Stabbed selling crack on a side street in Nassau County, Jake told us he couldn’t lift his arm over his shoulder and then raised that arm straight up to expose a line of scars dotting his ribcage and trailing off around his back. Turning slowly and deliberately like a model, clutching his shirt to keep…Read more One Last Winter’s Tale
faith
Invocation
Honored and blessed to give an Invocation at County Executive, Mike Hein's, State of the County Address. Our county is strong and innovative and green and beautiful, and our County Executive and his staff are awesome! Here is my prayer: Eternal God of all people and places, fill us with gratitude and grace and open…Read more Invocation
For John
The Lilacs In full bloom and fragrance, the lilacs sang an irresistible opus, and I reached out to pull one closer to my nose. “Smell your own damn lilacs!” my neighbor yelled, and I struggled to laugh and breathe deeply at the same time. Like a snarky, stand-up comic, John inspired laughter with his satire.…Read more For John
For Birdie & Christopher
“Never bet against the Steelers.” That’s one of the things my friend, Owen, taught me. I don’t work in a bar anymore, and I’m not a huge football fan, but I’ll always put Owen and the Steelers together. If they ever win a Super Bowl, I’ll think, “Owen must be pleased.” After the Steelers, my…Read more For Birdie & Christopher
Confession
The tired, old line is so familiar I don’t have to finish it—you know how it goes—confession is good for the … Soul. And mine aches because I am a sinner standing in the need of grace. In fact, I just sobbed in the bathtub. Don’t worry. It’s not like I was sitting in there…Read more Confession
The Subway Ride
I lugged my bicycle down the stairs and across the subway platform because it was pouring when I got off work, and I hate to ride in the rain. There’s no wet as bad as bike-wet. While I waited for the train, I propped a book open on the handlebars. Seminary requires constant reading; but…Read more The Subway Ride
Everything You Didn’t Really Need to Know About How a Bartender Becomes a Methodist Pastor
Cherished Readers: Here it is again--both parts together this time since folks were telling me they were having trouble with the whole two parts thing.... New post coming soon. Meanwhile, a summer repeat all in one piece this time. Blessings! A compact park occupies the corner of Thirty-third and Third, a curve in the…Read more Everything You Didn’t Really Need to Know About How a Bartender Becomes a Methodist Pastor
Pastor Hank
Here's another Dear Dave letter. Thanks for reading. October 14, 2004 Dear Dave, Hope this note finds you enjoying the Indian summer days on your porch with a great book—not even a good book, mind you, but a great one. The Hudson Valley is too beautiful to describe, so I won’t even try. And as…Read more Pastor Hank
The Miracle Peaches
This is the story of the miracle peaches. It’s a true story. It happened nearly thirty years ago in Atlanta, and it began in a cramped, window-less room full of telephones. In a simpler world in early spring, everybody and anybody who wanted to work in the theatre flocked to Atlanta for the regional…Read more The Miracle Peaches
Methodist to Her Madness 