“Be the Dog On A Walk”

January 10, 2020.Reading time 10 minutes.

One of the most important life lessons Dennise and I have ever learned, we learned from our dog. The lesson is: “Be the Dog On a Walk.” We learned this lesson observing our dog, Daisy. And I should describe it by first describe the opposite… “Daisy in the yard…” When Daisy is in the * […]

Our Open Letter to the LGBTQ+ Community

March 17, 2019.Reading time 4 minutes.

Let me pause for a brief moment and reflect on this day when 177 of my clergy siblings here in North Texas have signed on to an open letter addressed to the LGBTQ community that appears in today’s Dallas Morning News. Let me tell you what I remember… I remember a “Day of Listening” in […]

Every day Is Christmas Day

January 28, 2019.Reading time 14 minutes.

“Every day is Christmas day, for me…” This was something I once heard my father-in-law say. It was decades ago, now. Richard Garcia Sr. was surrounded by family. It was a Christmas morning when Maria was probably three or four. We are in the living room of his house in Irving, and the scene was […]

Recovering From “Time-Release Suicide”

January 13, 2019.Reading time 29 minutes.

The “then and now” profile meme on Facebook right now has inspired me to finally make a post I’ve been contemplating for several years. For several years now, people have commented on the amount of weight I have lost, and have asked me about it when they see me. I’ve been considering a way, and […]

“Faith > Fear,” My Final Sermon at Northaven

June 25, 2018.Reading time 31 minutes.

Text/Video of my final sermon at Northaven UMC, Dallas.  June 24, 2018  Mark 4: 37-40  “Gale-force winds arose, and waves crashed against the boat so that the boat was swamped. But Jesus was in the rear of the boat, sleeping on a pillow. They woke him up and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re […]

Eric Featured in the Lakewood Advocate

December 29, 2017.Reading time 1 minute.

So, this happened. A nice feature on me and my music, in the current issue of the Advocate Magazine. I believe it’s running in both the Lakewood (near home) and Preston Hollow (near church) editions. Thanks to all the good folks at the Advocate, to Patty Vinson and Kathy Tran. It’s an incredibly generous feature. […]

My Speech from the Black Tie Dinner

December 16, 2017.Reading time less than 1 minute.

I was honored to receive the “Humanitarian of the Year” Award from the Black Tie Dinner. The complete video is now up. Thanks again to the board for this truly amazing honor. 2017 Black Tie Dinner – Kuchling Humanitarian Award from Black Tie Dinner on Vimeo.

800

August 23, 2016.Reading time 3 minutes.

This, right here, is officially the 800th entry for “When EF Talks.” It’s a little hard to fathom, really. That’s a heck-of-a-lot ‘o writing over a heck-of-a-lot ‘o years. By the numbers, we’ve had almost half a million reads (460,190, to be exact…) during that time. Eight hundred entries. 460,000 reads.(1) Wow… So, let […]

This Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2016.Reading time 5 minutes.

A bit earlier today, as I was checking out at Central Market, the cashier made a snarky comment that stuck in my craw. I was buying Valentine’s flowers, cards, and dinner for Dennise and me. As I swiped my card to the beep of the register, the cashier said, “Aw….just short-stem roses?” She said it […]

Corny Dog Hero

October 13, 2015.Reading time 11 minutes.

I scarfed my traditional Fletcher’s Corny Dog at the State Fair yesterday. In fact, I had two. They were delicious, of course. But every year when I eat my Fletcher’s Corny Dog, my thoughts are taken away from the State Fair of Texas, to a most unlikely scene. Every year as I scarf my dog, […]