United Methodist News has reported that 600 clergy and laity have filed a complaint against Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a United Methodist. Sessions belongs to a Mobile, Alabama UMC church and regularly attends a UMC church in Northern Virginia. Specifically, the charges accuse him of child abuse; immorality; racial discrimination and “dissemination of doctrines contrary to the established standard of doctrines” …
My Prayer for Lent
Another school shooting. Do I need to repeat the details? Parkland Florida and 17 students killed. I was attending a weekend retreat with our 8th graders that weekend. When I asked our sons and daughters about school safety they said they are conflicted. Some days they are afraid to go to school but most of the time they feel safe …
Leading Generously
What is a “servant leader”? Often our idea of leadership is very different from the leadership Christ modeled. He stooped to wash His students’ feet! He feed the crowds. And he chased the moneychangers away from the temple. How can we show that kind of humility and boldness while having the discernment to know when to “step up” and when …
The Censured Pastor
Okay, I confess, Im not good at posting a blog. I placed this in our church newsletter last time and some have suggested I put in here too…. so here goes: Never in my lifetime have I felt the Gospel more ignored by Christians then today. We, people who claim to follow Jesus Christ, cut people down without any effort …
Its time for American Christians to vote
IN a few days we will cast our votes for the candidates running for state and national office. Americans across our great nation will choose who they believe can best lead us into a future that represents their personal values and interests. I will vote for those I believe best represents my beliefs in God, the United States and our …
Terrorism, shootings, demonstrations, racial unrest, fear. What is happening to our world?
This summer has certainly been eventful. The massacre in Orlando, Florida, the Black Lives Matter movement and the shootings of Police Officers in Dallas, Baton Rouge and Ballwin, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas worry all of us. Terrorist attacks in France, Libya, Iraq and India and others have become commonplace on the nightly news. Changes in the United Methodist Church …
OK, after a long break, Im Back!
Each month we publish a newsletter and mail it to those who attend our church. Recently I had an epiphany, why not publish my monthly letters in the blog that I never find time to write? So here goes. Terrorism, shootings, demonstrations, racial unrest, fear. What is happening to our world? This summer has certainly been eventful. The massacre in …
Help I’m New Here
This is not intended to be a complaint but a learning opportunity for members of our church (and maybe other churches). I appreciate the work of the organization that invited us to a Pastor’s Appreciation Banquet and wish the very best for them. I have many friends who are a part of this particular organization and I don’t mean to offend …
Packing for Annual Conference.
A year ago I was introduced as the new incoming pastor. It’s almost been a year ago that we first met. It came as a surprise to me and to many of you. It’s hard for me to believe how quickly time has passed. We have done many things together. We paid tuition for 1+½ students to attend nursing school …
I refuse to chase an unattainable goal.
The mission of the United Methodist Church is to “Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.” I completely understand and agree the church must be making disciples and our world needs to be changed, transformed. Our society is far from perfect. Because the mission of the church is to make disciples the mission of every church …
