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Stop the Unsanity! Can We?
There was once a time we could respectfully “agree to disagree” on many things. Not any more. And, that’s a problem. A big problem.
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Advent 2020: Who or what are we waiting for?
The word “advent” literally means “arrival.” Thus, the Advent season is about the coming of the Christ Child, and the less emphasized subject of his eventual return in glory. Advent is a time for planning, preparing, and anticipating a particularly important arrival. It is a season of looking and longing…
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Thankful…ish
On this 2020 Thanksgiving Day, I am truly and sincerely thankful…ish. I’m am deeply thankful to God for so much, and for so many. For the rest – for all that I’m less than grateful for – I’m praying for patience and endurance.
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Pandemic-Induced Ministry Fatigue
What’s going on? Why am I, and other pastors, struggling to find our footing in the midst of this strange season?
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“Joseph” – a sermon preached on September 13, 2020, at The First United Methodist Church of Orlando.
Hatred, jealousy, and family dysfunction led to Joseph becoming a slave. But, God was working too. Because God was with Joseph, even in slavery, even in Egypt, God used Joseph to save nations, including Israel.
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“Tower of Babel” – a sermon preached on August 30, 2020, at The First United Methodist Church of Orlando
The Tower of Babel, as well as recent events, serve as reminders of our deep brokenness, especially along racial lines, and of just how far we’ve traveled away from the Garden of Eden, and the resulting conflict between humans. This story is our story too.
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“Connecting With Grace”: The final sermon in a series called “ConnectAbility,” preached on Sunday, August 16, 2020, at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando
Do you ever get the feeling you’re constantly being measured, evaluated? For instance… My insurance agent recently sent me a device for my car, claiming it would record my “safe” driving habits, leading to lower insurance rates. Kelly says I drive like an old man, so I thought, “Why not?…
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Sermon: “Connecting with Your True Self” – part of a sermon series called “ConnectAbility,” preached at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, on August 2, 2020
Our summer theme, “ConnectAbility” – based on the Great Commandment, to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind” and to, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” – has had three major emphases… Connecting with God: emotionally, intellectually, and…
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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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