Does United Methodism Need a Map?
I fell in love with maps as a child. As a native Southern Californian, I would read and study the old Thomas Guide map of Los Angeles. Growing up in LA meant learning that there were often many paths to…
News
Being United Methodist
Like many United Methodists, we awake to the day following our Special Called General Conference with a host of differing responses. In taking just a few moments to review the national news and my Twitter feed, it is clear that…
Wonderful Words – The Nativity
One tradition I have kept in the local church is that these words are read during our worship: This Christmas night bestowed peace on the whole world; So let no one threaten; This is the night of the Most Gentle…
A Quiet Time
I am a blessed person. Having served local churches for what is now 31 years, my life has been deeply enriched by wonderful, loving, and Christ-Centered people. I could not begin to list all of them. Who God has made…
Farewell Facebook
Here is a copy of what I posted on Facebook today. Keep checking in here for more posts and thoughts in the near future. I’m emerging from my writing hiatus! For a fair number of years I have used Facebook…
Uncertainty Can Be a Guiding Light
These lyrics to an obscure U2 song titled “Zooropa” from 1993 have been a mantra to me as of late. Since late last summer I knew that God was calling me into a season of deep discernment. I had started seeing…
280 Years of Ticking
Today, being May 24, Methodists pause for a moment to remember John’s Wesley’s experience at Aldersgate Street on this evening 280 years ago. It was here that John’s Wesley’s “heart was strangely warmed.” Many describe this as his conversation experience.…
Moving Along
On Sunday, May 13, I announced that I would be leaving as the Lead Pastor of the First UMC of San Diego. The news was unexpected for my congregation and even, for myself. Making the situation even more strange is…