Author Archives: reallifepastor

            It’s felt good recently to begin reclaiming my evangelistic “Baptist” preaching voice.  While the message I preach as a UCC pastor is very different from what I heard growing up, the fervor and passion I felt from those sermons … Continue reading →

On the face of it, this is just another healing story.  By the time the man with leprosy approaches him at the end of Mark 1, Jesus already has healed tons of people, including a demon-possessed man and a disciple’s … Continue reading →

            Did anyone time our Announcements last week?  They seemed to go on forever, didn’t they?  It reminded me of a song we used to sing at summer camp:  “Announcements, announcements, announcements.  A terrible death to die, a terrible death … Continue reading →

            I attended a workshop this week called Christianity after Religion:  The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening.  For someone who makes her living from the church, the title was a tad disconcerting.  Is church … Continue reading →

            As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” … Continue reading →

            Take a trip with me back through time, way back to ancient history…back to the days when we called landlines “phones” because there weren’t any other kind.  Remember those days?  Of course, some of you are too young to … Continue reading →

While Koinonia Farm had been doing its thing since 1942, the apparent spark that caused the powder keg to blow was Brown v. Board of Education (1954).  It was when the Supreme Court mandated integration that southerners took action. They … Continue reading →

I had arrived early for the Interfaith Children’s Movement meeting at MUST Ministries in Cobb County. Our agenda for the day was preparing for ICM’s Day at the Capitol. As I waited for the receptionist to find out where we … Continue reading →

I am an expert on baptism.  My expertise comes, not from being a pastor or having a couple of degrees in religion.  I am an expert on baptism because I have been baptized three times. The first time happened in sixth grade.  … Continue reading →

 Christmas Eve Meditation                 The PBS news magazine, Religion and Ethics News Weekly, recently reported on a significant crime problem:  the theft of the baby Jesus from untold outdoor nativity displays.  As she reported the problem, the anchor also promised a … Continue reading →