Take heed the story of the older son With work and sweat and thankless servanthood To watch his Father take off on a run and wrap his arms around a heart of wood. With scabs of faithfulness upon his brow and blisters where the ring’s supposed to be He watches with his hand still on the plow As Jacob falls upon their Father’s knee What’s … Continue reading Sonnet: The Prodigal Son’s Older Brother
I have appreciated coming home. But it is a sad place. I mean that in the emotional sense: that there is a downward demeanor, a bereft esteem that characterizes the region. I fear falling into that pit, and feel guilty since I am an ambassador of good news. I feel responsible for the area’s inability to be lifted from its miry clay. The esteem is … Continue reading The Unbecoming Homecoming
I have a great dad. My dad is now a great granddad, which reminds me that I have a great dad. My dad did the ‘providing for the family’ thing working hard at his unglamorous job. But I only remember a handful of times that he brought it home. When dad got off work, it was family time. That is a lesson to me. My dad was my … Continue reading Age of Discovery
One if the best things about A. turning three soon is there are new books for us to discover. I’m glad she is an avid reader and how, unlike her dad, that she never stops reading. So I picked up a longer book for her, though it still has plenty of pictures. Anyone who ever thinks art is dead need only head over to the … Continue reading Age Three Books
One day, I’m going to work in a grocery store. When people have a need, they will ask me. If I don’t get something, they’ll tell me a second time. They may call me a pinhead the third time, but at least I’ll know what they need. I won’t be paid a lot, but I’ll be part of that neat gang of friends that check … Continue reading Ministry in the Clinical Setting also known as the Grocery Store
I once did something wrong. Actually, I started out to do something right. Though I was on the right side of justice, I pursued it in a destructive manner. My short-lived position on the right-side quickly gave way to a prolonged stay on the wrong side. My wife called me out. Initially, she understood my indignation and supported me. Before I saw the real error … Continue reading The Trouble with Women
I would tell you, but then I’d have to kill you. Or perhaps, Matthew 6:1 applies. Of course, I just violated Mt. 6:1 so there you go. Continue reading My Lenten Disciplines
Yes: It’s about the guns. If it weren’t about the guns, people wouldn’t rush into defending the 2nd amendment mere hours after a massacre of kindergartners If it weren’t about guns, there would not be a small but loud minority pushing for guns in the hands of school teachers. If it weren’t about the guns, people wouldn’t dismiss those who have been through this before. If … Continue reading It’s About the Guns
What’s a Mediocre Preacher to Do? I am taking an online course called “Design: Creation of Artifacts in Society“. It is being shared by the University of Pennsylvania through Coursera: an online education clearinghouse. I am taking this course to help me better design worship. I am not that good of a preacher-I tend to be boring. If the Mountaineers play late, I know that … Continue reading Designing Worship: Sensing the Gaps-Coursera Lessons for the Church
Coach’s Bad Habit I played soccer growing up. It was a big part of who I was, the first thing that I was really good at. I was tall and fast and that made for some success on the field. One year, our team was really pretty good. We were competitive in every game and even knocked off the top team during the regular season. … Continue reading Getting in the Game
