I mentioned last week that it is festival season in our area and ENan and I love a good festival! On Saturday we headed up the road to Wilson, NC for the Whirligig Festival. I know, you are probably thinking, “What in the world is a whirligig and why would someone name a festival for … Continue reading Move
Stranger Things
Halloween is a major event in the little town of Wallace, where ENan and I live, and our neighborhood is especially popular on Halloween night. We had to turn out the lights and hide in the back of the house after we “treated” 300 ghosts, goblins, and ninjas this week. Halloween is somewhat of a … Continue reading Stranger Things
Handiwork
It’s festival season for many of the communities in southeastern North Carolina. There is the Spot Festival, the Oyster Festival, the Festival by the Sea, and even the Poultry Jubilee. Last weekend was the Autumn with Topsail Festival in Topsail Beach (pronounced Topsul by locals around here.) Autumn with Topsail means two days of good … Continue reading Handiwork
Those Who Are Forgiven Little, Love Little
VIEW SERMON This week’s Table Topic comes from Luke 7:36-50. Those Who Are Forgiven Little, Love Little Jesus is at a Pharisee’s house. A sinful woman comes to wash his feet with her hair. Simon, the Pharisee, rebukes Jesus for letting a sinful woman touch him. Jesus tells a quick parable, challenges Simon, and surprises … Continue reading Those Who Are Forgiven Little, Love Little
Peculiar
Do you know the official state beverage of Maine? Well, you probably do now because of the photo above. Did you know that states have an official beverage? It’s true. Thirty of our 50 states have an official beverage, ranging from milk (North Carolina) to whiskey (Alabama). I had never heard of Moxie prior to … Continue reading Peculiar
Those Who Are Well Need No Physician
VIEW SERMON This week’s Table Topic comes from Luke 5:27- 32. Those Who Are Well Need No Physician Jesus calls a tax collector, Levi, to be among his disciples. To show his appreciation, Levi throws a banquet feast. The Pharisees get frustrated with Jesus’ willingness to associate with tax collectors and say as much. Jesus’ … Continue reading Those Who Are Well Need No Physician
Nest
One day last week, ENan and I were eating lunch on our back porch when we heard some loud squawking going on. We looked out onto our deck and saw two small birds chasing each other back and forth, all the while chirping loudly. Because we don’t speak bird, we couldn’t tell if their conversation … Continue reading Nest
All I Have is Yours
VIEW SERMON (ACTIVE 9.25) This week’s Table Topic comes from Luke 15:11-32. All I Have is Yours The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of the most important teachings in all the Bible. It has enormous implications for our lives. Together, all three characters experience something different around the table, and we need to … Continue reading All I Have is Yours
Church
As Minister to Senior Adults, I get to hang out with some of the “funnest” people. Generally speaking, the senior adults I work with are funny, refreshingly honest, grateful, full of life experiences, and are willing to try anything new! Recently I was asked to teach one of the “well-seasoned” Sunday School classes at our … Continue reading Church
Web
Every year about this time the edges of my yard begin to fill up with spider webs. I guess the spiders are loading up on insects to get them through the winter months, but it feels like they got the memo that Halloween is coming. Most of the spiders are harmless, and I love to … Continue reading Web
Eyes
Our house is full of things that we have collected over nearly 50 years of life together. We have mementos from mission trips, souvenirs from family travels and pieces of furniture that have been in our families for several generations. I know Marie Kondo says you ought to get rid of everything that doesn’t “spark … Continue reading Eyes
Breaking the Law for Good
VIEW SERMON This week’s Table Topic comes from Luke 14:1-6. Breaking the Law for Good While eating dinner at the house of a Pharisee, Jesus noticed a man with dropsy (physical ailment). He turns to the Pharisees and says, “I can heal him, but it’s the Sabbath. Is it lawful for me to do it?” … Continue reading Breaking the Law for Good
Faithfulness
VIEW SERMON “We are not called to be successful, only faithful.” – Mother Teresa Mind: God is faithful. Faithfulness, though, can often be hard to recognize in the moment. It takes looking back over our life to notice and recognize God’s faithfulness; it takes self-examination. At the end of each day this week, look back … Continue reading Faithfulness
Brackish
“Brackish” is the word used to describe the water where fresh water coming down from rivers and streams meets salt water coming in from the ocean. As the tides push salt water inland and the rains push fresh water toward the sea, there is a beautiful comingling of the two, creating a very fertile climate … Continue reading Brackish
My Story. Our Story. The Story.
There’s something circulating in higher theological education called the Cosmic Egg. It’s not hard to hold, but it has massive implications to how we live. The Cosmic Egg has three interconnected layers, and they each matter. The yolk (interior layer) is “My Story.” It’s the individuation of my personhood. My gifts, insights, and abilities to … Continue reading My Story. Our Story. The Story.
Goodness
VIEW SERMON Mind: One definition of Goodness is, “Seeing the best of what is.” This week, pay attention to whether your mind goes to the best or to the worst in each situation, conversation, encounter that you have. If it does not see the best, intentionally find something good in that moment. “Don’t look at … Continue reading Goodness
Secret
While our California grandchildren (and their parents) were visiting, we tried to find something a little different to do with them. We remembered that they have never been to Hammocks Beach State Park, so we loaded up the cars with picnic and beach supplies and headed east. If you are not familiar with Hammocks Beach … Continue reading Secret
Kindness
VIEW SERMON “Do justice, Love kindness, Walk humbly with God.” – from Micah 6:8 Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate. In Micah 6:8, we read that God just doesn’t tell us that we should be kind to one another; God commands that we ‘Love kindness.’ We should practice kindness so much … Continue reading Kindness
Jump!
After a week at the beach, we are back in Wallace. Our California offspring are here for one more week before they have to return to the dull and boring life of southern California. Sure, they have beautiful beaches and superb mountain trails, Hollywood and stuff like that, but they do not have the “Redneck … Continue reading Jump!
Patience
VIEW SERMON BEING – Praying a Psalm of Lament Many of the Psalms are prayers of lament. Pray aloud one of these Psalms (Psalm 3, 6, 31, 86). Allow these prayers to become your own way of expressing your frustrations, disappointments, and suffering to God. KNOWING – The 4Rs for Practicing Patience Patience seems to come … Continue reading Patience
Life Guard
This is family beach week for our crew down at Wrightsville Beach. Unfortunately, our son and his family have been passing Covid around, so they were not able to join us. While we are at the beach, we love fishing, body surfing, walking and just playing in the water. We make it a point to … Continue reading Life Guard
Fruit of the Spirit: Peace
VIEW SERMON Move Closer to JesusPrepare for WorryBe a Peacemaker Being/Spirit: Move Closer to Jesus Use this picture of Rembrandt’s, The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, as part of your prayer time to cultivate peace in the chaos of life. What storm is rocking your boat?Where do you find yourself in the picture?What would … Continue reading Fruit of the Spirit: Peace
Creatures
ENan and I are bi-coastal grandparents, with two grandchildren on the west coast and two on the east coast. In addition to our grandchildren – who provide a lot of material for these homilies – we also have two grand-dogs, several grand-chickens, a grand-rabbit and (until recently) a grand-guinea pig. Many of our friends are … Continue reading Creatures
Fruit of the Spirit: Love
VIEW SERMON Being/Spirit: We can’t give what we do not have. To cultivate a life that bears fruit, we have to Start with God. To sit before God regularly and be reminded that we are God’s beloved; to make room for God’s love in us. Each day this week, or as many days as you … Continue reading Fruit of the Spirit: Love
Stuck
After several weeks of drought, we have finally had some good soaking rains in Duplin County. Most have been “sizzer-sozzer” rains (just a little more than a drizzle) but a few have been “toad-frog stranglers.” (You can guess what type of rain that is.) I was headed toward Wilmington one morning when I spotted this … Continue reading Stuck
Hands
This past weekend was a very special time for our church and for our family. ENan was ordained as a deacon along with nine other individuals. For those of you not familiar with the term, “deacon,” it is a Biblical term that comes from two Greek words that mean “through dust.” The image is that … Continue reading Hands
The Discipline of Silence
Last Sunday, in worship, I got to experience for the first time our Discipline of Silence. I knew this was something that Barrett would be introducing to us, but I had forgotten to expect it. It brought me right back to St. John’s Abbey in Minnesota, where I spent a week during my sabbatical; right … Continue reading The Discipline of Silence
Diving
ENan and I have been on some memorable adventures in the 50 years we have been together (47 years married plus 3 years dating.) I have enjoyed sharing some of these adventures with you over the past thirty years since Covid happened. (It seems like it’s been that long.) Last weekend we shared an experience … Continue reading Diving
Letter
I don’t know who is responsible for the messages in the sand next to Johnnie Mercer’s pier but they have been appearing for a while now. It seems that each time we go to Wrightsville Beach we find a new message carefully carved into the sand. It must take some time and patience to leave … Continue reading Letter