The last few days of 2024 were filled with media stories, tributes, and programs covering the life and legacy of James Earl Carter, Jr. “Jimmy” Carter served one term as the 39th President of the United States, and was a centenarian when he died on December 29th. I came across one such program on PBS, [...]

Last week the reminder was given that as we approach the manger, we must not only appreciate the serenity of the moment as we sing “Silent Night” and hold our candle. We must also “pick the baby Jesus up”! Spiritually, we bring Jesus to our chest, into our hearts, and let Him create, change, or [...]

Perhaps you have heard the challenge to “Be the change you want in the world”. Have you ever been presented with exactly what was needed to enact a much-needed change, but you just couldn’t pick it up? All you could do was admire it, analyze it, but you just couldn’t claim it for yourself. Change [...]

Recently I came across a video recorded by someone sitting waaaaaay up high in the endzone at a University of Tennessee home football game. Neyland stadium was packed, and as the camera panned the crowd of over one hundred thousand orange-clad Vol fans, they began singing “Rocky Top”. At the bottom of the video was [...]

If you were rendered silent for approximately nine to ten months, what would you do with the silence? As a part of your Advent devotional time, I invite you to read the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke. There you will find the story of a priest named Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth. They [...]

Advent is the beginning of the Christian liturgical year. More than just ''getting ready for Christmas" it's a season of spiritual discipline and reflection in preparation for celebrating the Incarnation, the coming of Jesus, the Word made flesh, into human history. Traditionally, the church challenges us to focus upon scriptures that emphasize the need for God to do [...]

Creative writing is something I’ve always enjoyed. Nowadays it’s confined mainly to devotionals like what you are reading now. For the previous twenty-four years, my creative writing was focused on crafting the substance for worship elements such as sermons, prayers, and liturgy. I’ve never written a book or a song, but there is one common [...]

This past Sunday I had the pleasure of spending the morning with the good people of Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Franklin, TN. I was graciously invited to preach during their season of emphasis on stewardship. It’s that time of the year! It was a joy to be a part of their two morning worship [...]

Do you remember the following lament often heard as a reply or observation in the early 2000’s? “It is what it is…” I don’t say it as much as I used to. I’ve discovered I don’t always like how it comes across. It can be interpreted as an acknowledgement of reluctant acceptance, or imply that [...]

I just returned from Tucson, Arizona, attending my first annual meeting of the National Association of United Methodist Foundations (NAUMF). Leaders and staff from the 47 Foundations in the UMC gathered to experience worship, attend continuing education opportunities, hear reports and testimonies on our collective and individual ministries, and to make new or maintain collaborative [...]