Category: Relationship
-
“Connecting Through Acceptance”: a sermon preached on July 19, 2020, at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, part of a sermon-series called “Connectability.”
Different is just different – not wrong, not immoral. Difference doesn’t have to divide or threaten us. In fact, connecting with people who are different might actual make us better humans, and better Christians. It might make us more like Jesus.
-
Nuts, cheese, crazy pills, and finding “squirrels” in the Temple.
During times like these – CRAZY times like these! – we need laughter, and good people to laugh with.
-
Gnoshies, Chachkies, and S.W.A.G.
Obviously, we all say words we don’t intend or know to be offensive. The same words have different meanings to different people. Sometimes we aren’t even aware the words we use are hurtful, insulting or wrong. We may not understand why a particular word has become offensive. But, when we…
-
My New Favorite Question…
To ask, “What does ‘this’ make possible?,” suggests that certain possibilities wouldn’t have been possible, except for “this.” “This,” whatever “this” is, positive or negative, opens the door to new possibilities, that were previously impossible – or at least not as likely.
-
Do this…
Today is Maundy Thursday – the day we annually remember Jesus’ last meal with his disciples. The word “maundy” simply means command. We “do this in remembrance” of Jesus – sharing bread and juice/wine with each other, representing his body and blood – because he commanded us to. Today is…
-
30 years ago, tonight…
At 9:00 pm, 30 years ago, tonight, we were lowering the gate to the entrance of Champs Sporting Goods, at the Fashion Square Mall, in Orlando, where I worked (primarily selling athletic shoes – selling shoes has always been my back-up profession, in case ministry doesn’t work out). As I…
-
Embracing the Grey
I had a very random conversation with a complete stranger, yesterday. He said that the hot issue many counselors/therapists/psychotherapists are dealing with, lately, is how to help their clients deal with friends and family, with whom they have differing political views. His point was that, in our current political climate, friends…
-
Relationship Restoration (Part 3 of a sermon series called “Restoration” at First Church Coral Spring on March 19, 2017)
Let me tell you about a relationship in my life that’s been broken for some time, but has recently been restored… We had been very close – enjoying lots of time together, traveling together. We’d had highs and lows before, but we’d always managed to fix them – or at…
vancerains.com 