A funny thing happened at work this morning.  Okay, it wasn't all that funny, but I couldn't keep from smiling.  let's just bask in glory of this day, this day that I submitted the final paper of my seminary career.  Yes, friends, we are the champions! ...

As the disciples tried to make sense of the news of Easter morning, Mr. Up From the Grave appears to them.  I've seen too many movies in my lifetime to think that I would have just stood there merely frightened and doubting like the rest of the disciples.  No, before Ghost Man Jesus has enough time to say, "Boo!" I'd be long gone. That means that I would have missed dinner, apparently.  And that can never be good.  Even more than that...

I am not completely finished with seminary, yet.  Oh, but I can smell it.  Or is that..... Ehem. Although, I am not completely finished with seminary, for the past nine months I have been able to read what I want to read, when I want to read and not worry about writing anything about it.  To be honest, I don't feel all that great about that last part.  I have wanted to share some ideas about several books I have read this year, but,...

Rose City Park is a United Methodist Church in Portland whose name you probably never knew before.  If so, I would think you are in company with many, many, many other people.  Well, unless you haven't heard of them lately.  Many, many, many people have been introduced to the "other place to be on Sunday."  I am not quite sure what that means. The thing is, Rose Park has this marquis.  God bless the pastor because he tries to...

Assuming that I would be able to not fail classes at Perkins, our family has known for four years that we would be moving this summer.  Every semester I have filled out a form that asked for my expected graduation date: May 2012.  Well, as you're probably aware, May 2012--May 12th, to be exact--is very close.   Friends, I suffer.  Pray for me.  Senioritis has ailed me for many years now.  I hear, though, there is a balm...

Gifts abound at Easter time.  Now, I can live with chocolate bunnies--chocolate anything really.  Perhaps we wrap our smaller gifts of candy, trinkets and pocket change in a variety of decorated plastic eggs.  And, of course, many of us gift ourselves with the perfect Easter outfit(s). Those gifts are okay, but the gifts God has given us for Easter are far superior.  They are 1) the peace of God 2) the Spirit of God and 3) The mission...

If I were in the habit of telling jokes in my sermons, I would soooo want to find a way to fit this one in: Question: What does a nosy pepper do? Answer: Gets jalapeno business! Well, at least there are still Bible studies, meetings and blessings before meals.  Just pretend you didn't hear this o...

Here is a great quote about mission work.  I read it from a resource our United Methodist Women used recently.  I sure wish more of us could let this sink in. We learn that mission is not about me giving to you--it is about recognizing God's image in the other as we walk together. Until we get over ourselves, though, I don't think we'll ever quite get that.  Thanks, UMW, for helping us remember something importa...

Our Resurrection Sunday revolved around the theme that in Christ's Resurrection there is always hope.  As long as Christ is risen, there is hope.  We repeated that several times Easter morning, both early in the day and at our usual worship time. What about you?  What was your Easter worship experience?  How do you feel your church celebrated the Risen Lord? Here is my Easter sermon; it is entitled Where There Are Tears There is Hope....