Bascom Methodist Church

Wednesday Sunrise

When we start our day by observing all that God has provided for us, we should be grateful for the blessings that we have received.

I remember looking out across the hills on our farm and thinking first, “look what I have worked for.” Then I realized that I was given this…I didn’t achieve it, God provided the means by which I could obtain it for my family.

“What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?” 1 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT)

We’ve talked about how trusting in God’s goodness helps you face life’s struggles. But what happens when you start thinking you earned the good things in your life and forget they come from God?

In Luke 12, Jesus tells the story of a rich man who is very successful but doesn’t give God any credit for his prosperity. And so God tells the rich man, “You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?”(Luke 12:20 NLT). Jesus finishes the story by saying, “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God” (Luke 12:21 NLT).
That’s a sober warning!

Prideful ingratitude is the sin that got Satan kicked out of heaven, and it’s the source of all sins. When you stop being grateful to God, you get into trouble: “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused” (Romans 1:21 NLT).

The problem with some self-made people is that they end up worshipping themselves. They may think, “Wait a minute; I built this business with my bare hands.” But who gave you your hands? They say, “I thought up the business plan totally by myself.” But who gave you your mind? They claim, “I worked hard for where I am today by the sweat of my brow.” But who gave you the ability to work so hard?

The Bible asks it this way: “What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?” (1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT).

Everything you have in life—the ability to see, hear, and eat, even your freedom and thoughts—you owe to God. You would not take your next breath if it weren’t for the goodness of God.

Ingratitude is a root of atheism; when you’re ungrateful, you start dismissing or even denying what God has done. And that’s just a short step from denying that God even exists.

Yet the truth is, you can see the presence of God everywhere you look: “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God” (Romans 1:20 NLT).

If you start to doubt God’s goodness, just take a step outside your door and look around. You can see God’s goodness throughout his creation! As we see God’s creation, we achieve an attitude of thankfulness.

Have a blessed week and give God the glory for all aspects of your life.

Monday Morning Forecast

Good Monday morning Bascom followers and friends! I guess that you noticed that I failed to share my Wednesday Sunrise and Friday Fixin’s. It was great to take some time to recharge, to spend time in God’s creation, and to share that time with a good friend.

As we traveled across a good deal of Texas, I was amazed at the diversity of God’s creation. We left the piney woods of East Texas, the oak scrub of the Hill Country, the sage and mesquite flats of the Southern Plains, and arrived in the high desert of the Trans Pecos region.

In each of these diverse regions, the beauty of creation was subtle yet extreme. God has created environments for mankind and all his creatures. As we fill our place in the garden of life that we have been provided, how can we not profess that our relationship is in Christ.

As we enter this next week of daily life, be observant of all the wonderous provisions that you have been gifted. Seek your personal relationship with Christ. Pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide you in all that you endeavor.

“From now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.”
2 Corinthians 5: 16

When we first glimpse the apostle Paul in the Bible, he was called Saul—and his mission in life was to stamp out the Christian faith: “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” (Acts 9:1, NIV). But all that changed when he met the risen Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. From that moment on the persecutor became the proclaimer, fearlessly taking the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire.

What made him change? First, he became absolutely convinced that the Gospel was true. Jesus Christ was no imposter; He was the risen Son of God, sent from heaven to save us from our sins. How could Paul remain silent in the face of this profound truth?

But there was another reason for Paul’s change: he began to see people the way God sees them. He now saw them in their lostness and confusion—and also as those for whom Christ died. What difference does the truth of the Gospel make to you? And are you asking God to help you see others through His eyes?

Have a blessed week as you view your world through the eyes of God.

Bascom’s Girls of Grace got together for a hen party! Had a great turnout, great food, and great fun! Thank you to those who put it together!

Monday Morning Forecast

Good morning, Bascom family and friends! We enjoyed a great music Sunday with lots of visitors and guest. We hope that they will again join us in our celebration of faith each week.

This morning I am headed out on the road to spend another few days in God's creation. As I was anticipating the trip, and all the good times we will have, I thought of the disciples that dropped what they were doing and followed. Did they anticipate a good time?

In the New Testament, when Jesus invited His disciples to “follow” Him, the Greek word used is ἀκολουθέω (akoloutheó), pronounced ah-ko-loo-THEH-oh.

Literal meaning and origin:

The word comes from the Greek particle a- (as a copulative) and keleuthos (“a road” or “way”). It literally means “to follow” or “to accompany”, and can also imply “to be in the same way with” or “to join as a disciple”. In ancient usage, disciples often accompanied their teachers on journeys, so akoloutheó could mean both physical accompaniment and spiritual alignment.

Biblical context
In the Gospels, akoloutheó appears over 20 times when Jesus calls people to follow Him (e.g., Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17, Luke 5:27, John 1:43). These calls are not merely about physical movement but about full commitment — leaving old ways, joining His mission, and learning from Him. For example, in Matthew 4:20, Peter and Andrew “immediately left their nets and followed Him,” showing a decisive break with the past to enter His service.

Broader implications:
While often translated as “follow,” akoloutheó can also mean “accompany” or “assist”. This means Jesus was inviting His followers to be close to Him, share in His work, and help carry out His mission. Discipleship is active — it involves listening to His voice (John 10:27), imitating His example (1 Corinthians 11:1), and continuing His ministry after His ascension.

Key takeaway: Following Jesus is not passive; it is a transformative, engaged relationship where believers are shaped by His example and join Him in His work.

Regardless of what road we are on, and where we travel, remember that we are followers of Christ. To be close to Him, to share in His work, and to help carry out the ministry that He started when He called those first few.

Have a blessed week this week.

Friday Fixin's

Another week has almost passed by, and we will once again be together again as we worship and celebrate our faith. I wanted to share a devotional that I received this morning. I look forward to being with everyone Sunday as we anticipate and expect the presence of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into the next week.

Remember and keep in your prayers all those affected by the events 25 years ago as our nation was attacked. Remember in your prayers the lives touched by Charlie Kirk as he lived out God's will.

May all that we do bring glory to God.

Invisible But Not Insignificant
September 11
by Pastor Chuck Swindoll



On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (John 7:37–38)

Never think that because something is invisible it is therefore unimportant or weak. You may be surprised to know that the Bible talks a lot about air. The Old Testament calls it ruach. The New Testament calls it pneuma. We get the word pneumatic from the New Testament Greek word. The English Bible, however, doesn’t translate either one as air. Usually, it’s breath. “God breathed into man the breath of life.” Or it’s called wind. “Like a mighty wind.” Or it is translated spirit—as in the “spirit of man” or “the Holy Spirit.”

A number of synonyms are used for Spirit—words like helper, advocate, comforter, convicter, restrainer, exhorter, and reprover. He is portrayed by symbols, too, such as a dove, fire, wind, even water. In John 7 we read of this power being called “living water.”

Jesus is speaking:

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37–38 NASB 1995)

And in case you wonder what He made reference to, the next verse explains:

But this He spoke of in the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive. (7:39 NASB 1995)

He referred to the Spirit of God, the third member of the Trinity.

Let me paraphrase verse 38: “From the believer’s inner life there will be a reservoir of enormous, immeasurable power. It will gush forth. It will pour out like a torrential river that causes rapids, waterfalls, and endless movement to the ocean.” That’s the idea. It’s not a picture of some blasé, passive force. The Spirit of God is the dynamic of life. Like air, the Spirit may be invisible—but let us never be misled by equating invisible with impotent. This Spirit is vital to life.

We are so impressed with what we can touch and weigh and see that when it comes to something that is invisible, we pass it off. Christians all around the world need the reminder that the most powerful force in life is something we can’t even see . . . so powerful we are secured eternally until Christ comes, turning our destiny into reality, ushering us into eternity.

I call that powerful. And until that time, He is ready to work within us and move among us in revolutionary ways, transforming our lives. Don’t ever think that something is insignificant because it’s invisible.