Presby-Musings

Years ago, I went to a theological conference that was hosted by one of the more conservative branches of the Presbyterian tradition.   Not that far into the conference, I perceived a sense of smugness that pervaded the whole place, emanating from the speakers and hosts and echoed back by the participants.  And what I mean by smugness in this context is there was this sense of "Us" vs. "Them" where the "Them" happened to be all those other weak-kneed Christians who don't believe like "Us."   I happen to be recovering fundamentalist Baptist, so I've got some baggage that I carry around with me when it comes to such smugness.  Especially, when I feel like I might be in the "Them" category.  And in moments like that conference, my baggage can feel heavier than usual.   When that happens, I have a tendency to shut down, and begin to hear only what I want to hear.  So, I quickly began to characterize every person who ros...

Today's devo is from the archives--one that I stumbled across the other day, and felt like it needed to be re-sent.  I know that over half of our subscribers have never seen this one before, and those of us who have probably need a fresh read of it.  Blessings.   I can't even count how many times in my life I have had negative encounters with people, who unleashed upon me a diatribe, angry criticism, personal attacks and the like.     I also can't count how many times I have thought of something awesome to say to the person who is attacking me after they've unleashed their venom and then walked away.  You know how that feels, right?  Whether it's moments or a day later, the thing you should  have said comes to you, and you find yourself saying, "Oh my gosh!  I wish I had said that!"   There was one time in my life were I said exactly what I wanted to say to someone who had attacked me publicly.  It was when I was an assis...

These past few days after the presidential election have been interesting to say the least. Some people are still grieving the outcome of the election, and are being forced to come to grips with the fact that roughly half of their fellow citizens deeply disagree with them on the direction our country should take.   Still others are being confronted with the grief of their fellow citizens, and are struggling to understand it.  I've spoken with some of these folks, who are flummoxed and angered by the protests that are springing up in all over the U.S.   Being in community is not easy.   Accepting others and their differences is not something most of us do all that well, if we are being honest.   Most of don't do empathy with a great deal of ease, either.  And forget about identifying with others completely.  There are so few of us who are able to do that, it's shocking.   The Church ought to be a place where these things are the rule a...

The election is over.   I figured that no matter who won yesterday, there would be people I know and care about, who would wake up today and think the Apocalypse had come.  I also knew that there would be people I know and care about, who would be rejoicing.   Today I am reaching out both to those who are rejoicing this morning, and to those who are filled with dread.   First, to those who feel as though the world has come to an end.  It hasn't.  The sun rose outside my window.  Creation still speaks of the glory of God.  Jesus is still risen.  The fact that your candidate of choice didn't win doesn't change who you are, and more importantly who you are in the eyes of God.   You have work to do to be reconciled to those with whom you disagree, but if you must mourn, don't try to suppress it.  Mourn today, and then gather your strength tomorrow to be renewed in the Spirit as you take up once again the work of embodyi...

I can't even count how many times in my life I have had negative encounters with people, who unleashed upon me a diatribe, angry criticism, personal attacks and the like.     I also can't count how many times I have thought of something awesome to say to the person who is attacking me after  they've unleashed their venom and then walked away.  You know how that feels, right?  Whether it's moments or a day later, the thing you should  have said comes to you, and you find yourself saying, "Oh my gosh!  I wish I had said that!"   There was one time in my life were I said exactly what I wanted to say to someone who had attacked me publicly.  It was when I was an assistant manager at Best Buy and another manager in the store falsely accused me of something in a manager meeting.   Our argument continued out into the store, and I finally stood directly in front of him and inexplicably said the following--a thought turned to words tha...