Because several of you asked: Made it through my very first worship service as a pastor actually appointed to an actual congregation. Had forgotten that the service concluded with a Benediction until the last hymn. Last verse. In fact, third line of the fourth verse. Which was suddenly over. Cleared my throat. Stretched out both…

Illumine the homes of this earth with the light of your love, granting courage to those who are hurt or lonely, endurance to those who care for sick family members, and wisdom to those in fearful times of change. —  Festival of the Christian Home, p. 437, United Methodist Book of Worship, current edition  …

Here’s where we began this work week back on Monday — “It’s hard to be hateful when you’re grateful,” said Chris Hogan. Today, try this with the rest of us: 1st, go back to yesterday’s one item list in your phone, or turn to the page in that notebook. For real.  Physically do this. And…

Too old. Not enough money. Wrong friends. Too young. Not the right certification. Or degree. Or background. If you knew my family…. The crazy unfair system strikes again. I have my favorite one. Okay, I have several favorites. Be honest: so do you. We have our favorite excuses that we drag out and polish. So…

“Get up,” he said, “take up your bed, and walk.” He wasn’t talking to someone hitting the snooze button on a chilly morning. He said that to someone paralyzed. Jesus said that in John 5:8. The very next verse reads, At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. I’m glad he…

EXCERPT: “The bifurcation of contemporary Christianity into two distinct branches is leaving the church all the poorer, with each side needing to be enriched by the biblical vision of the other.” SOURCE: Washington Post, Sunday, 9.24.17, Michael Frost wrote — They’re both Christian football players, and they’re both known for kneeling on the field, although for…

Here’s where we were yesterday — Pull out your phone and open the Notes and key in that blessing. Or grab a notebook and write down that blessing. Either way, don’t just think about it. Start a list with that one blessing. Just one. — How’d you do? Did you say that you can read…

“It’s hard to be hateful when you’re grateful,” Chris Hogan said. He was a teacher at a financial coach training event I had the opportunity to attend at Dave Ramsey’s office in Nashville. “It’s hard to be hateful when you’re grateful.” We’re a couple of months away from Thanksgiving. We’re in the midst of an…

The Bible literally ends this way: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the holy ones. Amen. —Revelation 22:21 I’ve had an earworm of a song running through my head, my heart, and my life yesterday and today. It’s one of the many good pieces of the legacy of my time in…

The Bible literally ends this way: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the holy ones. Amen. —Revelation 22:21 Yesterday we glanced at the connection between God’s love and God’s grace. We saw that the former was the basis for the latter, and that both are fully expressed in Christ Jesus. So…