In a recent publication issued by The Episcopal Church, Richelle Thompson writes wisely and engagingly about the impact that different personal styles can make on a meeting. Other titles have been used but “hog, bog and frog” seem an excellent new approach. Click below and read her article. Click: Hog,Bog or Frog Conversation Styles My… Continue reading
Given my British background we may well agree to disagree on the pronunciation of “process” – is it “proh… (long ‘o’)” or “pror… (short ‘o’)? However it is pronounced, we won’t argue will we? “Let’s call the calling off.. off”. Well that was complicated but it is just the beginning of considering the importance of… Continue reading
The story is told that when John Wesley (then a member of the Church of England) approached Bishop Butler of Bristol to recount Wesley’s conversion, the Bishop responded, “Enthusiasm, sir, is a horrid thing; a very horrid thing indeed”. Now remember that the Bishop was an Anglican and that Episcopalians (the American expression of Anglicanism)… Continue reading
Today I was reading a passage from the Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture. The book of Joshua contains these words… (Chapter 3) 14-16 And that’s what happened. The people left their tents to cross the Jordan, led by the priests carrying the Chest of the Covenant. When the priests got to the Jordan and their feet touched the… Continue reading
A provocative and comforting Gospel passage, I did my best (with God’s help) to preach on the text (Luke 2:41-52). Below is sermon audio and a beautiful rendition of a hymn I mentioned in the sermon and, if you scroll down, also the text for the sermon (not quite what was preached in the pulpit!!!… Continue reading
My joyful commitment to officiate at weddings/unions is as strong as ever and always is with a sense of privilege. I know, from personal reflection and the comments of others, that I am particularly gifted in pre-marital conversations. There is not only the task of preparing people for their wedding but also, when you think… Continue reading
“On Nov. 5, 2013, Esmé Weijun Wang came to the remarkable conclusion that she was dead. For almost two months, Wang suffered from Cotard’s syndrome, in which patients think they are dead or somehow nonexistent. Any attempts to point out evidence to the contrary — they are talking, walking around, using the bathroom — are… Continue reading
It must be accepted that the nursing of resentments is a futile and harmful business. Interesting that “nursing” is used as it suggests a kind embrace, a sensitive nourishment of the very thing that will gradually and surely erode our sense of serenity and well-being. It is ironic that the nursing of a resentment has… Continue reading
Here is profound wisdom for today. Working on our persona facade, our projected identity will never be sufficient for personal freedom and will always condemn us to struggle and the consumption of nervous energy – “a profound personality change.” And with this comes the powerful experience of being in control of all things because we… Continue reading
Pope Francis has won the hearts of hundreds of thousands, maybe hearts more so than minds but then the spiritual journey must be one of passion and commitment. Unfortunately, but to this writer not surprisingly, the Pope has not won over hearts or minds of the Vatican Institution. And, I dare to prognosticate, he never… Continue reading