Thoughts from an UMAC newbie

Some people check the water level of the proverbial pool before they jump in. But you all know that I’m not ‘some people.’ I’m a co-chair of my Annual Conference’s Communications team, and frequently contribute to our online and print media communication. This qualifies me to become, as I did this year, a member of…

I’m not ready to *not* make nice…

Howdy, y'all, from down here in Nashville! I'm attending the United Methodist Association of Communicators' Annual Meeting (about which I will say more later), where this blog, that's right, this very one, has been awarded Best in Class for non-fiction in the local church category. No pressure there. So, on to being relevant. Today, my…

Sermon: My Ways are not Your Ways

"My Ways are not Your Ways" (October 18, 2009) Often, we attribute to God human-like attributes: not just flesh and hair and gender, but limited loving, justice, or forgiveness. God reminds us that especially when it comes to provision, new life, and forgiveness (which we might just sum up as grace), God does not fit…

Sermon: Live Out Loud

"Rethink Church, Reboot Church: Live Out Loud" (October 11, 2009) We conclude the sermon series examining the practices of the early church in Acts 2:42-47, using their example as a starting point for ways we might not only rethink church but “reboot” it by going back to the beginning. The early church did indeed preach…

The assurance of things hoped for

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) President Obama today won the Nobel Peace Prize. I am surprised, and very proud of him and of our country, to be sure. I also wonder a little bit about what it means to award a Nobel Prize…

That Old Time Religion Ain’t Conservative Enough

So my friends lists on Facebook, and on my blogroll, and even on my television (good Lord, do I love Rachel Maddow) are all talking about the same thing this week. The Conservative Bible Project. Like Rachel Maddow, like many of my friends when we first emailed this around, I was convinced this had to…

Sermon: Every Meal a Celebration

"Rethink Church, Reboot Church Every Meal a Celebration" (October 4, 2009) We continue the sermon series examining the practices of the early church in Acts 2:42-47, using their example as a starting point for ways we might not only rethink church but “reboot” it by going back to the beginning. This week, we find that…

Grace. No Kidding.

Here is a great post about grace and how hard she can be to believe in, from a United Methodist pastor blogging "everyday theology." And that, my dears, in the midst of a very busy but very productive week, is my thought for the day.