2016-12-28T15:39:32-05:00

Last updated on: December 28, 2016 at 3:39 pm   By

We have reached the end of 2016. It seems like many found this past twelve month period unusually difficult. Think of Syrian refugees, beloved celebrity deaths,  world-shocking political upheavals. I personally have friends suffering from soul-shattering health crises and even more in spiritual crisis, wondering where God is in the midst of this. As do many, I both look back and look forward at the calendar change. It is time to clean out files, drawers, and closets in preparation for... Read more

2016-12-22T17:21:48-05:00

Last updated on: December 22, 2016 at 5:21 pm   By

I knew nothing about FENCES when we walked in except that its connection to Denzel Washington. Nothing. Perhaps a bit of research would have helped/ Probably most of those who will see it will be like us: ordinary movie-goers, not necessarily well-versed in Broadway stage hits written by writers from the 80’s. What we saw was a fascinating, troubling, occasionally mind-numbing intimate glimpse into a black, lower-middle class family in 1950’s Pittsburg. Most of the action takes place in the... Read more

2016-12-20T12:11:52-05:00

Last updated on: December 20, 2016 at 12:11 pm   By

Bissell vs Brother Customer service at its worst. Endless correspondence, multiple useless fixes, and a relatively new, what should be long-lasting workhorse black and white Brother laser printer is now destined for the trash heap–or where ever I can take a piece of broken electronics where its burying place will not further pollute the environment. Contrast this experience with one I had recently with Bissell. About two years ago, we had purchased a lightweight, battery operated vacuum from them. We... Read more

2017-01-10T15:46:57-05:00

Last updated on: January 10, 2017 at 3:46 pm   By

Dear Thoughtful Pastor: In this season of giving, which is really an all year affair, it is ok to love and help people, even to save their physical lives, without urging them to become Christians? Is it ok, as a Christian, for me not to mention my own faith as I give of myself and my means? Is it enough and appropriate to let the giving speak for itself? Jesus did this at times, didn’t He? I’m not sure. Please... Read more

2024-07-23T09:30:28-05:00

Last updated on: July 23, 2024 at 9:30 am   By

We’ve all heard of collateral damage–unintended bad consequences of actions meant for another purpose. Stories of collateral damage spill over with pain, questions, anger and “How could this happen?” But stories of collateral beauty? Of something wonderful coming from tragedy? One would not think so, but that’s the premise of the movie by the same name, Collateral Beauty, directed by David Frankel and starring such big names as Will Smith, Keira Knightley, Kate Winslet and Helen Mirren. It’s due for... Read more

2016-12-12T17:14:37-05:00

Last updated on: December 12, 2016 at 5:14 pm   By

Every child born changes the entire world. Whether eagerly longed for or dreaded, male or female, impoverished or ultra-wealthy, every child changes the world. Whether loaded with physical and mental challenges or worry-free healthy, a musical prodigy or profoundly tone-deaf, hair sunny-silky light or wildly curly/kinky dark, skin glorious ebony-rich to albino-like pale, every child changes the world. Whether left or right-handed, born already reading philosophy or never able to read even one word, oldest or youngest or in a... Read more

2016-12-07T10:51:07-05:00

Last updated on: December 7, 2016 at 10:51 am   By

Dear Thoughtful Pastor: I have often wondered how we should handle panhandlers?  Mostly I feel like it’s my job to be generous and let God sort it out but sometimes I feel like a schmuck when I give them cash. What would Jesus do? For starters, I would suggest you start viewing panhandlers in a totally different way. Think of them as door-to-door salespeople, much like children needing to raise money for school projects. The children walk to your house... Read more

2016-12-06T10:13:31-05:00

Last updated on: December 6, 2016 at 10:13 am   By

This article is  republished with permission from The Texas Tribune, a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them – about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Texas moving forward with budget cuts for disabled kids’ therapy services Authors: Elena Mejia Lutz and Edgar Walters, The Texas Tribune, originally published Nov. 28, 2016 *Correction appended. More than a year after lawmakers originally ordered it, Texas announced in late November, 2016, it will enact significant cuts to the money that... Read more

2017-01-10T15:48:41-05:00

Last updated on: January 10, 2017 at 3:48 pm   By

I want to be a dangerous woman. I made that decision after reading this opinion piece recently published in the New  York Times. There, a philosophy professor, George Yancy of Emory University, speaks of having been placed on the Professor Watchlist. The Watchlist is the place where students apparently indoctrinated in uncritical conservative thought patterns warn other students who want their current ideologies to go unchallenged to avoid identified-as-dangerous faculty. Yancy decides to own it. Well, if it is dangerous... Read more

2016-12-04T13:09:12-05:00

Last updated on: December 4, 2016 at 1:09 pm   By

The truth about the future of the United Methodist Church? There is no future. It is as simple as that.  There is no future. I have been putting off writing this post for six months now, but it is time. I attended the 2016 General Conference as part of the United Methodist Reporter journalistic team. I watched, I listened, I conversed with others, I asked questions, I wrote both news stories about the events and my own internal responses to them... Read more

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