Listen in on this conversation I had with a friend from years past. His marriage had, to put it gently, not worked out. He bemoaned his fate saying, “I’m a loving man and all I want to do is make some woman happy.” As I listened to him, I heard other voices saying things like: “God just wants you to be happy!” “I promise to make you happy.” “You make me happy.” A question: where can the phrase “ .... Read more
On December 31, 2013, I will say “good-bye” to a life and work I have simply loved. That day will be my last day to serve as Senior Pastor at Krum First UMC, and my last day as an Elder in active service in The United Methodist Church. The next day, I officially take on the status of “Retired.” I can carefully describe the methodical reasoning and name the logical steps I took to reach the decision to retire. I can even... Read more
Two of the WWII veterans in my congregation reminded me that Wednesday, August 14, commemorates VJ Day, or Victory over Japan Day. Victory over Europe Day took place May 8, 1945, so on August 14, 1945, World War II officially ended. I’ve seen photographs of VJ celebrations, but can’t even begin to enter into the experience of joy and relief that must have arrived. And all alive that day remember where they were when they heard the news. Each generation... Read more
So, I was just reading a book review that was titled, “On the Failure of Others.”The review started this way: If you hope Richard H. Smith’s book [Joy of Pain: Schadenfreude and the Dark Side of Human Nature] is a flop because you’re certain you could write a better one, and because you think he’s due for a fall, he will understand. Such factors are at the core of a complex sentiment: schadenfreude. Well, who could resist reading a book... Read more
We went quiet in worship. Not so much sound quiet, although we provide moments for silent listening.This quietness centered around light. We scattered multiple table and floor lamps around the worship center and let them light our worship, eliminating the bright overhead lights. The multiplicity of lamps became object lessons: each of us is a light of some sort, but all are shaped differently and put out different types of light. Everyone noticed the lighting change immediately. What we didn’t... Read more
I wrote this as part of a discussion circling around the question of the church’s response to growing sexual freedom. The Historic Stance The traditional church call: “everyone should stay a virgin until marriage, and then have one and one only sexual partner from then on–and the sexual partner must be from the opposite sex.” The fact that this stance is out of step with our current, sex-obsessed, culture would be an extreme understatement. The Historical/Biblical Context Let’s go back... Read more
The article made me ill. Nonetheless, I urge people to read it. It’s called The Brutality of “Corrective Rape.” The lead paragraph sets the scene: South Africa has one of the world’s highest rates of sexual assault. According to a 2009 government survey, one in four men admit to having sex with a woman who did not consent to intercourse, and nearly half of these men admitted to raping more than once. An earlier government study found that a... Read more
The youth group had a lock-in last night. After helping with the food and snack needs, and making sure the adult chaperones were compliant with all policies and procedures for keeping children and youth safe, I offered my blessing and went off to dinner with friends and then good sleep. This morning, I came back early to help with clean up and ensure the worship-readiness of the church for Sunday. Before starting to work, I noticed one of the youth... Read more
“Well, my God would . . .” or “the God I worship . . .” –those phrases roll through my mind as I continue to read anguished commentary and responses to the verdict in the Florida trial of George Zimmerman for the death of Trayvon Martin. News headlines like: “The Zimmerman Acquittal: America’s Racist God,” and “What Does it Mean to Call ‘God’ a White Racist?” push me to realize once more that the way we perceive God depends a... Read more
The airways have been filled with a particularly heavy load of bad news. Human error contributed to some: plane and train wrecks. Political discord contributed to more: violent rioting in Egypt and intrigues and shenanigans in Austin during the special session of the Texas Legislature. Human differences and limitations in opinion and point of view contributed to others, such as actions and reactions to the Florida trial and verdict for the death of Trayvon Martin. Much reflects the dark side... Read more
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