In June of 2015 I traveled to Scotland. I saw hundreds of sheep who were maintained in lush pastures surrounded by low stone walls. In our seven days of driving around...

I was ordained as a United Methodist minister over fifty years ago. I now have file drawers and three-ring binders filled to overflowing with lessons taught and sermons preached. Today’s reading...

How risk averse are you? Do you let fear of the unknown dictate how you live? Or have you mastered the capacity of placing fear aside, learning to trust the unknown?...

Matthew goes to great lengths to prepare us for Jesus’ return. There will be great suffering, changes in the sun and moon, the stars will fall, and Jesus will appear, accompanied...

Are you awake?” our mother inquires while knocking on the bedroom door, making sure we are ready for school. “Are you awake?” our spouse asks when our eyes close halfway through...

The people living in Thessalonica expected Jesus’ quick return. While it’s only been two decades since his death and resurrection, the early followers do not expect to linger this long. They...

Psalm 123 is one of several “Songs of Ascents” that pilgrims would pray as they journeyed to Jerusalem. The psalm, while short in length, carries rich imagery and words that proclaim...

When did you last stand in the middle of a circle? If you’ve ever faced a challenging medical diagnosis, then you may know the power of people circling around you, placing...

The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.” How often have we read these words? The Israelites repeatedly worship other gods, receive punishment, call upon God...

Listen to the teachings! We close this week with our starting point of Psalm 78 and its recounting of God’s compassionate love for Israel. Throughout the psalm we read of God’s...