“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
Last week, I was privileged to be the celebrant at a wedding. The groom was in his 80’s and the bride in her 70’s. Both widowed after long and happy marriages, they had found each other and clicked immediately. I met them and listen to their love stories and to their faith stories. Two honorable people, loving God, loving each other, having experienced death, now offer life to one another in the promises of the marriage covenant. At the ceremony,... Read more
This last week on “Stump the Pastor” Sunday, I received simply spectacular questions, many from our deep thinking youth group. A number of the questions revolved around the themes of heaven and hell. What are the characteristics of such places or destinies? Much literature drags us into hell with a red devil and pitchfork, riddled with physical torture and everyone sweating from the eternal fires. Contrastingly, heaven floats on fluffy clouds with people placidly (and with boredom?) sitting around playing... Read more
An Ideal World I’m with Rick Perry, Governor of Texas (whom I personally find embarrassing in his egomaniacal drive to become President of the US) on one thing only: in an ideal world, there would be no abortions. But also in an ideal world there would be cohesive families, no rape or incest, no fetal deformities incompatible with life, no spousal/girlfriend abuse, no abandoned mothers/children, affordable health care and insurance, high quality subsidized day-care available to all who need it, an economy... Read more
It’s all over the Texas news–and national news by now. Texas Democratic Senator Wendy Davis, probably forever known now by her pink sneakers, is rapidly becoming a media icon. Why? Because this courageous woman stood for hours and fought with everything she had against huge injustice. Now, let me make myself clear: Abortion is not something I wish would ever happen. But desperate women have been aborting babies for millennia. There always have been and always will be ways to do... Read more
Sunday, June 30, we will set aside liturgy and normal order for a bit in favor of an open hymn sing and a “Stump the Pastor” morning. People can ask/text/write to me any questions they wish that are on their minds, dealing with the church, theology, Bible, belief or my hair. Yes, hair, as in “What color IS your hair today?” and “Is that curl/frizz for real?” But onto more serious things . . . I know I’ve said... Read more
I mentioned in my message this past Sunday that all of us engage in a corrupt world. Our job is not to separate ourselves from it, but to bring light and grace to it. It takes a great deal of wisdom to learn how to do this without corrupting our own souls. While many have tried to create utopian communities where corruption will be unwelcome and people can live in harmony and peace, such communities ALWAYS fall apart. That, like... Read more
A quote from this article about an Afghan doctor and his patient being stoned: In many parts of Afghanistan, particularly in remote areas, women are customarily not allowed to be examined by male doctors except in the presence of close male family members as their chaperons. Stoning is the punishment for adultery under Shariah law, and many Afghan clerics approve of it, although it is officially outlawed here. That just got me, “Many Afghan clerics approve of it.” Clerics, people... Read more
For the past few weeks on Sunday mornings, and with a couple more to come, I have been bringing messages about the epic battle between good and evil. The big question, “How do we learn to discern between the two?” One would think it would be easy. But real evil has developed the genius to disguise itself with exquisite care and craftiness and often passes as something good and desirable. This Sunday, June 16, we’re going to look at the... Read more
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