New “Soul Studio” Site

I’m excited to share something I’ve been working on! Soul Studio now has a home on the web.

Soul Studio is a ministry of writing, music, and spiritual formation. It’s a space where faith and creativity meet, where together we can slow down, ask deeper questions, and pay attention.

At Soul Studio, you’ll find my writings, music, resources for spiritual formation, and projects I’m working on. I hope some things will simply give you a moment to pause and breathe.

After 37 years of ministry, I’m discovering new ways to make room for creativity, faith, and meaningful connection.

I’d love for you to visit, explore, and let me know what you think.

Check out Soul Studio HERE.

If something there speaks to you, feel free to share it with someone who might need it.

#SoulStudio #SpiritualFormation #Writing #FaithAndCreativity #Ministry

Simple Holy Moments

I’m honored. My article about one of the most profound “holy moments” of my life will be included.

Podcast on Jacob Wrestling the Angel

Did you know that the famous hymn writer, Isaac Watts, said of Charles Wesley's hymn, "Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown," some amazing words? He said, “that single poem, Wrestling Jacob, is worth all the verses which I have ever written.” 

Here is my podcast on the scripture of Jacob wrestling the angel all night, in light of Wesley's interpretation emphasizing the burning question of who the stranger is wrestling Jacob in the night, and the gradual realization that his name is LOVE.

Here is the PODCAST. Have a listen!

Living Stones CD Now Streaming!

My “Living Stones” CD is now available on all major platforms!

Please do me a favor, friends. You don’t have to buy it. But if you take a few minutes to have a listen to samples on your favorite platform, the metrics will help get it out to others.

Check it out here: LIVING STONES CD

Rewriting History

The truth shall set us free. Trying to rewrite history doesn't take the truth of January 6 away, and the white supremacy that was associated with it.

This judge is right in warning us.

The real test of democracy over the next 250 years is coming. It's whether we can quickly restore the norm of peaceful transfer of power after the heinous actions of that day, and undo the years-long attempt to rewrite the history books. See the article below.

Judge ends Jan. 6 case against Proud Boys with warning about Trump pardons

Open Letter to Timothy Tennent

Recently, a former president of Asbury seminary, Timothy Tennent, wrote a blog post disparaging the United Methodist Church after his school did not pass the accreditation process of the university senate.

Here is my response.

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There’s much more to the story.

While once a good Wesleyan holiness seminary (they have never been United Methodist and in times past they weren’t approved for United Methodists, so it’s not new), during the last ten years Asbury has been a seedbed of schism against the UMC and were directly involved in it like no other seminary.

Add to that the fact that suddenly they no longer have UMC professors or a UMC program track. Now only 8-9%of their students are United Methodist because of their recent positioning. If they no longer meet the standards, they simply don’t meet them. 

What did they expect? They brought this loss of accreditation upon themselves. The university senate acted with integrity. Why would the UMC send candidates to them when they have developed such open disdain for the UMC?

Having said that, I know a number of United Methodists who had a good education from there and they serve faithfully. But they tell me they wouldn’t recommend it now.

We have 13 United Methodist seminaries and a number of others that meet the standards for approval. Asbury has clearly aligned itself solely with the GMC, openly promoted schism, and adopted an openly anti-UMC stance. To imply that this is sudden or claim Asbury is being victimized by a denomination that is no longer a “big tent,” as some of their leadership have written, is hogwash. They simply no longer meet the requirements.

I’d encourage everybody to take a step back from making culture war assumptions and see that this is a natural consequence.

I have nothing against Asbury. But I stand firmly against misinformation about the UMC which gets thrown into the discussion.

Ordinary Time

“And let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

In my faith tradition, we just entered a season called “Ordinary Time.” No Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, or Pentecost and no holidays for a while. Just ordinary time.

Most of life is lived in Ordinary Time, as a matter of fact.

There are mountaintop moments—the great celebrations, the breakthroughs, the holy days that mark our journey. But the greater part of discipleship unfolds in the quiet rhythms of everyday faithfulness, in morning prayers whispered before coffee, in the kindness offered when no one notices, in the Scripture read without fanfare, and in the acts of love repeated day after day.

Trees do not grow because of a single storm or a single sunny afternoon. Their strength comes from roots that steadily draw life from unseen depths. So it is with the spiritual life. God does some of God’s finest work in us not during extraordinary moments, but during the ordinary days when we simply remain rooted, present, and open.

Ordinary time reminds us that holiness is not found only in dramatic experiences. It is cultivated through daily trust. Christ walks with us not only on the mountain but also along familiar paths, through routine tasks, and in the quiet places.

The invitation of this season called Ordinary Time is simple: stay rooted, stay faithful, and trust that God is growing something beautiful beneath the surface.

Prayer

Gracious God, in the ordinary days of my life, help me to recognize Your presence. When the journey feels routine, deepen my roots in Your love. Give me patience to grow, courage to remain faithful, and eyes to see Your grace in small and hidden things. May my daily life become an offering of love to You and a blessing to others. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.