So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty (Zechariah 4:6, NIV). I appreciate the reminder in this verse that it is by God’s Spirit that I am able to make an impact on the lives […]
This appointive year I am going to work on starting and stopping things to be more healthy, faithful and balanced. Start Creating deeper connections with colleagues in the United Methodist Church More regular exercise Gardening Puttering about the house a bit more Stop Worrying about things that I cannot decide about or avoid Caffeine (This […]
At times, I wonder about ambition as a pastor in the United Methodist Church. On one hand, I am appointed and sent to serve at a local church by the bishop. It can be unhealthy to always “live in the next appointment” – looking forward to what might be. On the other hand, God has […]
“The problem is: We just don’t do whole things anymore. We don’t read complete books — just excerpts. We don’t listen to whole CDs — just samplings. We don’t sit through whole baseball games — just a few innings. Don’t even write whole sentences. Or read whole stories like this one. We care more about the […]
Last week I sent out this message on social media networks in which I am involved: http://twitter.com/#!/andrewconard/status/90893551919038464 I heard back from people who had ideas for what this might look like and I want to try to take the next step. Generally I am not very interested in groups that cohort, advocate or politic within […]
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. (Jonah 3:10, NIV) This verse contains a powerful reversal of God’s actions based on human behavior. God is responsive to people. It makes a difference to us, others […]
It was a big milestone in our family when our son learned to self sooth. The primary action for him in calming down and being able to go to sleep or stop crying is to suck his thumb. When I was in conversation with someone a couple weeks ago, I realized that there are things […]
It is important for organizations to have mission and vision statements to guide the future of the organization. I currently am serving as part of an organization that has three different mission statements. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection where I am currently serving has as a mission (or purpose) statement: Building a Christian […]
Like a local church, an annual conference and denomination with a mission (Why do we exist?) and a vision (Where are we going?) are more likely to contain vital congregations. The clarity of purpose and direction helps shape the life of the community in both subtle and significant ways. The United Methodist Church has a […]
A local church with a mission (Why do we exist?) and a vision (Where are we going?) is more likely to be a vital congregation. The clarity of purpose and direction helps shape the life of the congregation in both subtle and significant ways. With the lack of a clear statement that people can remember […]
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14, NIV). These words are very familiar to me. I remember hearing them before every Sunday sermon that my Dad preached. I do not remember wondering about their origin while I was growing […]
I am spending time with family this week and am taking time away from the blog for the rest of the week. I hope that you will take a moment to enjoy a few popular posts from the recent past: iBooks vs. Kindle – Which is better for a theological library? Can a Pastor Build a […]
Rev. Andrew Conard 