Paul's message to give affection for what is above. Not living on autopilot, with only the minimum effort required. Always challenging ourselves and setting goals beyond our ability in order to grow and to stay humble.

Building a relationship with God, and standing with courage and conviction for God's love. The power of allowing our faith to widen our imagination and opportunities. Our invitation from God to live for something greater than ourselves and "brush our head against the stars."

Find the full playlist on YouTube

Visit the Website

In honor of Independence Day, here is this discussion referenced in the previous episode on the history of the church from the Holy Roman Empire to the Reformation, and the foundation of religious freedom in the American colonies up to today.

Find the full playlist on YouTube

Visit the Website

Lesson for Independence Day on the religious groups crossing the Atlantic Ocean to worship freely, the faith of the individual founders such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, George Washington, how the separation of church and state preserves religious liberty, and danger of ignoring the history of religion in America.

Find the full playlist on YouTube

Visit the Website

Sermon on pioneers in faith, Francis Asbury, the story of the circuit rider, and the urgent vitality of the United Methodist Church.

The needs of people for us to minister have been constant, from arriving in colonial days to the Pittman Center in the twentieth century, and Methodists have always been ready to serve.

The power and importance of the connectional church as a collective fellowship of believers, focused and active in society to carry the flame of Christ's love.

The origin, history and continued mission of the Holston Conference. The growing call of United Methodism in America, and in the larger parish of the world.

Find the full playlist on YouTube

Visit the Website

Brief sermon on being the light and peace of Christ, and the power and importance of the Holy Spirit.

Find the full playlist on YouTube

Visit the Website

Brief lesson on the promise of the coming savior in the 1st century A.D. Jesus' contemporaries under foreign oppression concentrated on the abundance of material blessing, not the spiritual awakening. Judea under Roman occupation envisioned the Messiah primarily as a military ruler.

Some, including Zealots, were intent on taking prophecy into their own hands, and believed they could force God's actions. Humankind can do nothing to facilitate the prophecy, which will occur in God's own time.

The teachings of the prophets concluded: -the kingdom would come with God's initiative -the kingdom would be brought by the Messiah -there would be great material blessings -there would be great political and military strength -there would be a great spiritual awakening -it will be an eschatological transition: the beginning of end of time.

Jesus concentrated on the spiritual, never material or political or military; always about kingdom of God, never of this world. He would not conform to contemporary assumptions about the Messiah's role.

We are living in the time between the coming of the Christ and the final coming of the kingdom of God to Earth. Our task is to accept the gift of God's love and show God's love, inviting others into the kingdom.

Find the full playlist on YouTube

Visit the Website

Sermon for a pastoral dedication on the call to ministry and feeling God's voice. The need for conviction to remain steadfast in your conscience, while keeping an open mind and submitting to trust in God.

Being informed, be able to be trusted, but not intellectualizing, meeting the needs of people with complex lives and sometimes heavy hearts.

Accepting, appreciating and loving them for who they are, without judgment. The challenge of making people feel closer to God, and how the material sacrifices cannot compare to the spiritual rewards.

Find the full playlist on YouTube

Visit the Website

To celebrate Easter, we revisit this introspective monologue on the apostle Simon Peter from 2003. As always, no notes - just an extemporized yet structured meditation based on heavy research.

Also available in VIDEO at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjwG-eUhOOw&t=1329s