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Not Getting Us Into Heaven
During the last few weeks, when I awake in the middle of the night and don’t return to sleep quickly, in my mind I sing. Interestingly the most frequent songs that come to mind are Gospel Songs that we sang in the little country church of my youth over 70 years ago....
Continuous Indecision Is Poisonous
The problem is a common one…Continuous indecision. Life on earth is life in the making. It involves constant choice and constant conflict. Conflict between the different facets of our nature that vie for allegiance. Conflict between the different causes that clamor...
The Lord Helps Those Who Help Themselves…Really?
My family was not long on formality. To say that we were “casual” may be an understatement. Warmth of relationship and the caring of my parents is what I remember most. How we related to and treated another, whether formal or casual, is what mattered. That was...
Praying for Mikhail Gorbachev
This week Russia’s former President, Mikhail Gorbachev, was buried in what the newspaper described as a low-key funeral service. When I read that, I remembered an encounter with Gorbachev that was not “low-key” for me. I was with 20 other ministers visiting Russia...
More Reflections on Elvis
I wrote last week about Elvis. We had just closed Elvis Week in Memphis and I had seen the movie "Elvis.” My continued reflection may say more about me than about him. I won’t even try to rationalize why and what I’m thinking about one of the most celebrated...
A Lesson, Maybe Lessons, From Elvis
I saw the movie, Elvis, and was surprised. It was as much about his manager, Tom Parker, as it was about Elvis. In retrospect, I think that was good, maybe a lesson. Without it being the centerpiece, the story of insecurity and self-centered greed was portrayed in...
Birthday Reflections at 88
This week, August 12, was my 88th birthday. If I were not prone to reflection, the state of our nation and the situation is our United Methodist Church would force it on me. As an ordained minister, my life is “buried with Christ” in the Church, in the world. I...
There are so many issues in life that would be settled, that would not drain us of the energy involved in decision making, if we would settle once and all who we are and whose we are.
Accepting Not Proving
It seems universally true: we constantly strive for more. Satisfaction seems beyond our grasp. Getting off the treadmill of striving for MORE is difficult; even feels dangerous. Without making a decision about it, we connect our urge for more with our resistance to...