Blogs
Everyday Blessings INTRODUCTION January 2 & 5
1/2/2012
Welcome to Everyday Blessings--a resource for you to use weekly as you pause for a time of quiet spent with God.
Christmas Greetings from the Bishop
12/21/2011
As the season of advent comes to an end, our hearts and minds are appropriately fixed on Jesus! The advent calendar is filling up. The count-down to Christmas is in its last stage. I hope most of us have completed our shopping, sent out the Christmas cards, trimmed the tree and egged the nog. Soon many of us will bundle up against the winter cold, trundle off to church, sing “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” light candles and celebrate the birthday of Jesus.
What is Your Vision?
12/15/2011
The Bible is filled with stories of God directing people through visions and dreams...
"Mike Check", "Mike Check"
11/23/2011
“... We’ve been waiting for you to grow up.” He smiled sheepishly and said, “Yeah, we were kinda stuck in our X-Boxes”
Overcoming the Biggest Obstacle
11/21/2011
I am not a runner. At least that is what I thought until this past spring ........
Death Row Watch in Both Idaho and Oregon
11/11/2011
In both Oregon and Idaho, Death Row inmates are scheduled to be executed soon. This gives us an opportunity to speak up and voice our faithful conviction that the death penalty should be abolished in the name of Jesus Christ!
A Visit to Death Row
11/9/2011
I know that there are strong and compelling arguments ... but my faith compels me to speak against the scheduled execution of Gary Haugen.
Enough already!
11/2/2011
Are you tired yet of me talking about nothing but change? I think I may have reached the saturation point even for me,...
What about the $$$ ?
10/30/2011
Some have been raising questions about how much we will save if we move to 4 districts. Well...
Response to a Question about the Special Session
10/24/2011
Several persons have asked for specific details about the assignment of churches to 4 districts if the vote is positive to go to 4 districts. Some want to have the list publicized before the vote is taken. I am sharing my thoughts about this questions in this blog posting.
Why Should We Care about the Vital Church Project?
10/11/2011
For the past two years, the leaders of the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference have been diligently and faithfully working on the Vital Church Project. I would like to share some of the excitement of the "unveiling" of our Vital Church Project. It may well be the key to our successful achieving of a vision of congregations led by lay and clergy who are growing healthy vital congregations that change lives and transform communities!
Prayer for an end to Violence in our World
7/24/2011
We are shocked and saddened by the terrorist attack in Norway. This kind of tragedy is contrary to God's plan for the created world. As people of faith, we are called to renew our commitment to peace in our communities and world. And we are called to pray for strength for our United Methodist sisters and brothers in Norway as well as the whole nation, for comfort and strength.
The Measure of Success - 525,600 minutes
6/27/2011
525,600 minutes from now, what difference will it make in our churches and in our communities because of our Annual Conference's time together?
Reflections on a Council of Bishops meeting
5/8/2011
Having just returned from a meeting of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church, I share some of my thoughts and experiences. My sense is that the Council is working diligently to offer leadership to our denomination with the hope that our efforts will bring a refocus to our desire to "make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world" so that these words will not just be empty words, but truly an expression of our faithful response to God's grace.
Easter greetings
4/24/2011
A message at Easter to remind us that Easter is not just a one day event!
Joy and Celebration of a new life
4/13/2011
Sharing some of my thoughts and prayers as I welcome a new and a first grandbaby
You get what you measure...
3/29/2011
“You get what you measure.” I read that in a book the other day, and I quickly discounted the statement. Then I thought ...
Faith in Times of Disaster
3/11/2011
How faithful Christians respond to disasters such as earthquake and tsunami.
The Initiative for Healthy Vital Churches
2/25/2011
Here's some insider info on the conference's new Healthy Vital Church Initiative (HVCI) process for developing local church leadership and potential.
Mike Slaughter to share at Annual Conference
2/23/2011
Our Annual Conference efforts to support and resource you as you grow healthy vital congregations continues with the coming of Mike Slaughter to our Annual Conference session in June.
Let me share with you why I am excited about his coming!
An Insider's Scoop on a Conference in Transition
2/11/2011
Under the banner of "Embracing Change," conference leadership made some big promises and commitments at the last session of annual conference. What's happened since then? Here is one insider's scoop on what's been going on with a conference undergoing transition.
Birthing a Website
2/10/2011
Websites must be easy. Otherwise there wouldn't be so many of them. Right?
Re-Imagine Your Story
Re-Imagine Your Story