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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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The Bible is NOT a weapon! Quit beating people with it! (ie. Why Sodom wasn’t destroyed because of homosexuality)
To the heterosexual Christian community, at large: the Bible is not a weapon of violence! Violence, of any kind, for Christians, is 100% UNACCEPTABLE! The Bible is a book of love; the love story of God creating, losing, and winning back his beloved creation.
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Easter 2020 Sermon (short, chopped, mini version) – New Birth Into a Living Hope
If God can raise Jesus from the dead, God can handle coronavirus!
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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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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.
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“I will lift my eyes” – a Facebook Live sermon, based on Psalm 121, preached for The First United Methodist Church of Orlando, on March 29, 2020
Last Sunday morning, before worship, a First Church friend sent me a beautiful YouTube video of the University of British Columbia Choir, singing a choral arrangement of Psalm 121, called “I will lift my eyes,” that literally moved me to tears.
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