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Pastor John explores the timeless wisdom found in Micah 6:8, examining what God truly desires from us beyond rituals and sacrifices.

• A reflection on Micah's ministry during the slow decline of the Israelite kingdom and its parallels to modern society
• The dramatic dialogue between the people asking what sacrifices God wants, and God's surprising response
• Exploration of the three principles: doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God
• Personal story about Pastor John's friend David who challenged him to address LGBTQ inclusion
• Examination of how faith is less about what we believe and more about how we act
• Challenge to move beyond polarization and dualistic thinking in complex issues
• Invitation to embrace grace and unconditional love for those we agree and disagree with

We invite you to join us in embracing kingdom values of love, justice, and truth. Go now with God's blessing to live these values through the power of our challenging, faithful, loving, empowering God.

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A simple email from David Keddle with seven words—"I'm going to need to hear your feelings around the LGBTQ issue"—set the stage for one of the most meaningful pastoral relationships I would form during my first year at this church. David, a warm man of deep faith who also happened to be homosexual, challenged me to address LGBTQ issues at least once during the year. On June 29th, nearly one year after my arrival, I fulfilled that promise.

The sermon explores Micah 6:8, a profound passage that cuts through religious pretense to reveal what God truly desires from us. The prophet Micah speaks to a society experiencing both prosperity and uncertainty—much like America today—where cracks are forming and people are anxiously drawing battle lines over complex issues. In this polarized environment, Micah's message is revolutionary: God doesn't want our sacrifices or rituals but asks simply that we "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God."

For too long, our churches have added conditions to these commands—offering justice, kindness, and community only if people conform to certain expectations. The United Methodist Church has wrestled painfully with LGBTQ inclusion, and our denomination has moved toward honoring the humanity of everyone. This sermon offers a dual invitation: for those who embrace inclusion, to live into grace and unconditional love for all; for those still wrestling, to follow Micah's guidance and see where that journey takes them. Perhaps in doing so, we might rediscover that faith isn't primarily about what we believe, but how we act toward one another—especially toward those whose lives and experiences differ from our own.

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How do we recognize God's presence in our daily lives? Where do we turn when the divine feels distant? What actions can bring us closer to our spiritual purpose?

Tim Bonds, a longtime church member and RAND Corporation senior fellow, opens his heart in this intimate conversation about faith, purpose, and presence. With remarkable vulnerability, Tim shares how his professional work supporting military families and personal experiences with family challenges have shaped his understanding of God's presence in both joyful and difficult seasons.

At the core of Tim's testimony lies a profound insight: God is visible through the "angels" who extend kindness without expectation of return. From the child who welcomed his daughter after a difficult move to colleagues who offered support during professional challenges, these encounters reveal divine love in action. Yet Tim doesn't shy away from discussing seasons when God felt distant—during his father's terminal illness and while navigating his youngest child's lifelong struggles.

Drawing wisdom from the parable of the Good Samaritan, Tim reflects on how easily we can become like the priest or Levite who "lost the plot" of what truly matters. Even good people with good intentions can miss opportunities to embody God's love when distracted by lesser concerns. The challenge, Tim suggests, is to consistently "keep the main thing the main thing"—to recognize what truly matters amid life's countless demands and distractions.

This conversation offers a spiritual practice worth adopting: regularly asking ourselves where we see God, where God feels distant, and what we can do to make divine presence more tangible. Tim's honest reflections remind us that faith isn't about having all the answers but about continuing to seek, serve, and remain present—especially when we cannot change difficult circumstances.

Join us for this heartfelt exploration of faith in action and discover how seemingly small acts of kindness can become powerful expressions of God's unwavering love in a sometimes broken world.

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Have you ever found yourself proudly declaring, "God and I are good on our own" only to discover the painful limitations of spiritual isolation? This soul-stirring journey explores the transformation from fierce independence to the healing embrace of community faith.

The path begins with childhood church wounds and a Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack—"I am a rock, I am an island"—as spiritual self-sufficiency becomes both armor and prison. When cancer strikes, that carefully constructed independence crumbles in the face of fear and uncertainty. The contrast between facing a life-threatening diagnosis alone versus surrounded by church family becomes the powerful "tale of two scans" that reveals how deeply we need each other.

Through authentic vulnerability, this message examines the complications of church-as-family without glossing over the hard parts. Yes, spiritual communities can wound us. Yes, some relationships require boundaries (Romans 12:18). But the gradual quieting of fear that comes through genuine connection cannot be found in isolation. As we learn to receive support as readily as we offer it, something profound shifts in our spiritual landscape.

Whether you're a committed church member, a spiritual nomad, or someone nursing old religious wounds, this vulnerable story offers a compassionate invitation to reconsider what it truly means to be the church rather than merely attend church. Perhaps the family of faith—messy and imperfect as it is—might be exactly what your journey needs right now. Take a moment to reflect: Where might God be inviting you into deeper community, and what first step could you take today?

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We explore Jeremiah's prophetic journey as a young boy called to deliver difficult messages during Israel's national crisis, drawing parallels to today's graduates facing uncertain futures. God's affirmation that he equipped Jeremiah despite his youth offers powerful encouragement for young people wondering about their purpose and ability to make a difference in challenging times.

• Jeremiah delivered his prophecy during Israel's fall to Babylon, making his message particularly difficult
• As "only a boy," Jeremiah questioned his ability to speak truth to his community in crisis
• God's response affirms that Jeremiah was equipped and supported despite his youth
• The destruction of the Temple raised existential questions about God's presence and power
• Jeremiah's revolutionary message that God would write laws on people's hearts rather than in temples
• The comforting assurance that God remains as close as our hearts during all life transitions
• Encouragement for graduates that God walks with them through all new adventures and uncertain futures

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What does it mean to truly embrace diversity within Christianity? John Wesley, Methodism's founder, offered a revolutionary answer in his sermon "On the Catholic Spirit" that still challenges us today.

Against the backdrop of post-Reformation religious division, Wesley chose an unexpected path. Rather than demanding theological uniformity, he found wisdom in the biblical exchange: "Is your heart right as my heart is with your heart? If it is, give me your hand." This seemingly simple invitation became the foundation for a radical understanding of Christian unity that didn't require agreement on every point of doctrine.

Wesley's approach wasn't about watering down conviction but recognizing that God intentionally creates diversity within the body of Christ. Drawing from Ephesians 4, we see that different gifts—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers—aren't accidental but divinely ordained for the growth and maturity of the whole church. Our differences aren't problems to solve but blessings to embrace.

This vision feels especially urgent today, as political and theological polarization threatens to tear apart religious communities. Wesley's words reach across centuries: "Love me not in word only, but in deed and in truth, so far as, in conscience, you can, retaining still your own opinions and your own manner of worshiping God. Join with me in the work of God and let us go hand in hand." In a world desperate for models of unity amid difference, perhaps Wesley's "Catholic Spirit" offers precisely the wisdom we need.

Listen now to discover how this 18th-century theologian might help us navigate our 21st-century divisions. Then share your thoughts—how might Wesley's understanding of unity without uniformity transform your own faith community?

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John Wesley's vision of social justice provides a framework for understanding Jesus's teachings in the Beatitudes and challenges us to transform personal faith into active compassion.

• Social justice defined as the belief in equal rights, opportunities and treatment for all people regardless of characteristics
• The Beatitudes begin with blessing those who seem least blessed—the poor in spirit, mourners, the meek
• Spiritual poverty, mourning and meekness often become moments when God can work most deeply in our lives
• The Beatitudes show a progression from spiritual emptiness to active faith strong enough to withstand persecution
• Wesley spoke of "social holiness" rather than just personal holiness, believing faith must lead to action
• Wesley actively fought against poverty, slavery, and advocated for prison reform
• Methodist social justice legacy includes founding the Salvation Army and championing various social causes
• The Social Principles document represents Methodism's ongoing commitment to address contemporary issues
• Unity amid disagreement and wrestling with difficult questions remains a core Methodist value

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What does a mother's love on Mother's Day reveal about divine grace? Drawing this powerful parallel, today's episode explores grace as unconditional love that finds us even when we're struggling with our own imperfections.

Looking at cultural images of "perfect mothers" from June Cleaver to Roseanne, we acknowledge that real parenting involves both triumphs and struggles – just like our spiritual journey. The letter to Ephesians provides our scriptural foundation, reminding us we're "created in Christ Jesus for good works." This isn't about some distant heavenly realm but God's vision for transforming this world through grace-filled living.

John Wesley's three-part framework of grace offers profound insights into our spiritual development. Provenient grace comes before we're even aware – like infant baptism, where a community surrounds a child with such powerful love that they'll come to recognize God's presence through these human connections. Justifying grace helps us understand we're worthy in God's eyes despite our flaws. Rather than a single dramatic epiphany, most of us experience this through countless small moments of recognition throughout our lives.

Sanctifying grace draws us deeper, like spiritual "Pringles" or "carne asada" – one taste and we crave more connection with God. This explains why we move from attending worship to joining study groups to eventually leading ministries. We're "God junkies" seeking deeper experiences of divine love. Wesley even spoke of "Christian perfection" – those rare, perfect moments when we're exactly who God intends us to be. Like those instances when we parent exactly right, these glimpses of perfection sustain us through our ongoing transformation.

Ready to explore how grace is working in your life? Join us in discovering how these three types of grace are transforming you from the inside out. Where have you experienced a perfect moment of connection with God recently?

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John Wesley's disciplined approach to faith created a movement that continues to influence millions of Christians worldwide today. His journey from Oxford professor to founder of Methodism reveals how personal faith experience shaped an entire denomination.

• Wesley's "Directions for Singing" reveal his intense, methodical personality and high expectations
• At Oxford, Wesley and his brother Charles formed "holy clubs" focused on prayer, scripture study, and accountability
• During a storm at sea, Wesley observed Moravian Christians remaining calm while he felt fear, prompting spiritual questioning
• Wesley's "heart strangely warmed" experience at Aldersgate marked his personal encounter with grace
• He traveled approximately 250,000 miles in his lifetime, spreading his message throughout England
• Wesley never advocated leaving the Anglican Church; Methodism became separate primarily due to the American Revolution
• From 132,000 Methodists at his death in 1791, the denomination has grown to approximately 10 million today
• Wesley's advice to "preach faith until you have faith" encourages practicing faith even during periods of doubt
• Like other spiritual leaders, Wesley experienced doubt as part of his growth journey

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What's a pastor to preach after Easter? With Earth Day approaching, the answer seemed obvious – celebrate God's gift of creation during this feasting season. But any honest environmental sermon must confront an uncomfortable truth: we haven't been the best caretakers of God's garden.

Genesis establishes humanity's purpose with startling clarity – God placed us in the garden "to till it and to keep it." We are stewards, not owners, of this remarkable planet. As Psalm 24 reminds us, "The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it." We're merely temporary tenants with responsibilities to the divine landlord and future generations. Yet our environmental report card reveals serious failings: accelerating climate change, massive food waste, plastic pollution, deforestation, water insecurity, and more. Even our technological solutions come with new environmental costs.

A visit to fire-ravaged Palisades reveals both devastation and renewal. What if we approached creation with greater humility, working with natural cycles rather than constantly fighting against them? Romans suggests that creation itself "waits with eager longing" for transformation – perhaps the natural world seeks renewal just as we humans do. The landscape recovering from the Woolsey fire illustrates this divine remodeling already underway.

Despite environmental challenges, hope persists. Climate awareness grows steadily, with economic benefits of sustainable practices becoming increasingly apparent. The US climate movement strengthens, particularly in population and economic centers. Most importantly, creation demonstrates remarkable resilience when given the chance – a testament to divine wisdom embedded in natural systems.

This Easter season invites us to feast on God's natural world – to hike trails, swim oceans, and marvel at creation's wonders. When we step into nature, we leave humbled, inspired, and drawn into right relationship with the world around us. Our environmental situation remains serious, but so does our capacity for hope and renewal – a fittingly Easter message for Earth Day.

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