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”...
Read moreTime for Interfaith Hospitality
Pastor’s Perspective For some time, I’ve envisioned our church as being well situated to be instrumental in projects and conversations that promote greater interfaith understanding. Perhaps we could even be the United...
Read moreAn Expansive Thankfulness
As we make plans to be in the company of family and friends, or perhaps taking a day to volunteer so that others may know the blessings of this holiday more fully, I am reminded of a little tidbit from John Calvin’s Institutes that I read...
Read moreCivility, Humility, and Politics
This November, I’ll have been voting for 20 years. That first year I voted was when I was 18, and it was the election of 1996. My interest in our political process had been active since I was a child, but was particularly ignited when in 1992 my...
Read moreA Prayer for the “Oilfield.”
Gov. Fallin designated Oct. 13 as the Day of Prayer for the Oilfields, so here’s my prayer. O Lord of All things on the earth, above the earth, and in the earth, We have heard your apostle say to the Romans that the “Spirit helps us...
Read moreAchieving Justice
I was struck by the headline of the Tulsa World this morning, echoing Police Chief Jordan’s words following the killing of Terence Crutcher by a Tulsa Police officer. “We will achieve justice in this case.” Perhaps it was just a turn of phrase...
Read moreMy Conception of the activity of the Holy Spirit
Several things: approving the ministry candidacy of Dan Gibbens-Rickman along with the called charge conference on Aug. 17, the current sermon series on “The wisdom of sensuality” focusing on the bodily knowledge of God, and a podcast that a...
Read moreStretching, Not Tearing.
I just finished meeting with Bishop Karen Oliveto, a woman whose name you have possibly seen lately in the news. Some believe her election, in the words of our Bishop, Robert Hayes, who wrote to us this week, “tears at the covenant that connects...
Read moreOur Church Investment in Public Education
“University” is in the name of our church. It is so because of our context, located, as I like to say “in the heart of the University of Tulsa.” Some may rightly point out that our church is not “on campus,” but as our property is...
Read moreSabbath Rest
I write this pastor’s perspective amidst packing for a vacation with my kids to Silverthorne, Colorado—just outside Breckenridge. My parents have a church member at their Hot Springs church who has a 4 bedroom condo there and have encouraged my...
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