East Ohio Conference

East Ohio Conference

≡
  • About Us
    • Welcome/Vision
    • Bishop's Office
    • Conference Staff
    • Districts/Churches
    • Annual Conference
    • Jurisdictional Conference
    • General Conference
    • General Agencies of The UMC
    • Christian Family Credit Union
    • Methodist Foundation of Ohio
  • Ministries
    • Connectional Ministries
    • Strategic Ministries
    • Missions & Community Engagement
    • Multicultural Ministries
    • Young People's Ministries
    • Higher Education
    • Camps & Retreat Ministries
    • Spiritual Formation
  • Disaster Response
    • Responding to Disasters
    • EOC Disaster Response Plan
    • Disaster Response Coordinators
    • Early Response Teams
  • Clergy
    • Pathways to Ministry
    • Board of Ministry
    • Order of Elders
    • Order of Deacons
    • Fellowship of Local Pastors
    • Retired Pastors
    • Clergy Directory
    • Clergy Well-Being
    • Changing Pastors?
    • Continuing Education
    • Sexual Ethics Policy
  • Laity
    • Pathways to Ministry
    • Board of Laity
    • Lay Leaders
    • Lay Servants
    • United Women in Faith
    • General Agencies of The UMC
  • Finance/Benefits
    • Financial & Administrative Services
    • Online Forms
    • Online Payments
    • Shared Ministry/Stewardship
    • Health Benefits
    • HealthFlex Wellness
    • Clergy Pensions
    • Death & Disability Benefits
  • Communications
    • About the Office
    • #BeUMC Campaign
    • Storyboard Podcast
    • Church Websites 411
    • Social Media 411
    • CCLI & CVLI Licensing
    • E-News
  • News
    • East Ohio News
    • E-News
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
  • Resources
    • Conference Journal
    • #BeUMC Campaign
    • Teach • Reach • Bless
    • Stand Against Racism
    • EOC Disaffiliation Pathway
    • Stand with Ukraine
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    • Online Worship Services
    • The Rule of Christ
    • Safe Sanctuaries
    • Message in Movies
    • CCLI & CVLI Licensing
    • Archives and History
    • General Agencies of The UMC
    • UMC Find-A-Church
  • Calendar
    • View Calendar
    • Suggest Calendar Event
  • Events Registration

Home | About Us | Bishop's Office | Guiding Words | Think Higher ... Feel Deeper

BISHOP'S OFFICE

Think Higher … Feel Deeper

By Bishop Tracy S. Malone

January 30, 2018

Over the years, I have used mantras as part of my spiritual centering and they have played a significant role in my devotional life. My mantra for 2018 is “think higher, feel deeper.” I heard these words a few years ago while listening to Elie Wiesel, the Nobel Prize-winning writer, professor and activist, when he appeared on the Super Soul Sunday show.

I was reminded of these words while I was reading Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things and the God of peace will be with you.” This passage of scripture and mantra “think higher, feel deeper” provide a biblical and theological framework for how we are expected to think, behave, relate and act in response to our relationship with God, self and neighbor.

Everyday we make choices! Every minute we find ourselves making decisions – sometimes easy and sometimes difficult. From should I answer this call or respond to this text or email to how do I provide care for my aging parents or how do I manage the increasing demands on my limited resources? No matter the circumstances or the situation, we all have to live with the burden of choice. I refer to it as a burden because no one has the luxury of not choosing or making decisions. Even when someone chooses to do nothing, they are making a choice. And every choice has a consequence, good or bad. 

So here’s what I invite you to do: Choose to ‘think higher, feel deeper’ in 2018!!

Love, serve and live like you believe that through Christ all things are possible! Be bold, courageous and adventurous as you find new and meaningful ways to be in relationship and ministry with all people, including the poor, the hurting and the marginalized, in your community. 

Use your imagination! Focus on what resources you do have and not on those that you do not have. Claim what you can do for others and refrain from dwelling on what you cannot do.

Have deeper conversations! Talk about racism, sexism, poverty, addiction, unity, a Way Forward, etc. – and discuss concrete ways to address these issues.

Get out of the box! Choose to not allow your observations and experiences of "the worst" of some people become the lens by which you judge other people. Choose to re-examine your perspective, opinion, bias and discrimination of others.

I am convinced that when we allow ourselves to think differently, to see and experience people differently, we will treat people differently and feel more deeply about them.

May the love of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit bring out the very best of who we are and give us the courage to think higher and feel deeper.

 

≡
  • Bishop's Office
  • Meet Bishop Tracy S. Malone
  • Guiding Words from Bishop Malone
  • Video Moments with Bishop Malone
  • Holy Land 2023
  • #BeUMC
  • Teach • Reach • Bless
  • Assistant to the Bishop
  • The Cabinet
  • Clergy Appointments
  • Council of Bishops

 

Bishop Tracy S. Malone

Bishop Tracy S. Malone
Resident Bishop to the
East Ohio Conference
E-mail

Melissa McGee
Executive Secretary to the Bishop
Ext. 112
E-mail

Rev. Ed Peterson
Executive Assistant to the Bishop
Ext. 111
E-mail

The East Ohio Conference Office:
located in North Canton, OH,
near Akron-Canton Airport.

Address:
8800 Cleveland Ave. NW
North Canton, OH 44720

Phones:
Local: (330) 499-3972
Toll Free: (800) 831-3972

Office Hours:
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

  • Facebook Instagram Twitter Vimeo Flickr

  • Bishop's Office
  • Districts and Churches
  • Conference Staff
  • POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:
  • Safe Sanctuaries
  • Sexual Ethics
  • CCLI & CVLI Licensing
  • Terms of Use Policies
  • RESOURCES:
  • Conference Journal
  • E-News
  • News Archives
  • Archives and History
  • EAST OHIO CONFERENCE
  • 8800 Cleveland Ave. NW
  • North Canton, OH 44720 Map
  • (800) 831-3972
  • www.eocumc.com

East Ohio Conference Logo© EAST OHIO CONFERENCE. All Rights Reserved.