Browse Blog Post
2/15/2010
156. Creating Openings for God
Can it be Lent already? As a pastor, I was keenly aware of the movement of the church year—Advent, Lent, Pentecost, etc. Our church planned for special emphases, sermon series, retreats, church-wide studies and readings.
As a bishop, I sometimes find myself surprised to realize that a key spi
more »
11/23/2009
148. Thanks and Praise
Two words we sometimes use interchangeably are thanks and praise. And yet there are shades of difference between them.
We express thanks when we receive something from someone—a gift, a gesture, an expression of help or support. We are beneficiaries and recipients, and thanks is an outward ex
more »
4/6/2009
122. Obedience
The Christian year provokes us to reflection upon many of the key words that shape our faith. During Advent we deepen our understanding of waiting, watching, anticipation, hope, announcement. With Christmas we explore joy, new birth, promise, and other delights. Epiphany opens our e
more »
2/25/2009
117. Forty Days
A lot can change in forty days.
I listen intently to the news every day, mostly on the radio as I drive. It occurred to me how much can happen in just a few weeks. The world can turn upside down.
Last September, the economy was chugging along with its usual rises, falls, bumps, and cur
more »
12/22/2008
102. Following our Hopes While Wrestling with our Fears
I recently heard a brief devotion focused on Luke 1: 26-38, the scene where the angels foretell the birth of Jesus to Mary. The pastor humorously reminded us that in scripture, whenever you hear the words, “Be not afraid,” then watch out! Something huge is about to happen.
more »
12/17/2008
101. Christmas Gifts and Christmas Offerings
As the ushers moved forward with their plates in hand during a crowded Christmas Eve service, the pastor said, “We’ll now receive the offering, which will support the apportionments our church owes.” There was no further explanation, no description of ministries, no connectio
more »
12/15/2008
100. Praying at Christmas
Last week during a bishops’ learning event on a college campus I took an evening walk and slipped into the chapel. I felt wonderfully fortunate to discover an excellent a cappella choir rehearsing and so I settled into a pew at the back. Immersed in the music, I felt myself opening to a
more »
12/1/2008
97. Staying Awake: The Practice of Spiritual Attentiveness
This past Sunday, I enjoyed the rare experience of attending worship with my family. Usually on Sundays, I’m on the road somewhere in Missouri, preaching or teaching. Some Sundays find me at hotel conference centers, speaking to large groups; and others find me at airports or on the
more »
3/31/2008
49. Easter Celebrations!
On Easter Sunday, I attended a couple different churches in St. Louis with my family. What a delight and joy! We heard great music and wonderful stories and reflections about the meaning and power of Christ's resurrection. We even shared in the launch of a new birth, the beginning of a con
more »
3/20/2008
48. After Easter
As I’m writing this, I’m preparing for the end of Holy Week and for Easter Sunday. For more than twenty-five years as I served as pastor, this was one of the busiest, most intense, most rewarding, most emotional, most exhausting, most spiritually challenging, moving, and exhilarating weeks of
more »
2/6/2008
38. Taking Up, Giving Up, or Fasting for Lent?
As a teenager, I recall the pastor at our church distinguishing our United Methodist practices from the Catholic majority in the community by encouraging us to “take up” something for Lent instead of “giving up” something for Lent. Then he would invite us to put an additional devotional readin
more »
12/21/2007
26. Pray for Peace
The other day as I was driving down a city street, I noticed a car that had a bumper sticker that read simply, “Pray for Peace.” When we approached a stop light, I pulled up beside the car and saw that the driver wore the sandy brown camouflage uniform of the U.S. Army.
I suppose that
more »
12/11/2007
23. Make it Personal at Christmas
Every December, the average attendance rises in our churches. There’s something about the season, the special music, and the cultural vestiges of the meaning of Christ’s birth that causes more people to attend than in November or October. And Christmas Eve usually brings a crowd, (even in a sma
more »
11/30/2007
19. Changing Our Attitudes about Christmas and Easter People
Every pastor and active lay leader knows about the “C & E” people. These are the inactive members, nominally engaged constituents, sometimes-but-infrequent visitors who suddenly fill our pews to overflowing on Christmas Eve and Easter morning. They are the people brought by their spouses, c
more »
11/7/2007
12. Holy Week in November?
Our church staff was always looking for new ways of deepening the spiritual life of the congregation and reaching more people during the Lenten - Holy Week - Easter season. We developed Lenten Sermon Series on a unified theme or progression of topics; we offered Lenten Study series using books that
more »