God Makes No Mistakes. We Do.

June 8, 2013.Reading time 1 minute.

Been texting with my friend, Rev. Sid Hall tonight, and I really can’t express it any better than he has done, regarding the news out of the SW Texas Conference today: “The church not only does harm to loving and qualified people for ministry in taking such action, but makes a profound theological statement by […]

Go Tell Mary (And Rev. Jackson too)

June 7, 2013.Reading time 12 minutes.

Apparently, the list of people you should not to listen to has grown by one. The new inductee is Rev. E. W. Jackson, a minister from Virginia who also happens to be running for Lieutenant Governor. The most recently-covered outrageous statement he’s made as to do with yoga. It’s from a book he wrote some […]

Is Schism The Best Future for the UMC? Why? Why Not?

May 13, 2013.Reading time 25 minutes.

Very pleased to be a part of DreamUMC’s 1st Anniversary “Sync Blog“ tonight. The assignment for this blog is its title. Although, if I had a “do-over” on this entry, I’d title this blog: “Game Theory And the Possibility of Schism.” I’m going to take the question literally, and answer it as such. I’m also […]

Reframing Clergy, Clergy Spouses, and "Smokin’ Hot Wives"

May 11, 2013.Reading time 32 minutes.

Ordained ministry is not the only profession struggling with the role of women in leadership. Truthfully, I don’t know how we fare when set alongside other major professions. My hunch is, in some ways, the church is doing better than other professions. In other ways, probably far worse. These issues are difficult, of course, precisely […]

Fear is a Liar

April 19, 2013.Reading time 15 minutes.

It’s been quite a jarring week in the news. Boston. Ricin Letters to the President. Kaufman County. The explosion in West, Texas. Flooding in the midwest. The “news cycle” feels unrelenting. As a friend of mine said moments ago: you know it’s bad when they interrupt breaking news to bring you more breaking news. One […]

Carole Carsey

April 5, 2013.Reading time 32 minutes.

With little editing (meaning: there’s lots of typos) here is my eulogy for beloved Northavener, Carole Carsey. This should publish around the time the service starts today. She was always one of my “Balcony People” but is for sure now…EF I am confident that everyone in this room will agree with me when I say […]

A Pastoral Case for Christian Same Sex Marriage

March 27, 2013.Reading time 28 minutes.

This week, the Supreme Court takes up two important cases on the issue of same-sex marriage. The cases may, or may not, fundamentally change the legal understanding of marriage in our nation. Whether or not they do, decisions are not expected for months. (UPDATE 6/27/13: Yesterday, the Supreme Court came back with decisions in both […]

United Methodism is not a Global Church

March 16, 2013.Reading time 15 minutes.

(Note: Please read this entire blog for an important update at the end…EF) Watching the election of the Pope Francis last week, I couldn’t help but notice how impressive it was to see a true “global church” in action. However, it also reminded me of a truth about our beloved United Methodist Church… We say […]

First Baptist Gets Tebowed

February 23, 2013.Reading time 2 minutes.

If you want to understand just how much the tectonic plates are shifting in America, pay close attention to the situation with Tim Tebow and First Baptist Church, Dallas.  Thank you, Tim, for quietly and firmly doing the right thing.  Mark these words of prophecy: despite FBC’s impressive new building they will continue to see […]

I Love You With All My Intestines

February 14, 2013.Reading time 10 minutes.

I opened my Valentine’s Day card from The Judge a while ago. The cover had the generic Hallmark-like greeting. But, inside, in her own hand, she wrote this: “I love you with all my intestines.” Now, thinking of that literally might make you wretch a bit, or wonder about the two of us. But me? […]