Church
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At the end of a very long week
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3 min read
I have decided to end the week like I begin it. Or how I hoped to begin the week. At Starbucks, drinking coffee, writing. One activity I know brings fulfillment and hope for me. Of course, this week was different. It didn’t begin with writing and planning and organizing. It began with a phone call.…
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Ghettoed Suffering: a Reflection on World AIDS Day
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4 min read
I drove across town to Maple Avenue United Methodist Church. It was dark, cold; the streets were wet. I was running late, but thankfully it started late. The room was nowhere near full. But it was diverse. Wide variety in ages, including college students and some much older. There was also ethnic and gender diversity.…
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For the Great Creator
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7 min read
Stephen, Righteous Abel, and the blessing of creativity a Homily for St. Stephen’s Day (observed) | Text: Matthew 23:34-39 And yet GOD never said he didn’t appreciate Cain’s gift! GOD just loves being surprised. GOD loves to see us stretch ourselves and try new things and use all of our gifts and currencies to express our…
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When the Leader Is Not the Problem
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4 min read
We are eager in the U.S. to blame our leaders and hold them responsible for our dysfunction. I am now realizing that this often should not be the case. Or, to be honest, it should rarely be the case. A friend reminded me in the spring as I spoke to him about some structural plans…
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Forgiving GOD
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9 min read
how our understanding of forgiveness is too small a Homily for Proper 19A | Text: Matthew 18:21-35 The volume of forgiveness When Peter asks about forgiveness, about the volume of forgiveness, it triggers a cascade of central teachings to our faith. Teachings that are the foundation of everything. On the surface, it is a simple enough…