As we begin our worship tonight @ Out of the Box I am going to invite people to come to the altar area and leave their shoes around the altar and we are going to pray that God will put shoes on our faith!

Acts 3: 1-10

¹One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. ²Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ³When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

⁶Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Points in tonight’s message

The man in this story was unable to physically walk, but we can also find ourselves lame in our faith.

Our faith will become stale when we try to function on our own. Jesus has called us to grow in our faith and not get stuck.

Sometimes our faith is lame because we sponge off our parents, church, or others to feel like we have a strong faith. However, our faith comes from God.

Many times rather than seeking deeper faith we waste time seeking things.

The lame man in the story wanted money and was offered Christ. Which do you choose?

Ronnie

Worship Songs for Tonight

I just found this information on Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Charlotte NC. Look what they are doing for the youth of their area. It looks somewhat like Out Of The Box. You can also see the Out Of The Box Story Below.

Ronnie

Three years ago today, November 11th, 2006 Misty and I were married!

Some have heard the story but some have not. Misty and I talked a lot about what we wanted our marriage to be like and number one was that we wanted our relationship, our marriage to be honoring to God. Let me be the first to say that we don’t always agree on everything and sometimes we can’t seem to agree on anything, but we always work together to come to a God honoring conclusion. Our prayer still is that we will be an example to others in the way that we have chosen to live our lives. As for Misty and I and our household, we will serve the Lord!

Joshua 24:15

¹⁵ But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (NIV)

We prayed also that we would be able to have a house full of children. It has been my dream for many years to have 10 of them. We actually prayed that we would conceive on our wedding day and we picked out a name for a boy, Samuel Gray Collins. Gray is after my dad and myself and our second birth child would be named after Misty’s dad, Wayne. (Judah Wayne Collins)

We were married on Saturday November 11th and on Sunday November 12th we went to church at The Church of The Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Charlotte North Carolina. That morning as we entered the sanctuary the worship was moving and the people were very welcoming. As the pastor came to the front that morning, Talbot Davis (pastor) announced that he was going to observe the sacrament of baptism and as he started to explain what was taking place, here is what he said. “As Hannah brought her son Samuel to the temple of the Lord to be dedicated to Him, this couple brings their child to be baptized.”

I looked at Misty and said, “It’s prophetic, you are pregnant, he is a little boy and his name will be Samuel Gray Collins. After a few weeks pregnancy tests showed that we were indeed pregnant. When Misty went to the first doctors appointment, we came away with a due date exactly 9 months from the date of our wedding. Some say its coincidence but we say it is God.

Samuel was born actually on August 5th a few days early. He is healthy and today he is 2 years and 3 months old. We now have 4 children. Michael who is 24 and has 2 children of his own, Christopher and Victoria, so we are grandparents. Kyle who is 11 years old, Samuel who is 2, and Judah who is 6 months old.

We are blessed beyond measure. We have received what we have asked form the Lord and we are grateful.

Misty, I love you with all of my heart. I love the way that you work with all of our children and the fact that none is more special than the other. Each is different but all are loved the same. I love who you are in Christ and the fact that God comes before even I do. I wouldn’t be married to anyone else and no one could compare to the woman of God that you are.

I look forward to the many more years that we pray to have together and the family that we have is so awesome. I am a blessed man to have the family that I have been blessed with.

I love you!

Ronnie

It is official. Mike has completed the Academy and he is now an Officer!

Officer Michael Christopher Collins, my son!

I love you Mike

Pupa

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Source

By Bishop James Swanson

Bishop Swanson: If your church closed
tomorrow, would your community miss it?

History tells us about the people whose actions either improved life for humanity or caused more misery. In hindsight, it’s amazing to see the difference that one person can make.

Contrast the shadows of Cain or Abel, Saul or David, Rahab or Delilah, Timothy or Demas, Peter or Nero, King George or John Wesley, Hitler or Victor Frankl, Idi Amin or Nelson Mandela, Son of Sam or Ben Carson. My friends, make no mistake about it! The way we live our lives – individually and corporately – can and does make a difference in the course of human history. So let us turn our attention to the text for today:

And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women; insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. (Acts 5:14-15)

The writer does not tell whether anyone was healed as a direct result of this, but Luke does indicate that people in Jerusalem had deep respect and trust for Peter. There was no evidence that Peter’s shadow could heal — not at all. The healing was not in Peter’s shadow but in the Lord he represented and the faith he engendered. Apparently, many people believed that just by showing up, Peter could make a significant difference in the lives of the suffering.

Our world is filled with suffering people, people in desperate need of healing from despair, rejection, poverty, hate, and fear. They need healing from the need to be in control and from a world view identifying everyone as enemies rather than potential friends. Some people wake up hungry, go to sleep hungry, and then wake up hungry again. These suffering people need shadows that will bring food to their starving lands. Some people live in lands that have not had rest from war. They need the shadow of peace, flavored with justice.

The list is long of people needing shadows that bring deliverance, relief, healing, forgiveness, reconciliation, and wholeness. What kind of shadow does your church cast in your own community? If your church closed tomorrow, would the community miss your church? I’m not asking if you and your fellow members would miss your church. I’m asking if people outside the doors would miss your congregation’s influence.

If I asked people living within five miles of your church to point out its location, could they? If I asked people what they know about your church, how would they describe your shadow?

Will the world – your community – be a better place because your church exists? What if we, as church people, started living out our calling to be the salt of the earth? What if you decided this day that rather than arguing about who is right, you would join your enemies to discover God’s promises?

I encourage you to ask these questions at your board meetings, Sunday school classes, choir rehearsals, United Methodist Women and Men meetings, and youth events. Most of all, I want you to find out what the people outside your churches think about the shadows you cast.

James Edward Swanson Sr. is resident bishop of the Holston Annual Conference.

Festival of Gifts and Talents

AND

District Youth Rally

When:  Sunday November 15

Festival of Gifts and Talents – 5 to 6:30 pm

District Youth Rally – 6:30 to 7:30 pm

Where:  Out of the Box (Main Street in Hillsville, VA) and 1^st UMC Hillsville

The Festival of Gifts and Talents will be held at Out of the Box and the District Youth Rally has been moved to 1^st Hillsville UMC.

Pizza will be served around 6 pm between the two events.

Rev. Josh Kilbourne will be speaking at the rally and Souled Out will be providing worship music.

Please bring a donation for the Youth Service Fund (YSF) offering.

Remember that talent acts are limited to 5 minutes.  If you plan to perform please email Chris Luper a brief description of your act and any special accommodations you might need.

If you plan to attend either event please contact Chris Luper as soon as possible:

chris_umcyouth@yahoo.com

(276) 236-9937

1. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. http://read.ly/John16.22.NLTabout 11 hours ago from API

2. Christmas is the promise that the God who came in history and comes daily in mystery will one day come in glory. Brennan Manningabout 11 hours ago from TwitterBerry

3. Praying 4 a very special young lady who loves God. May tonight be your breakthrough. God wants to impact the world through you!about 11 hours ago from TwitterBerry

4. The mightiest act of love ever to rise from a human soul is Jesus death by crucifixionabout 12 hours ago from TwitterBerry

5. Samuel just pointed a water gun at me and screamed “peace out yall”about 12 hours ago from TwitterBerry

6. The New York City Marathon, 40,000 runners each year, 2 million spectators, 26.2 miles. Pray that I get in!about 13 hours ago from TwitterBerry

7. Praying & Fasting for Kim Farmer. Asking God 4 a miracleabout 13 hours ago from TwitterBerry

8. Oops Wing Night is Wednesday Night. I have put in too many hours already this week. Wing Night is Wednesday Nightabout 13 hours ago from TwitterBerry

9. Out of the Box: Rocks with Wing Night Tomorrow night. Be there!about 13 hours ago from TwitterBerry

10. Headed to Mt Airy to pick up meds for Samuel’s ear infectionabout 14 hours ago from TwitterBerry

11. Council meeting was great, lots of ministry going onabout 14 hours ago from web

12. praying for Maddie Woodyard, God give her peace in this health crisis and your ultimate healingabout 15 hours ago from web

13. praying for Carrie. Praying for a safe and great pregnancy. God protect this little one that you have created.about 15 hours ago from web

14. headed to Church Council Meetingabout 15 hours ago from web

15. the preachers kids http://bit.ly/3CP8wjabout 16 hours ago from web

16. praying for all our CCHS students right now. Lots of decisions to make, some will determine the course of life for themabout 16 hours ago from web

17. in the news today http://bit.ly/44IA0Eabout 16 hours ago from web

18. Fast started @ 5:45 & will last til 5:45 Tue eve. txt your prayer request. Nearly 200 people are Fasting & praying 4 Revival N Carroll Coabout 16 hours ago from web

19. Just had dinner with. Paul Jones. It was an honorabout 16 hours ago from TwitterBerry

20. I meet with my Mentor and group for Provisional Elder on Thursday. We are studying “A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion”about 17 hours ago from TwitterBerry

21. All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (inc… http://read.ly/Acts2.42.NLTabout 17 hours ago from API

22. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his… http://read.ly/Eph4.15.NLTabout 17 hours ago from API

23. post office run and a quick dinnerabout 18 hours ago from web

24. Man, what a slam packed week! Energy is abundant in Christ!about 19 hours ago from TwitterBerry

25. headed into staff meeting to work on the busy work scheduleabout 19 hours ago from web

26. I absolutely love Mondays. Monday is 1 of my favorite days of the week. My other favorites are Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat, and Sundayabout 19 hours ago from web

27. Visiting with Paul Jones, remember the family in your prayers. Oleta passed away this morningabout 20 hours ago from TwitterBerry

28. If you are a member of Council 1st Hillsville then you have been chosen to help lead the church. Your meeting is @ 7pm tonight.about 21 hours ago from TwitterBerry

29. my morning off has turned into a very busy work day, no rest for the weary but it is what I am called to and love to do!about 21 hours ago from web

30. Walked 2 miles with mom, dad, Misty, Dustin, & the kidsabout 23 hours ago from TwitterBerry

31. working from home, phone ringing off the hook or out of my pocketabout 21 hours ago from web

32. What would a church for youth, by youth look like?about 22 hours ago from web

33. reading “Souvenirs of Solitude” by Brennan Manning – great book so far – deep thinking – challenging – convicting – convincingabout 22 hours ago from web

34. Lord you’re the most unpredictable person I kno http://bit.ly/2rtUqVabout 23 hours ago from web

35. The Christian with depth is the one who has failed and learned to live with and minister with that failure.about 23 hours ago from web

36. Each of us pays a high price for our fear of falling flat on our faces.about 23 hours ago from web

37. spending the morning @ home, then work N the office. Church council meeting @ 7pm. If you R a Ministry Area Leader it is important U B thereabout 23 hours ago from web

38. do you ever feel like you get shot down, even when you do your best? Be encouraged, that means you are probably doing something BIG for Godabout 23 hours ago from web

39. a day with Sharon Bowers http://bit.ly/DlQvqabout 24 hours ago from web

40. really wanted to sleep longer this morning but duty calls. It is going to an awesome week and a busy one as well. Appreciate your prayers5:05 AM Nov 9th from web

41. If we are going to keep growing then we must continue to risk failure in our lives.9:40 PM Nov 8th from TwitterBerry

42. Let the one without sin cast the 1st stone. You are free but don’t commit the sin anymore. John 89:35 PM Nov 8th from TwitterBerry

43. The story of the prodigal teaches us that God wants us back more than we even want Him!

The preachers kids and grandkids.You can always count on one of the kids running through the church or making some loud noise.

A couple of weeks ago I was preaching and my granddaughter came running to the front of the auditorium and I just stopped and introduced her. Last night Kyle helped with the offering and on his way back he skipped very fast and I just told Misty, “I wish more people would get excited”.

It really doesn’t bother me when kids behave like kids. I wish we all had more fun like they do and took things more in stride.

Ronnie

What is wrong when we have stuff like this happening in the sports world? This should never be tolerated and I believe it is a reflection of how our world is stressed out and the rules mean nothing.

Ronnie

Lord, you’re the most unpredictable person I know.

Just when I think I’ve finally begun to figure you out,

you do something so fantastic, so completely,

wildly unexpected that im knocked for a loop.

I think I know where to find you and then suddenly

I find you in the most unlikely places;

at the oddest moments; in the strangest people.

I think I know your voice;

and then I hear you in a childs crooning lullaby;

in an old man’s chuckle;

in a lovers sigh.

I think I know your face

and then I see you in a psychiatric ward;

in a jam-packed tenement;

in the streets,

wandering aimlessly.

I think I know you well;

and then I discover

I know you not at all.

I think I know your love;

and then I discover

I haven’t begun to know it.

Thank you, Lord,

for being unpredictable.

Thank you for startling me

out of my comfort rut.

Continue teaching me

that you’re a God

of infinite surprises.

Brennan Manning in “Souvenirs of Solitude”

Sunday November 8th is one that many of us will not soon forget. Reverend Sharon Bowers came and preached for our 8:30, 11am, and 6:30pm services. The title of the am sermon was “The Ultimate Connection”. The message was so on target. So many people have been in church all their lives and still have not made that ultimate connection. So well delivered and so well received. I will listen to this sermon over and over and I know that others will as well. We have CD copies of all of the services and will be glad to share them, just ask.

We had a great time in the Lord, dined at His table on Spiritual food, we worshiped, we sang and we are better for having Sharon with us for the day.

Ronnie

Stormie sang an awesome song for Sharon that she had been working on just a short time. Great job!

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous?

You will have to listen to the sermon to understand this one.

1. Samuel and I are the only ones up, even the dog is asleepabout 3 hours ago from web

2. My 24 hour Fast starts at Sundown Monday night and I am excited to sit at our Lords Table once again.about 4 hours ago from TwitterBerry

3. It has been a 14 hour work day for me and it has been goodabout 4 hours ago from TwitterBerry

4. Praying for the Coomes Familyabout 4 hours ago from TwitterBerry

5. Dinner @ Rio with Rev Sharon Bowersabout 5 hours ago from TwitterBerry

6. The world wants to take each one of us and make us into something that God can’t use. Don’t let the world win.about 7 hours ago from TwitterBerry

7. We are being fed spiritual meat, where are all my peeps? My heart breaks for those who are missing out.about 7 hours ago from TwitterBerry

8. When is the last time we got excited about Jesus? Jumped and shouted? If we were blind and were healed we would have a Fit!about 7 hours ago from TwitterBerry

9. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy o… http://read.ly/Mark10.47.NLTabout 7 hours ago from API

10. Imagine being blind. In sharing your story those spiritually blind will be made to see! Can you imagine that? You have the power to heal.about 7 hours ago from TwitterBerry

11. Every Christian is called to tell your story! Others should want to be a Christian because of your life.about 7 hours ago from TwitterBerry

12. Christianity is so serious it is serious from here to eternityabout 7 hours ago from TwitterBerry

13. Emergency 911 is the sermon title tonight, the Rev Sharon Bowers. There is electricty in the air, its the Holy Spiritabout 7 hours ago from TwitterBerry

14. Had great visits with Betty, Pete & John. It has been a full dayabout 9 hours ago from TwitterBerry

15. Had great visits with Virginia P. Lucille B, & Elizabeth Sabout 10 hours ago from TwitterBerry

16. Making a visit @ Wheatlandabout 11 hours ago from TwitterBerry

17. Praying for Paul & Oleta Jones, desire your prayers for the familyabout 12 hours ago from TwitterBerry

18. Hospital visit w Pearl Smithabout 12 hours ago from TwitterBerry

19. I dare you to come and hear Sharon Bowers preach a message tonight entitled ” emergency 911″ 630pm with Souledout @ 1st Hillsville UMCabout 13 hours ago from TwitterBerry

20. Folks Sharon Bowers will B speaking once more N Hilsville @ 630 this eve. You need 2 B a part of what God is doing. don’t miss this eveningabout 14 hours ago from TwitterBerry

21. “We really haven’t come to the point that we know that the earth is the Lords. We still think it is ours.” Rev Sharon Bowersabout 11 hours ago from TwitterBerry

22. You still have time to hear the sermon this morning. If you are missing from church today, come on!about 12 hours ago from TwitterBerry

23. I have dined @ the Lords Table already & I am back 4 a second helping. God is blessing @ 1st Hillsville today w His Servant, Sharon Bowersabout 12 hours ago from TwitterBerry

24. There should be a generation that seeks after the face of the Lord! I believe that generation is now!about 14 hours ago from TwitterBerry

25. “If U don’t have a story then U haven’t experienced the Glory” There R a lot of use 2 be’s here! We all came f somewhere. What’s your story?about 14 hours ago from TwitterBerry

26. “Most of us have a hard time worshiping God because there are other things in life we have set up as Gods” Rev Sharon Bowersabout 14 hours ago from TwitterBerry

27. Our physical needs, health needs, social needs, self esteem needs, are not our greatest needs. Our greatest need is God, to know Himabout 14 hours ago from TwitterBerry

28. So often we forget from where we came and whose we are. We belong to God!about 14 hours ago from TwitterBerry

29. Lord I just want to thank you, you gave me breath this morning. You gave me every blessing this day!about 14 hours ago from TwitterBerry

30. If indeed the earth is the Lords then everything belongs to Godabout 14 hours ago from TwitterBerry

31. It is time for us to bring back the Glory of the Lord to the earth! Amen and Amenabout 14 hours ago from TwitterBerry

32. Sharon Bowers message this morning, “The Ultimate Connection” Psalm 24about 14 hours ago from TwitterBerry

33. Need a place to worship this morning? Rev Sharon Bowers is preaching @ 1st Hillsville this morning. Join us, you’ll be glad you did. 11amabout 15 hours ago from TwitterBerry

34. Headed to 830 worship, going to put my feet under the Lords table & receive spiritual food this morning.about 15 hours ago from TwitterBerry

35. Having a million things to do is an excuse for running, Not an argument against it. Taking even a 20 minute run will help with stress!about 16 hours ago from TwitterBerry

36. “Rest is training too” it may not feel like it but kicking back relaxing is part of training.about 16 hours ago from TwitterBerry

37. If you truly believe that you have an eternal home in heaven, “Please notify your face”about 16 hours ago from TwitterBerry

38. “I could more easily contain the Gulf of Mexico in a shot glass than I can comprehend the wild uncontainable love of God” Brennan Manning’about 16 hours ago from TwitterBerry

39. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. — Romans 14:8about 17 hours ago from TwitterBerry

1. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. http://read.ly/1Cor12.7.NLTabout 7 hours ago from API

2. Just ordered a sleep time brace to take care of my plantar faciitis, gonna get rid of it.about 7 hours ago from TwitterBerry

3. just received $70 gift for the children of Sudan. God is so good!about 8 hours ago from web

4. 22 Mile Training run today http://bit.ly/2eqdrSabout 8 hours ago from web

5. I am feeling great after my 22 mile run, still have the flare up of Plantar Faciistis, but it only hurts when I walk on it. lolabout 8 hours ago from web

6. The kings are @ Liberty watching the Flames play. I am jealous!about 10 hours ago from TwitterBerry

7. Just received a huge blessing. Someone who hasn’t spoken to me in years just did and it was genuine. God is at work!about 12 hours ago from TwitterBerry

8. Waiting on Misty, she saw a Huge Sale sign at Pennysabout 12 hours ago from TwitterBerry

9. @ McDonald’s play place with the kidsabout 13 hours ago from TwitterBerry

10. 22 mile training run, finished and I gotta say it hurtsabout 14 hours ago from TwitterBerry

11. Watching Ratatoulie with the boys & studying for Sunday Schoolabout 20 hours ago from TwitterBerry

12. Sharon Bowers will be preaching @ 1st Hillsville tomorrow, join us. 830, 11am & 630pmabout 22 hours ago from TwitterBerry

13. Judah is an early riser like his daddy this morning. Having coffee, playing with Judah & watching the news