Blogs
Monday Memo: Slow Down Good Bye
9/26/2022
Slow Down Good-Bye I was thinking... A recent Corona beer advertising slogan caught my eye, “It’s not how fast you go, it’s how well you slow down that makes the difference!” Perhaps that spoke to me because all too often life encourages us to be in a hurry…to rush…to ‘get er’ done quickly. Most of the mistakes I have made (and I’ve made more than my share of mistakes) happen when I’m in too big of a hurry with something. “It’s not how fast you go, it’s how well ...
Monday Memo: Slow Down Good-Bye
9/26/2022
Slow Down Good-Bye I was thinking... A recent Corona beer advertising slogan caught my eye, “It’s not how fast you go, it’s how well you slow down that makes the difference!” Perhaps that spoke to me because all too often life encourages us to be in a hurry…to rush…to ‘get er’ done quickly. Most of the mistakes I have made (and I’ve made more than my share of mistakes) happen when I’m in too big of a hurry with something. “It’s not how fast you go, it’s how well ...
Monday Memo: Kissing Flowers
9/6/2022
Kissing Flowers I was thinking... One of my mentors in ministry and life was the late Bob Cagle. Bob was, at least for me, the expert in camping ministry. He, his wife Brenda, and their son Hoke were a team committed to outdoor ministry that allowed for God’s creation to come alive for countless children, youth, and adults. Bob was one of those gentle souls that embodied grace and joy. I am forever grateful that our life paths crossed. He’s on my mind these days ...
Monday Memo: The Question of the Ages
8/29/2022
The Question of the Ages I was thinking... How do we know the will of God? Some might call this the question of the ages. I know that I certainly have wrestled with this inquiry. There are certain answers that are obvious such as “What is God’s will in how we are to love God and neighbor?” Jesus answered that one directly, “…love God with all of the heart, a full understanding, and all of one’s strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself is much more ...
Monday Memo: Sandwiched In
8/22/2022
Sandwiched In I was thinking... What is your favorite sandwich? My quick ‘go to’ sandwich is peanut butter and mayonnaise (don’t knock it until you try it). I love, especially this time of year, a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich or just a fresh from the garden, tomato sandwich. During my formative years, I enjoyed many bolognas or peanut butter with jelly sandwiches. My mom can make some tasty pimento cheese - that’s especially delicious on toasted bread. Is ...
Monday Memo: A Question of Inspiration
8/15/2022
A Question of Inspiration I was thinking... A friend once said to me “Some people are not going to be happy and satisfied unless they can find something that they are against!” At the time, I found that to be a thought-provoking statement. I have learned across the landscape of life that it seems to be a truism. Some people can’t be happy unless they are against something or someone. I’d like to counter that truism by asking us the question of inspiration: What ...
Monday Memo: A Love Letter to United Methodists
8/8/2022
A Love Letter to United Methodists I was thinking... Dear People of The United Methodist Church, I write this to you out of a nudge of my heart. There are forces that seek the demise and division of our branch of the Christian Church. Some are spreading misinformation filled with half-truths, at best, and outright lies at worst. Some are passionately eager to begin a new branch of Methodism of which I acknowledge as their prerogative. However, some tactics are ...
Monday Memo: Accidents Happen
7/11/2022
Accidents Happen I was thinking... Have you ever had a bad day? Have you ever caused someone else to have a bad day? Both are no fun but to share ‘bad day-itis’ with someone else really stinks. Toward the end of the month of May I rear-ended a young woman’s automobile. Of course, I didn’t mean to crash into her bumper and put her in line for a new trunk, but I looked left to turn right and assumed she was accelerating forward when she was sitting in a stopped ...
Monday Memo: Tie Dyed
7/4/2022
Tie-Dyed I was thinking... There are family traditions and then there are Family Traditions. For several years while away on vacation our entire family tie-dyed t-shirts. The youngest to the oldest do their creative best to splash a colorful memory on the annual t-shirt. I suspect many of you have had this experience where you roll a t-shirt into various clumps using rubber bands and then apply various colors throughout the t-shirt. As Forrest Gump would say, it’...
Monday Memo: Violence
5/30/2022
Violence I was thinking... Violence! It is everywhere! We have lost a beloved Pastor to violence. Rev. Marita Harrell was a blessing taken from our midst due to a violent act by a broken and pained individual. People were shopping for their groceries in Buffalo, New York and racial violence took innocent lives. This past Tuesday, 19 precious children and 2 teachers were killed by a disturbed teenager. These elementary school age children and their teachers were ...