Dog Days of Haiku-01
Children’s cries– Cradled in mercy Laid to rest. Continue reading Dog Days of Haiku-01
How is an Atheist comforted in times of tragedy?
Quora is a neat webpage for asking questions and providing answers. With tags and categories you can direct your question to a specific group of people (anyone following that topic). You can also go on and search topics for questions. As with any internet forum, there are trolls, but Quora does a good job of steering them away. As a whole, Quora questions tend to … Continue reading How is an Atheist comforted in times of tragedy?
A First Appointment, By the Numbers
Today, I said good-bye to my first appointment. The quality of my first appointment was very high: three churches of differing personalities. I learned so much. Foibles and failures notwithstanding, I think they learned a thing or two from me. Here is a quantitative look at my first pastorate. 3: Number of churches. 4: Number of years served at one church. 5: Number of years … Continue reading A First Appointment, By the Numbers
Right Now, A Lot of Pastors are Writing ‘Last Sermons’
It is the night before the last Sunday in June. For United Methodists that means ‘time to itinerate’. Many churches across the connection are gearing up to say good-bye to their current pastors, even as they are anticipating the arrival of their new pastor. Clergy are writing last sermons. I am one of those clergy, as is my lovely wife. At the end of what … Continue reading Right Now, A Lot of Pastors are Writing ‘Last Sermons’
Double Dose of Midrash
Here are two thoughtful pieces on the art of midrash by Erin Lane at The Thoughful Christian blog. The Stuff of Imagination and Mindful Midrash. Continue reading Double Dose of Midrash
A Most Awesome Annual Conference
A question was posed to me in the midst of the 2011 Session of the West Virginia Annual Conference. “If you were in charge of Annual Conference, what would you do?” For the record, I suck at Administration and my wife keeps the bills. I am fully aware of this. So spare me your ‘we can’t afford…’. There are some things about Annual Conference in … Continue reading A Most Awesome Annual Conference
Annual Conference Haikus
We are a very fidgety species. Alongside listening and participating in Conference business, fellow delegates were also seen knitting, playing on their iPads and sleeping. I took to writing haikus of the day’s proceedings. Here are a few: Popularity How God chooses the people– Kinda like high school The right direction May lead us to destruction And toward Jesus Dining hall at lunch Long line, … Continue reading Annual Conference Haikus
Winning and Losing at Annual Conference
My opposition to a proposed measure extending the West Virginia Annual Conference‘s quadrennial focus on evangelism garnered a few atta-boys, which was really nice. The measure also passed by a score of everybody else-to-about 6. I have never garnered the courage to speak on the floor of the Annual Conference session. I had a good argument chiseled out in my brain. I walked into the … Continue reading Winning and Losing at Annual Conference
Evangelism: Why I’m Voting ‘No’
A Proposed Resolution at the 2011 session of the West Virginia Annual Conference (#wvac2011) seeks to renew our current quadrennial focus on Evangelism. The proposed resolution is entitled “Making Disciples Who Make Disciples” to be the 2012-2016 Quadrennial Focus. I will be voting no on this measure for several reasons. The Church exists to serve others. My main objection to the Resolution is its self-centeredness. … Continue reading Evangelism: Why I’m Voting ‘No’
I Don’t Give a D*mn ‘Bout My Bad Reputation
Photo: 9 month old girl crying, labeled “[girl’s name] Social Emotional” This was in a stack of old materials sent home from A.’s daycare. It is a terrible looking picture. It is also really out of character for A., who is quite social and a very charming baby. From the photo’s time stamp, I, as parent, know that A. was suffering from RSV and related … Continue reading I Don’t Give a D*mn ‘Bout My Bad Reputation
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