In the evening of November 27th, at our first ever district wide charge conference, the business part of the meeting was conducted in opening liturgy, and then the primary focus was on education. Dr. Leonard Sweet was our guest teacher, and...
Read moreNature’s Evangelists
It’s the time of year when all my Arkansas friends begin posting pictures of the beautiful foliage. This one (pictured, right) is from my former secretary in my first appointment in Waldron, Arkansas. It certainly is gorgeous, and you...
Read moreThe Dynamic Kiting Spiderling
Pastor’s Perspective In honor of our annual blessing of the animals, inspired by the ministry of Francis of Assisi, I’ll first share with you a poem I wrote around 7 years ago and first shared in a pastor’s perspective back in 2012: I...
Read moreRich Church, Poor Church
I’m reading a book that Rev. Bill Moorer suggested to me to prepare for our stewardship season this fall. We’ll fill you in on more details about that campaign next month, but first I offer this review of the book written by a pastor whose church...
Read moreChildren and “Interruptions”
In the month of August, the attention of parents of school aged children (like myself) is turned to preparations for the school year. Since University UMC is situated where it is, this is typically one of the “high holy seasons” of our particular...
Read moreMy Growing Family
Dear friends, The month of July holds some big happy plans for me. Myranda and I will be getting married on Fort Walton Beach in Florida on the 7th. We are leaving at the first of the month to head down there with our kids. It will be a fun...
Read morePort, Not a Fort
I was looking back on some past Pastor’s Perspectives, and this one from 5 years ago seemed to speak to me again for this time of year. I hope it has fresh meaning for you too! In my recent letter of transfer to notify Galloway United...
Read moreFellowship
In very Biblical fashion, I was reminded of the impending due date for this guest blog not by a calendar item dinging on my phone, but in a dream right before waking this morning. I was dreaming that my church was gathered together in a...
Read moreSexuality, Grace, Acceptance, and Leadership
It has been a dramatic week in the life of the United Methodist Church as relates to our ongoing debates about the value of gay and lesbian individuals within the life of our church. Some in the denomination wish to see ordination and marriage...
Read moreStorm
While reading my March 1 issue of The Christian Century, I noticed a call for submissions to a writing contest for first-person narratives related to the theme of “storm.” The experience of a particular storm in 2001 is a component...
Read moreThe Johnson Act
This month, Pastor’s Perspective is a sample of printed questions/responses taken from an interview by Trent Gibbons at TU’s student newspaper, The Collegian, with UUMC’s Reverend Nathan Mattox on the Johnson Act. The Johnson Amendment prohibits...
Read moreWhere God Lives
A couple Sundays ago, I placed a picture I had taken in 2003 on the communion table face up but unseen by the congregation. I used the picture as an illustration for Scott Bruner and Cindy Hartman, whom I had invited to “come and see”...
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