Author: Todd Nelson

I'm one of the pastors at First United Methodist Church in Lexington, Kentucky where I've served for the past thirteen years. The sub-title of this blog is "Grace is no accident" which happens to be the defining reality of my life. God's grace (gift) is the reason we have breath in our lungs and hope in our hearts.
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top3 for June 7, 2019

Todd Nelson

Here is a quick review of the top three things I’ve been reading or thinking about this week. #1 “Trust was Bill’s superpower.”   TRILLION DOLLAR COACH The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley’s Bill Campbell We talk about trust a lot around the office. It is the fuel in our engine as well as the oil to keep things moving smoothly and it provides longevity. But quite frankly, I never had a way of describing how it is built. I knew it went I had it, but I couldn’t tell you how it came to be. How DO we build … Continue reading top3 for June 7, 2019

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top3 for May 10, 2019

Todd Nelson

#1 – In other words, teaching that is not embodied by the teacher and experienced within the relational community is at risk of being nothing but empty words. Christina Walker Many people think that writing a sermon is one of the most difficult things I do each week.  While I do admit that it is never, or rarely, easy I will say that the above quote is the real difficulty.  Giving a message is not the objective…being the message…now that is the hard part! #2 -So between the death of Christ and the Last Day it is only by a … Continue reading top3 for May 10, 2019

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The After Season

Todd Nelson

The period immediately after Christmas or Easter is often a low time for me emotionally and spiritually.  I know that is odd to say. Shouldn’t these major high and holy days take me to a new peak? In one way they do but only after a season of rest.  Just like your physical fitness level increases after we workout and then rest appropriately, so does our spiritual life.  For me, part of it is the natural let down that takes place after so much time and energy is expended. You can’t expect to maintain high intensity for too long.  The … Continue reading The After Season