COULD THIS INVITATION BE FOR YOU?

One of our fall cycle PTCUMC initiatives is an emphasis on small groups. You will be hearing much, much more about that during a four week sermon series beginning July 18. Small groups are the Jesus “Disciple formation” model. My wife Shannon and I are forming a small group around Disciple 1 Bible Study. We will be the co-facilitators of …

YIKES! ARE WE REALLY GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT?

Yikes—Are We Really Going to Talk About That?! Grace and peace to my fellow Christians of PTCUMC. May the God of glory bless you and keep you as we emerge from this pandemic, and bless our church with a season of new life as we step back into the church building and out onto the mission field. It is wonderful …

SELF-MADE?

According to Merriam-Webster, to be “self-made” is to be a person who has “achieved success or prominence by one’s own efforts.” I chuckle every time I hear the phrase. On one hand, no one ever has originated his or her own existence. If someone ever figures out how to do that, it will be quite a feat. On the other …

RECLAIMING FAITH

Faith doesn’t happen because the church building is open on Sunday morning or because the stream is running. Faith happens when people have a transformational encounter with God, gather to praise God, and live out their faith in the world. While that is happening on Sunday morning, it is also happening in new ways throughout the globe every day of the week.  It’s time to empower believers of all ages …

MOVING OUTWARD INTO ALL THE WORLD

Luke 4:43 NRSV | Jesus says, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” Early in Jesus’ ministry, Peter led the group to his home in Capernaum on the north side of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was healing everyone that he touched – including …

STEPS FORWARD

Luke 24:28-30 NRSV 28As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, …

WHAT CAN YOU DO OVER TIME?

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NRSV 1For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven… Each of us has been given this “time” on earth. How is this time to be used? I suppose there are many ways to answer that question. After all, the writer of Ecclesiastes makes clear there are many seasons of time in our …

Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

Colossians 3:12 NRSV 12As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Have you noticed the shift? There has been a shift as vaccinations have taken hold among our population. The shift I am referring to is the shift from external mandate to internal responsibility – but responsibility to whom? I have tried …

In The Waiting

I ordered a new desk just before Christmas. It was an L shaped desk that was more streamlined than my old one and it had a part of it that could be raised and lowered so that I could either sit or stand at it. When I ordered it, the delivery date was only a week or so away. Four …

UNDIVIDED ATTENTION ON THE RESURRECTION

Acts 4:33 NRSV With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. If you have been in worship with us recently, you know that I am seeing the resurrection almost everywhere I look these days. The theme of “death to new life” is resonating through every pore …