I’ve been going to church since I was 16 years old. I’ve been ordained as a minister for over 25 years. This is the first Sunday morning in I don’t know how long when I am not going to church for a good reason. It feels very very strange to me. Not a bad strange. Just an unfamiliar strange. I’m thinking of Rothesay Vineyard this morning. I miss them. Jon, who has replaced me, will do well. Of that I’m... Read more
I put this woodcut/ watercolor original painting of mine up yesterday for a contest: <!– I entered the numbers of each commentator into a numbers generating machine, and up came the winning number belonging to Debbie Case from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, USA. Congratulations Debbie! It will be shipped out to you on Monday. Stay tuned for next week’s gift. I think I am going to call this Free Fridays. You might want to get my posts in your feed readers!... Read more
**************CONTEST CLOSED******************* YOU CAN WIN THIS. JUST COMMENT TO ENTER THE DRAW!” This is an original woodcut that I’ve created using the finest Arches watercolor paper and Daniel Smith’s woodblock inks. It measures approximately 5″x6.5″ (12.5cm x 16.5cm). I’ve hand-painted the sky above the crows with watercolors. It is one of a kind original piece of mine, David Hayward. It will be signed and dated on the front. If you want to see a larger image of it click here.... Read more
Yes, the BOSS. I wonder how many of you could print this cartoon off and post it to your company’s bulletin board, or the church’s, or in your office, or on your cubicle wall, or wherever? Share this with your friends. Send it anonymously to someone. Some bosses, or leaders, or pastors, or whatever… would find this funny. Some would find it in bad taste. Some would take it as a personal attack. It would be interesting to hear some... Read more
So even though I’m still in my recovery from Inguinal Hernia surgery just 13 days ago, I am still able to apply my artistic skills to different areas of my life. My son Jesse’s girlfriend, Teener, had her birthday the other day. She loves color. And she loves Kokopelli, and even has a tattoo of him on her ankle. So Lisa and I baked the cake and I decorated it with this rendering of Kokopelli. I didn’t think it was... Read more
You like your church. You’ve found a community that seems healthy to you. You’ve been there for over a year now. You feel the freedom to find your own spiritual path and to walk it with integrity without fear of judgment. The teaching is good. It challenges you to think for yourself. The conversational approach to the teaching time encourages you to seek and to find with curiosity and courage. The pastor takes a hands-off approach that you find refreshing,... Read more
I am no longer in a professional position of ministry. Again. I’ve been in this place before. It is familiar to me. The most distinctive character of this situation is the feeling of the loss of authorization to critique the church. I realize much of this is my own issue. But, I know all too well the sense of entitlement that comes with position and the authority that attends it. It was something I wrestled against every single day of... Read more
Maybe many of you have been protected from this development. I have not. I have served under many “leaders” who required this kind of devotion, and the signs associated with it. Mostly within the church. Read more
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