ARE WE EVIL? I have spent much of my time in prison considering this question. Different answers seem to come at different times. I really believe the answer is ultimately NO. We are not evil people. We are people who are sinners. We are prone to do bad things. Some of these bad things are so serious that we call them EVIL. Humans have created a level system of sin. We sometimes call something a white lie. We call other... Read more
Resurrection is not possible without death. Rev. Charles Moore knew about resurrection and his fullest revelation of death came about quite violently. The flickering flame at the front of his funeral reminded us of the immolation and alluded to the endless possibilities of resurrection. The world is on fire and Moore wanted us to follow him into the flames. The death of Rev. Moore is a call to radical discipleship. The problem is that radical discipleship is not taught... Read more
The fiery passion of 79-year-old retired United Methodist pastor The Rev. Charles Moore is raging in my soul right now. On June 23 around 5:30pm, Moore exited his vehicle in Grand Saline, Texas, doused his body with gasoline and set himself on fire. After rescue efforts by bystanders, Moore was taken by helicopter to Parkland Hospital in Dallas and eventually died late last night. Based on notes left behind, Moore chose to self-immolate based on his frustration with the United... Read more
“If you want to be a slut then be a slut on your own dime not mine.” These were the second to last concluding words of a conversation I just had with an older Christian woman at LaGuardia Airport in New York. Just to be clear, I don’t just walk around talking to random people about the Hobby Lobby case. I was praying and I think the woman thought that I would be someone she could easily commiserate with about... Read more
For followers of God, politics and religion have always been very closely connected. We are a people determined to see the hand of God move in the land of the living. We start to go astray when we remake God into a Republican or Democrat. We forget that we were made for so much more…namely love. This morning, I woke up to news that Mark Mayfield committed suicide in Mississippi. Most probably didn’t or don’t know anything about... Read more
There are few names of places whose mere utterance evokes description of social movement. Stonewall is one such name. On the 28th of June 1969, police raided the gay bar at the Stonewall Inn and bar patrons fought back. Many historians and social observers argue that this was the singular moment that launched the queer rights movement. As the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots approach later this week, I took a second to visit the establishment and ponder... Read more
June 12 and 13 Roads comfort me. I often find myself on bright days and dark nights between strips of white and yellow paint. When I meet him, I often wonder who he is and what he has done with my self. The confusion lets me know that I am still alive and perhaps growing in my humanity. There is something comforting about being reminded that we are still alive. This is a story about roads and life. ... Read more
There is nothing like waking up and knowing that you are going to finish. I knew that every step I had taken and was taking was a step toward abolishing the death penalty. I called many people throughout the day as I walked into Austin. I stopped for some lemonade. The sweetness of the taste almost made me forget the pain in my feet and legs. I pushed on with lemonade in hand. Two fellow pilgrims greeted me... Read more
Walking down a busy highway late in the day was different than anything I’d done before. People were honking and yelling as I walked. I don’t think anyone was honking and yelling because they liked the look of a man in a robe either. I was unnerved. I thought about stopping. I was tired. I wondered what it would be like to stop. I kept going. The sidewalks disappeared and I trudged through the tall grass. I felt like... Read more
Storms were coming that looked fierce but never truly developed into anything but a short shower. Red bumps filled the skin covering my right hip. Each step I took caused my robe to rub up against those bumps and made them itch more. I knew I was in for a hot itchy day. The wet hot dusty asphalt and rocks of Highway 21 were the most miserable part of my entire journey. I had trouble balancing and stumbled around. ... Read more
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