Words from Washington

I spent the last five days in silence with seven other people at Holy Cross Abbey . I make the journey to Berryville once a year, c...

When Mount Vernon Place was given the opportunity to redevelop our property several years ago, a vision emerged for a facility that would b...

I did not need an alarm clock to awaken me this morning as my spirit started to stir a few minutes after 5:00. I had finished 75% of my ...

A seminary friend reached out to me last week with a question. "You seem to have been able to develop many mentors in life. How do y...

We are in the midst of what has been a powerful sermon series for me at Mount Vernon Place , one that has spoken deeply to my soul, on ...

If a picture paints a thousand words, then this photo paints my description of leadership. It is a portrait of a coach, one of his assi...

Easter Sunday is a pastor's dream. Extra people  fill the pews as guests come for the first time and others return after a long time....

"I placed a bag of food by your chair. It's chicken and dumplings. I made them this morning to take to a family who just had a...

My friend, Elizabeth, died this morning. Elizabeth taught me to love sliced avocados on my salad but would not allow me to eat too ...

The building committee that designed the grand structure to hold the congregation known as Mount Vernon Place Methodist Episcopal Ch...

Someone once told me about a practice Bill Hybels had when he was first starting Willow Creek Community Church. He would prepare his sermon ...

While I cannot remember all of his instructions, I recall the exact words of the surgeon when he was explaining the timing of my recovery...

"On the night in which Jesus gave himself up for us....he gave thanks."  My colleague, James Howell , reminded me of thes...

A dear friend sent this photo to me a week before I was scheduled for surgery to remove an invasive melanoma on my ankle. The photo was...

It's election day in an election year that is forecasted to bring major change in our country. While the results will not be known fo...

He looks like a normal dog who has just been to the groomer where he received a new bandanna for his neck. He's gentle in nature and g...

I shared lunch last week with a classmate from Duke Divinity School and his wife. Josh and I started seminary at the same time and were in a...