PEARL STREET UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

“All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me and because of the good news will save them.” — Mark 8:35 (CEB)  Here’s a moment that may resonate, either we’ve been the person, or have witnessed it: the parent (grandparent) standing in the aisle of a school auditorium, phone held high, trying to record every second of a child’s recital.  The intention is good — preserve the memory, capture the moment. But sometimes, in focusing so

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Instead, set an example for the believers through your speech, behavior, love, faith, and by being sexually pure.” — 1 Timothy 4:12 (CEB) When I was in high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. As graduation approached and people asked about my plans, all I could say was, “Go to college,” but beyond that, I was lost. My grandfather, who was pretty business savvy, told me, “Go into computers.” This wa

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3 Division seems to be one of the constants of the human condition. Choose almost any topic from A to Z, and people will be firmly planted on opposite sides of the middle ground. We often find ourselves drawn toward conflict, as if disagreement itself offers a strange kind of satisfaction. Yet this pull leads

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.” — John 15:4 (NIV) In life, healthy relationships are usually about give‑and‑take. Whether it’s a marriage, a friendship, or a work team, we each offer something and receive something in return. That mutual exchange keeps the relationship alive. So, when Jesus talks about vines and branches, it’s natural to wonder if the same pattern applies. Does the fruit give anything ba

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. —Hebrews 13:15-16 (NIV) From a tender age, we are taught to be kind to others and to share. We may also attend spiritual training, such as Sunday School or CCD, where we learn about God and the importance of giving Him praise. But it may be later in life w

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV) When Janice and I go out to dinner with friends, I’ve noticed something about myself. If we’re with our vegetarian friend—who happily eats cheese and shellfish but avoids meat—I won’t order a cheeseburger. I save that for meals with my carnivore friends. Without even thinking about it, I tend to choose something that aligns with the person I’m with. It’s not about pre

“Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you.” — Luke 11:9–10 (CEB) Soon after we begin to talk, shortly after we learn the word “No,” the first question we ask is “Why?” Anyone who has spent much time around a toddler has heard this. In fact, we’ve heard it so often that we’re tempted to respond with “Because” or “That’s just the way it is.” But that innate curiosity is a gift. It shows growth, imagination, and a desire to under

“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” — John 20:21 (NLT) I’ve been listening to Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point , a book about how ideas spread and take hold. Gladwell talks about “stickiness”—the quality that makes a message linger in the heart and mind. As I listened, I found myself thinking about the gospel, and about the way Jesus sends us into the world with a message meant not just to be heard, but to stay. Gladwell says a message becomes sticky when it meets

Then he said, “The Sabbath was created for humans; humans weren’t created for the Sabbath. This is why the Human One is Lord even over the Sabbath.” — Mark 2:27-28 (CEB) Although "blue laws" are now a thing of the distant past, every so often, I hear someone say, “People shouldn’t have to work on Sundays.” And in a perfect world, maybe that would be true. But then an ambulance races by, or a fire truck turns the corner, and suddenly we remember: some work saves lives. No one

“The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”  — 2 Corinthians 9:6 (NRSV) Experts tell us that as we age it’s important to keep our minds engaged. I’ve done this for years with puzzles, but recently I returned to something I never thought I’d revisit: high school algebra. It turns out those equations I once dismissed are surprisingly good exercise for a pastor’s brain. And today’s verse brought one of those

I saw Christmas in the shimmer of lights strung across porches and steeples, twinkling like the great star in the East guiding wanderers toward hope. I saw it as I drove through towns and under concrete bridges, past wooded lots where shadows moved— people gathered close for warmth, wrapped in blankets layered against the sharp December night. I whispered Merry Christmas not as a greeting but as a prayer, remembering the Child who came for all— cradled in a manger, cradled in

“But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.” — Psalm 1:2 When a football player joins a team, one of the first things they receive is the playbook. It’s not a casual handout. It’s the heart of the team’s strategy, identity, and rhythm. Coaches expect players to study it. Teammates trust one another to know it. And the best players don’t just read the plays — they internalize them. They rehearse each movement until it becomes instinct. They run dr

And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.” — Luke 1:42 (KJV) Think of a time when someone made you a big promise — something you hoped for, maybe even longed for — and the joy you felt when that promise was finally kept. There’s a particular kind of relief in that moment, a settling of the heart that says, “It’s true. I can trust this.” That’s the kind of moment we walk into in Luke 1, when Mary arrives

“The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’” —Luke 1:35 (NIV)  We probably recognize the setting of today’s scripture. The angel Gabriel visits young Mary and tells her how she will be with child. It may be easy to see this verse only as the introduction to the larger story of Christ’s birth. But for a moment, let us pause and focus on a phrase that may b

"Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2, NIV) Joy is not always found where we expect it. We look for it in celebrations, successes, and comfort. Yet joy often surprises us in the least likely times—at a celebration of life service where memories bring laughter, in hospital waiting rooms where hope flickers, in moments

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” — Ephesians 4:2 (NIV) When Kirk and Jordan were little, Friday nights meant family movie night. During the week, TV time was limited, so these evenings felt special. We’d head to the video store (remember those?) and pick something out together. One of those movies was Finding Nemo. Much of the plot has faded from memory, but one moment remains vivid: a flock of seagulls screeching at each other,

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” — John 1:12 (NIV) Imagine, for a moment, that you wake one morning to find your entire house mysteriously transported into a world of darkness. Your bedside clock reads 6:00 a.m.—okay, you think, that’s typical for this season back home in the eastern time zone.  You reach out to flip the light switch, but nothing happens. As you peer outside your bedroom window,

"You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near." — James 5:8 (NIV) Long before I had the privilege of visiting the Lincoln Memorial, I had seen pictures and miniature statues of the stolid Abraham Lincoln. His tall, seated figure—calm yet resolute—seemed to embody patience and strength. Lincoln’s appearance, with his furrowed brow and steady gaze, conveyed a resolve that endured the storms of the Civil War and national division. It was that image that

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them." — 1 John 4:16 (NIV) In Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream , Lysander reflects, “The course of true love never did run smooth.” For all who have ever loved, the words ring true. Even in the most stable of relationships, the waters of love can grow choppy, with currents of misunderstanding or swells of disappointment. Yet love endures. So it is with God’s

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:11 NIV Before this verse, Jesus had healed the blind man on the Sabbath, infuriating the Pharisees. What follows is the discourse with them on what it means to be a good shepherd. We know that Jesus here is talking about himself and his willingness to die for us. But if we listen closely, we can also hear his invitation to move from being sheep to becoming shepherds. In Jesus' teaching momen