Susandoodles

Susandoodles

Love God, love life, love one another.

Susan is trained in journalism, teaching and ministry;
now retired, the blog provides a means to continue sharing thoughts.

Tag: John Wesley

  • Jesus’ Parable: Light under the Basket

    Introduction Recently Jimmy Fallon shared that France is sending another Statue of Liberty to the United States.  I had not heard that in the news, so off I went to double check the reference, and sure enough, there it was in news reports from NPR, CNN, New York Times, Washington Post…

  • The Mustard Seed

    Introduction             Every Sunday as Pastor Peter begins the sermon, he invites you to prepare by having your Bible and note taking materials with you.  I had never considered suggesting this practice, especially right before delivering a sermon.  But I like it and you may have noticed I have adopted the same reminder.  …

  • Yes, 2021 arrived, now a few musings for a new year

    For a week, I have thought about how to look at 2021.  One challenge that showed up in my inbox was to identify one word for the new year.  Immediately one popped up:  Resilience.  Why?  Think about the history of our country.  How many times has a challenge presented itself and the very principles that…

  • Thoughts from Quarantine 2020

    Waking up this morning, I feel Christmas sneaking in on me.  There are clouds and the possibility to see snowflakes in the air, and it is cold–24 degrees.  And yet, I am in quarantine. Christmas has been central to my life forever.  Growing up on the farm, Christmas was a time we developed…

  • Living in midst of pandemonium

    Our pastor’s Lenten series is titled “Confronting Evil” and each week he covers a specific topic.  First was bitterness, then betrayal, and third cynicism.   As we experience the flood of information and the dramatic changes that the coronavirus has created, I am realizing how those individual topics can be translated into…

  • Traveling the Spiritual Journey

    After more than a year out of the pulpit, I returned this week to fill in for our senior pastor. So as the new year starts, I start a new phase, too. I pray this message helps you. Thank you for reading. Remember playing hide & seek?  The rules are simple:…

  • Sometimes one needs reminding in order to move forward

    First, let me restate that I am a Christian and that my denomination of choice is United Methodist.  Also, let me include the framework of my personal study—a year-long Bible study that pairs an Old Testament reading with a New Testament reading.  For my study, I am using the Wesley Study…

  • Yesterday is today while old is new—and vice versa

    No, this is no riddle I propose. Rather, it is a reality when studying literature; and for me, the literature I have been focusing on is Biblical as I continue the year-long Bible study. I know I have shared before about my personal study, and it is not always easy.  I…

  • Old Testament books, I & II Kings: Easier reading but why read it?

    Midway through the second book of Kings, I am finding that I can understand the reading without being totally dependent on study notes.  I really was unprepared for the ease of reading these two books after struggling with so much of the ancient literature. Still, I maintained my discipline by reading…

  • Monday Thoughts: Too much to reflect upon, Yet so much to share

    My journey through the year-long Bible study continues and when I add that to daily life and any other reading I do whether continuing The Chronicles of Narnia,or whether it is the Brian Zahand’s book Beauty Will Save the World, or even a scan of the local newspaper, the internet or even…