Pretty much every week, I write a...something...for my church's weekly eNewsletter. Way back when, it was my take on a pastoral letter. Then some time along the way, I started thinking of it more like a newspaper's opinion column. Now I suppose I think of it as a blog post. ('Cause I'm all super fly …
Wisdom speaking?
Some time ago I was given a hand-written note on an obviously oft-folded piece of paper. The giver, Vi, is one of the sweetest women you could ever hope to meet. She passed her 90th birthday several years ago but continues to be an active part of our church. The note was meant for our …
“That’s some salty language!” – final version of Feb.6 sermon
Not exactly sure why, but unlike many of my more disciplined colleagues, I've never been one to post a written version of a sermon. Probably has mostly to do with not preaching from a manuscript. Posting a few notes with a few more-fully written paragraphs and a few other thoughts that end up not being said...well, …
Continue reading “That’s some salty language!” – final version of Feb.6 sermon
That’s Some Salty Language!
That's the title. And that's about as far as I've gotten on my sermon for Sunday. Well, ok, that's not entirely true. I've read the texts for this week: Isaiah 58:1-12 and Matthew 5:13-20. Isaiah and Jesus offer startling definitions of righteousness - of how God wants people to live. And I've read some commentary on those …
Inspiring generosity
“You ask me how I know my Savior lives? He lives…in the hearts and thus the actions of the people of Woodridge UMC!” Ok, so maybe the old hymn doesn’t go exactly like that, but it certainly could. Rarely have I been so excited to share a story! Last week’s Administrative Council (the top, decision …
Can we talk?
I need to ask you a question. It is, admittedly, a slightly impertinent question. But first, a quick story. I’m guessing this will sound familiar to many of you. As a dad, there are a number of conversations with our kids that I find myself having over and over. Which is to be expected, right? …
“…Seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan…”
“Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” Isaiah 1:17 “During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we rededicate ourselves to preventing and ending human trafficking, and we recognize all who continue to fight this serious human rights violation,” declared President Obama as he proclaimed January …
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A little something to help Haiti
On Wednesday this week, 30 dedicated youth and adults from our church traveled to Aurora to work at Feed My Starving Children. FMSC is a Christian non-profit dedicated to providing food for, well, children starving all over the globe. They currently send food to over 70 countries. All the meals they send are hand packed …
Anne’s House and shocking proximity
According to the author of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus began his public ministry with a reading from Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring good news to the poor…to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free…” Then Jesus declared …
Let’s put an end to cyberbullying
Want to do something about cyberbullying? Me too. But really? All of the "if you REALLY care about ___ then you'll post THIS as your status" memes on facebook make me twitchy. So I'm not going to tell you what to do. But I am going to tell an idea my new friends at Lockport's …
All That I Can't Leave Unsaid 