Two weeks ago when I last shared with our Sunday night group, I told you about how we couldn’t stay on the mountaintops of life forever. After the Super Bowl is won, most of us don’t get to go to Disneyworld. Instead, we have to get back to the Monday mornings of work or whatever we do on Mondays. We looked at a similar situation with Elijah, ( Read more... )

Let us pray: Almighty and gracious God, Ever grant us that submissive faith that breeds wholehearted obedience. Lord, our souls break for longing to be knowers and doers of your Word. Holy Spirit, create in us a strong passionate desire to accept and obey God's Word in everything, and to be conformed to it in thought and life. Grant, dear Lord, ( Read more... )

Today I was fortunate to be asked to preach in our two morning services in the sanctuary. We had some really great music along with the Lord's Supper. That didn't leave a whole lot of time for the message. This message is just a bit shorter than usual; but I had a good time trying to put together the lectionary passage (with a few added verses) ( Read more... )

Let us pray: Almighty and gracious God, we thank you for this day that you have given us to enjoy. We thank you that you are our God, not just when things are going well, but when things aren’t going so well. I pray that each heart in this house be open to your word this evening and that my words become truly yours in spirit. May the words of my ( Read more... )

This message is my first at my new church, Trussville First United Methodist Church in Trussville, AL. Although I miss my friends at my previous churches, I was excited to begin my new venture. Anyway, here's the message ( Read more... )

Almighty God, we your children pray: let your glory come down. Let the Fire fall on us gathered here as on that first Day of Pentecost. Revive our spirits; fill us with new excitement, with joy unspeakable and compassion for a dying world. Empower us to speak your Word; to utter your words of Life; using a variety of languages to bring the good ( Read more... )

Today in my Morris Church we recognized our high school graduates, two outstanding young women. They garnered a raft of honors, awards and achievements in their high school years. To say we were proud of them is an understatement. We presented them very nice Bibles enscribed with their names. Here is the message I shared with the congregation ( Read more... )

Today was the first Mother's Day message I have shared with my Morris church. Because the other church, Friendship UMC has an annual Decoration Day on Mother's Day and moves its worship time from 9:45 to 11:00, I have used substitute preachers at Morris each year. This year I suggested that it might be fair to use a former pastor at Friendship ( Read more... )

Let us pray: Almighty and gracious God, when you sent Adam out from the Garden of Eden you gave us work. Many consider it a curse; but you have also made it a blessing, a source of sustenance for our physical and emotional needs. We thank you for that gift of work. Lord, this morning we consider our work and what it would mean if we honored you ( Read more... )

Let us pray: Good Shepherd of our soul, we ask you to lead us in the paths you have set before us. May we recognize and listen to your voice like the sheep who know their shepherd. Even though we tend to go astray, do not forsake us. Even though your paths may lead us through the valley of the shadow of death, lead us to the green pastures of ( Read more... )