heavenly presence
-
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
-
Refilling the Soul: Lessons from a Restful Vacation
Today is the last day of my vacation. I will return to my pastoral duties tomorrow, grateful for a wonderful and restful retreat. As I processed the week I spent in Texas, I feel overwhelmed with love and appreciation… Continue reading
-
Navigating Trauma and Gratitude: Insights from a Winter Retreat
This weekend, I visited with a good friend on Saturday morning and then traveled to Austin. A cold front blew through on Saturday evening, and when I woke up, the seminary grounds were covered in snow and ice. The… Continue reading
-
The Road to Rest: Insights from Audiobooks and Faith
Today marks the start of a week spent visiting family, celebrating my birthday, joining a retreat in Austin, and taking time to sit quietly and connect with God. Since I spent much of the day traveling by car, I started… 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
From a Pastor's Point of View 