The word "Pentecostal" conjures up all sorts of unsettling images for many of us: weird preachers who wear white suits and drive luxury cars, "staged" healing and deliverance services, people "falling out" in the spirit, or, worse, handling snakes. And then a sneaking...

As some of you know, we will soon be looking for someone to head up our Discipleship ministries at Good Shepherd. After five years on staff, James-Michael Smith will be leaving us at the end of April to prepare for and then pursue his PhD.But I'll blog more on that...

A little later today, I'm meeting with a representative from Asbury Theological Seminary. It has to do with alumni relations and fund raising.But as some of you know, my Asbury ties are strong. Really strong.I identify myself much more readily as a graduate of that...

As I mentioned in this post, I spent much of last week at the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church, held in Lake Junaluska, NC. I was actually elected as a reserve delegate to the Conference, so it was an honor to go.The Southeastern...

This past Sunday, Methodist churches all across western North Carolina received new pastors.Now, not all Methodist churches did so. In any given year, about 20% or so of the churches in the Western North Carolina Conference say good-bye to one pastor and then hello to...

I told you last week that I was travelling to Lake Junaluska, NC for the yearly meeting of the Western North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. That's an official sounding mouthful.A couple of conference highlights:Good Shepherd's own Rich...

Today I'll be travelling to Lake Junaluska North Carolina for the Western North Carolina Annual Conference. It's a yearly (think that's why they call it "Annual Conference"?) gathering of about 2500 preachers and church members from across the western part of our...