I suppose this is true across all professions when retirement looms and perspective on what is necessary changes, but I admit it for myself here: for the first time since I’ve been a solo/senior pastor, I am not terribly concerned with Charge Conference reports. Our Charge Conference is next Tuesday. Now, the church administrator and I sat down several weeks ago and walked through who needed to do what. He had responsibility for all reports that don’t have to be... Read more
Wesley’s General Rules provide wonderful basic guidelines to Christian living. The rules read this way: First: By doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is most generally practiced, such as: Secondly: By doing good; by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all men: Thirdly: By attending upon all the ordinances of God; such as: Notice that each general... Read more
Anger, shock, disbelief, fear, heartbreak: these words best describe the primary emotions of those in and around Krum following the revelations last week concerning the arrest of a Krum teen. The arrest sprang an investigation of what experts determined to be arson. A home burned to the ground, pets suffered and were lost, possessions destroyed. No people were hurt, for which all are thankful. So, while a bundle of folks are leaping to judgments here, while rumors fly there, while... Read more
The Election Conundrum I could not vote for Barack Obama for President of the United States. I am a fiscal conservative. I want a more balanced budget. After listening carefully to President Obama’s State of the Union Message in 2012, I realized I was unable to support him, as much as I do respect him as a person. I could not vote for Mitt Romney for President of the United States. I am a person who feels strongly that the... Read more
And finally peace: it was indeed time for retirement, to relinquish the full-time pastoral portion of this call. The Question A dear friend and fellow clergywoman sat across the table from me and watched compassionately when I burst yet again into inconsolable tears. She asked, “Who has been your pastor through this awful time?” Now there’s a fascinating question for a pastor to hear. And what has been so awful, after all? This friend mentioned this blog. “Christy, how would people... Read more
I know how to end the government shutdown and the growing economic crisis that it is causing. My solution may seem drastic to some, but drastic times call for drastic answers. Really, it is quite simple: eliminate all non-productive members of society. No more drains on the federal budget. We reverse the unholy dreaded deficit, and can get back to business as usual. The Criteria for Elimination (Must meet both. We do want to be fair) 1. All who do... Read more
A certain man, life-long student of sacred texts, faithful in religious obligations, admired for doing good deeds and giving favors to those in his friendship circles, found politics fascinating. He had made decisions on political stances based on his understandings of the sacred texts he studied. He did not understand how others, also studying those sacred texts, could come to opposite conclusions, and was well-known for his vigorous debates. Surrounded by those who agreed with his positions, he took an... Read more
Every major religion and ethical system I know of centers on what we often call the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” Or, in more contemporary language, “Do you like to be treated well and with respect? Then treat others well and with respect.” Or, “Consider how you want others to treat you, and then you begin the cycle and treat others that way.” Or, “Don’t do to others what... Read more
Time zips by as retirement approaches. My mind swirls around important church needs and an unusually high intrusion of personal needs into my thinking space. And then there is email. I have friends and colleagues with hundreds and thousands of unread emails in their inbox. I can’t do that. Having massive numbers of unread emails/texts/apps to update just messes with my brain. They become a nagging “to-do” lists for me, so I routinely keep those things as cleaned up as... Read more
United Methodists, take notice: an extremely prominent Presbyterian Church, Highland Park Presbyterian, is suing the PCUSA , (Presbyterian Church USA) its mother denomination, as a preemptive strike to keep its 30 million dollar property. HPPC has voted to align with a far more conservative denomination, the ECO (A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.) HPPC is leaving the PCUSA over theological reasons, a “lack of freedom to choose future pastors” and the denomination’s vote to “allow openly gay people in same-sex... Read more
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