I’m taking it easy this morning and skipping church. I am still going to study the word some this morning and take some time to get some perspective on a few things. So, I am not skipping time with God by skipping church. He’s here too. I think we might make some pancakes. I’ll ask. I had a great visit with my brother-in-law last night … Continue reading A Talk on Purpose

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  2 Corinthians 9:7 Every time I read 2 Corinthians, I am reminded of the story of Cain and Abel. This story introduces more than murder into the human history, it also describes a gamut of emotions and behavior patterns that we still struggle … Continue reading The Children of Cain

I love religion. Rather, I love my faith. There is beauty in relationship and in the ways each of us approach God. I do not like Churchianity and the way Christians divide ourselves into packs. There is nothing wrong with being in a denomination and there is nothing wrong with being in a nondenominational setting. In the first, you have to be careful not to … Continue reading I hate religion

    Someone emailed me a few weeks ago and asked me for a list of sad songs. I love music, so I thought it was a good opportunity to spout off a few classics and some obscure references for them. After some thought, I gave a pretty straight forward list of a few songs and ended with Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles. The Beatles … Continue reading Tiny Bubbles

So many people are looking for meaning in life. The search for purpose is not a religious or secular thing. We all want to know what we are here for and what we can do while we are here. Although Ash Wednesday is not Biblical (what Christian celebration or holiday is?), it does cause us to ponder a serious question. Our purpose. “Remember, you are … Continue reading Looking for meaning

//embed.gettyimages.com/embed/104056232?et=_ZY37OcxxUazL–3v8HyWA&sig=x_F4ZuHkIWols9-bayVJuecVtgPLS1QmYecOEkUyUrY= Ash Wednesday was this week. I wrote another article on my approach to Lent, but I wanted to write a bit about my experience with ashes this year. Our church, which is not normal by any stretch, did a great job of presenting an interactive walk-thru experience for people receiving the ashes. Thanks to everyone involved for pulling that off. I’m not going to … Continue reading Hey, you have a smudge on your head

be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2 I grew up in a church where the pastor would call on people to pray. Thankfully, he didn’t call on kids or it could have gotten scary around there. I’m sure it … Continue reading Be YE Transformed

In the Methodist church, we take communion by intinction. The bread is handed to the recipient, because Grace is given, and then the person dips the bread in the juice (wine for most churches, juice for us). Some churches perform intinction different ways. For example, the Catholic church accepts the practice but forbids the recipient from receiving the bread in hand or dipping it themselves. … Continue reading A Shot Glass of Jesus

I didn’t grow up observing Lent. Like most Southerners, I grew up Baptist and never participated in Ash Wednesday or Lent. To be fair, Lent is not scriptural, but it can be transformational if done correctly. In the few years that I have participated in Lent, I have prayed about what I was to do for the 40 day observance. A lot of people give … Continue reading A Different Kind of Lent

 This week, we concluded our two week study of the symbolism of trees in the Bible. The first week, we studied fig trees and we followed last Sunday with olive trees. Indented parts are notes from the discussion. If some of the branches were broken off, and you were a wild olive branch, and you were grafted in among the other branches and shared the … Continue reading The Olive Tree