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

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