I am going down with the ship.

June 25, 2022.Reading time 9 minutes.

“I am going down with the ship.” I can’t speak for everyone. I can only speak for me. I can’t fault any other choice anyone else might make.All I am saying is: If Texas goes down, I’m going down with it.To the bitter end. I’m here to stay and I’m ready to fight. Ever since […]

Stop. Wait. Think About This.

February 26, 2020.Reading time 19 minutes.

Sometime this morning, maybe even as I write this, the “Leaning Tower of Dallas” will finally come down. (UPDATE: Obviously, the timeline is much longer now…again, reinforcing the point of this essay…EF) I’ve been captivated by our fascination with this wreck of a wreck ever since it happened a week ago. I always love metaphor, […]

“The Greater Empathy” Thoughts on Guyger Trial, Week One

September 27, 2019.Reading time 11 minutes.

What if our opinions on the Amber Guyger trial comes down to a question of “who do you feel empathy toward?” It may not come down to this. This may be a foolish question to ask. But the question keeps popping up in my head this week, as I’ve listened to the testimony…and especially as […]

Kessler Park Welcome Video

July 30, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

An Open Letter to Reverend Robert Jeffress:

May 13, 2019.Reading time 7 minutes.

An Open Letter to Reverend Robert Jeffress: This morning, again I preached from one of the many passages where religious leaders try to trick Jesus with his words. (John 10: 22-30…It was the suggested “Lectionary” text for this Sunday, in my Methodist tradition…) Time and time again, as you are undoubtedly aware, this theme recurs […]

Justice for Botham Jean

September 20, 2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Yesterday, United Methodist clergy from all over North Texas gathered to call for justice for Botham Jean. I share some of my own thoughts on the case here.

My Set at Uncle Calvin’s

August 25, 2018.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Here’s video of my set at Uncle Calvin’s last night. There are a few problems. The lighting is weird….I look ghostly. And my pickup went dead, so we had to switch to a mic, which threw me off a bit. But, overall, it gives you a sense of the night. So great to open for […]

My Speech at the Anti-White Supremacy Rally

August 26, 2017.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Many thanks to our good friends at First Unitarian, for posting this video of my speech at the “Anti-White Supremacy” rally in Dallas. What a great night it was. As I say in the speech, standing around and below me were almost twenty United Methodist clergy colleagues who stood in solidarity with us that night. […]

Why We Should Take Down Dallas’ Confederate Monuments

July 27, 2017.Reading time 12 minutes.

I should say that we have Confederate soldiers in my own family tree. I certainly do not feel pride in this, but neither do I feel shame. I feel neutral about it, frankly. It was what it was. They were who they were. And, thank God, our morality is not wed to our DNA. The […]

The Judge Swears In the Council

June 19, 2017.Reading time 1 minute.

Add another to the list of fun and amazing places/things we get to go… Today, The Judge had the high, ahem, honor of swearing in the Mayor and City Council at an elaborate ceremony at the Myerson Center. So great to see so many family, political, and personal friends. So proud of Dennise. Blessings to […]