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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
The story of the Prodigal Son is one of the most familiar in the Bible. It is so rich in meaning that no matter how well we know it, we need now and then to take another look at it. Before we rehearse that story, I ask you a question, what is the central truth in the...
In a recent blog post, The Purpose of Purpose I talked about the bottom line of commitment, so I would not argue whether purpose gives us commitment, or commitment gives us purpose. Just for focus, I’ll use the word commitment. One of my favorite writers is David...
