by Chris Walters | Dec 4, 2016 | Church Culture, Methodism
Have you ever heard of “escape rooms?” They are a global phenomenon and a growing segment of the gaming industry. Stuart Miller, writing for Newsweek, succinctly explained the game: “Room escape games lock players in a room where they must seek clues...
by Chris Walters | Jul 12, 2015 | Bible, Church Culture, Methodism, Sermons
Recently I read a report from United Methodist Communications titled, “What Does It Mean to Be United Methodist?” This report summarizes the results of a survey conducted of 1250 United Methodists, including 400 lay members, 350 lay church leaders (i.e. past or...
by Chris Walters | Jun 30, 2014 | Methodism, Politics
Last Monday, Dr. Donald Haynes wrote his column for The United Methodist Reporter on “Lessons to Be Learned from the 1844 ‘Plan of Separation’.” His main point appears toward the end of his article in a section titled “Fallout.” It...
by Chris Walters | Jun 22, 2014 | Methodism, Sermons, Stewardship
Are you bothered by cashiers and others in customer service jobs when they don’t say “thank you?” I am. Recently I was at a national restaurant chain of the “fast casual” type (name starts with “P”), and the young man who took my order was being trained by a young...
by Chris Walters | Jan 13, 2013 | Methodism, Sermons
I have worked with youth for several years in various roles: as a 7th grade English teacher, confirmation teacher, leader of small groups, retreat leader, mission trip leader, and now as a pastor of youth. I learn each and every time I spend with youth what a blessing...
by Chris Walters | Dec 20, 2012 | Methodism
Yesterday I created a word cloud (“a visualization of word frequency in a given text as a weighted list” – Wikipedia) to use as a home page banner for PUMC’s “Beliefs and Practices” page. I wound up doing a different graphic for it,...