Well, I am very thankful to be a part of a very progressive congregation and for lots of reasons. Because the truth is, whatever our limitations are as a very small church are insignificant compared to our upside, which is basically we always put people before rules, we have absolute positive regard for all God’s children, and we think our spirituality is way more important than the institutional church. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Sermon
The Son of Sam and The Son of Man
Let’s begin today with a bit of trivia, so let’s see how you do – what do George Bush, Jimmy Carter John Ashcroft, Dan Quayle have in common? They are all politicians. How about the next list: Supermodel Kim Alexis, Stephen Baldwin, Jane Fonda, Tom Hanks, Richard Kiel and Gary Busey? They are all actors, or in the entertainment business. Now that you know how this game works, you will guess the next list: Continue reading
The Drawer
OK, let’s get this out of the way, a number of people are telling me that they have seen the ad in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette of my upcoming speech on humor and health for the Active Living program at Baptist Health. It has run in the paper under the title “Chuckle Therapy,” and that is bothersome to me on several levels. Continue reading
Supersize Me
We have had a flurry of new restaurants in that have opened up lately in Maumelle, particularly of the fast food variety. I really like one of the new places, called Taco Bueno, which is a chain out of Texas. It is really nothing more than a supped up Taco Bell, but it is better than Taco Bell and better than some of the Senior Tequila knock-offs that occupy strip malls everywhere in Maumelle. I went by the other night to take an order home after working late, and in doing so I bumped up against one of my personal limitations. Continue reading
All About Eve
People at the hospital are always asking my opinion about things such as current events, and fortunately for them I almost always have an opinion to offer. Though I have learned the fine art of diplomacy along with fine tuning my ability to read people like a book, I am sometimes guarded in my answers. They say of course you shouldn’t speak of politics or religion in mixed company, but since religion is my business I try to make it everyone else’s business as well. Continue reading
The Case of the Honest Politician
I am excited to have two chaplain residents joining my department from Slovakia this August, Dasa and Klara, both graduating from seminary in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia very soon. I know little about Slovakia, but in my correspondence with them and in my time talking with them I have been impressed on several levels. I am impressed with their sense of calling, their willingness to pack up and come to the United States for a year so that they can help find their place in ministry and take back new opportunities to the peoples of Slovakia. Continue reading
Good Shepherd, Good Gate . . . Good Gosh, O mighty
by Mary Jane Cole
Are any of you from places where there are sheep, sheepherders or shepherds? We didn’t have many of these in eastern Arkansas where I grew up. It was mostly cotton, rice and soybean farming. I might be able to tell you a little bit about riding on tractors and combines, but not much about sheepherding. Continue reading
Steve Sullivan Sermon
This morning’s lectionary passage comes on the first Sunday after Easter. It is the famous passage about “Doubting Thomas”. I’m sure hundreds of sermons will be launched this morning about Thomas. How he lacked faith, he wasn’t where he was supposed to be, didn’t believe the other disciples, and was kind of a smart-arse about it. I’ve always kind of thought Thomas got a bad rap. I mean, how faithful were the other disciples? They were all holed up in a locked room afraid the Jewish boogieman was going to get them. Continue reading
My Own Personal Jesus
Thank you for sending Dianna and I to the Alliance of Baptists Convocation in New Orleans, we had a great trip. You have heard about the convocation, now for the rest of the story. The weather was fantastic, 80 degrees and sunny, the dogwoods and azaleas were in full splendor, and at least the French Quarter, the Garden District, Downtown and Uptown have recovered nicely from Katrina. However, Dianna and I drove through the 9th ward where many poor and marginalized peoples lived and things there are not so good. Continue reading
Slim, Bubba, and the Man
Do you have a nickname? I have had a couple, in high school my friends all called me “Will” which is short of course for Wilson. The other one that people still call me is “The Man” as in “Stan the Man.” If I ever get a true sports car, I am going to have a custom licence plate that says “The Man” on it. Continue reading
Providence Cyber Church 