What’s the most important thing I can say about the Holy Spirit?Power? Tongues Gifts? No. Fellowship! Yes, fellowship is the deepest work of God’s Spirit. The Spirit of God is drawing us all of the time into a common life with one another. That is the central work of God’s Spirit — creating community. —Trevor … Continue reading What’s the most important thing I can say about the Holy Spirit?Power? Tongues Gifts? No. Fellowship! Yes, fellowship is the deepest work of God’s Spirit. The Spirit of God is drawing us all of the time into a common life with one another. That is the central work of God’s Spirit — creating community. —Trevor Hudson
Author: Jay Voorhees
Jay Voorhees is a pastor, writer, and community activist located in Nashville, TN. Jay currently is the pastor of the City Road Chapel United Methodist Church in Madison, TN, and is engaged in helping to connect others to the example and teaching of Jesus Christ and to take seriously Christ’s call to love our neighbors in radical ways.
Jay is the co-founder of The MethoBlog, a site that aggregates the writings of Methodist-related bloggers throughout the world, and is the former managing editor of The United Methodist Reporter. Jay has been involved in the United Methodist Church at both the local and national level since 1988. Jay is also the owner of Only Wonder Media, a boutique book and media publisher.
Why Rich People Don’t Understand Poor People
But the core of the breakthrough is that resolving conflicts among choices is expensive at a cognitive level and can be unpleasant. It causes mental fatigue. via Why Cant More Poor People Escape Poverty? Psychologists Have A Radical New Explanation. | The New Republic. Gavin clued me into this article in the New Republic which … Continue reading Why Rich People Don’t Understand Poor People
Thinking About the Ascension
Here's an image I've been thinking about in regards to today's sermon. I really wish we had video screens this morning. Here's a preview of what we'll be talking about: Click here to check out this morning's sermon.
Martha O’Bryan Center Needs Volunteers This Saturday
A day or so ago I posted on the other site an expression of concern regarding a conflict between two events on Saturday. What I failed to mention is that the Martha O'Bryan event helps at-risk kids and is certainly worthy of your support. I just received word that they are struggling a bit … Continue reading Martha O’Bryan Center Needs Volunteers This Saturday
The Pastoral Role In Christian Marriage
Back in 2009, in a fit of frustration, I sent out a tweet suggesting that I didn't want to perform any more wedding services for people under the age of 25. The resulting conversation led to this post which was eventually picked up in an edited form by the folks at the United Methodist Reporter. … Continue reading The Pastoral Role In Christian Marriage
Video of the Day — Along The Road
One of my favorite Fogelberg songs of all time, which was ably and wonderfully covered by Ashton, Becker, and Dente several years later. A part of the heart gets lost in the learning, somewhere along the road...
Yes, the world may end today….
...or it may end tomorrow, or the next, or several years from now. While the scriptures may not require the special gnosis of a Harold Camping in regards to determining the time, they are crystal clear that the task of those who follow Jesus is to live as if the world may end in the … Continue reading Yes, the world may end today….
8 Reasons That I Am Attending SoulFeast
Yeah, I sound like a broken record, but like any convert I want to encourage anyone who reads this blog, follows me on Facebook or Twitter, or who simply lands here by accident, to think about attending the Upper Room’s Soulfeast Conference at Lake Junaluska. No, it’s not as hip as the Wild Goose Festival, … Continue reading 8 Reasons That I Am Attending SoulFeast
The Young Clergy Question
I just finished reading Kevin Watson's post on his desire for the Call to Action committee to make recruiting young clergy the first priority for the next quadrennium. I agree with Kevin on many points, for I think in the zeal to improve the process of credentialing from that of the 1992 Book of Discipline, … Continue reading The Young Clergy Question
Letters to UMC.org–Thinking about Cults
Not too long ago, I received the following e-mail asking for a response to the following question: Are the Amish and the Mennonites cults? Do we Methodists believe they are? Here’s my response: Dear friend, To start off, you need to define what you mean by cult. In one sense, ALL religious movements can … Continue reading Letters to UMC.org–Thinking about Cults
Letters to UMC.org–Thinking about Cults
Not too long ago, I received the following e-mail asking for a response to the following question: Are the Amish and the Mennonites cults? Do we Methodists believe they are? Here’s my response: Dear friend, To start off, you need to define what you mean by cult. In one sense, ALL religious movements can … Continue reading Letters to UMC.org–Thinking about Cults
Conversation with a Young Methodist–A Beginning
Several years ago, when I was serving as the pastor for several folks at United Methodist Communications, I was pressed into duty as a pastor on call. It seemed that the umc.org website received many e-mail questions during the day. For the most part, these questions were technical in nature, regarding some point of United … Continue reading Conversation with a Young Methodist–A Beginning
Conversation with a Young Methodist–A Beginning
Several years ago, when I was serving as the pastor for several folks at United Methodist Communications, I was pressed into duty as a pastor on call. It seemed that the umc.org website received many e-mail questions during the day. For the most part, these questions were technical in nature, regarding some point of United … Continue reading Conversation with a Young Methodist–A Beginning
5/13/2011 — Foundations
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for those who come to me and hear my words and put them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When … Continue reading 5/13/2011 — Foundations
The Grumbling Pastor
26 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: 27 “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. 28 So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: 29 In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you … Continue reading The Grumbling Pastor
4/28/2011 — A Plea for Love from St. Meinrad’s
Lent and Holy Week pretty much wore me out this year, which is why it’s been so long since I’ve updated this blog. Knowing my level of exhaustion, I arranged to visit the St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana the week after Easter, and found myself renewed in arms of that intentional community of Grace. During … Continue reading 4/28/2011 — A Plea for Love from St. Meinrad’s
Helping in Times of Disaster
The pictures coming out of Alabama are unbelievable. Our friends and neighbors south of us woke that morning expecting another round of storms like many we’ve all seen before. By the time they tried to get to sleep in the local shelters that night, they had seen nature’s fury unleashed at record levels. For those … Continue reading Helping in Times of Disaster
Random Thoughts from St. Meinrad — Monday
This morning, after dropping Anna off at 5:45 a.m. to catch a bus for a school field trip to Pigeon Forge, I pointed the Corolla north into Kentucky, across the Ohio River into Indiana, through the thriving metropolis of Santa Claus, and over on Highway 62 to the St. Meinrad Archabbey for a week long … Continue reading Random Thoughts from St. Meinrad — Monday
Take Another Look — A Sermon for Easter Sunday
Ever since I have been in parish ministry, my wife Kay and I have rarely worshipped together as we have served different congregations. However, with her being on leave this year we actually got to be in the same building on Easter Sunday. She said that she thought this sermon was pretty good and since … Continue reading Take Another Look — A Sermon for Easter Sunday
Only Wonder Understands 