The Brother printer, customer service and the church

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

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

Ask the Thoughtful Pastor: Can I give silently or must I mention my faith?

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

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

Collateral Beauty: a life-changing intervention

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

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

Every child born changes the entire world

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

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

Ask the Thoughtful Pastor: Would Jesus give to panhandlers?

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

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

The State of Texas: disabled children to stay disabled

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

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

I am a dangerous woman: a fight against unbridled capitalism

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

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

The truth about the future of the United Methodist Church

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

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

Ask the Thoughtful Pastor: What would Jesus do with Trump voters?

Last updated on: December 2, 2016 at 11:45 am By Christy Thomas

Dear Thoughtful Pastor: I’ve noticed a lot of “vote shaming” posts in social media lately aimed at Trump voters. This does not seem to be a loving response to individuals. HOWEVER, there are consequences to actions, and the fate of our country is a serious concern for many of us. What would Jesus Do? A woman walks up to Jesus and says, “What do I have to do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answers, “Love God with everything you’ve got and... Read more

We must resist the spread of WMSVD disease

Last updated on: November 29, 2016 at 9:58 am By Christy Thomas

As Trump Reminds Us, We’ve Had WMSVD Disease For Ages Reprinted with permission from AlterNet. A very long time ago, a Zika type virus escaped from the human laboratory. Like Zika it deforms the human brain. It assumes supremacy by human males over women and all other forms of life. Its most prominent manifestation is male monotheistic religion-the obligation that humans worship a lone male deity.… (more…) Read more