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Recommitment
I wrote a short “From the Pastor” article for our digital and online newsletter over at UM4GI. It’s quoted below. Every year we get an amazing gift, and it’s not even for Christmas! As it turns out, the gift IS Christmas. Because every year we have the opportunity to remember that Jesus was sent to…
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More on the Bible & Homosexuality
I’ve been pretty clear previously on my stance around issues of homosexuality. See one of my earlier posts on the subject here. I continue to be outspoken. And I will not be silent. And I’m not alone. So why do I choose to continue to speak out? A 2009 book by Dr. Jack Rogers (Professor…
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Creating a Church Website
Interested in a method for an inexpensive church website? Read on…
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Bible-Based Sermons
There seem to be two basic ways that preachers organize their sermons. One group is “topical,” taking a topic and using several scripture texts to support it. The other is “textual,” taking one scripture text and exploring how it applies to the world today. Do you prefer one to the other? I do…
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On the “Guaranteed Appointment”
Many United Methodist clergy are feeling some wonder at how a recent decision by General Conference to end the tradition of “guaranteed appointments” for clergy might affect their futures. Some see hope and others don’t. And many see a broken promise.
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Being More Christian: Loving the LGBT Community
I’ve been a member of a church my whole life. My grandfather was a pastor, his brother was a pastor, and there were others before them. And now I’m a pastor. I serve a fairly large church in Grand Island, Nebraska. The good life. On a stick. I’m also a United Methodist. My grandfather &…
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Mainline Hope
In the midst of membership decline among many mainline denominations, there’s hope & possibility.
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The “E” Word
The perception of evangelism seems to me to be pretty bleak. Is it possible to think of evangelism as anything other than a four-letter-word?
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What Happened to Miracles?
All four of the Gospels tell a story of Jesus feeding thousands of people with an incredibly small about of food. How did he do it, and where are his miracles today?
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Elevator Talk
In a class this semester, we were asked to write a short blurb about our theological convictions. The catch was that it had to be an “Elevator Talk.” Think of it this way. Imagine you get into an elevator and punch the button for your floor. It’s a pretty big building and it’ll take a…