Follow Jesus. Lead the church. Change the world.
As I mentioned in my recent post, 30 Days Till Ordination, we had two final requirements for ordination to complete: 1) a retreat with the Bishop for those being commissioned or ordained, and 2) one last session with our regional Learning Covenant Group. We completed both of these requirements within the past week! Last week, … Read more
Judging Amy was a TV show that ran from 1999 to 2005. It was one of two TV shows we watched at the time (the other was JAG). Recently, I was reminded of an episode we recorded on January 6, 2004. In this episode, called Christenings, The Gray family is preparing for baptism with a … Read more
We have been thinking about ordination for a long time, of course, but recently, I’ve been pondering what happens at ordination, spiritually (see Theology of Ordination for more reflection on the meaning of ordination). Practically speaking, ordination will take place at the Service of Commissioning and Ordination, the final service of annual conference, which meets … Read more
Recently, I wrote Developing the Preaching Gift where I listed five steps I am taking to grow as a communicator. One of the steps is to (periodically) review Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanley and Lane Jones (for more on this book, see my post, One-Point Preaching). I am in the process of reviewing … Read more
I can describe the couple of months since we were approved for ordination with a few terms: relief, adrenaline crash, and limbo. Of course, reaching the end of this journey has been a huge relief, but after working toward ordination for so long (including D.Min. programs)—many times we were driven by adrenaline—we simply feel depleted … Read more
No matter what our gifts are, we should constantly work on developing them. That certainly includes those of us called to the work forming and equipping followers of Jesus Christ through the proclamation of God’s Word. Unfortunately, too many people believe the old adage, “practice makes perfect.” I once heard John Maxwell say, “Practice doesn’t … Read more
This morning, I was reading in Luke 4. As I read the account of Jesus’ first recorded sermon, I thought about how “successful” it was in light according to the way we often think of success (i.e., whether or not it produces some positive response). In a Nazareth synagogue, located in the community where Jesus … Read more
The last several-month leg of our journey has been a very busy and stressful time in our lives while completing work for ordination. So after Easter Sunday, we finally carved out some time away. We stayed fairly close to home, renting a cabin for two nights in neighboring Elk County. The rainy/stormy season continued during … Read more
Today is Easter. This season, and especially this past week, has been a busy time for us as pastors, but it’s been a fun time with the kids. Here are some photos, mostly from today. Now, it’s time to rest!
Last night, at the combined Holy Thursday service of the Centre Grove and Curwensville UMCs, my sermon was on the example of Jesus in washing the feet of his disciples, hours before his betrayal. The story in John 13 is loaded with topics and lessons but I chose to focus on Jesus’ example. Jesus’ example … Read more