Privacy no longer exists–and that is a good thing. And I’ve gone to meddling today as I continue with my morning pattern of reading real newspapers and praying my way around the world. I offer you today’s snippets. Ditch that padded running shoe and go as close to barefoot as you can. According to a Wall Street Journal article called, “How Can You Make Running Less Painful”, the problem lies in our heavily padded running shoes which encourage people to land... Read more
As I wander through today’s newspapers, I am both in awe of and appalled at the capacity of the human being to do evil and bring harm, both intentional and unintentional, The Venezuelan president, with a nation in an extreme financial and humanitarian crisis, refuses to take aid freely offered by the US that could easily keep many of its starving and very ill citizens alive. We’ve messed up the Panda Bear habitat, bringing them too close to the possibility... Read more
My retired pleasure: reading a couple of real newsprint newspapers each morning. The best avenue around for stretching the brain and expanding one’s consciousness of a world outside of mine. It’s also part of my morning discipline of praying around the world. And sometimes it’s just fun. Forget about the possibility of healthier cold cereals. Customers didn’t like ’em, so manufacturers have re-added tons of sugar along with previously discarded artificial colorings. “Taste is king,” said Dana McNabb, General Mills’... Read more
In Australia, a giant scandal has erupted when hidden cameras disclosed the captain of the national cricket team, Steve Smith, had conspired with several teammates to scrub balls with sandpaper, making it much harder for the batters on the opposing team to hit. It is a blatantly illegal practice. His response brought tears to my eyes: Disgraced in a blatant ball-scuffing scandal that has transfixed the cricket world, one of its most exalted players flew home to Australia from South... Read more
One of the pleasures of being retired is the gift of time to read the morning newspaper. I get the real ones: done with newsprint that sometimes makes my hands dirty and which must be recycled and with stories that I would never see if I only looked at online versions, although I do read some of them as well. As I did yesterday, I thought I’d offer some of the snippets of things I learned today. Soccer Scandal Please make... Read more
One of the pleasures of being retired is the gift of time to read morning newspapers. The real ones: done with newsprint that sometimes makes my hands dirty and which must be recycled and with stories that I would never see if I only looked at online versions, although I do read some of them as well. So most mornings, I sit down with a pot of steaming English breakfast tea, a piece of toast made from organic ancient grains (I... Read more
Holy week is about the forgiveness of betrayal. We don’t need the cross; we do need the betrayal and the response to the betrayal. Few of us face public execution; all of us will be wounded over and over again by the multiple betrayals we all endure. Remember, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they do.” Who has experienced betrayal this year? Well, Equifax handed over the personal and financial information on over 140,000,000 people to... Read more
Or as the good old King James Version puts it, “I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’S anointed.” That’s Donald Trump today. Dear Thoughtful Pastor: I know this is a generalization but all generalizations have a basis in fact. When Obama was President the conservatives in the country railed at anything and everything they saw as a transgression of some, very poorly defined, standard. Now Trump is the President and represents the conservative side. His transgressions (such as having an affair... Read more
Yes, there is something profoundly wrong at the heart of The United Methodist Church. And it is called the Evangelical Takeover. I admit it: I’m fascinated by the fact that with the death knell of Evangelicalism now being easily heard, the UMC is about to become downright Evangelical. I also just don’t get it. The Issue Behind the Issue Anyone who has been following the drama in the UMC about the potential split of the denomination over the issue of what... Read more
But too many of us are ready to cast those who think differently into hell. I sometimes wonder if this is the unpardonable sin: the taking upon ourselves the right to judge others for all eternity instead of recognizing that this privilege belongs only to God, not to us. In a previous post, I reviewed the forthcoming Netflix movie, COME SUNDAY, which tells the true story of pastor/evangelist Carlton Pearson and his fall from grace when he realized he could... Read more
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