It is time to think about being in Mexico tomorrow, but my mind is on Willard Tate. In fact, as I think about the lectures that I will deliver on the subject of personal ethics for ministers to a group at a seminar in Mexico this week, my mind is drawn back to all those who were role models for me when I was much younger. Internships for ministry students in graduate school were not as common or as structured…
It was my first day of school today. I asked Jan to pack my lunch in a metal lunch box like I used to take to Wind Point Elementary back in the day. That was when Snack Pack Pudding was in a can with a pop-top lid. Cheetos were in a blue bag. We had a matching thermos for our milk, or it could be purchased for a nickel. She was not very cooperative, though. She made no effort to…
It was a beautiful service for a beautiful lady. I attended the funeral service for Christy Schulte today in Wichita Falls. I have known Christy and her family for almost 23 years. She was 49 years old . I put on my dark suit and made the trek to Wichita Falls today for one reason. I wanted to support members of Christy’s family, who are all dear friends. I love each of them. They are quite a crew to say the least! …
I have this crazy idea. It is not the first one I have had and it won’t be the last either. I want my 80-year-olds at church to have a forum to interact with my 30-somethings. In a large church, that simply does not happen. We gravitate relationally to our peers. The merits of intergenerational friendships can be discussed all day long, but in the final analysis, it just does not happen. As a rule, my 80-somethings are not familiar…
She had all of the tell tale signs and I missed them. Her behavior indicatd that she was crying out for help, but none of us heard her. She was a beautiful 16 year old girl with lots of potential, but there oddities about her behavior. Don’t misunderstand me. She was a blast be around. All of us enjoyed spending time with her. We walked the same line at high school commencement services in 1980, but I bascially lost track of her after our…
Last week I completed one of those ridiculous facebook applications that I usually ignore. But this one actually turned out to be pretty interesting… It compiled all of my status updates from the previous year and placed them in one document. I found it to be very revealing. I was reminded of a few serious events that I have been involved in this past year. There also were a few posts that I thought were pretty funny at the time….
The holidays are upon us in full force. I went to Walgreens this morning to pick up a few stocking stuffers and received an amazing brainstorm regarding some items to put in Jan’s stocking late tomorrow evening. Of course my latest idea will necessitate a special trip to Ft. Worth, but what can I say? When inspiration hits, you have to act on it! I love spontaneity. I have a couple of other stores in Granbury to hit today as…
I don’t know if I am a stereotypical Baby Boomer or not, but I did grow up in the ’60’s and ’70’s. I rode a Schwinn bike and watched the Brady Bunch at 7:00 every Friday evening. Love American Style came on at 9:00, but that was off limits unless my parents happened to be gone. My sister failed to monitor what racy shows I might be viewing on one of the three network channels available to us during those…
He doesn’t look very good on paper. The documentation on him reveals a pattern of truancy, fighting, and a few other delinquent type behaviors. Consequently he has scared off moreht than a few prospective foster families. The future for a big strapping six foot plus 15 year old kid with that kind of record in the foster care system is not real bright. In a few short years, he will age out of the system, and be on his own….
A lot of people are shopping today and searching for holiday bargains. I just don’t have time to shop. I need to spend some time taking inventory, because I am crying inside for a young man today. I suppose I should explain… In response to my recent blog about family tradtions a few days ago, a long time friend responded by sharing the following story about her daugther’s boyfriend. The young man’s mother is wrapped up in her own issues,…