Category: Life
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Connecting through Courage: a sermon preached at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando on July 26, 2020.
Fear dehumanizes people. It turns people into monsters to be avoided, instead of people with whom meaningful connections can be made.
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It is what it is: complaining, coping, or becoming through hardship
I don’t believe God caused Covid-19, so I also can’t say “God has a purpose for Covid-19.” But, I DO believe God will uniquely work in EVERY situation if God finds willing and able partners in us. If we’re willing to patiently endure this difficult season, submitting it to God,…
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“Connecting with the Mind” (A sermon preached on June 28, 2020 for the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, Part II of a series called, “ConnectAbility”)
Loving God with our minds is actively seeking the mind of Christ. Loving God with our minds is actively, purposefully seeking God’s wisdom and knowledge. Loving God with our minds is submitting our thoughts and ideas to God, and asking God to reveal God’s thoughts and ideas.
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A Prayer for Pentecost 2020
On this day, we celebrate your Holy Spirit, poured out upon all flesh: reminding us of your individual love and care for every single person; each made, uniquely, in your own image and likeness.
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“Ascension”: A sermon preached on May 24, 2020, Ascension Sunday, for the First United Methodist Church of Orlando
If like the Celtic Christians believe, heaven is close; and, if Jesus is God in human flesh; and, if the incarnate Jesus was raised from the dead, lives, and ascended to God’s right hand; then the ascended Christ is potentially very near – near to you, near to me, near…
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If You Don’t Have Something Nice to Say…
Where did we learn to be critics? Where did we learn to be fault finders? And, what makes us the experts? Why did we forget the childhood lesson, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all?” Did we forget the Bible’s frequent admonition not to…
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“Potential”: A sermon preached on May 17, 2020, for the First United Methodist Church of Orlando
With the help of God’s grace, whatever and whoever I will be in heaven, in some way I already am and have the potential of becoming. My future heavenly reality, is already possible in my present. Whatever growth, or perfecting, or cleansing, or healing, or forgiveness I expect will happen…
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2020 Easter Sermon – “New Birth into a Living Hope” (complete text)
If God can raise Jesus from the grave, God can handle coronavirus!
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A few suggestions for worshipping at home, and online
For many, home worship during this Covid-19 pandemic is a “novel” experience (pun intended!). Though many churches have offered online worship for years, the majority of Christians still primarily worship in person, together, at church… until now. Now, at least for the moment, if you want to worship it’s your…
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“I press on” – a message to pastors, ministry leaders, and anyone else struggling with uncertainty and insecurity in the face of a global pandemic
Above all, the most pervasive feeling I’m wrestling with, these days, is uncertainty.
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