Author: ericfolkerth

Eric Folkerth is a minister, musician, author and blogger. He is Senior Pastor of Kessler Park UMC United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. Previously, he was pastor at Northaven UMC in Dallas for seventeen years. Eric loves to write on topics of spirituality, social justice, music/art and politics. The entries on this blog reflect that diversity of interests. His passion for social justice goes beyond mere words. Eric was arrested at the White House, defending immigrants and “The Dreamers;” and he’s officiated at same sex weddings. Eric was the 2017 recipient of the prestigeous Kuchling Humanitarian Award from Dallas’ Black Tie Dinner. (Human Rights Campaign) Eric has led or co-led hundreds of persons on mission trips to build houses and bring medical care around the globe, to places such as Mexico, Haiti, Russia, Guatemala, and Nepal. He is proud of have shephereded Highland Park UMC's construction of ten Habitat for Humanity homes, (and one Community Center) and helped forge an alliance with Habitat that led to the construction of 100 homes in Dallas, housing thousands of people. His wife, Justice Dennise Garcia, has 20 years experience as a state district judge and appelate justice in North Texas. First elected in 2004, she was the first Latina ever elected to a Dallas County state district bench, and she she left that position whe was the longest currently serving district judge. In 2020 Dennise Garcia was a elected as a Justice of the 5th District Court of Appeals for Texas. She is currently running to be Chief of the 5th District Court of Appeals in the 2024 cycle. They have the world’s best daughter, Maria, who is a practicing professional counselor in Dallas. Find links to Eric’s music-related websites, at the top of this site’s navigation menu.

Daily Grat: One of These Saturdays

February 28, 2010.Reading time 1 minute.

“There’s work to do, that’s plain to see,Laundry piled as high as me,But the Beatles said just “Let it Be”And that sounds like good advice.”— David Lamotte We had an especially lazy Saturday. Not a thing on the schedule, and a whole day to lounge around the house. Which is something everybody needs, now and […]

Daily Grat: Norman’s "Thinking Outloud"

February 26, 2010.Reading time 7 minutes.

Norman Suggs is a friend I met via the internet some years back. He’s only over in Stephenville, but the way the world works, it’s doubtful we’d ever have met without our mutual online geekiness. He’s had cancer this past year, and has been undergoing treatment. Today on Facebook, he posted the blog below, which […]

Daily Grat: Lunch with an old friend

February 25, 2010.Reading time 2 minutes.

Today, I had lunch with an old friend named Gene at the Garden Cafe. The Garden Cafe is a great little restaurant, literally around the corner from the log house in East Dallas….I mean a block away. It’s been there for years, we lived in the neighborhood for years, taking our daughter to play in […]

Daily Grat: Billy and Laura

February 25, 2010.Reading time 3 minutes.

This morning, I had a 9 am meeting in Frisco. As an aside, this violates the terms of one of my own core life values: “Rarely does anything good happen before 10 am.” “Rarely” allows me to include the occasional outlier, and still get at the meaning. Lot’s of stuff *happens* before 10 am. Just […]

Daily Grat: Leadership Council

February 24, 2010.Reading time 2 minutes.

We had a fantastic Leadership Council meeting at church tonight. That’s not to say that all the news was easy or good. We had some disappointing financial news near the year-end. Namely, that we didn’t have the big December “push” that often comes late-year to balance out our budget. So, we started this year in […]

Daily Grat: My Staff

February 23, 2010.Reading time 1 minute.

I ought to call it “Northaven’s Staff.” Whatever you call them, I have to say I’m mighty proud to work with these folks. This afternoon was a busy afternoon for all of who were here in the office. Mary Clair, Chris, Mindy and me were all in and out of each other’s offices, talking about […]

Daily Grat: Dancing With My Daughter

February 22, 2010.Reading time 1 minute.

This afternoon, Maria had her last “Cotillion” at Prestonwood. A part of that was a chance for me to dance with her a couple of times. There were a lot of kids and parents there that we knew from different parts of life….Maria’s school…church…sports, etc…. It’s amazing to see how all these boys and girls […]

Daily Grat: The Circle Concert Series

February 21, 2010.Reading time 1 minute.

Had a GREAT time last night at the Circle Concert Series in Lucas. It was great to be with all the incredible musicians there, and to get the chance to play some of my own songs. I’m grateful to Paul and to Weird for getting me out there, and hope to come back again. This […]

Daily Grat: Health Care

February 20, 2010.Reading time 1 minute.

I had a minor procedure yesterday on my back. I’ve been going to a new dermatologist, and he suggested that I get a small cyst taken off my back. It was right in the middle of my shoulder blades….a place I couldn’t really either see or get to. He thinks it’s nothing, but it’s getting […]

What I Know about the Joseph Stack Situation

February 19, 2010.Reading time 10 minutes.

I have read very little about Joseph Stack, the man who, yesterday, flew a plane into an IRS Building in Austin. So, I don’t know a lot about the particulars of his life. I don’t have to. Even without reading one more word about him, or about what Liberal or Conservative bloggers are saying about […]