Pastors Pondering

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, had a practice of leading people to renew a promise to God. During Wesley’s life, this became a yearly practice that came to be known as a “covenant service,” often celebrated on New Year’s Day or on a Sunday near...

Pastors Pondering

I had an interesting conversation over the holiday. Somehow, while wishing Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to friends, someone at the table asked, “Can you wish everybody well? How about someone who was an abuser, a criminal, a bully? Is it possible to wish that...

Pastors Pondering

Christmas time is full of stories. Remember the time that we piled into the station wagon and drove to Grandma and grandpa’s house in the snowstorm? How about that time when Dad picked out the Christmas tree that wouldn’t fit in the living room? Remember the time when...