Hard travelin’

Reflecting on Paul and Woodie Guthrie, Bishop David Bard talks about some things we are learning during this hard time of global pandemic … “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death… Continue Reading Hard travelin’

Light and life

Remembering lyrics of Charles Wesley and Bruce Springsteen, Bishop David Bard, reflects on the nature of darkness and light. Looking ahead, he forecasts “The new year will not be dull.” … I am thinking of the verse from Isaiah often read on Christmas Eve: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;… Continue Reading Light and life

A song for a crazy world

Admitting that the times we live in can be terrifying, Bishop David Bard turns to a song and a poem to wish The Michigan Area a blessed Thanksgiving…

Surf’s up

Reflecting on scripture and a classic rock song, Bishop David Bard invites everyone into God’s creative work in the world and in the church …

Seeing differently

Bishop David Bard asks God to give everyone new eyes; eyes for seeing beyond racism to respond to parents and their children at the U.S.-Mexico border in a new light … The wedding service had ended. Pictures had been taken, including a few along the shores of Lake Superior on a beautiful day. Our daughter… Continue Reading Seeing differently

Unfinished business of AC 2019

Home from Annual Conference, Bishop David Bard actions taken at the 2019 session and reflects on what is yet unfinished as United Methodists move forward toward the 2020 General Conference …

Getting ready for Annual Conference

In the May edition of his blog, A Joyful Journey, Bishop David Bard remembers his first ever Annual Conference in 1983 and reflects on the upcoming 2019 Michigan Annual Conference …   It was 1983, and I was headed for my first ever United Methodist Annual Conference (this one in Minnesota). I was a seminary… Continue Reading Getting ready for Annual Conference

Hope caked with mud

Bishop David Bard anticipates Easter blessings and talks about grief and hope in this month’s edition of A Joyful Journey … But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. I Thessalonians 4:13 First… Continue Reading Hope caked with mud

A Joyful Journey

At mid-year 2018, Bishop David Bard does some looking backward and looking forward …

A Joyful Journey

In this edition of “A Joyful Journey,” Bishop Bard traces the social justice dimensions of his faith to Billy Graham.

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