I’m back. If a picture is worth a thousand words, like Fred R. Barnhard originally said, here’s several thousand words. Shalom, Paul P.S. My street address says that I live on a street named, “Eden Court”, but I now have experienced the true garden of Eden.
Category: Pastor Paul’s Ponderings and Letters
As you read this, I’m in the Galapagos Islands.
By the time you are reading this I will be fully engaged with sunsets, wildlife, and other fowl things. Being out in creation and nature is one the ways I recharge my batteries. Well, last year, as Wendy and I plotted our summer of ‘24 activities, both of us looked to nature. When the Galapagos… Continue reading As you read this, I’m in the Galapagos Islands.
Why is social justice important?
“Sharing Unconditional Love, Justice, and Extravagant Welcome” is our mission statement. Justice is the center, the heart, a core value of that statement on purpose. Why Is social justice important? Social justice promotes fairness and equity across many aspects of society. For example, it promotes equitable economic, educational, and workplace opportunities. It’s also important to… Continue reading Why is social justice important?
Instead of the 10 Commandments…
On this day when we celebrate our country’s birth, a few folks are wanting the Ten Commandments posted in our schools. Years ago, Kurt Vonnegut once said, “Christians have often demanded that the Ten Commandments be posted on public buildings, but never the Beatitudes.” And he wondered, “why?” Instead of the 10 Commandments, how about… Continue reading Instead of the 10 Commandments…
The Christian life is a team sport.
A much-neglected dimension of the Christian life is how communal it is. We say, “Bee the Church!” That is, be the living community which is Jesus’ body: loving, working for justice, and welcoming. In the Apostle Paul’s letters, he often begins with, “I thank God in all my remembrances of you.” His message starts with… Continue reading The Christian life is a team sport.
Have you found your Island of Peace?
You and I, amid our journeys often find ourselves drowning in the storms of life. Refusing to adjust our sails, we go about doing our thing. So much time, talent, and treasure are spent on things not meaningful to us, blowing us off course. We need to constantly adjust our sails. No one escapes the… Continue reading Have you found your Island of Peace?
“Because he’s black.”
The first eight years of my life were lived on an Air Force base where there was a wide variety of people. My earliest memories of elementary school are of spending time with my best friends, John-John and Keith. John-John’s mom was Vietnamese and his father was African-American giving him wonderful patches of skin – swirls… Continue reading “Because he’s black.”
My thoughts on parables
As I looked to the summer lectionary scripture texts, I thought, “There are a lot of parable stories… and that’s a good thing!” Permit me to explain. Some people prefer rules or lists for teaching opportunities. I confess that I would much rather hear a story than a hard and fast list. Stories give me… Continue reading My thoughts on parables
Grace-onomics
I like to make up words. If a guy named Shakespeare did it, I figure why can’t I? Words like “Fantabulous” (fantastic + fabulous) and “Splend-differous” (Splendid + differentness). Timothy Merrill made up a word, “Grace-onomics” (grace + economics). How do those go together? Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner wrote a book which challenged our… Continue reading Grace-onomics
Top 10 Remebrances: Reflecting on 8 Years Together
Eight years ago, I began my ministry with The Church of the Palms. We’ve done some marvelous things with the help of God. It’s not you or me, it’s us working together following our call from God. Here’s a list of top ten remembrances for the past eight years. 10) Creating a Mission Statement –… Continue reading Top 10 Remebrances: Reflecting on 8 Years Together