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Category Archives: Uncategorized
Pontius Pilate: Ruthless or Indecisive Governor?
When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a [c]tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this [d]just Person. You see to it.” Matthew 27:24 The Gospel writers give … Continue reading
Binge Watching While Sheltering
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to … Continue reading
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Be Concerned, but Don’t Live in Fear
“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” ~ Psalm 94:19 The global spread of COVID-19 has caused us to rethink how we go about our daily lives. The pandemic has caused churches to consider … Continue reading
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What Can We Do?
It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of COVID-19. There are boundaries on where we go, who we see and how we interact with people. Businesses are closing their doors, the economy is suffering and people are losing their … Continue reading
Posted in christianity, Uncategorized
Tagged COVID-19, job, live stream worship, quarantine, virus
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Should We Act Against Our Conscience?
But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. Romans 14:23 The proposed separation in the United Methodist Church has created concerns, one … Continue reading
Who Should Stay and Who Should Go?
Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Acts 15:39 On January 3 a diverse, 16-member group of United Methodist bishops and other leaders released a nine-page “Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation.” This proposal, if passed at the … Continue reading
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What Determines a Church’s Direction? Memory or Imagination?
…he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith (Matthew 13:58). Huntingtown United Methodist Church needs both. I have served churches that were planted in the late 1800s, so I understand the power and value of … Continue reading
Illness, Pain and Reviving the Church
“My grace is enough for you, because power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9) God does powerful work through small things. But there is an important difference between small and shrinking; between passion for people and ties to … Continue reading
Posted in christianity, Uncategorized
Tagged chronic illness, disease, epilepsy, illness, job, revival, suffering, theodicy, thorn in the flesh
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What do people know about us?
My current sermon series on Daniel ends with the most popular story about Daniel: The Lion’s Den. The retelling of the story tends to focus on what stands out the most: spending the night with flesh eating felines, and waking … Continue reading
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Tagged Bible study, Daniel, Evangelism, king darius, lions den, Persian Empire, prayer, testimony, witness
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Tree Surgeons, Jesus and the Church
Our last parsonage had a huge grove of trees in the backyard, several of which had grown to about 25 feet. We loved their shade and the privacy they provided during the summer. In the fall, however, the trustees noticed … Continue reading
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Tagged arborist, Christ the True Vine, church programs, Jesus the vine, pruning, tree surgeon
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