Christian
-
All In: Staying Connected to the Source
“So, brothers and sisters, because of God’s mercies, I encourage you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God” (Rom. 12:1 CEB). My confidence in my faith never wavers when things are… Continue reading
-
From Honeymoon to Growth: Navigating Ministry Relationships
In our society, when someone hears the phrase “The honeymoon is over,” we automatically think something bad happened, and what was once a pleasant environment becomes hostile and uninviting. To help pastors and leaders see this transition positively, it’s… Continue reading
-
Navigating Ministry: Humor and Humility in Church Leadership
Not counting the many years that I served churches as a music director, I started my 18th year as a pastor in the United Methodist Church. One of the joys of ministry outside of the local church is to… Continue reading
-
The Hidden Rhythm of Faithfulness
LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. (Isaiah 25:1 NIV) At first glance, I asked myself, “What does this… Continue reading
-
The Grace to Listen
My son called me on Father’s Day just to say hello. Julian, my oldest son, is traveling on a national tour of Saw, a musical parody of the slasher film by the same name. He had already forbidden his… Continue reading
-
Building God’s Kingdom: The Importance of Community
“You yourselves are being built like living stones into a spiritual temple. You are being made into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5 CEB). This morning,… Continue reading
-
Preparing for the Christ Child: A Night of Celebration
Today is our final day of preparation. We know that Jesus comes in the night, a time symbolizing anticipation and divine mystery, and we sing and celebrate the One for whom we took our time to prepare. We… Continue reading
-
I Will Keep My Eyes on You, My God
It is extremely easy to worry about outcomes. We panic about illness, money, relationships, and everything else that seeks to take hold of our time. As a matter of fact, my anxiety about different situations can become so large that… Continue reading
-
The Things Our Children Teach Us!
As I reflect on my stinky boy’s journey through the extended hospital stays and the enormous amounts of time traveling back and forth to and from our home, I remember the one thing that seemed to be missing. It was… Continue reading
-
God Can Handle Our Complaints
One thing that I respect about the ancient Hebrew prophets is their unwavering honesty. Many times, God addressed the people about their sin, but sometimes God heard the people’s cries and needs. At first, one might think that this… Continue reading
From a Pastor's Point of View 