Spiritual Renewal in Everyday Life

From Revival to Renewal

Wow! Like so many I was blown away by the recent revival that took place at Asbury in Wilmore, Kentucky. Thousands of young people converged upon this small town of Wilmore which boasted of one stoplight and a two-lane highway to drive by the college campus and the adjoining seminary.  But a revival took place

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Pray Without Ceasing

As we seek renewal during this Season of Epiphany, we become aware and attentive to the need for a life that works and is fully functional. Maybe, a change in attitude, a new diet, perhaps more sleep, something, anything to help us leap tall buildings in a single bound. And often we are led trying

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What Difference Does Grace Make?

As we begin a New Year, many people make resolutions as a way of bringing about change and greater satisfaction in life. There are those who consider it a way of “reinventing” their selves. I hate to be the one who burst the bubble but when we reinvent our self we are still left with—our

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A Star

Epiphany is a wonderful time in the church year. It naturally fits with our calendar announcing a new year, except the difference is in the church—we begin a New Life. It starts with the wisemen. They are the ones who embody wisdom. They said, “we have observed his star” (Matthew 2:2) and decide to follow

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Away In A Manger

The grandkids never get tired of playing with the figures in the Creche. We tell the story. We sing the Christmas carol, “Away in a Manger.” They get it. They are not alone. St. Francis of Assisi loved the story. His life was changed because of it. He wanted others to share and join and

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Prepare the Way

Many are familiar with the Chinese saying, “it is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” I’m sorry. I will light two candles on this second Sunday in Advent and you should know I curse the darkness. I have hope like never before. Darkness is not just about being in the dark.

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Silence and Solitude

Two words that seem lost in our fast-paced world are silence and solitude. Start with silence. Sure, I find silence difficult. I like to break the silence especially when I think have something important to say. Other times, I use a smart-remark or joke to brush the silence away.         Solitude is a friend of

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A Thin Space with All Saints

As I reflect with you and further “unpack” our recent pilgrimage to Ireland with members of Christ Church United Methodist, many of us experienced those moments that we might consider “thin spaces.” These are the times where the extraordinary in life enters the ordinary, and where the everyday events are transformed right before our eyes

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Worship—A Thin Place

I hope you don’t mind, but I want to set aside these next couple of blogs to “unpack” our pilgrimage to Ireland. A pilgrimage is not a packaged 5-star holiday, or a Disney getaway, nor is it simply a trip. A pilgrimage is not about the destination but the journey. A pilgrimage is more about

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THE CALL FOR SPIRITUAL MENTORS

I was a rector for about five years and looked pretty good on the outside. On the inside I was hollow. I needed help. Spiritual help. It was the 1980s, and the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation led by Tilden Edwards in Washington, D.C., caught my attention. I made a proposal to the vestry and

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From Revival to Renewal

Wow! Like so many I was blown away by the recent revival that took place at Asbury in Wilmore, Kentucky. Thousands of young people converged upon this small town of Wilmore which boasted of one stoplight and a two-lane highway to drive by the college campus and the adjoining seminary.  But a revival took place

Read More »

Pray Without Ceasing

As we seek renewal during this Season of Epiphany, we become aware and attentive to the need for a life that works and is fully functional. Maybe, a change in attitude, a new diet, perhaps more sleep, something, anything to help us leap tall buildings in a single bound. And often we are led trying

Read More »

What Difference Does Grace Make?

As we begin a New Year, many people make resolutions as a way of bringing about change and greater satisfaction in life. There are those who consider it a way of “reinventing” their selves. I hate to be the one who burst the bubble but when we reinvent our self we are still left with—our

Read More »

A Star

Epiphany is a wonderful time in the church year. It naturally fits with our calendar announcing a new year, except the difference is in the church—we begin a New Life. It starts with the wisemen. They are the ones who embody wisdom. They said, “we have observed his star” (Matthew 2:2) and decide to follow

Read More »

Away In A Manger

The grandkids never get tired of playing with the figures in the Creche. We tell the story. We sing the Christmas carol, “Away in a Manger.” They get it. They are not alone. St. Francis of Assisi loved the story. His life was changed because of it. He wanted others to share and join and

Read More »

Prepare the Way

Many are familiar with the Chinese saying, “it is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” I’m sorry. I will light two candles on this second Sunday in Advent and you should know I curse the darkness. I have hope like never before. Darkness is not just about being in the dark.

Read More »