John I. Carney
@lakeneuron.com
County government employee. United Methodist lay leader / lay servant / lay speaker. Former journalist. Developing oil painter, #MST3K, classic movies. Author of "Dislike: Faith and Dialogue in the Age of Social Media."
Baptism of the Lord Sunday is a challenge for a layspeaker without a seminary education.
johnicarney.medium.com/whos-baptizi...
johnicarney.medium.com/whos-baptizi...
Who’s baptizing whom?
Farmington United Methodist Church, January 11, 2026
johnicarney.medium.com
January 11, 2026 at 6:25 PM
Baptism of the Lord Sunday is a challenge for a layspeaker without a seminary education.
johnicarney.medium.com/whos-baptizi...
johnicarney.medium.com/whos-baptizi...
Here's a audio Christmas card I did a few years ago, when i was not in the habit of sending out physical cards. (I do send them now, since I started oil painting!)
soundcloud.com/lakeneuron/t...
soundcloud.com/lakeneuron/t...
The Gift Of The Magi (2019)
A reading of O. Henry's beloved short story, now in the public domain.
Heinrich Lichner's
soundcloud.com
December 21, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Here's a audio Christmas card I did a few years ago, when i was not in the habit of sending out physical cards. (I do send them now, since I started oil painting!)
soundcloud.com/lakeneuron/t...
soundcloud.com/lakeneuron/t...
I recently made a few tweaks and updates to this Medium post about fermented vegetables (pickles, sauerkraut, etc.) from 2023: johnicarney.medium.com/put-your-bac... #food #fermentation
Put your bacteria to work
What’s lactofermentation? Why should you care?
johnicarney.medium.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I recently made a few tweaks and updates to this Medium post about fermented vegetables (pickles, sauerkraut, etc.) from 2023: johnicarney.medium.com/put-your-bac... #food #fermentation
On John the Baptizer and Mr. McFeely: johnicarney.medium.com/im-just-the-...
I’m just the messenger
Farmington United Methodist Church, Dec. 7, 2025
johnicarney.medium.com
December 7, 2025 at 7:44 PM
On John the Baptizer and Mr. McFeely: johnicarney.medium.com/im-just-the-...
Reposted by John I. Carney
Have I ever listened to Hey Jude by The Beatles? Absolutely not. It's addressed to Jude, not me. What about Annie's Song by John Denver? Nope. Not my song so none of my business. Everyone should treat the private communications of musicians with the same level of respect as I do.
November 23, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Have I ever listened to Hey Jude by The Beatles? Absolutely not. It's addressed to Jude, not me. What about Annie's Song by John Denver? Nope. Not my song so none of my business. Everyone should treat the private communications of musicians with the same level of respect as I do.
The best way to make popcorn is also a great holiday gift: johnicarney.medium.com/give-it-a-wh...
Give it a whirl this holiday season
A stovetop popcorn popper has its advantages
johnicarney.medium.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:14 PM
The best way to make popcorn is also a great holiday gift: johnicarney.medium.com/give-it-a-wh...
A spicy story: johnicarney.medium.com/an-alternati...
An alternative spice?
One of my favorite seasonings is now competing with itself.
johnicarney.medium.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:07 PM
A spicy story: johnicarney.medium.com/an-alternati...
You know you're moving up in the world when you can afford Hamburger Helper DELUXE. #food #luxury #lifestylesoftherichandfamous
November 11, 2025 at 10:22 PM
You know you're moving up in the world when you can afford Hamburger Helper DELUXE. #food #luxury #lifestylesoftherichandfamous
Reposted by John I. Carney
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
I did not get to preach this sermon due to a death in the family, but I had to share it because of a little factoid that I discovered while writing it.
johnicarney.medium.com/a-wee-little...
johnicarney.medium.com/a-wee-little...
A wee little man was he … or was he?
Undelivered sermon, Nov. 2, 2025
johnicarney.medium.com
November 3, 2025 at 1:35 AM
I did not get to preach this sermon due to a death in the family, but I had to share it because of a little factoid that I discovered while writing it.
johnicarney.medium.com/a-wee-little...
johnicarney.medium.com/a-wee-little...
I wrote this sermon, didn't get the chance to preach it, but decided to share it anyway. #unitedmethodist #umc #sermons #layspeaker
johnicarney.medium.com/the-cost-of-...
johnicarney.medium.com/the-cost-of-...
The cost of the Gospel
Undelivered sermon, Oct. 5, 2025
johnicarney.medium.com
October 5, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I wrote this sermon, didn't get the chance to preach it, but decided to share it anyway. #unitedmethodist #umc #sermons #layspeaker
johnicarney.medium.com/the-cost-of-...
johnicarney.medium.com/the-cost-of-...
Reposted by John I. Carney
I wanted to get a video of this ghost crab but every time I got close to their hole they scuttled back in, so I tried getting clever with it. I made a little sandcastle and shoved my phone into it, hit record, and walked away. Crab was VERY suspicious of this addition to their environment.
September 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM
I wanted to get a video of this ghost crab but every time I got close to their hole they scuttled back in, so I tried getting clever with it. I made a little sandcastle and shoved my phone into it, hit record, and walked away. Crab was VERY suspicious of this addition to their environment.
A tale of tea, time and Red Hots: johnicarney.medium.com/a-tale-of-te...
A tale of tea, time, and red hots
Trying to recreate my mother’s spiced tea is tricker than it seems, and Lipton is to blame
johnicarney.medium.com
September 16, 2025 at 7:19 PM
A tale of tea, time and Red Hots: johnicarney.medium.com/a-tale-of-te...
My sermon from this morning as a United Methodist lay speaker: johnicarney.medium.com/chief-among-...
Chief among sinners
Farmington United Methodist Church, Sept. 14, 2025
johnicarney.medium.com
September 14, 2025 at 5:42 PM
My sermon from this morning as a United Methodist lay speaker: johnicarney.medium.com/chief-among-...
I had never seen this gem (from the year I was born!) until Mark Evanier shared it today. My father had Stan Freberg albums which I used to love when I was a kid. Look very carefully at the telegram delivery boy about 20 minutes in -- you might recognize him.
archive.org/details/chun...
archive.org/details/chun...
CHUN KING HOUR : Stan Freberg : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Comedian Stan Freberg's 1962 television special, brilliantly parodying both TV and Madison Ave. Freberg is among the great cartoon voice-over actors. Contains...
archive.org
August 8, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I had never seen this gem (from the year I was born!) until Mark Evanier shared it today. My father had Stan Freberg albums which I used to love when I was a kid. Look very carefully at the telegram delivery boy about 20 minutes in -- you might recognize him.
archive.org/details/chun...
archive.org/details/chun...
My sermon this morning as a United Methodist lay speaker: johnicarney.medium.com/cant-buy-me-...
Can’t buy me love
Forest Mill United Methodist Church, August 3, 2025
johnicarney.medium.com
August 3, 2025 at 6:48 PM
My sermon this morning as a United Methodist lay speaker: johnicarney.medium.com/cant-buy-me-...
I feel seen.
July 30, 2025 at 7:24 PM
I feel seen.
The Non-Prophet, my sermon as a lay speaker this morning at two different churches: johnicarney.medium.com/the-non-prop...
The Non-Prophet
Turkey Creek and Wesley Heights United Methodist Churches, July 13, 2025
johnicarney.medium.com
July 13, 2025 at 7:46 PM
The Non-Prophet, my sermon as a lay speaker this morning at two different churches: johnicarney.medium.com/the-non-prop...
My sermon from this morning as a lay speaker: A Matter of Priorities johnicarney.medium.com/a-matter-of-...
A matter of priorities
Thompsons Station United Methodist Church, June 29, 2025
johnicarney.medium.com
June 29, 2025 at 6:54 PM
My sermon from this morning as a lay speaker: A Matter of Priorities johnicarney.medium.com/a-matter-of-...
Reposted by John I. Carney
Progress Report #3
So far, 6,826 words written in my #WritingAgainstTheDarkness marathon to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association's #TheLongestDay fundraiser.
Less than 7 hours to go. Wish me luck (and make a donation):
bit.ly/benswatd
So far, 6,826 words written in my #WritingAgainstTheDarkness marathon to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association's #TheLongestDay fundraiser.
Less than 7 hours to go. Wish me luck (and make a donation):
bit.ly/benswatd
June 21, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Progress Report #3
So far, 6,826 words written in my #WritingAgainstTheDarkness marathon to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association's #TheLongestDay fundraiser.
Less than 7 hours to go. Wish me luck (and make a donation):
bit.ly/benswatd
So far, 6,826 words written in my #WritingAgainstTheDarkness marathon to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association's #TheLongestDay fundraiser.
Less than 7 hours to go. Wish me luck (and make a donation):
bit.ly/benswatd