We all love to be heard. James counsels, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slower still to grow angry.” (1:19) Could our love be best measured by how well we listen? In addressing a Corinthian controversy, that is now largely a non-issue, Paul counsels, “Now concerning XY&Z, we all have ‘knowledge’. […]
Author Archives: paulrpurdue
On our way to the Grand Canyon, we camped one night at Bryce Canyon National Park. We took shorter hikes to scenic overlooks, saving our energy for our upcoming hike to the bottom the Grand Canyon. We had additional tents, but found it easier for all five us to sleep in a poorly named 5-person […]
Dear Belmonters Right now our hearts range from breaking to furious. We lament in uncertainty. No matter our emotional state or the unfolding information, Belmont UMC’s resolve is fixed. We must be who God has called us to be as reflected in our welcome statement. No matter Belmont’s path, we must bear witness to the […]
Lord, in this season of Lent. Your Spirit Leads us into the wilderness. Lord, perhaps nothing is more counter-cultural than Lent. 40 days. 40 days of ashes, fasting, sacrifice, repenting, realigning, testing, temptation, wilderness, word, worship… Foot washing, Not this cup, breaking the bread, anguished praying, self denying, cross bearing. Lent speaks the unfamiliar language […]
It was a sad walk… seven miles from the Holy City. It seemed like it was finished. The disciples scattered to the wind. When the reporter asked, “what happened?”, I stumbled for my words, stood still, and looked sad. Grief steals our best words. What happened? Well, Methodist delegates from 136 nations gathered with two […]
John as, Sacred Storyteller, loves images and invites us to ponder word pictures and parables. In John 21, Jesus cooks breakfast. I love this image: Jesus cooking breakfast. As the sea laps against the shoreline in the pre-dawn light and the disciples’ voices drift over the water, Jesus comes as a cook. He builds […]
The upcoming General Conference on human sexuality will say more about our understanding of God than our understanding of human sexuality. Will we affirm that “we are incorporated into God’s mighty acts of salvation and given new birth through water and the Spirit” and that “all this is God’s gift, offered to us without price?” […]
Did they slide the mat under him so he could sit up as if sitting in a swing? Or did the four friends let him down to Jesus flat on his back? It would make a difference in the size of the hole the five friends opened in the roof. Mark 2 tells us […]
Ancient rope came as a loose weave of palm, hemp, papyrus or flax fibers. You can’t leave natural fiber nets lying in the bottom of the boat; it will rot. So Peter’s crew carried the heavy wet nets from up the docks, past the empty scales at the fish market, to the drying racks dotting […]
Luke tells us that “Jesus returned from the Jordan River full of the Holy Spirit,” and that makes perfect sense. Every time we sing “Child of blessing, child of promise”, I want to waltz down the center aisle holding that newly baptized child of God! The sky cracked open, the Holy Spirit landed on Christ […]
pastorpaulpurdue 