Rustlings (August 26, 2019)
September has almost arrived. The month means many things to many people. This is the month of Labor Day. This national holiday affirms the contributions of our nation’s labor force in creating the society in which we live. We typically receive a ‘day off’ to contemplate the benefits of our vocational choices…or…to just not labor […]
Rustlings (August 19, 2019)
I walked into my first meeting over a decade ago. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long. I attended three times a week—two different locations. It wasn’t until the third week that I could utter a word. Even then, the words were mixed with tears. It took a while to sift through the wad […]
Rustlings (August 12, 2019)
Minsters have a variety of responsibilities. Within the church, we are preachers, priests, administrators, counselors, teachers and more. We also have a role in the community and world. A part of my work in the world is the time I commit to serving on non-profit boards. Of course, we’re often asked to serve on far […]
Rustlings (August 5, 2019)
Please pardon the mess. You will probably hear me say this (or see this in writing) several times over the next several years, so I’ll write it here once more: Please pardon the mess. It’s part of progress and our intentional care of God’s house and God’s people. In my 2018 ‘State of the Church […]
Rustlings (July 29, 2019)
Almost a decade ago, I was completing a continuing education class at Columbia Seminary. As a final project, each participant was asked to make a contribution to the body of ‘prayer resources’ in Christendom. Most of my colleagues wrote prayers, devotionals or study guides. I decided to write seven songs—prayer songs—that undergird The Liturgy of […]
Rustlings (July 22, 2019)
I was ordained in November of 1982. It has been almost thirty-seven years. Dr. Russ Barker was my ordination speaker. Parkwood Hills Baptist Church was my context for ministry. A host of people laid hands on my head and spoke blessings. Among them were: Jim Mathis, Ralph Parrish, Maricel Perez, Stanley Peeples, Mary Lunsford, Ed […]
Rustlings (July 15, 2019)
For those who have asked (and the many others who have accurately guessed), yes…I am a 7 in the world of enneagram. We 7s are typically described as restless, quick thinkers who insist our lives be an exciting adventure. At our worst, we are compulsively self-destructive, and at our best, we live life to the […]
Rustlings (July 8, 2019)
If you need a sense of completion to bring satisfaction to your life, professional ministry is probably not the vocation for you. In fact, church members, ministers and congregations often tire of pushing through programs and piety, year after year, never knowing if lives or communities or the world ever really benefits. We spend a […]
Rustlings (June 24, 2019)
The Library of Alexandria, Egypt, was reputably one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world. It was a symbol of the Greek commitment to intellectual pursuit and at its height contained an estimated 400,000 papyrus scrolls. Its demise is often attributed to a massive fire, but this probably was not the […]
Rustlings (June 17, 2019)
I picked up an electric bass guitar two years ago. It was the first time I’d ever plugged or plucked the instrument. I was quite familiar with its sound and look but had never touched one. My father played the bass guitar professionally. Nothing in me wanted to sit under the scrutiny of his eye […]