Here we go into chapter 2 of James. Lets jump right in. Favoritism is our plateful for today.  "Did you hear what I said, Forrest? You are no different than anyone else" Many of us know the classic scene in Forrest Gump. He has had braces placed on his legs. Apparantly, if they locked his legs in position and forced him to walk in a proper manner it would fix the problem the young boy had with a crooked spine. Another memorable scene just before all this with his mama was with the family doctor. "His legs are as strong as I've ever seen. But, his back is a crooked as a politician." Forrest's mama went to great lengths throughout his childhood to help him understand that he was just like everyone else. It didn't matter whether he had braces on his legs or if he had an I.Q. a little lower than the other kids at school. The lesson we are pushing into today can be taught from both sides of the proverbial fence. James wants his audience of Jewish followers ...

  Have you ever spoken with someone or maybe read something they wrote and felt like you were getting more of a shotgun blast of subject matter? That might be how you feel reading through James. In the first section alone (2-18) James covers so many items. His backdrop for the entire letter and specially that first section should be the persecutions and trials that believers in the world are experiencing. In the course of that first paragraph, we hear words on perseverance, on finishing the road of faith in front of us. He writes about staying humble under the circumstances surrounding them all. James speaks for a moment about temptation and how we should stand against it. And, he finishes up by calling us some kind of first fruit of what will come. Maybe, its a list. The little brother of Jesus will cover much of these topics ahead. Maybe there is some understand and direction for his letter. Maybe this is why God used so many different people to put together our New Testament. Pa...

  As we begin this new year of 2026, and as we begin our time together as pastor and church, it is a good moment to look at our faith with refreshed eyes. Starting off the year with a letter or book as James has written is a way to cover all the tenants of our Christian faith in a condensed version. James has all the major points that we need to focus on. He has some of the more memorable verses and reminders through out his letter. Maybe that is because he was so close to the Source. As the earthly, little brother of our Lord and Savior, he has a front row seat for much of the discourse we read in our Gospels. There is a bit of anonymity there as James is not the same James we read about in the 12 who followed and walked with Jesus. He probably didn't see Jesus as often as those other men would have. James hasn't seen or experienced all the feels and moments in which other people who interacted with Jesus got to have a front row seat. There is record that Mary and the family, ...

  Its been quite a last few years, hasn't it?  From our family's point of view, the last three years has been enough to make you want to cry. (Happy to share our story over a cup of coffee some morning if you have time.) But, if we are honest, this world didn't just get messed up in the last few years. It's been a jumbled mess of incoherent garbage long before you and I came along. It was a mess when our Savior stepped into our human existence some two thousand years ago. John records the facts in his Gospel stating that, "He came to those who were his own and his own received him not." Have you seen the glory of the Lord in the turmoil and pain of the last couple, three years? It is easy to lose sight of what is important when the trouble around us gets to a boiling point.  John and the rest of the disciples could not have had it easy. They walked everywhere they went. They worked their fingers to the bone trying to make it in a riches or poverty world. ...

  @ 6th Ave Global Methodist Church 7 PM this Wed evening 1004 W 6th Avenue Lancaster, OH  I will not be posting the sermon transcript as to not give away the message before the service. I hope you find your way to the sanctuary for the evening service on Wednesday. Jesus came and was born as a baby so he could grow up and give His life for you. Come & Worship Jesus. Lord. Savior. Friend. King. 

  Christmas Sunday 2025 6th Ave Global Methodist Church Everyone does the list of words through Advent in a different order.  Most normally, you will see the order of Hope, Peace, Joy, Love. I have seen the word Faithfulness go first and then Hope, Joy and Love. Some in their liturgical ordering put Love on the 3rd Sunday and end with Joy. Yet another group will put forgo all of the words we know and speak of Prophets, Shepherds, Angels and Magi. There really is no wrong way to go about celebrating the season Advent. But, the one thing we can do wrong is to leave Love out of the picture altogether.  And, if Magi is the 4th Sunday, then we see Love being expressed in its greatest way. Traveling from so far away, they bring gifts that will help the Savior's family make the long trek into Egypt for safety until the boy is old enough to return after the death of Herod. What would you be willing to give in order to bless a family you don't know or have never met before in your...