Essays and reflections on spiritual formation, the church, music, and daily faithfulness — 638 pieces, gathered in one home.
February is Black History Month, and we have also entered the holy season of Lent. Our United Methodist Bishops have called the church to a Lenten season focused on dismantling rac
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
I am so delighted to be part of a church that really believes in prayer. I love the spirituality of diligently keeping up with a prayer list as a community and lifting those names
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
There is a good article that recently came out by denominational leader Adam Hamilton on the future of the United Methodist Church. It's a centrist response to those among us who a
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
I ran across this in a book I’m reading, and it gives me great hope. “Even when Christian culture is compromised by conformity to the values and powers of this world, we can never
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
This is MLK, Jr. weekend when we observe one of the great Christian heroes of our time. Racism in general, and white supremacy in particular, is something the Church must openly st
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
This is a written version of my second Christmas Eve meditation on December 24, 2020. Because of the pandemic, we met for livestream-only worship in the sanctuary, followed by outd
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
This is a written version of my first Christmas Eve meditation on December 24, 2020. Because of the pandemic, we met for livestream-only worship in the sanctuary, followed by outdo
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
This is a Christmas gift for you, my friends, on the longest night of the year. Blessings.
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
Some have asked about the quote I shared this morning on dealing with a pandemic from Martin Luther, famous leader of the Protestant Reformation. It is from an open letter he wrote
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
These are difficult times in North American Methodism. I don’t know what all the answers are related to moving forward, though I know unequivocally that I am not leaving my spiritu
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
There is some new content posted in the Stay UMC website. If you are a North Alabama United Methodist, I encourage you to have a look. The website features a video testimony by Rev
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
Today, I spent some time with the most unlikely of roses. We have lived in our new home for over four months. As always, moving is a chore (for pastors, it's an occupational hazard
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
Today is my "half birthday" (my actual birthday is April 22, six months from now). In morning quiet time, I ran across this beautiful birthday blessing in John O'Donahue's To Bless
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
Are you confused about all this? 1. The “New Methodist Movement” is curated by a few clergy in the North Alabama Conference of the UMC that plan to leave our denomination and start
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
Dear Methodist friends, These are difficult times, and there are many more pressing things on our plate. However, a group of North Alabama Methodists are advocating that the North
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
It was an honor to lead the invocation for Commencement Exercises at Jacksonville State University, held outdoors on August 1, 2020 at the JSU Gamecock Stadium. This was spring gra
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
I'm delighted to have had the opportunity to offer the invocation at the Jacksonville City Schools Board of Education meeting recently. Some important decisions were discussed rega
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
Here is my mid-week devotional for July 21, 2020. We are using the technology of our time to share the gospel in tough times ... and it’s not the first time. My Grandpa West did it
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
Jax First UMC has a new YouTube Channel! Join us there for livestreaming on Sundays at 9:00 am. Or you can catch it afterward on YouTube or Facebook! Subscribe at: https://www.yout
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
This is my recent podcast on biblical wisdom for difficult times. In it, I reflect on Ecclesiastes 9: “Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart ...
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
Most of you know we will be moving in a few weeks to serve Christ in Jacksonville, Alabama with a new church family. What you may not know is that marching band is big part of who
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
I recently ran across the first article I had published. It has never been available online, so I thought I'd share it. It is about Millennial youth and written in 1995, so you can
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
I feel the grief deep in my soul tonight. 50,000 Americans are now deceased from COVID-19 (and tomorrow it will pass 200,000 world-wide). Gracious Lord, we have sung since we were
Originally at Musings of a Musical Preacher
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