Changes Here At The OG “WhenEFTalks”

So, many of you reading this have likely already figured this out; but over the past several months I’ve made a shift in my longform writing. It used to be the primary place I’d write was here, at my own “When EF Talks.” But some months back, I started writing at Substack. And, I’m not […]

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The Wedding of George and Jack: Ten Years Later

Today, I’m out with a ten-year remembrance of the Obergefell Decision, legalizing Same Sex Marriage in America.
It was a big day for two members of our church, who were the first legally married couple in our County, and possibly our State.

READ IT ON SUBSTACK.

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Bishop Richard Wilke

I realize that the entire Christian world is waking up this morning to say something about Pope Francis. And I’ll ask you to trust that I will indeed get to my grief over this death, and what it means to the world. But deeper than that, for we United Methodists, was the death of Bishop […]

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The Theology of the Smirk

If you find yourself recognizing JD Vance’s smirk, or even agreeing with it, right now you are doing great harm to our world. I know you’ve been taught otherwise. I know you’ve been taught the toxic lessons that White men are supposed to “lead,” and everyone else supposed to follow.

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When God’s Love For Immigrants Makes People Mad

Here is my sermon from January 26, 2025 at Kessler Park UMC. It weaves together the Gospel of Luke and the conflict between Bishop Mariann Budde and President Trump’s supporters.A written essay that also speaks of these issues is here.

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Bishop Budde and Progressive Christianity

The debate surrounding truth in America has extended to differing interpretations of Christianity, particularly highlighted by Bishop Budde’s sermon advocating mercy for the LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities. This polarized response reflects a larger issue: the recognition of Progressive Christianity, which, contrary to assumptions, constitutes a significant minority within American Christianity.

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The Emperor of Mickey D’s

A new song of resistance, in honor of the Inauguration Day of Trump 2.0.

I wrote this song the day after RFK’s ridiculous McDonald’s plane ride with all the Trump Bros. Tracked and released for you today.

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Andrew McGregor’s Dallas Morning News Essay

Our KPUMC member, Andrew McGregor, has written a moving essay about our work with the homeless on subfreezing nights. It was almost a full page in yesterday’s print edition.Andrew sums up beautifully the work we have been doing for these past five years. Find it here.

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Rock Hammer To the Stone

Whenever you feel like curling up in the fetal position, and no matter how challenging or hard things may get, keep chipping away.
And as you wield your own rock hammer, inhale/exhale the chorus as a mantra for you, and me, and our broken world.

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The Candle of Peace

“In meditation we catch ourselves waging violence on parts of ourselves. This is the seedbed of War. All violence is the act of acting out our own violence toward our own heart.”— Jim Finley I’m doubling-up this week, to catch up with some Advent meditations for you. This one is about PEACE, typically our second […]

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