This summer, thousands of people will gather in Atlanta to run the 50thPeachtree Road Race. Several years ago, I decided to run the race for the first time. I am not a runner, but having been born and raised in Georgia, I felt this was an event that I should try at least one time. … More Finish The Race

Confession: I like to stay busy. I am not someone who likes to sit around and do nothing. I am always either doing something or thinking about the next thing to do. My wife is the same way, so we stay pretty busy in our house. But being busy is not always a good thing. … More Holy Habits: Silence and Solitude

One of the events I inherited as a first-time youth minister 20 years ago was the 30 Hour Famine. This event challenged teenagers (and those adults who worked with them) to give up eating from noon on Friday to 6 PM on Saturday. The youth would gather together for a lock-in at the church and encourage … More Holy Habits: Fasting

Last week, we began a new series in worship called The Lord’s Prayer: Praying Like Jesus. This series will focus on Jesus teaching on prayer following the model of the Lord’s Prayer he provided in Matthew and Luke’s gospel. Prayer is a critical element to our spiritual formation, yet so many people struggle with how to … More Holy Habits: Breath Prayer

This past Wednesday began the season of Lent, a season in the church we acknowledge our humanity and need for a Savior as we return to the Lord. This season begins a somber reminder of our own morality, but ultimately leads to the joyful celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Lent has always been one … More Focusing on Holy Habits

Every now and then, I find myself with very little to say. That may come as a surprise to some of the people who know me best, but it’s true. This week has exhausted me on words in praying for and talking about the recent General Conference in the United Methodist Church and I have reached … More Looking For the Words to Say

This month, begins the season of Lent in the Christian church. Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxonword lencten, which means “spring.” The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of … More Follow Me…

For the last few weeks, we have been looking at part of the prayer we share together in our liturgy for Holy Communion: “By your spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and oe in ministry to all the world…” These words are not just beautiful words we share in one of our most … More One In Ministry to All the World

What does it mean to be “one with each other?” Last week, I shared with you that each month we offer this prayer when we receive the sacrament of Holy Communion: “By your spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world.” This is our prayer as a church … More One with Each Other

On the first Sunday of each month, our congregation gathers for worship and shares in the sacrament of Holy Communion. As a part of our communion liturgy, my prayer each month includes the words, “By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in … More One with Christ