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This year we are joining LaCrosse and Hanna United Methodist Churches in a joint mission project called Operation Christmas Child.   In September, two people from Hanna UMC came to share this project with us, but in case you missed it or wanted more information, I wanted to make sure we are all on the same … [Read more…]

Scripture:  Philippians 1:21-30 I am not the biggest football in the world, and honestly it is fairly rare for me to watch a full football game.  However, of all the games that I have watched over the years there is one that stands out in my memory more than any other.  While I am not … [Read more…]

Scripture:  Romans 14:1-13 Back in 2019 I was able to attend the Star Wars celebration in Chicago, which was kind of like a dream come true for me.  However, I was a little anxious about going, and one of the interactions I had on the second day showed why.  I was in line to be … [Read more…]

Scripture:  Matthew 16:21-28 There have been a lot of successful game shows over the years, but one of the most enduring has been Family Feud.   There is a good chance that you have some familiarity with this show that pits two families against each other to guess the top answers given to various survey questions.  … [Read more…]

Scripture:  Matthew 16: 13-20 The United Methodist church is a connectional church.   As many of you are aware one of the prominent ways that local churches experience that connection is in how a church gets pastors.  Clergy are not hired by the local church but they are appointed by the conference. So in February of … [Read more…]

It was October of 1999,  Fall break was ending, and I  had just gotten back to the campus of the University of Evansville.   This was my freshman year of college and for whatever reason I was among the first ones back to campus.   I was bored and looking for a reason to not do homework.  … [Read more…]

Scripture:  Matthew 15:10-20 Last Sunday my son got to go to the Pennzoil 200, the NASCAR race that takes place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  He went with my dad who has been attending the NASCAR races at the speedway since the first Brickyard 400 back in 1994.  For decades now NASCAR has been the … [Read more…]

Scripture:  Matthew 14:22-33 I do not really know why, but it seems that we as humans love the water.   Usually the number one reason why we cannot wait for summer is because it means we can either get into the pool, go out on the lake, take the kayak down the river, or just sit … [Read more…]

Scripture:  Matthew 13:31-33; 44-52 This summer was the fifteenth time to be part of a camp directing team for church camp.  One of the things that I think is kind of neat is how every year the general vibe and culture that a week of camp generates is different.   Even though there can be returning … [Read more…]

One of the points that is regularly taught in our Confirmation classes to young people is that the United Methodist church is a connectional church as opposed to a congregational church.  A congregational church is a local church that exists completely on its own.  Its mission, its policies, its structure, and its support network all … [Read more…]