Low Sodium Christianity (Luke 14: 25-34) Recently I had my annual Medicare checkup which went as well as expected in spite of not taking care of myself as I should and carrying more than a few extra pounds. Surprisingly, everything checked out okay with all of the vital signs and I’m really not taking [...]
Diane Johnson, Lay Speaker SERMON: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE I am starting today with a quote from Jane Austen’s book, “Pride and Prejudice:” “Pride,” observed Mary, who piqued herself upon the solidity of her reflections, “is a very common failing, I believe. By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very [...]
Do as I Say, Not as I Do (Luke 13: 10-17) Smith County, Texas, was known as the “wettest dry county in Texas” which came as quite a surprise to me when I moved there in November of 2002 to start work as an Assistant District Attorney. It’s not that I’m a big drinker, [...]
Truth or Consequences (Luke 12: 49-56) Raising kids is challenging, especially if they are smart. Of course, we all think our kids or grandchildren are smart but there are those occasions when they do something that leaves you scratching your head wondering what was going through their minds. Teresa and I have always considered [...]
Road Trip Jesus (Luke 5: 27-31) Teresa and I love a good road trip, and we have taken many over our fifty plus years together. We know our planned destination and much of the driving is on the interstate highways that crisscross the country. But we get bored traveling on the freeway and at [...]
Many thanks to the Rev. Dale Kelley for filling the pulpit for me this morning so I could take last week off. Great message and worth the watch if you either weren't in church or watching live. To view service, click link below; Here's the Facebook Live link: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16edNpXvtz/
Debt Free (Colossians 2: 6-15) One of my favorite movies is the Coen Brothers’ film O Brother Where Art Thou? If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth watching just for the great Depression Era music. The underlying premise is that Ulysses “Everett” McGill escapes from a prison farm in Mississippi with two other convicts [...]
Keep the Faith (Colossians 1: 15-28) It was over ten years ago when Daniel Foster, our District Superintendent, approached me at my last Certified Lay Minister training session and told me he believed I was ready. Ready for what I asked him. “Your own church.” he replied. I was stunned. I figured I would [...]
That Church (Colossians 1: 1-14) I’ve told this story before, but it’s worth repeating to serve as a reminder of whose we are. I don’t remember the circumstances, but I was having a conversation with someone I had just met and eventually I was asked by this person what I did for a living. [...]
Blessed and Broken (Galatians 6: 1-10, 15b-16) Recently Don Olsen and I attended the Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church of the Pacific Northwest Conference over in Bothell. The theme for this year was “Blessed and Broken” which can be taken many ways depending upon the person and where they are at in [...]