I used to walk to the pulpit and exclaim “I have nothing of value to say that is not contained in this book” as I held up my copy of the Bible. Over the years, my views about the Jewish and Christian scriptures changed, and they continues to evolve. For the most part, most major religions pluck their scriptures from a certain time in history or a certain person, and the rest of us are left to wrestle with the... Read more
I was a pastor for 20 years, mostly in smaller towns. I would blend into a community and relate with them and help them rehabilitate their church. Mega Church pastors told me the struggles of pastors are the same, no matter the size of the church. I came from the business world, but I obtained a seminary degree to help me understand what I was getting into. Mostly it just taught me how to wrangle the scriptures to match my... Read more
Photo courtesy of Broadway Diner, Columbia, MO This is where the novel begins. I pictured a forty something waitress that became pregnant in high school and never made her way out of the small Midwest town. Circumstances and hidden desires combine to inspire her to heal her wounds and face her obstacles. Her journey takes her to Florida and back again, as she and her close friends take the journey together, Jenny emerges as the hero of her own story... Read more
After starting my deconstruction, I began writing about all the things I was discovering. but even though I was uncovering gaps in my understanding of racial issues and queer concerns, I hesitated to put pen to paper much mainly because I realized my understanding was limited. After I gained some initial knowledge from some of the stories I heard, in Desert Sanctuary, I came out swinging and I tried to advocate for both of these communities. Spurred by George Floyd’s... Read more
Early on, in most versions of Christianity, disciples are taught to have faith in the beliefs of the tradition. They acknowledge that this is something that is unseen and not necessarily proven. I see this replayed over and over again. To me, these beliefs are unseen, unproven things are actually not truths, they are hypotheses. Oxford defines a hypothesis as: “A supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.” So... Read more
I have always been adventurous. I’ve written about it several times before but the phrase that emerged is Leaning Forward. If all goes well, that will be the title of my next book in the fall. I don’t know if this will be coherent when I finish, but my hope is to communicate what I’ve been learning over the past 6 years since I started my deconstruction. Most of us are born and raised, accepting the beliefs of the people... Read more
My first encounter with Charles Stanley was when I read his book, The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life. I was a young adult looking for direction and the book seemed very clear to me. After reading it, I understood the role of spirit (something I couldn’t see) that somehow helped with things that seemed impossible. Oddly enough, it probably informed my focus as a mystic more than anything. I would later tune in to, and in many ways, Charles Stanley provided... Read more
I would like to announce the release of my second novel, The Diner. I started with the opening scene of a single mother trapped in a Diner by her circumstances and the story revealed itself from there, Jenny, eventually becomes the hero of her story, finds healing from her trauma, and inspires others. Trigger Warning: this book is 18+ – it contains adult language and situations and some LGBTQ content. None of it is graphic and it contributes to the narrative. The characters... Read more
When I was involved in organized religion, as a conservative evangelical Christian in the United States, we always were absolutely sure that our doctrines and beliefs about other people were absolutely right and that God was on our side. If you are an evangelical Christian, I understand your natural reaction to this is, “of course we are.” But that is only because you have been conditioned and groomed to think that way. When you take a couple of days and... Read more
Please understand my reference to Christianity is Western Christianity. If your church or your experience is different than this, then you are not who I’m talking about. But I encourage you to listen closely, because this is a common misconception. A little over a year ago, I suffered a stroke. It caused paralysis in my left side, but not in my face. The rehab plan that I was on was exceptional. It helped me be able to do many of... Read more
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