The Bible is full of stories about wilderness. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years. The prophets lived in the desert. David fled to the desert for protection against his enemies. John the Baptist made the wilderness his home. Jesus went into the desert for 40 days to prepare for his ministry. Whenever …
From Worship Experiences
Making Music at Christmas
This Christmas, I had several opportunities for making music. Music allows me to worship God more than any other medium. I worship when I sing and when I listen to music. The Lewis Center United Methodist Church Choir presented a cantata this year. Cantatas are a beautiful way of making music. They also seem to …
Advent Bible Study: Heaven and Earth
During Advent I led my first Bible since I retired. Some people at Lewis Center United Methodist Church had been asking for an evening Bible Study and both the pastors were too busy to do it. They asked me if I would be willing to do it and I gladly said yes. Then I went …
Alpha Recovery Sunday at Lewis Center
A couple of weeks ago was Alpha Recovery Sunday at Lewis Center United Methodist Church. Alpha Recovery is a 12 step faith-based program centered in Bucyrus. It reaches out primarily to women who have been incarcerated because of drug addictions. Lewis Center hosts meetings that expand the program’s focus to anyone dealing with addiction. Men …
God Is Not Our Vending Machine
Yesterday in her sermon, Rev. Jessica Cavinee, the lead pastor at Lewis Center United Methodist Church said “God is not our vending machine.” It was a throw-away line. Not one of the central points of her sermon, which was about stewardship. But I really liked the line and have been thinking about it ever since. …
Your “We” Is Too Small: A Challenge
Tom and I are back at our home in Ohio and got to attend worship at Lewis Center United Methodist Church yesterday. Rev. Phil Rode preached on Romans 15 and it was a good sermon. As often happens when I am listening to a sermon, Rev. Phil mentioned something – not a major point in …
Christian Ministry in the National Parks
When Tom and I were in Death Valley, we went to church with the Christian Ministry in the National Parks. That was over eight years ago. This summer, Tom and I have been able to worship thanks to Christian Ministry in the National Parks. Our first month here at Cumberland Gap we tried to find …
Stay in Your Lane
Every morning when we drive to work, we pass through the Cumberland Gap Tunnel. Emblazoned on signs overhead are the words “Stay in Your Lane!” They don’t want you changing lanes through the tunnel for safety reasons. It is an interesting message for our lives as well. Stay in your lane. There are times when …
Burning the Mortgage at Wedgewood UMC
Last Sunday I was privileged to participate in burning the mortgage at Wedgewood United Methodist Church in Akron, Ohio. I was the Senior Pastor at Wedgewood for 21 years. We worked together to grow the church in numbers, ministry, and finally, by an addition that doubled the size of the physical church. In order to …
Persistent Prayer and the Big No
I am a big believer in persistent prayer. I believe that prayer changes things, sometimes even changing God’s mind about something. Through prayer we can move mountains. Prayer changes the person who prays and the person who is being prayed for. In his teachings, Jesus tells us time and again that we should keep praying. …