I really enjoyed preparing a message for Pentecost Sunday this past week. In fact, it struck me that without Christmas and Easter, there would be no Christianity, but without Pentecost, Christianity would have no power or ability to last! Pentecost was so important that Jesus’ final instructions to his followers were to wait in Jerusalem… Continue Reading »
Both of the churches we serve participate in the Sierra Leone Initiative, which allows us to partner with United Methodist churches in Sierra Leone. Two guests from Sierra Leone are currently touring churches in our conference, reporting on the work in their country. We met both of them this past weekend, and one of them,… Continue Reading »
The Church needs endurance! I’m writing a series of prayers for the Church, offering a prayer on a different topic each week. So far, I’ve prayed for awakening, transformational leaders, urgency, hope, health, compassion, action, unity, power, and favor. Endurance is an essential quality for followers of Jesus. And, it’s been on my mind a… Continue Reading »
The Church needs favor! I’m writing a series of prayers for the Church, offering a prayer on a different topic each week. So far, I’ve prayed for awakening, transformational leaders, urgency, hope, health, compassion, action, unity, and power. With God’s favor, anything is possible! O God, we belong to you. You have called us and… Continue Reading »
The Church needs power! I’m writing a series of prayers for the Church, offering a prayer on a different topic each week. So far, I’ve prayed for awakening, transformational leaders, urgency, hope, health, compassion, action, and unity. Jesus said … you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will… Continue Reading »
The Church needs unity! I’m writing a series of prayers for the Church, offering a prayer on a different topic each week. So far, I’ve prayed for awakening, transformational leaders, urgency, hope, health, compassion, and action. In John 17, Jesus prayed for all who would ever follow him … I pray they will be one,… Continue Reading »
Leading transformation is hard work. And, according to James Harnish, the cost is great! Several years ago, we read You Only Have to Die in a Doctor of Ministry class at Asbury Theological Seminary. Harnish is pastor of Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, Florida. The book is written on the premise, “Hope is… Continue Reading »
The Church needs to be a people of action! I’m writing a series of prayers for the Church, offering a prayer on a different topic each week. So far, I’ve prayed for awakening, transformational leaders, urgency, hope, health, and compassion. Scripture makes clear that faith and action go hand in hand. One example is James… Continue Reading »
The church needs compassion! I’m writing a series of prayers for the Church, offering a prayer on a different topic each week. So far, I’ve prayed for awakening, transformational leaders, urgency, hope, and health. Yesterday, I wrote, God, Break Our Hearts! Asking God to break our hearts for what breaks God’s heart is a prayer… Continue Reading »
I’ve always loved the description of Jesus’ ministry in Matthew 9.35-38 … 35 Jesus traveled among all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, announcing the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. 36 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were troubled… Continue Reading »