iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Rev. Val

@revsheseesfar.bsky.social

8.3K followers 10K following 1.8K posts

Pronouns: she/her/savage rebel. Pastor of a fully inclusive UMC Reconciling Ministries church in East TN. 4th or 5th generation (and cradle) Methodist. Straight CIS Ally and Dem. Watch those clobber verses. I tend to clobber back.

Posts Replies Media

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

Sometimes the point is not to go viral. Sometimes the point is simply to keep speaking in a world that has forgotten how to listen. 9/9 #BeUMC #Resist

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

So I’ll keep writing here from time to time — not because I crave attention, but because platforms are tools, and tools can still be used for purposes beyond self-promotion. 8/9 #BeUMC #Resist

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

Algorithms are not built to recognize wisdom, gentleness, depth, or Spirit. They are profit-making tools designed to reward reaction. I am under no obligation to shape my voice into something louder, angrier, simpler, or more performative just to satisfy them. 7/9 #BeUMC #Resist

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

For a long time, I assumed my inability to gain traction on platforms like this meant the things I was trying to say simply weren’t worth hearing. But I’m not sure that’s true anymore. 6/9 #BeUMC #Resist

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

And that has forced me to confront something important: Truth rarely shouts. Spirit rarely performs. What is good and holy usually does not arrive wrapped in spectacle, outrage, branding, or perfectly optimized engagement. Spirit tends to nudge. To pull gently. To whisper. 5/9 #BeUMC #Resist

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

This year, the theme I’m pursuing in ministry with my tiny rural UMC congregation is “Journey to Discipleship.” Right now, during the season between Easter and Pentecost, our current movement is called “Learning to Listen.” 4/9 #BeUMC #Resist

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

But the loudest voices are not necessarily the truest voices. They are simply the voices we’ve been trained to notice because they trigger us, flatter us, entertain us, or feed our emotions ... 3/9 #BeUMC #Resist

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

Like most platforms, this one often functions less as a place for thoughtful connection and more as a machine designed to amplify already established loud voices ... 2/9 #BeUMC #Resist

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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?...

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

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?...

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

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?...

Chains Falling Off

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

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...

Love Sings the Last Song

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

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

Midnight Prayer Blues

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

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

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

Reposted by Rev. Val

IowaUMChurch @iowaumchurch.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

The Council of Bishops - The United Methodist Church released a statement asking for prayers for peace during this time of war in the Middle East. Click below for the full statement. #BeUMC #iaumc

United Methodist Bishops Call for Prayer and Peace in the New Middle East War

We know that our hearts are heavy as we witness the mounting loss of life from the ongoing military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel, and from retaliatory strikes by Iran. Families ...

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

Still here.

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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?...

Fire In My Bones

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

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

youtu.be/TPqETm3zqvk?...

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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?...

Ash Wednesday at Union Grove UMC

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

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?...

Prophets Without Honor

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

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?...

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

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

IYKYK #BeUMC #HolyTrouble #truthtellersandtableturners (Image info in the alt text)

Final Design Concept: The Clergy Peace Seal
Core Form
Circular seal (same visual family as the resistance emblems)
Crescent arc formed by the wings (visual echo without copying)
Dove centered, facing upward (not outward, not aggressive)
Dove-as-Cross Integration (Option 1)
The body of the dove forms the vertical beam of the cross
The outstretched wings form the horizontal beam
This should be felt, not outlined
(no literal wooden cross—this is theology, not signage)
This says:
Christ is not carried by the Church;
the Church is carried by Christ.
Flame Integration (Option 3 refinement)
A small flame at the heart of the dove, not above it
Flame shape: simple, almost teardrop-like
Inside the flame: suggested light, not detail
This matters:
Above-head flame = authority
Heart flame = calling
Clergy don’t rule.
They bear witness.
Color Palette (chosen deliberately)
Here’s what I recommend—and why:
Primary
Deep slate blue – peace, endurance, sky, Minnesota-adjacent without being state-bound
Warm bone / parchment white – sacred, ancient, human
Accents
Muted gold / soft amber – Spirit fire, holiness without aggression
Charcoal (not black) – gravity without violence
🚫 No red. 🚫 No stark black-and-white. 🚫 No metallic shine.
This should look like it belongs:
on a stole
on a sanctuary door
on a clergy letter
on a quiet sign held by someone who isn’t shouting
What This Symbol Communicates (without words)
“We are not the state.”
“We are not neutral.”
“We will not be moved by fear.”
“Our resistance is rooted in something older than your power.”
That’s dangerous in the best way.

Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

#BeUMC youtu.be/h8153DISndY?...

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

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Thank you. That's good to know.

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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

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

#BeUMC #youthministry #teens youtube.com/shorts/i5noW...

Sending a #signal to all #teens on #Prophets: What Is a Prophet, Anyway?

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

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

#BeUMC #youthministry #tweens youtube.com/shorts/gC2UR...

Looking #betweenthelines with #tweens about Prophets

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

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

#BeUMC #childrenschurch youtube.com/shorts/tEhHZ...

A #littlemoment about Prophets for Littles

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

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

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?...

When God Says Go

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

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

Little Moments for the Little Folk

Between the Lines for Tweens

Signal for Teens

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

Do you dare? #BeUMC

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?...

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

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

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

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?...

Peace for the Powerless

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 ...

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...

Hope is Born in the Waiting

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

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

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

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...

Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

God be with them. :( #BeUMC

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Rev. Val @revsheseesfar.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

I kinda' sorta' did a thing ... #BeUMC #booksky #authorsky #biblestudy #devotional #progressivechristianity youtube.com/shorts/qU4_J...

I Kinda' Sorta' Did a Thing ...

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

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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?...

Christos Kyrios: What Kind of King?

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

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.