Meditations on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day One young woman, eight years old and well before the age most people start thinking for themselves, said “NO.” “The answer is NO!” “No, I will not permit you to forcibly hold me down and cut my genitals so you can keep your traditions. No, I will not permit you to mutilate me in the name of ‘we’ve always done it this way’ and societal acceptance.” Because of her determination and courage, 50,000... Read more
Trump–and his avid disciples–are barbarians. They are not politicians. They don’t understand or honor the slow process of making policies. The “way we’ve always done things” cry is irrelevant to them. They are here to destroy and to rebuild the US in their image out of the ashes. And that is precisely why the UMC needs its Donald Trump. Background: I am married to a business owner who has given me a front-seat education on the effect that the policies... Read more
In my past role as “mystery worshipper” for a newspaper column, I am offering a few pointers for an effective church website. The number one issue: Never, ever change your normal worship time without splashing it all over your website! But other than that particular rant, below are some things I have learned after perusing hundreds of church websites. One: Do not assume that a Facebook page provides adequate electronic presence. You still need an actual, up to date, reasonably professional looking... Read more
Little things make the big things: what little things that make big things could we do in the big “do-over” time that we call the New Year? For the last four months of 2017, I lived with foot one or another in the “toes above the nose” stance. I had finally decided to undergo the surgeries necessary to correct inherited foot problems that have plagued me since I was a teen. And that was a long time ago. As the... Read more
Below is my, admittedly limited, take on the repercussions of the tax bill. Keep in mind that because of my husband’s occupation, when he is home, we watch a lot of business news. It is neither Republican nor Democratic–just questions and concerns about various aspects of the economy. 1. Of course, the bill benefits the uber-wealthy. They bought and paid for those currently in office. Just a fact of life. We might as well get over it. Money always talks.... Read more
To say that I did not have the institutional support that I needed to keep going as a clergy could qualify as the year’s most significant understatement. We had our office Christmas party earlier this week. My husband and I sat at the head of the table. [Note: Technically we co-own the company. Truth: he built it from the ground up. Even at 75, he works four to six days a week. I married into this and am the cheerleader and... Read more
Mary reveals that the entrance of the Savior into the world is a subversive act on the part of God. God is initiating a social revolution against unjust rule. These words shout: “justice for the masses!” Mary, mother of Jesus, hears the words of the angel. She will bear a special child. Almost immediately she sets out to see her elderly cousin, Elizabeth, at least a five day and often dangerous, walk. Why? Because the angel also told her that... Read more
Yes, it is with a great sense of entitlement that Mein Führer Donald Trump has given us a list of banned words in his quest to eliminate the most vulnerable among us. The autocrat Trump, AKA known as the President of the United States, has handed down a list of banned words. Of all the outrageous moves that the Trump administration has foisted upon us, this word ban is the greatest. This despicable man, as usual with the nearly total... Read more
I was chatting with a friend of mine early today and asked why women so readily vote for sexual predators. He responded, “Most of them are hard-shell Baptist.” According to a series of exit polls by the Washington Post, the majority of women in Alabama still voted for (alleged) pedophile Roy Moore. Why? I was chatting with a friend of mine early today and asked why women so readily vote for sexual predators. He responded, “Most of them are hard-shell... Read more
Yes, we are morally diminished. That is exactly what has happened. We are morally diminished from the top down. I keep thinking that this all comes back to sex: can anyone who embraces immoral sexual practices be a morally-adept leader? Every morning, I read the “Republicans can do no wrong” Wall Street Journal, as well as the Democratic-leaning and “We hate everything Trump” New York Times. Many mornings, I find myself in two different worlds. I see graphically how our prejudices... Read more
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