There’s a story written by a brilliant, moral fiber of our American South.  An author of significant renown who, upon hearing about the death of a neighbor, said, “I did not attend his funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying that I approved of it.”  This witty man of significant depth of character, two … Continue reading What should I ask for? →

Thomas Wolfe wrote an incredible story about a man named George Webber.  George, our protagonist of the story, writes a scandalous yet, from his perspective, accurate reflection of his experiences growing up in deep-south Libya Hill.  Initially, when news of a hometown boy’s story gets published, the town is overjoyed that one of their own … Continue reading Who does he think he is? →

“The sun lay on the grass and warmed it, and in the shade under the grass the insects moved, ants and ant lions to set traps for them, grasshoppers to jump into the air and flick their yellow wings for a second, and bugs like little armadillos, plodding restlessly on many tender feet.  And over … Continue reading Suffering, Relationship, and Baptism →

Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote: “Below the thunders of the upper deep; Far, far beneath in the abysmal sea, His ancient, dreamless, uninvited sleep The Kraken sleeps:  faintest sunlights flee About his shadowy sides:  above him swell Huge sponges of millennial growth and height; And far away into the sickly light, From many a wondrous grot … Continue reading When is this going to get easier? →

“Once there was a tree…. and she loved a little boy. And everyday the boy would come and he would gather her leaves and make them into crowns and play king of the forest. He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches and eat apples. And they would play hide-and-go-seek. And when … Continue reading Are you sure it’s me you really need? →

I’m not a joke teller.  I couldn’t even tell a knock knock joke to save my life.  I always get the punch line wrong or I forget to tell an important nugget of the story that is critical to making the joke actually work.  So, if you ever hear me tell a complete and funny … Continue reading Did Jesus Redefine ”Family”? →

I read of a Sunday School class that was studying the Apostles Creed in order to more fully understand God and the Trinity.  Each member of the class was given a section of the creed to learn by heart, then Sunday by Sunday they would take turns reciting the creed, each student repeating his or … Continue reading Is There a Place for Me? →

One of my favorites movies, probably in my top 5 favorites, is a movie called High Fidelity. It’s about a man, John Cusack, who owns a record store and measures the activities and reactions of his life to the lyrics of music.  And everything is measured on a “top 5” scale.  He has a conversation with … Continue reading What?! Those People Too?!! →

It’s Spring, and many of you are outside working in your gardens, gathering up the few piles of dried leaves, pulling weeds, and planting new flowers and bushes.  The process of planting and nurturing and growing can be challenging and incredibly rewarding. Click here for a link to the lectionary reading for the day. When … Continue reading Are You a Liar? →

Every once in a while, a ewe will give birth to a lamb and reject it. If the lamb is returned to the ewe, the mother may even kick the poor babe away. Once a ewe rejects one of her lambs, she will never change her mind. These little lambs will hang their heads so … Continue reading Who Is the Bummer Sheep →