“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.…

How’s your season of the Gospel called Lent coming along so far? One week after accepting The Sign of The Cross, what difference did it make? Are you giving something up for Lent? That last question…wow…Richard Rohr writes in his…

“It is in pardoning that we are pardoned” Not a lot of wiggle room here. Not much room for negotiation in this line from another prayer: “Forgive us, as we forgive others.” Time to stall, raise your hand, ask a question.  “How many…

At my mother’s nursing home today, we opened the last box of her Christmas Gift Chocolates. Inside, on top of the  liner paper was a note from the candymaker entitled “100% Real Chocolate.”  It read, “We use only 100% real…

“It is in giving that we receive” Last time we were together here, I mentioned a song.  Its second verse: “Through all our living, we our fruits must give. Good works of service are for offering. When we are giving,…

Best sight of the day: seeing so many people with the Cross on their foreheads, singing together. Good reminder that as the song said, “We belong to God.” Even children who can’t yet read were singing those easy, recurrent words.…

“Wipe the mud off!  You’ll see the mark!” They wiped.  They saw.  And they knew the true identity of the animal. That scene from one of this year’s Oscar-nominated films is about as timely as possible today. On this Ash…

Our son Joseph picked the film, took me to his favorite theater and paid for our tickets. We  elbowed each other at key scenes and lines. We  laughed and wanted to cheer. Two sermon illustrations presented themselves onscreen; maybe four.…