e-Soundings

Heaven on Earth - An official United Methodist view

"The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God are but two phrases for the same thing. They mean, not barely a future happy state, in heaven, but a state to be enjoyed on earth...." John Wesley Read more →

Why doesn’t the “Easter High” last? ...................Maybe we can change that?

“Every morning is Easter Morning” (by Avery & Marsh) is a song that proclaims the gospel like no other. It's sings out the reality that Easter is now every day. Death is no more. This is the Good News that... Read more →

Easter Changes Everything!... .......or does it?

Easter proclaims the most transformative event in the history of the world.  Billions of lives have been changed because of its truth and power.   Yet today, 2,000 years after the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, it’s treated like another secular holiday.  For most people it’s devoid of the power expected the most important “Holy Day” of the year! What if.......during LENT:   We took a small step to turn Lent into the profound preparation for the gateway of Easter it was meant to be. Read more →

Are you Sidestepping the Apocalypse? (...for a "nice" Jesus?)

Do you shy away from the passages that talk of destruction and death, wars and rumors of war, of stone falling away from stone and walls destroyed, of earthquakes and famine? Every year in November, we end the Lectionary year... Read more →

How’s your church INFRASTRUCTURE? ...In need of repair? ...Perhaps major OVERHAUL?

With the Covid-19 pandemic slowly coming under control,  we will be putting the local church pieces together in new ways again(!).  You and your church leaders have a choice: Will you rebuild the church of the 19th century or of the 21st?  In other words, are you seeing the church with 19th & 20th Century eyes, or do you have a 21st Century vision filled with wisdom and joy? Read more →

Have you had the "racism" talk with your kids?

Here's some great ideas for different age groups. Be sure to talk about your faith as well. It's a critical part of making sense of the world and responding with God's unconditional love and graceful forgiveness. A quick, only have... Read more →

Have you ever tasted heaven? # I see a new Church

Now is a true revolutionary time to proclaim the radical, transforming, heavenly, unconditional love of Jesus Christ, spoken and lived in ways that invites everyone to come home. Read more →

Unraveling the Gordian knot of Same Sex Marriage: UMC Alternative Initiatives

Like many others, I have agonized over the issue of Homosexuality and the UMC for a long time. I believe we can unravel, not cut, this Gordian knot. Read more →

Three Simple Rules: #2 Do Good

This is the second simple rule after the first: "Do No Harm." And while “doing Good” is something we all can easily agree to, it comes at a higher cost than the first. It begins with recognition that in order... Read more →

Christmas is for Adults

In our current recession, with friends and family losing jobs and homes, with money running out and Christmas expectations always high, we need a deeper, more "grown-up" understanding of Christmas. Read more →