iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Every social media app asks the same question: “What’s on your mind?” So here’s what’s on mine ... 1/9 #BeUMC #Resist

Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

A prayerful response to the event taking place on the National Mall this 17th Day of May, 2026, the welfare of the people requiring it. #BeUMC

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

When the Bible Sings the Blues... There is no resolution tonight. No easy answers. No sudden peace. Only this— Love went all the way to the end. And did not stop. #BeUMC youtu.be/Lt4dZYNjRzU?...

youtu.be

It Is Finished

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

When the Bible Sings the Blues ... He knew what the night would bring. Still… he broke the bread. Still… he poured the cup. Love does not wait for things to make sense. It stays. #BeUMC youtu.be/vzc88OnWQHw?...

youtu.be

Love Sets the Table

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

You clergy is working harder than you may realize. #BeUMC #Church

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

All through Lent we’ve been listening to the Bible sing the blues. Songs about valleys. Storms. Crossroads. Midnight prayers. This week, something shifts. Because sometimes the blues don’t end with sorrow. Sometimes… they sound like chains falling off. #BeUMC youtu.be/ocLcNpg65bU?...

youtu.be

Chains Falling Off

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

The blues may still echo through this world. But they are no longer the final song. Because Easter tells us something every weary heart needs to hear: Love always sings the last verse. #BeUMC youtube.com/shorts/NYjMu...

youtube.com

Love Sings the Last Song

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

The psalms knew something about midnight prayer. Jesus knew something about midnight prayer. And the blues know something about midnight prayer, too. #whenthebiblesingstheblues #BeUMC #uniongroveumc #blountcountytn #blues #lent #church #midnightprayers #prayer youtu.be/Hd6P1FcxLas

youtu.be

Midnight Prayer Blues

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

The valley had its song. The fire had its voice. Now we arrive at the crossroads. Some crossroads feel confusing. Some feel scary. But this one truth changes everything ... #beumc #blountcountytn #uniongroveumc #whenthebiblesingstheblues #crossroads youtu.be/1fkWEvz4P6E

youtu.be

The Crossroads

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Fear is the engine of war. Fear escalates. Fear simplifies. Fear reduces human beings to targets and maps. But love interrupts. Love complicates. Love insists that every civilian is someone’s whole world. Holy fire does not burn villages. Holy fire burns lies. #BeUMC youtu.be/v9IFzi5nUKI?...

youtu.be

Fire In My Bones

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Ash Wednesday at Union Grove UMC We are dust. And deeply loved. We carry burdens. And we are carried. We sing in the valley. We sing in the fire. We sing at midnight. And even in a minor key — the song is not over. #BeUMC youtu.be/tZjpXBZpm0U?...

youtu.be

Ash Wednesday at Union Grove UMC

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Sometimes the hardest place to tell the truth is home. Jeremiah felt too young. Jesus was dismissed in his own hometown. And still—God kept calling. Before rejection comes, God names who we are. #BeUMC #truthtellersandtableturners youtu.be/PE8Q6ZUjfwI?...

youtu.be

Prophets Without Honor

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

It starts in the silence. A whisper in the dark. A call you weren’t expecting… or weren’t sure was real. #BeUMC #truthtellersandtableturners youtu.be/1zLrqtPmnNE?...

youtu.be

Speak, Lord

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

I don't know why I still maintain an account on this platform. I can't seem to figure it out. Of all the platforms I'm on, I have the most followers here, and the lowest interactions. ::sigh:: #BeUMC #Booksky

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

What is a prophet, anyway? Most people hear that word and think of crystal balls, doom-and-gloom, future predictions. Or maybe angry street preachers with bullhorns. Or maybe just someone who “seems off”—a bit too intense. #BeUMC youtu.be/M0S96EqZpbg

youtu.be

What Is a Prophet, Anyway?

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

A call out to those who've retired or are presently unappointed ... we have sheep to feed, don't we? #BeUMC

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

When God says “Go,” you don’t have to be ready. You don’t have to be worthy. You don’t even have to be willing. You just have to stop running. #BeUMC youtu.be/wfzEC1o2hVI?...

youtu.be

When God Says Go

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

I'm introducing 3 new online ministries this year ... inclusive, doctrine- and indoctrination-free messages for youth ages 0-18. (I won't tell if grownups listen, too!) #BeUMC #childrenschurch #youthministry

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

The waters were still when Jesus stepped in. Not stormy. Not chaotic. Just still— like the hush before something holy. And then, it happened ... #BeUMC youtu.be/gAPw-B6c1Do?...

youtu.be

Anointed for Justice

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

I had a moment. What can I say? They hit my last nerve. Must be my day to drive a tent peg in the skull of the patriarchy. #BeUMC #smashthepatriarchy #toxicmasculinity youtu.be/kr98yR74aJo

youtu.be

On Masculine Leadership, Public Hangings, Tent Pegs, and Mallets

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 07/12/2025

It's the second Sunday of Advent, and we're lighting the candle of Peace. Peace is not polite. It’s prophetic. And it starts with us. #BeUMC #advent #uniongroveumc #blountcountytn #church #hepingzhanshi #jesus #peace youtu.be/YwwpOpeXS7I?...

youtu.be

Peace for the Powerless

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

A little something for the "Littles" this second week of Advent. #BeUMC

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

A little something for the "Littles" this first week of Advent.

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

A patriarchal father asked his daughter about preserving the family line. She answered: “You know men don’t have wombs, right? Home is where the woman is — I am my own temple.” That sound you hear? Generations of assumptions cracking. #BeUMC #women revsheseesfar.substack.com/p/i-am-my-ow...

revsheseesfar.substack.com

I Am My Own Temple

A Reflection on One Perfect Line from a Chinese Drama - Every once in a while, a line from a drama hits so hard you feel it in your bones. This one did.Three sentences.Three hammer blows.And suddenly ...

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

Welcome to the first Sunday of Advent, where the whole world is waiting—not with dread, but with holy anticipation. Today we begin with Hope: not as a feeling, but as a decision. Even in the shadows, we light the candle. #BeUMC #Advent #hope #worship www.youtube.com/watch?v=6goR...

youtube.com

Hope is Born in the Waiting

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

#BeUMC Advent - Because The Whole World Is Waiting ...

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

My church paid thousands every year for insurance—one claim, an act of God—and the insurer still dropped us. Not because of damage, but because of risk. And in America, a church that shelters the vulnerable is “too risky” to insure. #BeUMC open.substack.com/pub/revshese...

open.substack.com

When the Wolves Guard the Gate

How the Insurance Industry Is Quietly Deciding Which Churches Get to Live - We paid faithfully for years. One storm hit, one claim, one sigh of relief—and then the letter came: “We will not be renewin...

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

There’s a reason so many of us flinch a little at the word “king.” It carries baggage—of conquest and control, of thrones built on backs instead of justice, of power used not to serve but to dominate. #BeUMC #HepingZhanshi #churchsky #jesus youtu.be/oICGEcvIQBE?...

youtu.be

Christos Kyrios: What Kind of King?

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Growing Older in Grace is an 8-week journey for senior adults who long for gentle, honest, hope-filled spiritual companionship. This study affirms that God is not finished with us—no matter our age, our story, or our struggles. books.by/manypathspre... #BeUMC #biblestudy #aging #seniors

For the Saints Who Have Walked the Long Road of Faith

Growing Older in Grace is a tender, Wesleyan Bible study crafted especially for senior adults. Each of the eight weeks explores a key biblical word—faith, love, repentance, healing, peace, hope—through accessible reflections, heartfelt prayers, and thoughtful discussion.

Every session includes a “Legacy Blessing Project,” inviting participants to share wisdom, comfort, and encouragement with the generations who will follow.

Whether your congregation is navigating transition, seeking renewed purpose, or longing for connection, this study offers gentle strength, honest hope, and a reminder that God’s grace continues to shape us at every age.

Your story matters.
Your wisdom matters.
Your life is still unfolding in grace.

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

Elpis — the Greek word for hope. But this isn't the wishful kind of hope that crosses fingers and waits around for things to get better. This is defiant, grounded, Spirit-breathed hope — the kind that sings while marching and plants gardens in the rubble. #BeUMC youtu.be/nRFRnN4D4j8

youtu.be

Hope is More Than Waiting

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Reposted by Rev. Val

Katie Z. Dawson @amomono.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

The UMC Bishops have just put out a book on how to be a disciple in the face of authoritarianism. It is from a global context. Check it out: www.cokesbury.com/Building-Bel.... #beumc

cokesbury.com

Building Beloved Community

Building Beloved Community by UMC Council of Bishops. Build inclusive communities & resist division with theological insight, practical strategies & global stories. Address extremism & racism.

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

“Be holy, because I am holy.” These words from Leviticus are echoed centuries later by Peter. They are not a demand. They are an invitation. And they are not an invitation to some stained-glass perfectionism or high-polish performance. They’re an invitation to wholeness. #BeUMC youtu.be/bGGfB4SBSN0

youtu.be

Holiness: Wholeness, Not Separation

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

They say you can’t fight for peace, that peace must come quietly, gently, without the clash of conviction. But anyone who has ever tried to love a wounded world knows better. #BeUMC #HepingZhanshi open.substack.com/pub/revshese...

open.substack.com

To Fight for Peace

How a Peace Warrior stands firm without striking back - Peace Warriors fight differently — not to conquer, but to transform. Their armor is conviction. Their weapon is compassion. Their battlefield is...

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Reposted by Rev. Val

UMCOR - United Methodist Committee on Relief @umcor.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

This Moment Matters — because it's "who is my neighbor," not "who is my enemy." Will you join us in welcoming the stranger, feeding the hungry and caring for the sick? Visit ThisMomentMatters.org #BeUMC #ThisMomentMatters #LoveThyNeighbor

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

All Hallows Eve, All Saints, and All Souls are all wrapped up in our observance of Dia de los Muertos at Union Grove UMC. Inclusivity is not only easy, but it can be lots of fun and highly educational! #BeUMC #inclusivity #seeallthepeople

The congregation of Union Grove on 11/2/2025. The ladies are wearing flower crowns and two of our gentlemen are wearing face paint in honor of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The group is gathered around the ofrenda.

We had a charge conference to attend following worship and decided to carry our celebration there as well as gift our superintendent, Rev. Cross, with a flower crown.

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

Today’s message might surprise you. We’re talking about the word “apocalypse”—but not the way it’s usually preached. Apokalupsis - it might not be as spooky as you think. #BeUMC #apocalypse #rapture youtu.be/bfPTRm2CaaM

youtu.be

Doom? Or Unveiling?

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

This week, we're talking about Heaven—but not the gold-paved place we heard about in childhood. The Greek word Ouranos means sky, heavens, air, and breath. It's not far away; it's all around us. #BeUMC youtu.be/8T-tFzFO8SU?...

youtu.be

Beyond the Clouds

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

“The locusts don’t get the last word. The drought doesn’t get the last breath. The rain is coming, and the Spirit still falls on all flesh.” A short message from Joel 2:23–32 for anyone who needs a reason to hope again. 🌧️✨ #BeUMC www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-gq...

youtu.be

The Rain Will Come

YouTube video by Rev. Valerie Ohle (Rev. Val)

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