Sunday morning, I led the congregation in singing Victory in Jesus.My wife grew up singing this hymn in the Free Will Baptist church, as did my pastor. I grew up singing all the old Presbyterian hymns. And now we sing the Methodist hymns. Between the two of us, we know hundreds of old hymns. And although,Continue reading “The Old Hymns”
Category Archives: religion
Jesus Christ Superstar: A Holy Week Tradition
When I was in high school, I was a member of a youth Sunday school class which consisted of my brother, my two best friends, a Cameroonian girl, and a Venezuelan girl. The girls tolerated us at best and didn’t come very often. Our teacher was a very sedate and patient man who nurtured us inContinue reading “Jesus Christ Superstar: A Holy Week Tradition”
The Beatitudes: The Eight-Fold Path – A Refined Heart
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. When you receive mercy, your heart will be made pure and free from judgment and selfish intent, then you will experience the true nature of God. As you’ve already figured out, when I study anything, I begin with definitions and origins of words. And theContinue reading “The Beatitudes: The Eight-Fold Path – A Refined Heart”
The Beatitudes: The Eight-Fold Path – Mercy for the Suffering
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. In being filled with righteousness and meekness, you will temper your zeal for righteousness with mercy, and in turn will be shown mercy. Google: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm. Merriam-Webster: kind or forgiving treatmentContinue reading “The Beatitudes: The Eight-Fold Path – Mercy for the Suffering”
The Beatitudes: The Eight-Fold Path – A Hunger to Soothe the Suffering
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. When you are comforted in your mourning, seek to advocate for those who suffer and not for yourself, then you will receive the benefits and responsibilities of the earth. In godly mourning, we understand our suffering and are comforted, we become gentle (meek)Continue reading “The Beatitudes: The Eight-Fold Path – A Hunger to Soothe the Suffering”
The Beatitudes: The Eight-Fold Path – Kindness of the Meek
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth When you are comforted in your mourning, seek to advocate for those who suffer and not for yourself, then you will receive the benefits and responsibilities of the earth. In godly mourning, we understand our suffering and are comforted, we become gentle (meek) to those around us whoContinue reading “The Beatitudes: The Eight-Fold Path – Kindness of the Meek”
Beatitudes: The Eight-Fold Path – Godly Sorrow
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Out of care for God’s world, mourn for the suffering of others and you will find comfort for your suffering. I’ve been meditating on sorrow today; thinking about my sorrows and the painful situations which precipitated them. This is a universal condition. In trying to understandContinue reading “Beatitudes: The Eight-Fold Path – Godly Sorrow”
Beatitudes: The Eight-Fold Path – Spirit of the Poor
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Empty yourself and become humble, then receive a share in the responsibility for God’s kingdom. I chose the title “The Eight-Fold Path” because of how popular the eight-fold path of Buddhism has become in America. Spiritual seekers want a clearly defined manualContinue reading “Beatitudes: The Eight-Fold Path – Spirit of the Poor”
The Beatitudes: The Eight Fold Path
I believe that one of the reasons there is a rise in the Spiritual But No Religious (SBNR) demographic and the diminishing of traditional Christianity is because so often the focus of Christianity is not on what to do but what not to do. Whereas, what people really want is a clear path to spiritual fulfillment. ThisContinue reading “The Beatitudes: The Eight Fold Path”
Presbyterian Faith Healer
I grew up the son of a Presbyterian preacher, living and breathing and smelling and tasting Presbyterianism. I had only a handful of church experiences outside of it. I visited a Baptist church as a child. Hot Dogs and Salvation. I visited the Methodist Church across the street. Smiley people with nicer cars. I worshiped withContinue reading “Presbyterian Faith Healer”
When Christ Became a Music Professor
It’s a universal fact that we spend the better part of our youth trying to construct a personal identity. Perhaps you’re the jock or the skater or the goth or the musician or the Christian. I experimented with a number of identities. The first for me was the artist. I had a natural ability with art as aContinue reading “When Christ Became a Music Professor”
Salvation and Hot Dogs
Being a twin means sharing. We sometimes shared Christmas presents. We shared a room together. We wore the same clothes, but with different colors. Paul always got the crap colors. We shared friends. We shared many childhood memories. And we shared crushes. I have an important shared memory with Paul. I called him this morning toContinue reading “Salvation and Hot Dogs”
The Church Where I Lived
Between 1978 and 1984, my father was the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Lonoke, Arkansas. It was his first post after Austin Theological Seminary, and our first time to be a preacher’s family. Upon arrival from Texas, my twin brother Paul and I were permitted to visit the city park down the block whileContinue reading “The Church Where I Lived”
Choir Retreat: Ribs and PYE
Every year since I started working as the music director at Goodrich UMC, I’ve done a choir retreat. It’s a good way to return from our summer hiatus and kick off the new choral year together. Food, games, and the introduction to this year’s Christmas Cantata. I suspect it’s the cantata that really gets people excited.Continue reading “Choir Retreat: Ribs and PYE”
Import complicated 