• Death by China: Wesley and Barnum Meet Dr. Who

    Overheard: PT Barnum & the Rev. John Wesley on the Movie “Death by China” Citizens of 1880 and 1760 usually don’t have the opportunity to visit over coffee, unless Dr. Who activates his telephone booth or we use the research tools available to us to bring their ideas together in the same space. “Free Books”…


  • Hard Work, Community & Individual Success

    “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”          ~~ 1 Corinthians 12:7 “If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.” President Obama lit up the ratio and TV talk shows a while back with this statement because 60% of Americans…


  • People, Politics, and Mute Buttons

    “Indeed, there have to be factions among you,  for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine.” ~~ 1 Cor 11:19  Red State, Blue State. Latest polling numbers. Romney chooses Ryan—Breaking news! Pick Bump, Attack Dog, Spin Doctors, and Campaign Ads. I’m already warming up my remote and I long ago quit watching…


  • Pearls and Other Treasures: How Far Will We Go to Find Them?

    “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great price, he went and sold all he had and bought it.” ~~ Matthew 13:45-46 In the 1980’s, the price of oil dropped like a stone and the private school in Texas that depended on wealthy oil…


  • Hunger Games and Religious Famine

    “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.”             ~~ 1 Corinthians 2:12  I spent two days last week listening to my favorite seminary professor, friend, bog Irishman and…


  • Art, Work & Breaking Out of Prison

    This is a strange & dark veil of bamboo and vines that I found in Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Looking into the sun, the image was backlighted, so it seemed to be a fence guarding against my entry. I thought about the fences that keep me from progressing in my spiritual and…


  • Twinkie Dust & The New Creation

    “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.  I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it?”  ~~ Isaiah 43:18-19 My favorite time in Vacation Bible School was the plaster handprint. When I was a child in the 1950’s, we were given our…