Marion United Methodist Church: Thoughts on Temptation

Church Calendar

REGULAR WEEKLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY: 9:30 a Sunday School

10:45 a Morning Worship

6:00 p - Evening Worship

TUESDAY: 10:00 a Worship at 4 C's

WEDNESDAY: 6:00-7:00 p Prayer Meeting and Bible Study -- Rm # 204

.(Items in green are the pastor's commitments.)
..

OCTOBER

9 -- 10:45 a -- 2011 Charge Conference, Dr. Jay Smith presiding

7:00 p -- Cluster Worship at Salem UMC

10-14 -- Spring Break

10 -- 6 p -- Centennial Celebration of Building Committee

6:30 p -- Administrative Council Meeting

7 p -- N.O.W. Council planning session (Trunk or Treat; Advent & Christmas)

12 -- 6 p -- What's the Least I Can Believe and Still be a Christian?: Chapter 5: It's Not Easy Being Green

16 -- 10:45 a -- Logan Stout preaching

Evening service dismissed.

19 -- 6 p -- Prayer Meeting is dismissed this week

22 -- 9:30 a -- Conference UMW Annual Meeting -- Madisonville First UMC

26 -- 6 p -- What's the Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian?: Chapter 6: Bad People Will Be "Left Behind" and Then Fry in Hell.

30 -- Reformation Sunday

Watch for details about Trunk or Treat

6 p -- Friendship Service with 1st Cumberland Presbyterian, at Marion UMC

31 -- All Hallows' Eve

NOVEMBER

2 -- 6 p -- What's the Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian?: Chapter 7: Jews Won't Make It To Heaven

6 -- DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS

...10:45 a All Saints' Day/Memorial Service

7 -- Noon to 4:00 p -- Red Cross Blood Drive in Social Hall

8 -- Election Day

9 -- 6 p -- What's The Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian?: Chapter 8: Everything in the Bible Should Be Taken Literally

11 -- Veterans' Day

16 -- 6 p -- What's The Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian?: Chapter 9: What does the Bible say about homosexuality?

17 -- District Pastor's Meeting, Sebree UMC

20 -- Christ the King Sunday

23 -- 6 p -- What's the Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian?: Chapter 10: It's OK for Christians to Be Judgmental and Obnoxious

24 -- Thanksgiving Day

27 -- First Sunday of Advent

DECEMBER

2 -- 5:30 p -- District Christmas Dinner -- Webb Memorial UMC

3 -- Marion Christmas Parade; Sunday School Crew playing bells on float.

4 -- Second Sunday of Advent

11 -- Third Sunday of Advent

3:00 p Consecration Festival at Corona de Vida

18 -- Fourth Sunday of Advent

22 -- First Day of Winter

24 -- 5-7 p: Christmas Eve Communion

25 -- Christmas Day

...10:45 a -- Morning Worship

Evening Activities Dismissed

31 -- New Year's Eve

Monday, May 3, 2010

Thoughts on Temptation

I remember a recurring sketch on some old kid's show called "How NOT to do things." Here are some thoughts on temptation that would have fit there:
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I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it. -- Mae West
The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it. -- Oscar Wilde
I couldn't help it. I can resist everything except temptation. -- Oscar Wilde
The trouble with resisting temptation is it may never come your way again. -- Korman's Law
Ever notice that the whisper of temtation can be heard farther than the loudest call to duty? -- Earl Wilson
Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you. -- Winston Churchill

And a note about how we rationalize our sins, turning vice into "virtue":
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I'm not committing adultery; I'm just finding the love I need.
I'm not living a greedy lifestyle of overconsumption; I'm just pursuing the American Dream.
I'm not acting unecthically when I cheat my customers; I'm just following the laws of the marketplace.
I'm not abusing my child' I'm just enforcing a little discipline.

Temptation we can resist. But if we mix it with rationalization, we're headed for trouble. That's a very dangerous combination, and NEVER leads to anything good.