With a group of United Methodist pastors saying that differences in the church cannot be reconciled, I think it needs to be said that not all differences need to be reconciled. Difference and dissension can be good things. They can lead to truth. I have been reading David Halberstam's The Best and the Brightest. As I read Halberstam's understanding of how the United … [Read more...] about The Need for Disagreement
Memorial Day Prayers 2014
I was asked to pray at our village's Memorial Day service on May 26, 2014. Here are two prayers that I wrote for the occasion. Invocation - Almighty and everlasting God, Once again we gather to remember those who have died in our country's battles. On this day we are reminded of the high cost of war. With awe, humility, pain, and pride, we invoke their memories. O … [Read more...] about Memorial Day Prayers 2014
How can I keep from Singing?
Today, on my sermon blog, I posted the last sermon from my sermon series “How can I keep from Singing?” The title for the sermon series comes from one of my favorite hymns “My Life Flows On - How Can I keep from Singing.” I started the series in mid-September and finished in November. The sermon series was my attempt to wrestle with a subject that is at the heart of what I … [Read more...] about How can I keep from Singing?
Are people resources?
I was glancing through my twitter when I saw a tweet that made me do a double take. The tweet contended, “We are abusing our most under-utilized leadership resource. Double Standards, Women, and the Church…” The author included a link for his blog. So then I looked at the blog post and got the impression that the author was referring to women as our most under-utilized … [Read more...] about Are people resources?
On the Eve of Possibility
“And ya don’t believe we’re on the eve of destruction?” This was the comment by a United Methodist pastor attached to a link a UM clergy Facebook discussion group. The link was about a wedding officiated by a district superintendent for two female United Methodist pastors. Obviously creating polity problems on several levels. Pastors lined up to share their thoughts and … [Read more...] about On the Eve of Possibility