Chris Bishop

 I saw this post the other week and I thought that it was really interesting.  It has been rolling around in my mind along with a quote from Kenda Creasy Dean that says that, “youth ministry is the R&D of the church.”  Makes me think about how youth are a great barometer for the health [...]

Over the Christmas break I was able to watch as some kids at Katie’s winter break camp played games.  On of the games was a favorite of mine back in the day.  It was “Guess Who”.  This is the game where you try to guess through a process of questions and elimination which person your [...]

Yesterday I had my ordination examination. It was a long twelve hour day with conversation about the things that I wrote and situations we have to deal with as pastors. It was great to see people that I hadn’t seen in a while. I loved the conversations over meals and break times. I am able [...]

As the weather has been getting colder this year I have been trying to get back into a running routine. For the past couple of years my fitness has been limited to the basement and my bike trainer. This is because when I have tried to run or bike outside when it is cold outside [...]

Over the past week or so i have had the opportunity to read Mark Batterson’s new book entitled Primal:A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity.  Batterson is the lead pastor of National Community Church and the author of Wild Goose Chase and In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day. In his [...]

    An Article by Carlee Lammers The youth of Middletown United Methodist Church held a Homeless for a Night event on Dec. 5-6 to raise awareness of homelessness and hunger not only in the surrounding communities, but across the United States.  Approximately 82 children in Middletown live under the poverty level, 1,140 people in [...]

During this thanksgiving week i have heard many storied, sermons and reflections about what it is to be thankful.  The one that has stuck with me was one from Katie’s thanksgiving sermon when she talked about the the Jewish tradition of prayer called berakhot.  This is a daily practice where the pray-er gives thanks for [...]