Now that we are back in Ohio, I have resumed my morning walks in Char-Mar Ridge Park. Recently, as I was walking, I smelled an intense fragrance and smiled. The honeysuckle is back in bloom. I may be allergic to most plants, but I love the smell of honeysuckle. I’m still allergic to it, but …
From Worship Experiences
No Sanctuary for Easter
This was the third year Tom and I did not worship in a sanctuary on Easter. This statistic is especially remarkable because of all the Easter services I attended for so many years. During my 21 years at Wedgewood we usually had three services every Easter Sunday. If you add in Holy Week services, I …
Easier Said Than Done – Being Honest in Our Walk
Have you every promised anyone that you would do something and then not followed through on that promise? Found that it was “easier said than done”? Even though I try to be a scrupulously honest person, I have not followed through on things that I have said more times than I can count. It might …
Safer in the Ark than in the Storm
On Sunday, Rev. Jerry Roe at Wesley United Methodist Church preached on Noah’s ark. Noah’s ark is one of those Bible stories that I never really preached about. It starts in Genesis 6 with the story of the Nephilim – half human, half god – and moves into a story about a 600 year old …
Knowing About God or Knowing God
Knowing about God or knowing God is something I have been thinking about a lot so far this year. For my devotional book, I chose to reread an old book from my college days, “The Early Church” by Henry Chadwick. It is part of a series on church history. Tom looked at it and said …
Augmented Reality and Living Faithfully
We have a new toy at work: an iPad with a program that runs augmented reality. The interpreter carries the iPad to one of the house foundations in Fort Frederica National Monument. Then you line it up just right, push the button, and a house appears as you look at the foundation on the iPad. …
Guest Preacher at Wedgewood United Methodist
In November I had the privilege of being the guest preacher at Wedgewood United Methodist Church. Wedgewood is the church where I spent the bulk of my ministry. I was there for 21 years and I have very fond memories of the people and ministries of the church. In fact, many of the regular readers …
Sunbury United Methodist Church
A few weeks ago Tom and I visited Sunbury United Methodist Church. For the last four years, Tom and I have mostly been attending Lewis Center United Methodist Church when we are in Ohio. We really like the congregation. Pastors Tom and Phil were both wonderful preachers and the church is a nice mix of …
North Dakota Skies and the Long View
Tom and I are back in Ohio. But, before I tell you about our journey home, I wanted to share some final thoughts about North Dakota and our time there. All this week, and perhaps some of next, I will still be talking about North Dakota even though I am sitting in my office in …
Blessing for Our Travels from Zion
Last week Tom and I attended our last worship service at Zion Lutheran in Fairview, Montana. The Wednesday night services have been a great blessing for us. It is hard enough for us to find a place to worship when we can’t go on Sunday mornings. But this church, with Pastor Tim, has been a …