For the transformation of the world, we study God's Word in context to be equipped to live Jesus' Way.
With all the books and systems and popular culture fads available right now for self-transformation, I felt led to share what we as Wesleyan theologians have used for a couple hundred years. We all need something that is useful every day, or every week, depending on how busy the schedule, to humbly reflect on where […]
Based on the study of Romans 12 Recently, “Open My Eyes” from the United Methodist Hymnal spoke to my heart. Specifically… Whether studying history or today’s headlines it’s frightening to see what human beings do to each other. We see history unlike those living it, results in context, and judge, “how could people not see […]
The Methodist movement began in 18th century England. But when The Church of England refused to ordain some of John Wesley’s Methodist preachers preparing to be sent to America, God made a way. There was urgent need because The Church of England’s priests had returned home leaving no one in America to administer the sacraments […]
Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I came not to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his […]
A friend asked, “Do manipulated words manipulate people?” We were discussing the ongoing war on words and representations and the division and pain it causes. We discussed that two things can be true at the same time, like it can be sunny and raining, I’ve experienced that irony often. But two totally opposite things cannot […]
Recent events have brought this question to the forefront of many minds. Although we ask it over and over, the answers never change. You and I have a choice in life, the option to do good or bad. We have free will, a gift from God. Our choices, and those made by others near to […]
A question came to me by email from someone who watches services online. I know that being cooped up during COVID has made me more cynical. I say stuff before thinking and that’s not the me I want to be. How do I stop? I need more peace and to make better decisions. Anonymous This […]
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus addressed grace and social responsibility by talking about the dangers of traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, something well understood by the hearer. But this parable is the response to two questions, not one, and that second question reveals a guilty conscience. First the man asked, “what must […]
Researching The Twelve Days of Christmas and what it means to us The 12 Days of Christmas begin December 25th and end January 5th the day prior to the Feast of Epiphany. The Twelvetide was created in the year 567 by the Council of Tours as a sacred and festive season of Advent (waiting) and […]
Jesus teaches us how to handle bullying by explaining the blessing our chosen traits and practices bring through the Sermon on the Mount. Bullies aren’t meek. They seek power. Yet the meek inherit the earth. That doesn’t make sense to the bully, does it? After all, meekness requires gratitude for what we have right now […]