A New iTunes Single and Reflections on 50 Years

October 29, 2013.Reading time 30 minutes.

NOTE FROM EF:this entry has been expanded/updated over the years….EF I’m pleased to announce that my song “Sitting In the Trade Hall (11.22.63)” (1) is now available on iTunes as a single. iTunes link here. It’s a song I wrote some years ago, from the perspective of adults who lived in Dallas at the time […]

Bending a Little Faster Today

June 26, 2013.Reading time 8 minutes.

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” — Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. I don’t know. Today, it sure feels like that arc is picking up a little steam. My first thoughts on reading the Supreme Court decisions had to do with our families here at Northaven Church. When […]

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 […]

Ash Wednesday with Ryan Woods

February 13, 2013.Reading time 2 minutes.

Tonight at Northaven, I’ll be inviting our folks to watch this short, but powerful, video from Ryan Woods. Ryan died of his cancer last Fall, but his openness about his dying stands as a challenge to all of us to live the time we have left. As he says in the video… “We’re all in […]

My Introduction of Bill McElvaney

February 5, 2013.Reading time 18 minutes.

The following is the gist of my introduction of Dr. William K. McElvaney, as he received the “Distinguished Alumnus Award” tonight from Perkins School of Theology. It includes some biographical info that I omitted, since it was also in the printed program, but that makes sense to include here. I am deeply honored that Bill […]

The End of the World As We Know It

December 18, 2012.Reading time 13 minutes.

“So, if they say to you, ‘Look! He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out.If they say, ‘Look! He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it…But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”— Jesus Christ (Matthew, Chapter 24) “It’s […]

Reponse to the Connecticut Shooting

December 15, 2012.Reading time 4 minutes.

Dear Friends: The unspeakable events in Connecticut today have everyone reeling, and in shock. It’s almost unfathomable to believe the loss and the grief. I can share with you that I have been crying off and on all day. I find myself moving back and forth between deep grief for the loss of innocent life, […]

We Believe in the Separation of Church and Hate

August 12, 2012.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Very proud that this is a trademarked slogan of Northaven Church. Just posting it as a reminder.

Twenty Years

June 25, 2012.Reading time 15 minutes.

This year at Annual Conference, there was a very brief recognition of those of us celebrating “five year” anniversaries in ministry. (Five, ten, fifteen, etc…) For me, the actual number is twenty. Twenty years. Back in those days, you were actually first ordained as a Deacon. To get real technical (and, why not?) my ordination […]

Post-General Conference Sermon

May 7, 2012.Reading time less than 1 minute.

For those outside our Northaven community, you might be interested in my sermon at our Reconciling United Methodist Church yesterday. Feel free to leave comments if you wish…EF (At one point, you will hear me pause. Our member, George Crawford, was celebrating his 90th Birthday, and perhaps felt a little more freedom than usual to […]