There is a sign in a yard in our small town that says, “We Back the Blue.” I’m assuming it’s a response to growing negative sentiment in the U. S. when we see examples of abuse. We always have the same response to the sign. We say, “Most of us do!” It is true. Most Americans are supportive of the police function in this country, we want there to be “law and... Read more
The tradition I came from (my people if you will) never even discussed women being senior pastors. Rarely did a female approach the stage unless it was a small church and there really wasn’t any other options. The first church I pastored had all male leadership and even though we considered ourselves empowering of women, the things we empowered them to do was limited. Instead of arguing all the elements of this theologically, let me just throw out a proposition... Read more
This year is the first time ever that I have watched all the presidential debates including the one that didn’t happen. They are at least somewhat all socially distanced which gives them a unique feel unlike other ones in the past. Just like all other years, we begin the viewing by blankly staring into the screen wandering why these are the best two people in the United States of America that we could glean to represent us. It is either... Read more
Being Where I Am By Karl Forehand I no longer want to be one Who feels at home in the past I don’t think I will thrive there I don’t think it will last. I no longer want to be one Who takes my trips up ahead I don’t think I would thrive there I don’t think it’s my stead I now want to live in presence To mostly just know... Read more
Last night I had a dream That happened in the future We were talking about the past And some features of our culture We found it hard to fathom How we used to be so racist For 400 years we nurtured The system without a basis. We also could not understand Why we ever needed religion It’s okay to seek to understand But somehow it became a mission We wondered why we labored In fear, control and... Read more
I vaguely remember a game we used to play when I was young. It was a light, playful game you would play when you were sleepy. We would grab a sibling’s wrist while they were trying to sleep and cause them to lightly smack themselves all the while playfully exclaiming, “stop hitting yourself, stop hitting yourself.” I know, I know, it sounds like I grew up in Oklahoma – you are right!... Read more
Deconstruction makes people uneasy. Some have opted for gentler terms like restoration (as in art restoration). Tearing things down sounds negative to some and they wonder if we will have anything left after the deconstruction. Once we begin to deconstruct our faith, we realize there was so much more unnecessary things in the way of our authentic self that we worry much less than our groups of origin. But lately the term that troubles me more than deconstruction... Read more
I tried to plan an adventure I planned out all of the parts But almost from the beginning My well-made plans fell apart. I missed a lot of adventure While trying to salvage the plan I did not notice the great things I missed the wonder at hand. But then I discovered the tea shop And met the strange man with no name, He treated me like one of the... Read more
I got up early this morning to start a new job assignment. So I had to take a Covid test at 6:00 a.m. I got here 30 minutes early and people were already lining up in their cars to get a test. I got my place in line and about 20 minutes later someone cut in behind me. I’m glad it didn’t start a fight but eventually this guy was 3 inches from my bumper and still in a hurry. ... Read more
About two years ago, I thought my whole world was ending. I had done some internal work that was changing my life, but I also discovered something else. I discovered my shadow. Shadow material are things we ignore, deny, or repress that create stuck places from the trauma in our lives. If you have ever felt reactive or said, “where did that come from,” most likely you are experiencing things you have repressed that are misbehaving. Focusing is the tool... Read more
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