Blog Posts
Appointments for the week of June 28, 2021
6/21/2021
Greg Boyd from Kellyville UMC to Kellyville UMC/Bristow UMC, effective July 1, 2021
Detour ahead, use alternate route
9/7/2007
"Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' He asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' The reply came, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.'"-Acts 9:3-5 By Bishop Robert E. Hayes Jr. There is only one preferred driving route for me between Oklahoma City and Tulsa: the Turner Turnpike, which is also Interstate 44. The sun was bright and the weather was perfect as I recently set out on one such trip, bound ...
What's the point?
8/24/2007
"For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.-Matthew 7:14 (NRSV) By Bishop Robert E. Hayes Jr. Sociologists and psychologists declare many Americans neither have nor can find a purpose for their lives. A sense of direction, a singular focus, leads to a meaningful and happy life. Yet many among us persist in living pointlessly. A lifestyle of pointless living means being in a hurry to go nowhere. The term describes lives that are a series of ...
Seek to do extraordinary service in Ordinary Time
7/27/2007
_________________________ First editions of "Strength for the Journey," a collection of 31 devotions by Bishop Hayes, will be available Sept. 20 at the Centennial Scholarship Dinner honoring Bishop and Mrs. Hayes. All proceeds from sales of the books, $15 each, will go to scholarships for United Methodists who are called to ordained ministry. The book draws from the bishop messages that appear in Contact. To reserve copies, contact the Oklahoma Conference Department of Communications, ...
World unknown? God knows!
6/29/2007
"Where can we go from your Spirit? Or where can we flee from your presence? If we ascend to heaven, you are there; if we make our bed in Sheol, you are there. If we take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead us, and your right hand shall hold us fast.-Psalm 139:7-10 By BISHOP ROBERT E. HAYES JR. The old conference year fades in the rearview mirror of memory, and we direct our vision to a new conference year. I remember a brief ...
Making a case for the future
5/18/2007
"For the vision awaits an appointed time." -Habakkuk 2:3 By Bishop Robert E. Hayes Jr. Be honest with me. Answer my question: "What are my duties and responsibilities as the bishop of the Oklahoma Area of The United Methodist Church?" You have 15 seconds to respond while I cue the theme from TV's "Jeopardy" game show... Most well-intentioned Oklahomans who consider themselves to be strong United Methodists have a hard time trying to put into words what I do as the bishop. If you said a bishop ...
What have we done with God's gifts?
5/4/2007
"For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance." -Matthew 25:29 By BISHOP ROBERT E. HAYES JR. In just a few weeks, the gavel will sound and the 164th session of our Annual Conference will begin. Think on that: 164 years have passed since the organization of Methodism in Oklahoma. Long before the land runs of 1889 and statehood in 1907, the Methodist movement was making disciples of Jesus Christ in what was commonly known as "Indian territory." Circuit riders ...
What did you see? What did you hear?
4/20/2007
"...for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard." -Acts 4:20 By BISHOP ROBERT E. HAYES JR. You have put away the many reminders of yet another glorious Easter Sunday-the damaged lilies no one took home, the folding chairs needed for the overflow crowds, the heavy wooden cross adorned with flowers that sat proudly on the altar; and you've replaced the ropes temporarily removed to offer more seating in the pews at the rear of the sanctuary. It is my duty as your bishop to ...
A new thought
4/6/2007
"And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lighting, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women: 'Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen.'" -Matthew 28:2-6 (RSV) By BISHOP ROBERT E. HAYES JR. For almost 40 years, I've been ...
Just passing through
3/23/2007
"Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was..." -Luke 19:1-3a (NIV) By Bishop Robert E. Hayes Jr. Continue with me today on our Lenten journey with Jesus to Jerusalem. It is no coincidence that he HAD to go to Jerusalem. The earliest prophets knew that city would be where God would ultimately bring salvation to humanity. Jesus told his disciples of his pending rendezvous ...
My, how time flies!
3/2/2007
"Remember how short my time is..." (Psalm 89:47a) By Bishop Robert E. Hayes Someone is going to break into your house in a few days and make off with one of your most precious possessions. You won't be able to prevent it. The thief will come and go, undetected, unheard, and unseen. Forget about calling the police; they won't be able to respond. Do I have your attention? The mean-spirited "thief" to whom I refer steals one hour of our time every year. He sneaks in at 2 o'clock on a Sunday ...