On February 26, 2019, presiding Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey gaveled to a close The United Methodist Church’s contentious 2019 special General Conference held in St. Louis, Missouri. While the delegates voted to reaffirm the denomination’s teachings on marriage, its sexual ethics, and its ordination standards, many UM Church members were certain the bitter conflict that had roiled… Read More »
A Fed-Up Pastor!
What I learned going to a different church for worship: As a pastor I do not take a lot of time off but when I do, I do love to attend worship at other churches that are different than the one I currently pastor. There are reasons for this. First, to not get bogged down… Read More »
Is It All About the Marketing?
Did you know that the latest statistics from Barna (barna.com) says the average church attender goes to church 1.2 times per month, but the average Starbucks drinker goes to Starbucks 6 times a month? How is it that Starbucks is beating the Church by an average of 6 to 1??? This got me thinking… Is this why we… Read More »
Why Should “You” Come to This Church?
What makes churches different? Why are they different? Isn’t it enough “we believe in Jesus, we try to live a good life, and are nice to others… at least to their face”? In a town like Silsbee what makes us different? Is what we do every time we open our doors a way of allowing… Read More »
What A View…
We have all been there and it is not a place we make reservations too as a relaxing getaway. Welcome to the hospital. Part of the duties of a pastor is sitting beside someone that has a view just like this. We offer words encouragement, try to bring a laugh or two and offer up… Read More »
It is Finished
At the end of Jesus’ life, he said to his Father, “I’ve finished what I came to do”. Did that mean there were no more sick? No Did that mean all the sermons were preached? No Did that mean there were no more disciples to teach and train? No What about us? Can we make… Read More »
Where Do You See God?
Let us expand our minds for a minute. Where do we find God? From a pastor point of view, I know we should be saying at church, but where else do we find God? I read a study that said many people say they find God other places other than the church. Let’s be honest… Read More »
Where do I fit in?
We have all been there we move to a new town; get disgruntled with the church we attend and start looking elsewhere or on vacation and find a place to worship. The first thing we do is, if we have time is to look it up on the internet. Get a feel for the church… Read More »
Exercising the Pause…
Pause for a moment. Take in that deep breath. Let it out. Now clear your mind and focus with me. Our church. The blessing God has given us to oversee and take care of. The only requirements that were given is to love one another and make disciples. What does this look like? Do… Read More »
What is the Mission of the Local Church?
Little has been said about the right and proper role of the local church in the development of their communities. Are churches mini- development agencies, members of a civil society, or something else altogether? The church (universal) has lost some of it’s focus these past generations and is in the process of acting instead of… Read More »
