A few years back I lost my job. It was a good job, with good stability and benefits. And then, one day, it was gone. I soon was recruited for a position in sales. This was a new undertaking for me, and one with which I wasn’t really comfortable. But, I needed a job fast, … Continue reading Walking away from our golden calves
Social Justice
It’s all in there… Our Baptismal Covenant calls us to action
Many of us struggle with determining how to apply our faith to the secular world. In the Episcopal Church, behind our red doors, we are very comfortable with the creeds, the liturgy and our beautiful expressions of love for God. But, outside those doors, how do we apply our love for God to the fractured … Continue reading It’s all in there… Our Baptismal Covenant calls us to action
The yoke that still hangs heavy
This lay sermon was delivered for Noonday Prayers at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Enid, Oklahoma, Wednesday, March 13, 2019, the feast day of The Right Reverend James Theodore Holly. Today we remember Bishop and Missionary James Theodore Holly. The first black bishop in The Episcopal Church, Anglican missionary to Haiti and first bishop of the … Continue reading The yoke that still hangs heavy
“Stepping Into Fear” — Christian, Jewish congregations hear message of hope, love overcoming fear
ENID, Okla. — Members of at least six congregations of the Christian and Jewish faiths gathered at St. Stephen AME Church Monday evening for an ecumenical service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and his enduring legacy. The service, hosted by St. Stephen AME and St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, featured an address by Rabbi … Continue reading “Stepping Into Fear” — Christian, Jewish congregations hear message of hope, love overcoming fear
Truth and reconciliation … one small act of love at a time
I normally wouldn’t advise seeking wisdom on Facebook. It’s become a trash soup of hate mongering, clickbait and fake news trolls — all mixed in with the cat videos and actual news we all want to see. But, if you use a fine enough sieve, you can still find some gems of wisdom in the … Continue reading Truth and reconciliation … one small act of love at a time
Giving thanks for the harvest to come
Thanksgiving has passed, leftovers are packed away, and, if we’re lucky, the antacids are working. Hopefully we took time to give thanks. I am blessed with an amazing wife, two wonderful daughters, good friends, a reverent and inspiring church, my job and a warm place to sleep tonight, among other blessings. But, I’d like to … Continue reading Giving thanks for the harvest to come
A tale of two Christianties
A tale of two Christianities is now playing out in Bangassou, a city of about 25,000 in the Central African Republic. U.S. News & World Report on Thursday reported that Muslims in the city have been paying huge sums of money to U.N. contractors to smuggle them to the relative safety of the nation’s capital. … Continue reading A tale of two Christianties
Poisoning the Body of Christ: The Nashville Statement
Much attention has been given this week to the Nashville Statement, a manifesto on sexuality published Tuesday by the evangelical Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW). I disagree with the CBMW statement. I affirm that all human beings, regardless of sexual orientation, are made in the image of God, all are loved by God, all … Continue reading Poisoning the Body of Christ: The Nashville Statement
What would Jesus have us do?
You don’t have to look far these days in Oklahoma to find a social service program that’s fallen prey to the state’s budget crisis. DHS, ODMHSAS, OHCA — the alphabet soup of agencies cutting services to our state’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens seems to grow daily. Why is this a matter for a … Continue reading What would Jesus have us do?