A Big Gulp of Grace Info
(Note: See above for weekly links for Small Group videos) Lent is a season of preparation and drawing closer to God. It is a time of growing our faith and understanding of Jesus and his church. This year, we invite you to be part of our churchwide project, which will take your faith to a …
Living a Liveable Rhythm
This week I shared Jesus’ teaching from John 15 – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to …
Psalm 137 – Praying When You Are Angry –
Discomfort is the Currency of Your Dreams
I listen to a lot of podcasts. I get a lot of great ideas and I love to learn something new each day. This week I heard: “Discomfort is the currency of your dreams.” That made me sit right up! I thought about last week. Last week I spent a week meditating. For 10 hours …
And now, for something completely different….
This week I have been working with clergy and laity who are being introduced to coaching tools. I am at El Segundo United Methodist Church with the Bishop, several District Superintendents and the Director of Connectional Ministry who are leading this training for 35 students from around the Conference (Southern California and Hawaii). I am …
Does it Ever Get Easier?
I keep waiting for it to get easier. Certainly, some of these things should be easier by now, right? None of what was “hard” was out of the ordinary. For example, I got back to exercising this week. Certainly, it wouldn’t be hard to get back to this? It’s an hour or so, of walking …
Meditation for All
I was introduced to meditation in my 7th grade Confirmation Class. And, while it took me till much later to develop a daily practice, meditation is a cornerstone of my spiritual life. Why? It helps me slow down. It helps me reflect. It enables me to put things in perspective. And most importantly, it helps …
Thoughts on General Conference Dear Valencia UMC Friends – We are part of the United Methodist Church – a worldwide denomination that meets regularly to discuss issues that matter to its members and to the mission of Christ. The issue of human sexuality continues to be a place for thoughtful conversation and on February …
What I Love About Advent
I was a grinch in my former life. I had trouble getting into the Christmas spirit. I think it was mostly because I had such unrealistic expectations of it all. This year I have been focusing on the Infinite Hope as I preach during the advent season. What a great theme! This came from a …