“When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.”—Luke 9:51 I’m trying to imagine what Jesus might have been thinking as he “set his face” to go to Jerusalem. There’s never been a time in my life when I had to set my face to…
Tag: Jesus
Renovation
Have you noticed? There is a new play structure called a Gaga ball pit in the church playground. This project was simultaneously one of the most exciting and exhausting things that I have been involved in since arriving at FUMC Hurst. It took five adults, eight students and nine hours to build on a day…
God’s Family
For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. Ephesians 2:14 When I read this scripture, I want to believe that it is true of us as a church family, a community, a country and a…
Change at Christmas
This Christmas will be the first year in my entire life that I will not be with my older sister for Christmas. This year for the first time she will be going to Colorado for Christmas to be with her husband’s family. This year for the first time she won’t be at home with our…
Doubt or Belief?
Luke 1:11-21 is the story of the priest, Zechariah, and his visit from the angel Gabriel. The angel comes to give Zechariah the good news that his wife, Elizabeth, will bear a son, whom they should name John. Because of his and Elizabeth’s advanced ages, Zechariah doubts the news that Gabriel has given him. Gabriel…
“The Star” – Movie Review
Watching the preview for The Star movie, I thought “Finally! A new animated movie with an all-star cast about the birth of Jesus. How exciting!” I was even more excited to hear about the variety of well-known musical talents who recorded the soundtrack. I was hopeful that this was going to be a successful movie…
The Greatest Marriage
As I write this post, my sister is set to get married in 5 days. I’m really looking forward to the wedding for numerous reasons. The first reason is that I’m really happy for my sister. I’m thrilled that she has found a Christian man who loves her and whom she loves. I am excited…
Gratitude
My heart is filled with gratitude for the rich experience First United Methodist Church of Hurst has brought me. At the same time, sadness settled in on my soul on Saturday night as I wandered through the building ensuring that I had not left any belongings behind and remembering the ministry that had taken place…
Finding God in the Midst of Transition
In 1986, calls were made to the leadership of Cloud’s Bend United Methodist Church in Kingsport, Tennessee. It was truly a devastating day in their history. That snowy day, a few young men gained access to the church building. They piled the church pews in the corner and lit them on fire. The blaze changed…
Jesus Meets Mary of Magdala
Jesus met Mary of Magdala twice. The first time was before his death in the house of Simon the Pharisee. Jesus was eating with his disciples when Mary of Magdala entered the house. Mary threw herself at Jesus’ feet, wept, wiped his feet with her hair and then poured a bottle of rare and very…
An Unexpected Graveyard Visit
Being a pastor married to pastor, my wife and I work hard at balancing our ministries and the variety of opportunities to serve. We are respectful of each other’s responsibilities and rarely do work related things together. This is what works best for us. However, on this day, I find myself sitting in the car at…
Wilderness Wanderings
We are moving – not churches (that I’m aware of!), just houses. I HATE MOVING! We have just started packing and it feels like it will never end. Don’t get me wrong, I am very excited about our new space and yes, it’s a great time to clean out the extra junk. I love projects…
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