Changes Here At The OG “WhenEFTalks”

June 26, 2025.Reading time 2 minutes.

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 […]

Andrew McGregor’s Dallas Morning News Essay

January 8, 2025.Reading time less than 1 minute.

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.

Tip/Support Me

April 12, 2024.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Want to help sustain my writing, music, and content creation? Consider a tip or contribution. Venmo here.

Jan 6: “The Dream Repeats Itself”

January 6, 2023.Reading time 15 minutes.

It’s time to reclaim January 6th. It’s time to remember that, for 2,000 years, this date had a meaning not at all connected with Donald Trump and the insurrectionist takeover of our nation’s Capitol. I am not suggesting we “forget” the Insurrection and its murderous outcomes. I’m not suggesting we make the mistakes that the […]

Frightened Little Children

January 4, 2023.Reading time 12 minutes.

We human creatures are deeply frail and fragile beings, and behind every tough exterior lives a frightened little child. It doesn’t matter whether we are “battle hardened soldiers,” or “bleeding heart artists.” It doesn’t matter if we are “brawny men,” “sensitive women,” or non-binary persons….or all the lovely configurations of all those descriptors with all […]

Democracy Really IS on the Ballot

October 31, 2022.Reading time 18 minutes.

“All the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around Jesus to listen to him. The Pharisees and legal experts were grumbling, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.””Luke 15: 1-2 “Everyone who saw this grumbled, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”Luke 19: 7 I’ve been thinking about Zacchaeus, […]

Our Flag Is Still There

January 20, 2021.Reading time 3 minutes.

I’ve been dubious about The National Anthem and our flag, for several years now…having been stunned to learn the Anthem’s racists verses (the ones we never sing…) and having been deeply impressed by the “Take a Knee” movement regarding the flag. (“America The Beautiful,” and This Land…” are both better choices, imho…) But this morning, […]

At-ONE-ment

February 27, 2020.Reading time 4 minutes.

Lent is *supposed* to be about “turning a new way.” Unfortunately, for too many people, we grew up believing it was about “feeling bad.” There’s a big difference between the two. And that difference is summed up in this year’s theme for Lent at Kessler Park United Methodist Church: “At-ONE-ment.” The word that gets thrown […]

The New AGSV Bible Translation

October 30, 2019.Reading time 11 minutes.

Exciting news, friends! I’ve been given an advance copy of a new Bible translation, hitting the market soon. The translation is called the “American Government Standard Version.” (AGSV for short…) The AGSV is a new and carefully sourced translation from the original Hebrew and Greek texts, with one incredibly helpful addition. The texts are also […]