James 3:13 “Who is wise and understanding among you?” Is it hard to figure out who is wise and understanding around you or can you answer this question easily? James 3:14 “Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” I want to listen, I want…

Perhaps you read a previous devotion of mine where I mentioned how I’ve been on a trash-picking-up mission this summer.   I usually collect a bag or two each week, and it provides great bend-over exercise for this old lady. So, I was out last Sunday picking up around the neighborhood – right after Vikki’s great sermon…

Dear Loved Ones, David Bartlett taught Homiletics (Preaching) at Yale University. He wrote an article some time back where he said the main point of preaching is love-love of your people whom God loves. And one of the ways that we love our people is by telling them the truth about God. He pressed upon…

            https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/bpcw6f/brockmires_ode_to_the_baseball_gods I love baseball. I always knew I loved baseball, but the delayed season this year really showed me how much I loved baseball by how much I missed it. Part of the way I coped with missing my favorite game was by finally watching the IFC show “Brockmire”. Quick synopsis, it is a comedy…

We gathered for worship via the stream and considered Jesus’ words on forgiveness from Matthew 18:21-35. Jesus says it’s not about how many times we forgive (70 x 7?) but that we forgive in gratitude for the forgiveness we have received through him. If you weren’t able to be with us, you can watch here.…

We all have a special super-power and we are reluctant to use it. Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.  Corrie Ten Boom Jesus tells us that forgiving – seventy times seven…

“Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.  All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”  1 Corinthians 13 Vs. 12 I look forward to the gathering of my God’s Grace…

I know I have said it before, but I REALLY LOVE how God just shows up sometimes.  Wednesday morning as I was looking through my Facebook feed, I noticed a friend posted a general comment to her news feed: “Romans 12.  A perfect time to read this scripture.  Have a wonderful day everyone!!!” I am blessed and thankful that I…

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Jesus called out for “People of Peace” to follow him.( Luke 4:18-26) Many clergy( I included) have spent a lot of time with disgruntled people. Too many pastoral hours throughout Christendom’s 2000 year history have been spent trying to get upset people to be happy. Jesus focused his ministry on “People…

Jesus was often asked by the religious leaders of his day “By whose authority” do you teach, preach, heal, forgive, whatever?  This leads me to the question “By whose authority” do I speak, act, believe, know? Wesleyan or Methodist theology relies on the Quadrilateral of scripture, tradition, experience, and reason.  Others refer to as a tricycle with…