From a Pastor's Point of View

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  • New Life Comes Where We Least Expect It

    “A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse; a branch will sprout from his roots” (Is. 11:1 CEB).      The prophet Jeremiah utters a strange proclamation to the people of Israel. He boldly tells them that “A shoot… Continue reading

  • Actions Speak Louder Than Words

         As I write each day during the Advent season, I realize something about myself. I often suffer from imposter syndrome. Yes, the words that I type possess truth, but putting them into action is another story. The truth is,… Continue reading

  • Cleaning the House for Our Guest

         During the Advent season, we take a fearless, moral inventory of ourselves and of how we relate to those around us. To truly prepare, consider specific practices like prayer, reflection, or confession that help us remove the lent of… Continue reading

  • Finding God in a Chaotic World

    “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10).      The season of Advent sounds excellent, but finding time to prepare and listen to God seems impossible. Through December, leading up to Christmas, we find ourselves bombarded by countless… Continue reading

  • A Light in the Middle of Our Darkness

    “We saw his star in the east[a] and have come to worship him” (Matt. 2:2b CEB).      Sometimes, I watch a New Mexico sundown and feel transfixed by the fantastic colors. One of my favorite moments is watching as the… Continue reading

  • Let Us Not Forget Joseph, the Father of Jesus, whose virtues of faithfulness and humility serve as a model for us all.

      “Joseph was a good man…” Matt. 1:19a).     The Bible highlights Joseph’s love for Mary and his choice to divorce her privately, emphasizing virtues that inspire us to embody kindness and obedience. This gentle act should motivate us to… Continue reading

  • Keep First Things First

    “But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the heavenly angels and not the Son. Only the Father knows” (Matt 24:36 CEB).      At first glance, the scripture for today seems to indicate a colossal mistake. Why… Continue reading

  • A Season of Thanks Living

    With Halloween behind us, the rush towards the new year has officially begun. The last two months of the year always seem to fly by, especially for those of us in the church. The Advent Season, Christmas pageants, extra worship… Continue reading

  • Our Calling to Great Journeys

         Recently, I embarked on a journey through the Bible with a Monday evening class at my church. As I revisited the familiar passages in Genesis, I found myself captivated by Abram’s transformative journey. He was in the land of… Continue reading

  • In a New Place, With New People, and New Ways of Doing Ministry

         As a pastor, one of the most challenging issues I face is relocating to a new worship space. My five years in Belen proved excellent, but now the possibilities seem endless in my new parish, St. Paul’s UMC in… Continue reading