He leaned over to me in Sunday School and said, “Sometimes I think we make it all too complicated.” I agreed. And since then, he’s made me wonder: if we do make the Gospel more complicated than Christ Jesus did,…

“You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.”  — Henry Ford. “”Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the ones who do the will of my Father who…

She was following the bumper sticker. Getting close enough to read it. The bumper sticker, in its entirety: “Are You Following Jesus This Closely?” My friend told me that last week at the end of a worship service last week I agree with…

How many ways are there to have a Holy Lent? For decades we’ve been told it takes 7 habits to be an effective person. Many of us know the value of 12 steps. I get daily updates online about 5…

Amen. We add this little word at the end of prayers. As if it’s a code word for “Okay, I’m done praying now.” But traditionally it’s been used to mean “May it be so.” A friend likes to say it…

I was waiting in a store while Patty was at what I think is called A Specialty Counter. It had a display with three colors of rubber bracelets availble.  Each color bracelet had a different message written on it. According to the sign…

“It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” Of all the paradoxical spins he’s already thrown at us in his prayer, our friend Frank outdoes himself with this last line. And it’s about stuff that’s a big…

“God’s love endures forever” — Psalm 136. Four powerful words: “God’ love endures forever.” They’re from Psalm 136. Which verse? Here’s the fun part. “God’s love endures forever” is in verses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,…

“What did you give up for Lent?” “I gave up chocolate, and I can’t believe how hard it’s been!” “I know.  Me, too.  But I’m really proud of myself.” “Same here. I even had three people tell me yesterday that…

Long after Anderson Cooper’s forgotten how to pronounce Harrisburg, the people of The United Methodist Church will still be making a difference there. Paul E. Black, our Conference Communication Director, wrote six quick points the day after the Harrisburg Tornado.…