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.
A Word for Good Friday
18 The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are being destroyed. But it is the power of God for those of us who are being saved. 19 It is written in scripture: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will reject the intelligence of the intelligent. 20 Where are … Continue reading A Word for Good Friday
The New Mandate on Maundy Thursday
34 “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. 35 This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.” (John 13:34-35, Common English Bible) I've spent most of the day preparing several prayer stations … Continue reading The New Mandate on Maundy Thursday
The Way, the Truth, the Life
1 “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me. 2 My Father’s house has room to spare. If that weren’t the case, would I have told you that I’m going to prepare a place for you? 3 When I go to prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to … Continue reading The Way, the Truth, the Life
Metrics That Matter
Part of the general buzz I heard during the Leadership Summit on Wednesday was suspicion regarding the metrics that have been chosen and identified by the Call to Action and the Council of Bishops for evaluation. Some of this suspicion is certainly due to fears regarding how the data will be evaluated, and concerns about … Continue reading Metrics That Matter
#UMCLead: The View from Table 9–Part 3
Earlier this week the United Methodist Council of Bishops, the Connectional Table, and the Call to Action Team hosted a Leadership Summit, involving UMC leaders from throughout the world . I participated in that event as a scribe for Table 9 of the Tennessee Annual Conference gathering, and have been sharing insights from Table 9 … Continue reading #UMCLead: The View from Table 9–Part 3
#UMCLead: The View from Table 9–Part 3
Earlier this week the United Methodist Council of Bishops, the Connectional Table, and the Call to Action Team hosted a Leadership Summit, involving UMC leaders from throughout the world . I participated in that event as a scribe for Table 9 of the Tennessee Annual Conference gathering, and have been sharing insights from Table 9 … Continue reading #UMCLead: The View from Table 9–Part 3
#UMLEAD: The View From Table 9–Part 2
Earlier this morning I posted an overview of my participation in the UM Leadership Summit event, focusing on the first of the three “Summit Questions” and providing a sense of where the conversation was focused at Table 9 of the TN Conference Event, where I served as the scribe. This is the second of the … Continue reading #UMLEAD: The View From Table 9–Part 2
#UMLEAD: The View From Table 9–Part 2
Earlier this morning I posted an overview of my participation in the UM Leadership Summit event, focusing on the first of the three “Summit Questions” and providing a sense of where the conversation was focused at Table 9 of the TN Conference Event, where I served as the scribe. This is the second of the … Continue reading #UMLEAD: The View From Table 9–Part 2
UM Leadership Summit: The View from Table 9 – Part 1
Yesterday leaders from the United Methodist Church throughout the world gathered via Internet webcast for a conversation called the Leadership Summit. This conversation was an opportunity for the Council of Bishops to present their endorsement of the Call to Action report and attempt to gain feedback regarding how UM leaders felt about their conclusions. During … Continue reading UM Leadership Summit: The View from Table 9 – Part 1
Covenant Groups versus Orders
I don't really have time to flesh this out this morning, but as I was eating breakfast and preparing for my Manthano class this afternoon, I found myself thinking about the act of preparing a rule of life. While there is certainly a tradition of an individual rule, for those who are looking to the … Continue reading Covenant Groups versus Orders
3/29/2011 — A Prayer of Confession
Receive, Lord, the offering of our lives: that every breath might be holy to you. O God who is more ready to forgive than I am to be faithful, I fall on my face before you, acknowledging my sin. As the so called leader of a tribe of people known as your church I fall … Continue reading 3/29/2011 — A Prayer of Confession
Why I Am A SOULfeasta…
Several years ago (I confess that it has been so many that I can’t remember when) Kay and I were considering our vacation options for the summer. Frankly we were financially broke. We had taken the girls on a once in a lifetime Disney vacation a year or so before, and were still paying off … Continue reading Why I Am A SOULfeasta…
Why I Am A SOULfeasta…
Several years ago (I confess that it has been so many that I can’t remember when) Kay and I were considering our vacation options for the summer. Frankly we were financially broke. We had taken the girls on a once in a lifetime Disney vacation a year or so before, and were still paying off … Continue reading Why I Am A SOULfeasta…
Do United Methodists Believe in Hope?
During the past couple of weeks, in the midst of the conversation surrounding Rob Bell’s book and the dismissal of Chad Holtz from his position in North Carolina, I have found myself engaged in some though on hope. Some of this is due to teaching a class on N.T. Wright’s Surprised by Hope, in which … Continue reading Do United Methodists Believe in Hope?
Rob Bell’s Sermon of Love
Many years ago, I was blessed to study under the tutelage of Dr. William Lane for part of my undergraduate New Testament studies. Bill Lane was well regarding in evangelical circles, and at the time was known for his commentary on Mark. While I was his student, he was engaged in writing what would become … Continue reading Rob Bell’s Sermon of Love
When Will They Ever Learn? Some thoughts on the Rob Bell conversation.
I’ve been hesitant to offer comment on the ever swirling conversation surrounding Rob Bell’s latest offering, “Love Wins,” for there are more than enough words being thrown around from both sides of the debate. For my money, Tony Jone’s analysis of Bell was the among my favorites. Yet, in thinking about the whole thing this … Continue reading When Will They Ever Learn? Some thoughts on the Rob Bell conversation.
St. Rachel, who was killed on this day in 2003 by being crushed by a bulldozer in Gaza and she attempted to keep a home from being illegally destroyed.
Prayers for Miko Crafton and family
This past Friday, in the early hours following the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami, I tweeted an update regarding Miko Crafton's family. Miko is married to Councilman Eric Crafton, and is a Japanese national whose family lives in Sendai, ground zero of the tragedy. On Friday, based on an e-mail I had received, I shared that … Continue reading Prayers for Miko Crafton and family
3/12/2011 — Possessed by Christ
I’m desperate for you. I’m lost without you. —Breathe by Marie Barnett What does it mean to be possessed? We tend to think of being possessed as something demonic, Linda Blair in the movie The Exorcist, with little upside for a “normal” person. And that seems to be case for the man possessed by a demon … Continue reading 3/12/2011 — Possessed by Christ
Only Wonder Understands 