This Sunday, worship will be different, and I hope you don’t notice it at all. For this first time since this whole mess began, Oak Hill will not pre-record worship and broadcast it on Sunday. Instead, we will broadcast live. This change will make life much easier on our all-volunteer tech team  It also raises the possibility of […]

Three things about worship this Sunday: ·      First, the sermon is based on the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23). I chose the passage, because it shapes my understanding of what our ministry is about at Oak Hill. I encourage you to read and reflect on the passage before Sunday morning. Listen for how God speaks to your life through this story. […]

Have you ever been worked up about something? I mean, REALLY worked up. Not necessarily angry, but upset or worried or afraid or troubled by whatever is happening around you. Or within you. Have you ever been worked up about something … and has your best friend, your spouse, your mom or dad looked up to ask you what the […]

This Sunday, we focus on a portion of what is known as Jesus’ “farewell address” to his disciples. This farewell encompasses a jam-packed two chapters in John’s Gospel, beginning with Chapter 14. It is here that we find the last of Jesus’ “I AM” sayings:  “I am the true vine and my Father is the vinegrower.” Not long before, Jesus and […]

June 14 is United Methodist Men Sunday at OHUMC, so all the participants in this service you will be men. We will be blessed with a wonderful message by two men that have a close relationship with our community: Chris Baker and Drew McAngus. Chris is the chief executive of The Other Ones Foundation, an organization currently based on our campus, that […]

Now, not only is the sermon done, I’m done. I’m done being a pastor. “Bittersweet” hardly describes my feelings. I’ve had a wonderful ministry that has stretched across not only 34 years, but across Texas. It’s not always been easy, but it’s been good. God has been with me and I’ve been honored to share ministry with so many wonderful […]

Anyone who thinks that church is boring never heard about Pentecost. The “Birthday of the Church” was one wild party. The followers of Jesus did not plan this party.  No committees met, there was no strategy session, it just happened. Pentecost happened to them. The only contribution they made was their presence together. “The disciples were all […]

  For some reason, this passage has always amused me.  Jesus floats away like a balloon and his disciples stare as he disappears behind a cloud.  I picture them gazing into the clouds with their mouths hanging open, catching flies. Suddenly two “men in white robes” appear and ask an obvious question, “Why do you […]

This Sunday, we focus on a well-known and often used passage from the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Romans.  Paul begins his 5th chapter with a lot of talk about boasting. Strange choice of words, I think. We usually think of boasting as a first cousin to “pride,” which is listed by the early church […]

The Psalmist is in trouble. He’s crying out to help without hesitation or pride. He’s not saying, “I got this.” or “No worries, be happy.” He doesn’t clutch his Bible and confidently say, “Everything happens for a reason.” He’s worried. Worried!? He’s quaking in his boots; scared out of his pants! He’s afraid of those […]