This is a tale of 2 churches. But it is not a rant…it is a rave. 9AM–I walk into church, babe in tow. It is not perfect by any means. The parking is small, the entryway dark and cluttered with ladders and rock salt. The plaster needs repaired and there are a few light bulbs that need replaced. I am known there, this is a … Continue reading The Better Church
This is an article I wrote for the WV Annual Conference newspaper: Conversations about the poor health of clergy must go beyond bottom-line institutional statistics. It’s a spiritual matter that must be connected to the gospel itself. The summer after I graduated high school I interned with my pastors, Patricia Jarvis and Julian Sulgit. Every day that summer began with exercise. I walked with Patricia … Continue reading Clergy Health as a Spiritual Matter
Ascension Sunday does not get the credibility it deserves. Ancient Christians were right to lift up this up as important. It is the culmination and conclusion of Jesus’ earthly ministry. But it also feels like an unfinished ending. Jesus rose from the dead, but there is still a lot of kingdom building work to be done. Elijah ascended into heaven with Elisha as his successor. … Continue reading Page One–The Ascension
For understanding– The risen Lord testifies to his witnesses. *** Stay in the city throwing off embarrassment– and they worshiped him Continue reading Haikus–Ascension
On Thursday, I got a case of diarrhea. I’ll spare you the mushy details. As a relatively healthy person, I had not countered this problem before. My life as a preacher complicated the matter. I waited for medicine to work. I went to the doctor who assured me I was not contagious. I recovered slightly on Saturday, enough to think that I was getting over … Continue reading Preaching with Diarrhea
Coming home with Anna was one of the most incredible things, we’ve ever done. It was actually a bit hard to say goodbye to the folks at the Birthing Center at Mon General Hospital. They were just tremendous. I have never been in a place where everyone just loved their job. To the last one, they were enthusiastic yet gentle, knowledgeable yet patient. I have … Continue reading Home Again
So here is some of the art that will greet our firstborn when s/he comes home for the first time. These are prints from strawberry luna, an artist in Pittsburgh. She has an alphabet series, of which three letters are shown left. There is no particular reason why we selected these 3 letters. There are quail that run along the road at M’s parents home. … Continue reading Artsy-Fartsy
So, I did okay for a while. Then I slacked off. I would drive down the street, watching my speed limit and think “I’ve not done well.” I guess disciplines can teach you whether you stick to them or not. I didn’t. At the very least, I am reminded of my iniquity. Not all is lost. My Holy Week was full of the unexpected and … Continue reading Lent 40: Ending
It is the purpose of Lent to take the Christian practitioner to a higher level of commitment to the Lord. I began today speeding my way to the midwives’ office. Inside, we discovered that our baby is going well and is on track to arrive on April 22nd as scheduled. As of tomorrow, that will be exactly 4 weeks away. I left the office and … Continue reading Lent 25: Growth
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