Spirituality Blog

Recent Posts

‘How can this be?’ A prayer following a church shooting
United Methodists offer a prayer for comfort, peace, and guidance following tragic violence in a sanctuary. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Read More

Rainbow Weather
When congregations get a new pastor, they experience a myriad of emotions during the transition. Poet Lindy Thompson relates to these emotions in her poem "Rainbow Weather." Read More

Seeking Proof: This Doubter’s Guide to Understanding Easter
"If you wish me to live according to a book written centuries ago, the bar to hurdle my raised eyebrow is set rather high." Read More

Carrying others’ burdens
In Mary McLeod Bethune and Simon the Cyrenean we see the oppressed helping the oppressed. Read More

God surprises us
"Raising Lukas has shown me that miracles are everywhere, constantly reminding of God’s unending love." Read More

Before I die, I want to _____: A Lenten reflection
Throughout these 40 days, how will you restore perspective and remember the gifts you've received from Jesus that make life full and meaningful? Read More

A Yuletide Chat with Bishop Ken Carter
"The most effective churches see Christmas Eve as a way to meet new people and talk about what they will do during the next year." Read More
An inconvenient Christmas
The truth is, Christmas, the real Christmas, has never been convenient. Jesus' birth was inconvenient. Read More

Ripples of Mercy
"Nineteen years after her death, Mother Teresa is still creating ripples of love across our world because of the purity of her mercy for the poorest of the poor." Read More

What dogs can teach us about God’s love
Singer Barbara Bailey Hutchison writes about one song that captures the spiritual side of being a pet owner. Read More

Some of life’s best lessons are learned outside the classroom
Hundreds share worship at home of teacher battling cancer. "I felt that I was not alone," said Bob Ellis, who passed away September 16. Read More

Three family Bibles bring a flood of emotion
Stephanie Hope lost her home and all its contents in Louisiana's flood, but her strongest feelings came when she saw her most treasured books. Read More

Overboard
In his blog post "Overboard," the Rev. Stephen Bauman tells the story of a woman transformed by a storm at sea and her understanding of the event twenty years later. Read More

Saved by Story
Positive change emerges from shared stories of pain and struggle more than from quarrels and contentious debates. Read More

Why We Need Evangelicals: A United Methodist Perspective
Bishop writes, “I cannot allow a beautiful, life-giving word, “evangelical,” to be marginalized, scorned, scapegoated or neglected.” Read More

Susanna Wesley: How one woman shaped the Methodist church
Visit to John Wesley's childhood home gives writer surprising insights into his mother's influence. "Susanna by all accounts is the mother of Methodism." Read More

When it feels things are shifting, stand firm with Scripture
As headlines shake us, the Rev. Stephen Bauman says remember “the recurring human discovery that God is. Behind all things lays a fundamental order.” Read More

Wesley Pilgrimage: Bishop Asbury’s difficult departure from home and family
Visit to Asbury's childhood home reminds writer that Methodism's "American saint" was first a son who made a difficult decision to go where God called. Read More

Wesley Pilgrimage: The New Room - Loving God and people yesterday and today
United Methodists attend the Wesley Pilgrimage to commune with the Holy Spirit who moved in the Wesleys and the early Methodists. Read More

Wesley Pilgrimage: Oxford history inspires today
Columnist Joe Iovino was inspired by what he learned about Oxford – the university and the city – in the days of the Wesleys. Read More