(Following is an excerpt from The 19, published this year by Abingdon Press. The book addresses each of the nineteen questions asked of United Methodist ordinands since the days of
There is a line in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians that grabs me. Paul is teaching this young church about the nature of Jesus and what this Messiah has accomplished
One summer, the women of our church hosted an in-town mission trip. Every day, we visited a different mission location and served in whatever way we could. The last day,
Can you begin to imagine what it must have been like when the spirit of the Lord passed through Egypt and in every house someone died? Can you imagine the
What would you give your life for? Your kids? Your spouse? Your family? Would you give your life for people you don’t know? People forced into prostitution in Bangalore, or
To my friends beyond the United Methodist Church, thanks for your patience while I dig a little today into an issue currently circulating in my denomination. This post falls into
God likes churches, which all by itself says a lot about the unfathomable patience of God. Church people have a bit of a reputation for challenging the limits of good
When it is all over, then what? The study of that question is called eschatology, which is the study of the end of time and also — ironically — the
” … speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ …” – Ephesians 4:15 This line in Paul’s
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. Whatever one sows, that will he also reap. — Galatians 6:7 This little gem of a verse isn’t brain surgery. Paul isn’t explaining some
Maybe you heard the story about a gang of teenage elephants who went on a killing spree. The elephants were all male, all orphaned, transferred to a game park with
No one told us we’d need a solid theology of the body if we’re going to live a bold and fearless life. No one told us how important it would
