley Floyd, Becky Teeter 5 Pauline Peterson, Trish Morris 6 Kim Hayden 7 Martie Floyd, Larry Walker 8 Liz Shirk 9 Lois Hudgens, Blake Martin 11 Dara Floyd 14 Eileen Kilian, Brent Martin, Lacey Parton 15 Alisha Helmle 16 Faleta Shepard, Toni Hoskinson 17 Kamryn Golub 19 Sally Daniels, Joel

Page 3

CHURCH FAMILY

PRAYER LIST

AUGUST CELEBRATIONS

Nicholas 21 Jason Davidson 22 Shannon Morris 24 Doug Johns 26 Stephanie Adams 27 Jaydon Edgar 28 Mark Fahrin, James Everett 29 Polly Cartwright, Ken Darrough, Danzey Nickel 30 Janet Martin, Robert Martin, Larry Morris, Amy Tomson 31 Dan Kullot, Rayna Brown Anniversaries: 1 Larry & Trish Morris 2 Wayne & Marjorie Snell 19 Steve & Shannon Morris 23 Steve & Glenda Shepard 27 Darrel & Marylin Ruth 29 Darrell & Wynn Cockrum

AS OF 7/29/10

Capital Campaign: (including 2008-2009):

Received: Expensed: Needed:

$200,761 $137,523 $19,238

2010 Offerings Report:

Offerings to Date: Offering Goal to Date:

$140,328 $181,419

Note: $6,047.00 needed weekly to meet offering goal

2010 Operating Income/Expense Report:

(excludes Capital Campaign)

Operating Operating Operating

Income: Expenses: Short Fall:

$151,288 $183,367 $32,079

We will be meeting

EVERY THURSDAY starting

August 5th. Come join us for

Bible Study and Breakfast.

1st day of Preschool

Monday, August 23 for 4-5 year olds Tuesday, August 24 for 3-4 year olds

Page 4 T H E

Mighty Methodists On Their Way To A Successful Season!

Inspirational advice going between Coach

Julie and Coach Moran.

Coach Julie is ready to tell Pastor Don to R-U-N !!!

Strategy is the name of the game for Pitcher Martie, 1st

Baseman Matt, 2nd Baseman Sandra and Outfielder

Don. (above)

Our fan based-support comes in all sizes. (right)

The Mighty Methodists have one scheduled game to

play on Wed., Aug. 4 at 8:00 p.m. The tournament play

will be Mon., Aug. 9 thru Wed., Aug. 11th.

Everyone come on out and cheer them on! Their record

to date is 6 wins, 4 losses. Way to go!!

How does this set of

beliefs compare to

those of someone

who thinks there is

no God, or if there is

a God, that God is

impersonal and

cannot be known?

What actions arise

from each set of

beliefs?

How do these

Christian beliefs

differ from the

beliefs of someone

who says there is no

absolute truth, that

all truth is relative?

Or from the person

who says that a

whale is of the same

or greater worth than

a human?

Can more than one

worldview be true?

Which worldview

best puts us in touch

with the reality of the

universe?

I believe it’s the

Christian Worldview.

What do you

believe?

—Don Hasty †

F R O M T H E P A S T O R , C O N T I N U E D F R O M P A G E 2

Page 5 T H E M E S S E N G E R

Sonshine Kids /

Kid’s Choir

will start

Wed., Aug. 25

At 3:45 p.m.

will start meeting

weekly on August 22

We meet at

5:00 p.m.

If you are a middle

school or high

school aged youth—

please join us!

Thursday, August 12

7:00 p.m.—Fellowship Hall

Movie: “Stayin’ Alive...Laughing”

with Chonda Pierce

Popcorn & Drinks provided

Bringing a snack is optional!

NURSERY

PROVIDED

DO YOU HAVE A RECIPE

TO SHARE IN THE

NEWSLETTER? Please

email it to: jumc@pld.com

or drop it in the mail to:

First UMC, Box 179,

Johnson, KS 67855

202 S. Nipp St.

P.O. Box 179

Johnson, KS 67855

F I R S T U N I T E D M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

UMW

CENTENNIAL

COOKBOOKS are still

available to purchase!

$15.00 each; or $20.00 (if

mailed-includes postage.

Contact the church office,

620-492-6850. †

First UMC Staff: Pastor: Don Hasty

Associate Pastor: Will Kenyon

Secretary: Shari Wiens

Treasurer: Mandy Shirk

Custodian: Victoria Garcia

Music Coordinator:

Nursery: Wendi Adams

Preschool Teacher: Cheryl Berens

Youth Coordinator: Will Kenyon

Community Developer: Jose` Olivas

Chicken Fajita Melts 3 Tb. Vegetable oil 1/2 c. tomato juice 6 skinless, boneless chicken 2 Tb. Fajita seasoning mix breasts, thinly sliced 1 c. salsa 1/2 c. sliced onions 8 slices French bread, toasted 1/2 c. sliced red bell pepper 2 c. shredded cheddar cheese 1 avocado, sliced Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, and cook and stir until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the sliced onions and red peppers, and cook and stir for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Stir in the tomato juice and taco seasoning, and mix well. Cook mixture until the juice has thickened and the chicken is well coated with sauce, about an additional 7 minutes. Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source. Spread 2 tablespoons of salsa over each slice of French bread. Layer avocado slices and evenly spoon the chicken mixture on top of the salsa topped bread. Sprinkle each sandwich with 1/4 cup Cheddar cheese.

Place sandwiches under the preheated broiler and cook for 5 minutes or until

the cheese is melted and beginning to brown.

Italian Grilled Potatoes

5 medium baking potatoes 1 small onion, sliced Salt & Pepper, to taste 1 bottle Zesty Italian Dressing Cut each potato into five slices. Place onion between slices and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Reassemble each potato; place on a double layer of heavy-duty foil (about 12 in. square)

Pour 2-4 tablespoons of salad dressing over each potato. Wrap foil around

potatoes and seal tightly. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 50-60 minutes

or until the potatoes are tender.

RECIPES FROM THE KITCHEN

Need to contact the church? Phone: 620-492-2506;

email: jumc@pld.com; website: www.fumcjohnson.com