On Training the Dragons
Hiccup is a most unlikely hero and probably the least Viking-like Viking in the world. He is different, no macho bravado. He is rejected in his home town because his ways are not the ways of the people.
The Vikings in the movie “How to Train a Dragon” have two functions: Kill the [...]
Read On Training the Dragon
August 19, 2009 – 5:36 am
“And God looked at everything God had created and said that it was good.”
It came as shocking news to me when a friend from across the room said, “Soon hot dog packages will be marked with the same warning as cigarettes.” Their names “rolled” off my tongue like honey: Oscar Meyer, Ball Park, Jesse Jones. [...]
Read The Eighth Day
Sometimes when we get old, we get crabby. We forget how teenage boys have hollow-leg hunger. We tend to value garden flowers above the laughter and frolic of young people playing water games and laughing and showing us that it is the present moment that holds value, laughter that holds promise and fellowship that becomes [...]
Read When One Gets Old
The holy conferencing of the people called Methodists in the North Carolina Annual Conference comes to a close today with the setting of the appointments for the coming year. The various worship services, music, reports, voting, speeches from the floor are always something to behold.
But for this Methodist pastor, the high point of the conference [...]
Read And Are We Yet Alive?
The television reporter stood in the cemetary “between the crosses row on row” saying to the viewing public, “This is why we have Memorial Day.” On Saturday morning before the holiday, the reporter had strolled the local mall asking random people, “Why do we have Memorial Day as a holiday?” There were a few who [...]
Read In Remembrance
Twice in the past two weeks Tom and I have been fortunate to be in the company of good story tellers whose recounting of their lives and their experiences in the story opened windows of understanding, knowing, and thanksgiving for both the storyteller and the gifts of life observed and well lived.
Garry Lipson is my brother [...]
Read The Power of Story
Just in case anyone has missed the news, SOOHI – the Saint Mark’s Stretching Out Our Hands Inititiative is operational! On Sunday, May 3rd, we were fed a wonderful meal and given excellent workshop advice. For a first day, the effort was a roaring success. For a pastor to see and be part of ministry [...]
Read SOOHI Ya Can’t Get Over It
January 21, 2009 – 1:55 pm
This coming Sunday, January 25, 2009, we will be reflecting on the practice of Intentional Faith development, one of the Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations as outlined by Bishop Robert Schnase. Because this practive is near and dear to my heart and my ministry of spiritual formation, I will be the one leading the discussion [...]
Read Intentional Faith Development
January 17, 2009 – 11:10 am
“Oh the weather outside is frightful…” so the words of the song go. But Creation is so delightful! This morning plump and cheerful robins filled the back patio. Some shook the branches of the pyracantha while others plucked the red berries right from the branch. Another dozen or so gleaned berries that fell pecking around [...]
Read Small Winter Blessing
January 12, 2009 – 8:49 am
Lectio Divina is an ancient practice of praying the Scriptures, hearing God’s word for us today through the “ear of our heart.” In our Tuesday morning lectio time last week, we meditated on Psalm 29. God worked amazingly to speak to us in the last verse of the psalm. Psalm 29:11 says, “May the Lord [...]
Read Reflection on Psalm 29
