Bootstraps, Really???
Some years ago, the local paper ran an article about a young man who decided to hop a train from Raleigh, NC to Charleston, SC with $25 in his pocket. Within six months, he...
What Would Happen?
Years ago after someone indicated that he thought he was worth more to the community and his company than others were, a staff member at United Ministries said, “Imagine that all the CEOs in...
Social Isolation
Our movements are restricted because of social isolation. With this comes all kinds of positive and negative feelings. Some of us finally have the time to do that house and/or yard work we’ve been...
Prayer
Loving God, Holy One of our lives, we come to you with our heads bowed in shame. We have brothers and sisters who have no place to call home, who walk these very streets....
What Does Gentrifying Mean?
As I take people on a tour through Greenville, I use the term gentrifying. I often need to explain what that means. I’m challenged because gentrifying has both good news and bad news about...
Myth Busters
Myth Busters Compiled by Beth Templeton, 3.30.18 Based on Kathryn J. Edin and H. Luke Shaefer, $2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America, Mariner Books, imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015 Not...
Donald Trump Prayer Project 5.22.17
God of the Whirling Planets, grandiose gestures on the part of us humans must seem pretty silly sometimes. Be with President Trump so that his decisions reflect the grandeur of your universe. Amen 5.22.17
Gentrifying vs. Gentle-fying a Neighborhood
Gentrifying: House is purchased for income building Gentle-fying: House is purchased for neighborhood building Gentrifying: Security is based on locks, gates, and systems Gentle-fying: Security is based on friendships and watching out for each...
Donald Trump Prayer Project 5.8.17
Holy God, you have said that we shall have no other gods before us. Are you talking about the gods that all people worship, no matter what name they use for you? Gods such...
Donald Trump Prayer Project 4.16.17
God of the Universe, our world is filled with people who call you by different names, who worship you in various ways, and who seek to follow you within their own culture and way of...
Donald Trump Prayer Project 3.26.17
Holy God, it’s easy to make headlines. Heartlines are much harder. Help Mr. Trump create heartlines that connect him, heart to heart, with everyone, with each person he has been elected to serve. Amen ...
The Stuff of Spring Cleaning
The Stuff of Spring Cleaning I’ve been motivated to clean out closets, drawers, and even a bit of the basement. The reasons why are: Spring flowers are blooming One daughter-in-law is on a personal...
More Prayers for the Donald Trump Prayer Project
God of Glory, King of Kings, the psalmist sings that you set the prisoners free, open the eyes of the blind, lift up those who are bowed down, love the righteous, watch over...
Let’s Get Some Perspective…Please
Such huge dollar amounts are being thrown around these days: $14 billion for a wall between the United States and Mexico or $1.5 million for one condominium on a site where a small mom...
Donald Trump Project
Background of the Project: As I was thinking about the massive changes occurring in our country with even more to come, I thought about what I could do. I’ve received notices about getting involved...
A Labor Day Exercise
Purpose: We rarely realize how dependent we are on all kinds of people. This exercise helps us see that our lives are enriched by many other people in ways we often do not think...
A Different Kind of Mission Trip
A Different Kind of Mission Trip Church groups plan mission trips for their members. They do backyard Bible schools, build buildings, paint, work in soup kitchens and any number of other activities. The participants...
Compassion Retreat
Have you ever thought deeply about compassion? It is a word I use a lot. In fact my mission statement says that I work to enlarge understanding in order to decrease judgment and increase...
Prophetic Ministry: Not me…or Me
“The task of prophetic ministry is to nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture around us.” — From Walter Brueggemann, The Prophetic Imagination...
Resource for Congregations’ Missions Programs
When I was at a meeting with ministers, one of them asked me how a congregation decided what service ministries to support financially and what ministries for them to create or be involved with. ...