The first funeral I remember was for my Grandpa Joe. He was a bridge builder for the county and a farmer of sorts. He had about 10 cows and all of them had names even though he eventually ate most of them. We got to stay with him and Nanny every year on our birthday and we spent most holidays with them. After my grandma died, they put him in a nursing home which he kept escaping from until he... Read more
When I try to discuss the topics about thriving outside organized religion, the most prominent pushback that I get from those that attend church is in the area of community. They will say to me, “But, we need community!” And, I will say, “I couldn’t agree more.” But, if we all agree that community is important, maybe it would be worth our time to go through an assessment and make sure we are all talking about the same thing, and... Read more
Video recording of all 13 speakers – reserve now Description of the Conference Last year, the Desert Sanctuary initiated the Nomad 2020 online conference during the pandemic. Ever since that day, I have been dreaming of this event. I wanted to lean forward and look toward the future with all the other spiritual nomads and seekers. I wanted to bring together people with differing vantage points to see if we could see what is over the horizon. To be on... Read more
Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA from PexelsA few days ago, my daughter sent me a Tik Toc video from Joseph Yoo He appears to be an Episcopal Priest who was engaged by someone in Starbucks that wanted him to commiserate about the way the church is being persecuted. I remember conversations like that when I was a pastor and I always came to a similar conclusion as Pastor Yoo, “The church in American is not being persecuted.” But I also... Read more
If I Should Die by Karl Forehand If I should die, don’t hire a pastor To tell people how great that I am, Don’t take me to church to bid me adieu It is about me and it’s for you. If I should die, don’t throw a big party Don’t pretend like we don’t need to heal, Cry if you need to and feel what you feel It’s really the best way to rebuild. If I... Read more
Last year, the Desert Sanctuary initiated the Nomad 2020 online conference during the pandemic. Ever since that day, I have been dreaming of this event. I wanted to lean forward and look toward the future with all the other spiritual nomads and seekers. I wanted to bring together people with differing vantage points to see if we could see what is over the horizon. To be on this journey and truly experience the adventure, we have to move forward with some amount of uncertainty... Read more
As a former pastor, I remember the faces of people that were visiting for the first time. The were always a bit more attentive than the other members. They were a little more hesitant to be demonstrative, but they looked hopeful in a cautious sort of way. This always made me hopeful that they would be a new addition to the “fold.” Maybe they would be the right mix of maturity and hopeful, optimism that we needed at this place. ... Read more
It’s the only thing I do “religiously” any more. On the weekends, I arise early to sit on my porch, meditate and watch the sunrise. The only hustle and bustle are the crickets and cicada that endlessly communicate all around me. In the distance, I hear the rumble of a train that doesn’t bother to blow it’s whistle this time of day. Occasionally, an almost silent vehicle passes on main street, but otherwise there is just stillness. I watch the... Read more
I remember where I was on September 11, 2001. I was a pastor still trying to find his way in a fundamentalist Bible church. We had survived the year 2000 which many people thought might be the end of the world. It came and went, only to usher in the infamous 9/11 which most of us will never forget. I also remember George W. Bush standing at ground zero a few days later and vowing revenge for those that would... Read more
In recent years, I have developed a deep kinship with nature and animals. I love that I feel more a part of nature and understand it to also to be a part of me. I don’t want to go back to my elemental thinking that what I do doesn’t matter to the world around me. I realize now that I am deeply connected to it. But, even though I am deeply connected to the animals, I realize that human beings... Read more
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