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  • Home
  • COVID INFORMATION
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  • About Us
    • Church Staff
      • Announcements
        • Parking at 1stChurch
        • Standing Annoucements
        • Weather-Related Changes
    • Contact Us
    • General Property Layout and Entrances
    • Directions
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Worship Services / Times
    • Introduction
    • Visitor Page
    • Favorite Links
  • Programs/Activities
    • Women's Bible Study
    • Wednesday Night Fellowship
    • Three Rivers District Events
    • Camp in the Community 2022
    • Loaves and Fishes Leaps and Bounds
    • More Loaves and Fishes
    • Camp Bays Mountain
    • Boy Scouts Troop 36
    • UMCmarket or Amazon Smiles
  • Ministries, Missions, Giving
    • MINISTRIES
      • Children's Ministries
        • Early Learning Center
          • ELC Payment and Document Center
      • Youth Ministries
        • Youth Forms
        • Youth Group: UMYF
        • Youth Calendar
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      • Adult Ministries
        • UMW
          • UMW INFORMATION
        • Conference Room Class
        • Friendship Sunday School Class
        • Open Door Sunday School Class
        • Pathfinders - Sunday School Class
        • Questors Sunday School Class
        • Scripture Study Sunday School Class
        • Fifth Sunday Breakfast and Program
      • Music Ministries
        • Chancel Choir
      • Prayer Ministries
        • Prayer Requests
        • Prayer Shawl Ministry
    • MISSIONS
      • Backpacks For Liberia
      • FUMC Food Pantry
      • UMCOR Cleaning Buckets
      • UMCOR Hygiene Kits
      • Operation Christmas Child
      • Clare's Closet
      • The Bridge
      • Brother's Keeper
      • Little Free Pantry
      • Kairos Ministry
      • Family Promise (IHN)
      • Czech Republic
      • Good Samaritan
      • Holston Home for Children
      • Medical Mission to Mexico
      • Melting Pot
      • BABMOC Bear Another's Burdens Ministry of Christ
      • Other Missions
    • Giving
      • Online Giving
      • Endowment Giving
      • The Building Fund
  • Communications and Media
    • Church-Wide Email Sign Up
    • Worship Video Archives Beginning Nov 2022
    • Worship Video Archive beginning 6/5/2022
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First United Methodist Church

Archived Page

The Show Is Not About Us
by Michael Scott, Johnson City, TN

Many of us seek to improve our spiritual lives on a daily basis either by reading devotionals, or by re-reading meaningful biblical passages.  Quiet minutes spent alone with God fill our unseen spirit tanks, making it possible to deal with the hassles and challenges of the day.  The price per gallon of spirit juice seems to decline the more we fill up, unlike the dead dinosaur juice currently draining our wallets.
 
     While looking at our new web site this week, I saw a link that announced:  “Submit devotion for FUMC”.  No one had done that yet.   Who would break the ice?
 
     Strategic planning at FUMC has now moved into the action phase, and it’s time for each of us to ponder our gifts and talents – where can we be most effective?  Like me, you’re probably “good” at many things, but not “great” at anything in particular, so it’s difficult to decide what to do.  My little brain gets so much pleasure out of abundance of what God has delivered:  nature, books, learning, reading, hiking, motorcycling, music, friends, ad infinitum.  It’s difficult to focus on a particular thing when His show is so consistently amazing, and limitless.

     That show is definitely not about us.  All we have to do is look to the heavens on a moonless night, gaze upon the Rocky Mountains bathed in a purple sunset, or attempt to sail a twenty-foot boat on the Atlantic to see we’re about as significant as ant dandruff clinging to a grain of sand.

    
 
    



But as the Christian writer Donald Miller says:  “The show is for us.”  Our brains can ponder, slightly comprehend, and somewhat appreciate what He’s delivered in the form of this Earth and this life.  As far as I know, no other life forms (on this planet) have that ability. 
 
   So out of this wondrous bounty, we have to choose.  We must focus, so why not give of the thing you love to do, even if it’s difficult?  For example, I love to write.  The first draft is usually fun and easy, kind of like cooking.  Cleaning up the mess, washing the dishes, is the “editing” part.  It’s work.  Those of you who supply the daily elbow grease for putting food on the table understand.  Nobody wants to scrape that dried gravy off the side of the bowl.  Everyone wants to eat. Penning a devotional is something I can offer, and learn from.  So I’ll do it.  Once a week, I’ll upload a piece to share.  Short and simple, much like Upper Room offerings – and I pray that when a significant event in your walk occurs – you’ll share it with all of us.
 
    Because it doesn’t matter whose barrel holds refreshing spirit water; we can all stand a drink.
 
***

Rev. 21:6
 
He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.
To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.


First United Methodist Church
900 Spring Street
Johnson City, TN 37604
phone: 423.928.9222
fax: 423.928.9223

If you see website errors, note omissions
or have additions please click
  H E R E.

Website:  www.1stChurchJC.org
Senior Pastor: Rev. Jodie Ihfe
Email:  jodie.ihfe@1stChurchJC.org
Associate Pastor:  Rev. Gary Ihfe
​Email:  gary.ihfe@1stChurchJC.org

Office Email: office@1stchurchjc.org
Early Learning Center email:  elc1986@1stChurchJC.org
WebTeam Email:
gary.ihfe@1stChurchJC.org
                              karl.kapoor@1stchurchjc.org
                              
Photos of church family and visitors are property of First United Methodist Church Website . You may electronically share pictures but we request acknowledgement of the FUMC website. To print pictures please obtain photographer's permission by contacting website administrator.youth 
  • Home
  • COVID INFORMATION
  • In Person Worship
  • Streaming Worship
  • About Us
    • Church Staff
      • Announcements
        • Parking at 1stChurch
        • Standing Annoucements
        • Weather-Related Changes
    • Contact Us
    • General Property Layout and Entrances
    • Directions
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Worship Services / Times
    • Introduction
    • Visitor Page
    • Favorite Links
  • Programs/Activities
    • Women's Bible Study
    • Wednesday Night Fellowship
    • Three Rivers District Events
    • Camp in the Community 2022
    • Loaves and Fishes Leaps and Bounds
    • More Loaves and Fishes
    • Camp Bays Mountain
    • Boy Scouts Troop 36
    • UMCmarket or Amazon Smiles
  • Ministries, Missions, Giving
    • MINISTRIES
      • Children's Ministries
        • Early Learning Center
          • ELC Payment and Document Center
      • Youth Ministries
        • Youth Forms
        • Youth Group: UMYF
        • Youth Calendar
        • Sunday School
      • Adult Ministries
        • UMW
          • UMW INFORMATION
        • Conference Room Class
        • Friendship Sunday School Class
        • Open Door Sunday School Class
        • Pathfinders - Sunday School Class
        • Questors Sunday School Class
        • Scripture Study Sunday School Class
        • Fifth Sunday Breakfast and Program
      • Music Ministries
        • Chancel Choir
      • Prayer Ministries
        • Prayer Requests
        • Prayer Shawl Ministry
    • MISSIONS
      • Backpacks For Liberia
      • FUMC Food Pantry
      • UMCOR Cleaning Buckets
      • UMCOR Hygiene Kits
      • Operation Christmas Child
      • Clare's Closet
      • The Bridge
      • Brother's Keeper
      • Little Free Pantry
      • Kairos Ministry
      • Family Promise (IHN)
      • Czech Republic
      • Good Samaritan
      • Holston Home for Children
      • Medical Mission to Mexico
      • Melting Pot
      • BABMOC Bear Another's Burdens Ministry of Christ
      • Other Missions
    • Giving
      • Online Giving
      • Endowment Giving
      • The Building Fund
  • Communications and Media
    • Church-Wide Email Sign Up
    • Worship Video Archives Beginning Nov 2022
    • Worship Video Archive beginning 6/5/2022
    • Worship Video Archive beginning 2021 8 8
    • Worship Video Archive Prior to August 2021
    • Newsletter for FUMC
    • Google Calendar
    • Safe Sanctuaries Information
    • Volunteer Rosters
    • 2022 Church Directory
    • Church Leadership 2023
      • Connections/Communications Pillar
      • Spiritual Development Pillar
      • Safety and Security Welcome Group
      • Outreach Pillar
      • Worship Pillar
        • AV Team
      • Leadership Pillar
      • Wednesday Night Fellowship Team
      • Finance Committee
      • SPPRC (Staff, Pastor, Parrish Relations Committee
      • Stewardship Committee
      • Endowment Committee
      • Facilities/Trustees
        • USE OF CHURCH FACILITIES
    • Forms and Information Documents
      • ONLINE FORMS
    • Time and Talent Survey
    • Photo Album General Tab
      • Photo Album
      • Photo Album Not Sorted by Year Yet
      • 2021 Photo Album
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      • 2019 Photo Album
      • 2018 Photo Album
      • 2017 Photo Album
      • 2016 Photo Album
      • 2015 Photo Album
      • 2014 Photo Album
      • 2013 Photo Album
      • 2012 Photo Album
      • 2011 Photo Album
      • ELC 5K Event
      • Food Pantry Photo
      • Faces at First New Pics
  • Church Calendar
    • Calendar
      • Revised Common Lectionary
        • Definition
        • Church Year/Liturgical Colors
        • Weekly Readings
  • Online Giving