Gethsemane

April 2, 2015.Reading time 10 minutes.

“Gethsemane” has always been my favorite song from “Jesus Christ Superstar.” In fact, I’d have to say it ranks as one of my top ten favorite all-time songs, period. Today is pretty much the day of the year to remember it. No better time than Maundy Thursday. I first encountered the song, and JCS, as […]

If Only We Had the Old West’s Gun Laws

March 18, 2015.Reading time 6 minutes.

The Texas Senate has approved “Open Carry” in Texas, while a bill allowing college students to carry their weapons is likely to get a vote later today. If feels like the inmates are running the asylum. Texas has taken a huge step backwards in time. Some have said we’re going back to the laws of […]

PHA: Our Muslim community is not to blame for extremists’ actions

March 18, 2015.Reading time 1 minute.

As a person of faith, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the anger and vitriol being shown toward Muslims who live in the Dallas community. You may have heard of the protesters that gathered outside a Muslim conference in Garland. Partly as a response to this, Northaven United Methodist Church recently hosted an event […]

The Long View of St. Patrick’s Day

March 17, 2015.Reading time 1 minute.

St. Patrick’s Day allows us the chance to remember how, generations ago, the Irish were reviled and hated by many in this country. They were “Otherized” and made the secular scapegoat for all the ills of their society in that day. But this morning, the great-grandchildren of Protestants who spewed racial epithets at the Irish, […]

Please. Somebody Change the Dog Park Before Someone Gets Hurt

March 15, 2015.Reading time 3 minutes.

Ok. I wrote about this months ago, but nothing has changed so I’m writing about it again. This design, of this new exit to the dog park onto the White Rock Lake Trail, is an absolute disaster waiting to happen. Let me tell you exactly what is going to happen. A cyclist is going to […]

The Heart of a Servant

March 7, 2015.Reading time 15 minutes.

I’ve just returned from DFW Airport, where I went to see off our Guatemala mission team. They are headed for a week of mission with the good folks of ODIM Guatemala, which Northaven helped found and still supports in numerous ways. But, while I was waiting for our team to make their way through baggage […]

My Interview on Radio Azad

March 6, 2015.Reading time less than 1 minute.

This week, I was proud to be the guest of Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation on their Radio Azad program. I had a great hour-long interview with Halima Leak Francis, on the topics of interfaith cooperation, the current concerns about hate against Muslims in the community, and the 2nd Community series that Northaven hosts. You can […]

Video from Faith Advocacy Day in Austin

March 5, 2015.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Thanks to Texas Freedom Network for video of my remarks at the State Capitol a few weeks back. Take a look here… Here’s the full transcript. If you’re interested in joining this new coalition, sign up at TexasBelieves.org.

That Moment When Magic Happens

March 4, 2015.Reading time 5 minutes.

One of my favorite little movies of the past year was “Begin Again.” It’s a movie about music, songwriters, and music producing. For those of you in any of these fields, run out and see it now. Yes, it’s a Hollywood film. Yes, there’s a ton about it that’s really, really unrealistic. But it also […]

My Remarks at Faith Advocacy Day

February 17, 2015.Reading time 7 minutes.

Today, I am in Austin for Faith Advocacy Day. I’m honored to be the emcee of an interfaith event at the State Capitol, supporting equality for the LGBT community. If you’re a person of faith who supports the just and equal treatment of LGBT persons under the law, join us by signing up at “Texas […]