Sally Penning, Author at St. Luke's United Methodist Church

15 03, 2019

Show me the way

Sally Penning2019-03-15T09:11:31-05:00March 15th, 2019|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

A PERSONAL PRAYER God of love, When I am lost, find me and bring me home. When I am weary, give me the strength to walk one more step, get through one more day, face one more challenge. When I am joyous, show me how I can share my joy with others. When I am confident, temper my confidence with humility. When I am wrong, give me the grace to repent with authenticity. When I am right, remind me that I could be wrong. When I am self-righteous, make clear to me my sin, and knock me low. [...]

8 03, 2019

Let’s make Lemonade!, by Claud Riddles

Sally Penning2019-03-08T09:15:47-06:00March 8th, 2019|We Tell Our Stories|0 Comments

In 1915, Elbert Hubbard coined the phrase “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. This optimistic phrase has been used and published by many people. Perhaps you have said this phrase when faced with adversity or a misfortune? Four years ago, I found myself facing a dilemma while leading a Covenant Bible Study. Earlier in March that year, one of the members had been notified that he was no longer needed in his job. At the end of the month, I received similar news. In both cases, the people participating in that study rallied around us, praying that [...]

8 03, 2019

A look in the mirror

Sally Penning2019-03-08T09:06:08-06:00March 8th, 2019|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

A PERSONAL PRAYER God, This morning, I stepped out of the shower and looked in the mirror. The bright lights revealed who I really am. It wasn't pretty. So I put on my clothes and hoped it would cover up the truth. This afternoon, God, I studied my scripture, and I saw in there a reflection of who I really am. It wasn't pretty. Most of the time, I put on my smile and positive attitude and go out and just do my best. But God, that isn't what this Lenten season is about. Lent is about seeing the truth, not hiding from it, or [...]

1 03, 2019

Dealing with the hurt

Sally Penning2019-03-01T10:39:57-06:00March 1st, 2019|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

A PERSONAL PRAYER God, I am not sure exactly what to pray for today. Lots of strong emotions all around. You tell me that if I will just come into your presence, you will hear and understand the greatest need of my heart. My heart breaks as I talk to some people today. I pray for comfort and healing for them. I pray that they don't turn away from you, or from your son Jesus. I know how much you love them, and I know you want them to know that. Show me how to tell them. God I ask forgiveness for [...]

26 02, 2019

A Message from Tom Pace from the General Conference of the United Methodist Church

Sally Penning2019-02-26T18:54:50-06:00February 26th, 2019|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Friends, The called session of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church to deal with issues around same sex marriage and ordination is concluding. The body passed an amended version of the plan called “The Traditional Plan,” which continues the current United Methodist position that same sex weddings cannot be officiated by our clergy or in our churches, and self-avowed practicing LGBT men and women may not be ordained. It also adds increased accountability for bishops and boards of ministry in enforcing this covenant. However, many of the components to increase that accountability already have been ruled in violation [...]

22 02, 2019

A special called session of the General Conference of the United Methodist

Sally Penning2019-02-22T09:09:19-06:00February 22nd, 2019|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace, Uncategorized|0 Comments

A special called session of the General Conference of the United Methodist denomination will be meeting in St. Louis from Saturday, February 23 – Tuesday, February 26. The purpose of the session is to make decisions regarding whether United Methodist churches or clergy are permitted to hold or officiate at same-sex weddings, and whether Annual Conferences can ordain self-avowed, practicing homosexual men and women. Ordinarily, the General Conference of the church meets every four years, with lay and clergy delegates from Annual Conferences around the world. In the regular session of the General Conference in 2016, a special commission (The [...]

22 02, 2019

Talking too much and doing too little

Sally Penning2019-02-22T09:02:07-06:00February 22nd, 2019|Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

A PERSONAL PRAYER God of love, I was reading a book this week and words jumped off the page at me. I think I heard you speaking to me through the text: "It's an obvious but often overlooked truth: Nothing changes until there is a change in behavior. Nothing has changed until people start acting differently." (Tod Bolsinger, Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory.) The author's intent was to teach about leadership, but the words spoke to me about my own life. I crave a closer relationship with you. I long to be sanctified by the power of your Holy [...]

21 02, 2019

The Called Session of General Conference of the United Methodist Church

Sally Penning2019-02-22T09:04:09-06:00February 21st, 2019|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|1 Comment

A special called session of the General Conference of the United Methodist denomination will be meeting in St. Louis from Saturday, February 23 – Tuesday, February 26. The purpose of the session is to make decisions regarding whether United Methodist churches or clergy are permitted to hold or officiate at same-sex weddings, and whether Annual Conferences can ordain self-avowed, practicing homosexual men and women. Ordinarily, the General Conference of the church meets every four years, with lay and clergy delegates from Annual Conferences around the world. In the regular session of the General Conference in 2016, a special [...]

15 02, 2019

60 Years of Bliss, by Gibbs Macdaniel, Jr.

Sally Penning2019-02-15T08:58:29-06:00February 15th, 2019|All blogs, We Tell Our Stories|1 Comment

As I was sitting in Miss Dolly Harrel’s homeroom at Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio in 1953, in walked a NEW girl! WHO IS THAT??!! Grace Nan Jennings. She bowled me over. It was “love at first sight.” I was barely sixteen. We dated through graduation in 1954 and went on to UT-Austin where the competition became more intense. Nan pledged Tri Delt, was an advisor at Littlefield dormitory for two years, was inducted into Orange Jackets and was a Good Fellow. She was one of the most popular and attractive ladies on campus. I was [...]

15 02, 2019

Living and loving like Jesus

Sally Penning2019-02-15T09:47:34-06:00February 15th, 2019|All blogs, Inside-Out with Dr. Tom Pace|0 Comments

Last Sunday, we talked about the vision for all of St. Luke's family of ministries - St. Luke's church, The Story Houston, Gethsemane, Nick Finnegan Counseling Center, St. Luke's Day School and After School and Summer Camps, as well as Bridges Academy. We are all are striving for the vision of "A city transformed by the love of Jesus." Each of those ministries has its own mission statement, all of which work to bring about our common vision. This is our north star, and it is the why we do what we do. This week, we will talk [...]

About Sally Penning