e-Soundings

Poverty has Declined!... Wages are Up!... Crime is Down!... Inflation has Deflated!...

This may sound like a dream for the poor and the afflicted.  It may be scoffed at by those who work day by day with the broken hearted and discouraged.  But it’s true! Read more →

Look for the Lonely this Christmas …will they be welcomed?

It’s easy to miss the lonely and the isolated, even in a crowd.  Are you and your congregation prepared to make friends with the lonely? Or are you distracted by all the busy-ness of the season? Read more →

ADVENT: Already, Not Yet and Always

For a long time, my questions has been: "Why do we wait for something that is already here?"  Is it an example of Christmas-time "parental control” to make us behave?  Is it just Tradition? Read more →

Why is there Evil?

First, I see a difference between “Human” caused Evil and natural events (i.e. Flood, Earthquake, Tsunamis, Disease, Drought, etc.). The pain and suffering of these natural events are obviously devastating and cause great harm but in their creation we now know through science that they are not intentionally aimed to cause harm. Read more →

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 →