In February, I preached a sermon series based on John Wesley’s Three Simple Rules: do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God. It was a four part series that ended with the last sermon preached on the Sunday during the special General Conference session of The United Methodist Church. My heart was … Continue reading Stay in Love With God: Fourth in a Series on John Wesley’s Three Simple Rules
Recently, I went to Atlanta. I am a part of the leadership for our WV Annual Conference Residency program, a three-year program that, those who are on the track to be ordained, are required to complete between seminary and ordination. Each year, we take an immersion trip. This year, we went to Atlanta to visit … Continue reading Breakfast and Lunch and Onward
Have we reached A moment in time In this age In this world When we no longer talk to each other When we no longer know what to say When we cannot utter A kind word An encouraging word A hopeful word To each other or to the world Without some cost Or because of … Continue reading Thoughts on the First Day of May
It was the second day of the second class in my doctorate program when the assignment was given. The assignment sounded simple enough. I had twenty minutes to write about a moment in life that led to a change. What could be so hard? I am a writer. This is not a difficult assignment. And … Continue reading A Journey of Change
Holy One, At first this morning, no words came. There was only silence, but in the silence I knew you were there. In that moment, there were no words, to describe my feelings, a mixture of so many emotions. In that moment, there were no words, to describe feelings of pain and division, anguish and frustration, … Continue reading A Prayer for the Day After
The year 1738 was a momentous year for John Wesley. At the end of 1737, Wesley left the colony of Georgia, where he had failed as a missionary and priest and sailed home to England. He was disheartened and confused about who he was and what he was supposed to do with his life. He … Continue reading Do Good: Third in Series on Wesley’s Three Simple Rules
There is a story in my family that has been the subject of debate since my brothers and I were children and the debate centers around the question of whether my brother Richard intended bodily harm to my brother Will. Of course, I, being the best child was not involved in this tragic and willful … Continue reading Do No Harm: Second in a series of Reflections on John Wesley’s Three Simple Rules
