Every year I try to take the time to write a brief reflection on Saint Francis Day, the Feast Day of Saint Francis, October 4th. As I looked over reflections from previous years, I was surprised by how many of them focused on the same thing, the issue of violence and our need for peace. Unfortunately, I suppose this year is the same. This past week has been a challenging one across our nation and even at home. The nation is still reeling over the worst mass shooting in American history. The city I call home, Indianapolis, is trying to … Continue reading We Need Another Saint Francis

Sermon Oct 1st, 2017             Living a Life of Joy: Lighten Up! Nearly every Sunday I can still feel the butterflies before I preach. After preaching for several years now, I can still get a little nervous over the enormity of the call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No pressure right! During one of my first times ever preaching, a mentor of mine reminded me that if I’m not a little nervous throughout my entire career, then I’m doing something wrong. I can remember the time when I was preaching at my college church when Bishop Duecker came up … Continue reading Sermon: “Living a Life of Joy: Lighten Up!”

A part of the gift of being a spiritual director and often a directee, a person who is receiving spiritual direction, is being humbled. It might not seem like a gift to be humbled, but it is or it can be. I have been receiving spiritual direction for some time now and have been a director for only a few months, but every time I engage in spiritual direction I find myself humbled. I feel like a part of the role of being a director and directee is to be reminded how little I can really do and to be … Continue reading Being Humbled

Sermon, “When God Moved Into the Neighborhood”                                  Sept 17th, 2017 “Celebrate Butler” Sunday at Meridian Street United Methodist Church Scripture: John 1: 1-14 It is a great joy to welcome you on this Celebrate Butler weekend at Meridian Street. We worship in a special place and I’m not referring just to Meridian Street, I’m talking about the crossroads of the Butler Tarkington, Meridian Kessler, and Rocky Ripple neighborhoods. This is a great place to live, work, and worship in, this neighborhood is our home … Continue reading Sermon “When God Moved Into the Neighborhood”

Last week I was driving in my car listening to the radio. I occasionally tune into the Tavis Smiley Show on NPR. He is a great interviewer with solid questions and an inquisitive nature. That afternoon Tavis was interviewing jazz artist Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah. It was very interesting interview covering aspects of his personal life as a jazz artist to his views on where music is today. After sharing some about his background in jazz, Christian said, “Many people say the best jazz has already been created.” He doesn’t believe that. “We learn from the artists of the past, … Continue reading A Jazz Faith: The Best Is Yet to Come

Luke 10: 1-11, The Message Bible 10 1-2 Later the Master selected seventy and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he intended to go. He gave them this charge: “What a huge harvest! And how few the harvest hands. So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands. 3 “On your way! But be careful—this is hazardous work. You’re like lambs in a wolf pack. 4 “Travel light. Comb and toothbrush and no extra luggage. “Don’t loiter and make small talk with everyone you meet along the way. 5-6 “When you enter a … Continue reading Sermon “God On Our Doorstep”

Most Sundays at my church, my Senior Pastor and I break up our clergy roles into the preaching pastor and the praying pastor. This past Sunday, I had the role of praying pastor. Normally I greatly appreciate such a role. Yet there are times when I struggle to find the words not just to preach, but to pray. The past few weeks have been filled with news about the possibility of nuclear war with North Korea; angry tweets and posts; the rally and protest in Charlottesville, Virginia; racism, bigotry, and white supremacy; among non stop news filled with anger, hurt, … Continue reading When Words Fail Us