The Little Friar

Of all the years that swiftly fled in flight, Ten blessed cycles crowned with love's pure light,  Through peaks and valleys, hand in hand we trod,  Embracing every moment, kiss, and nod. In every storm, your steadfast heart prevailed,  With grace and courage, all my fears assailed.  Your laughter, like a melody divine,  Through every trial, made my spirit shine. With every passing day, my love's grown strong,  A river flowing ceaselessly along.  Your touch, a balm that soothes my weary soul,  Completes the fragmented parts to make me whole. So here's to us, a decade strong and true,  My heart, my love, my everything is you. -- Upon our 10th wedding anniversary

And there was a man of the Pharisees, Nikodemos his name, an Archon of the Judeans; he came to him at night, and said to him, Rabbi, we are aware that you have come from God, a teacher; because no one is able to make these signs that you make, if God were not with him. Iesous responded and said to him, Amen, Amen, I say to you, if anyone is not born from above, he is not able to see God's realm. Nikodemos says to him, How is a man able to be born, being old? He is not able to enter his mother's belly a second time and be born. Iesous said to him, Amen, Amen, I say to you, if anyone is not born of water and Breath, he is not able to enter God's realm. What has been born of flesh, is flesh, and what has been born of the Breath is breath. Do not wonder that I said to you that y'all ought to be born from above. The breath breathes as it will and you hear its sound, but you are not aware of whence its comes and whither it departs; so are all who have been born of the Breath....

 In echoes of time, his tales reside, A healer's touch, a scribe's pride. Guided by faith's unwavering gaze, In his words, hope forever plays, St Luke, in hearts, will e'er abide. Upon the Feast of St Luke the Physician , 2023

I. In Oxford's ancient halls, a voice did ring, Hugh Latimer, a preacher bold and true, His words, a beacon, piercing as a spring, Illuminate the path for hearts anew. Through sermons woven with persuasive might, He stirred the souls of men with fervent fire, Urging them to embrace the guiding light, To shed the shackles of their dark desire. With zeal, he spoke against all forms of wrong, Unflinching in the face of ruthless power, His courage, like an anthem, rose in song, Echoing through the ages, hour by hour. A martyr's spirit, steadfast and serene, His legacy, an everlasting scene. II. In tumultuous times, where faith met fear, Nicholas Ridley, with wisdom's guiding hand, Stood firm, undaunted, his vision crystal clear, A beacon of hope in a troubled land. Through scholarly pursuits and learned grace, His mind, a fortress, steeped in ancient lore, His fervent spirit, in truth, did embrace, Urging all to seek and explore more. In the face of trials, his courage stood ta...

 On a windy autumn afternoon's embrace, The trees sway with a wild, untamed grace. Their leaves, in a frenzy, whirl and play, Dancing with the wind in a spirited ballet. The air hums with a brisk and playful tune, As golden sunlight wanes, fading too soon. The rustle of foliage weaves a soothing song, Nature's symphony in breezes strong. Amidst the gusts, a chill finds its way, Whispering secrets of the year's decay. Yet, within the tempest's fervent embrace, There lingers a whisper of nature's grace. Leaves take flight, swirling in a joyous race, Skittering across the ground in an elegant chase. The wind, a spirited painter in the sky, Sweeps away summer's remnants with a sigh. Beneath the tumult, a quiet peace resides, As the earth prepares for its wintry tides. In the whirlwind's chaos, a beauty is found, A reminder of nature's cycles, unbound. So let the blustery zephyrs carry us away, Into the heart of autumn's tumultuous display. For in the win...

There's a lot of sloppiness when it comes to talking about ethics and war in our modern American culture.  Perhaps this is inevitable, given that war is in its very nature an extremely messy.  But having seen a great many comments and discussions, I think it's important to distinguish three distinct (but nested) things. 1.  War is always bad; it's an entire cascade of terrible consequences, and there is no war that is not.  No matter how one acts, bad things happen.  There is a tendency, however, to conflate the badness of war with the injustice of war; in reality the latter is only a small sub-region of the former.  It's one thing to press for reducing the badness in the limited ways available for doing so, but you go wrong when you take bad happenings as themselves a sign of injustice. 2.  Injustice in war is, as I noted, a small sub-region of the badness of war.  The principles of just war require that one act in such a way as to render what ...

Every time the situation in Israel-Palestine hits the news, for Christians, one of the issues that emerges is whether or not the modern State of Israel is a fulfilment of biblical prophecy.  Lots of preachers will waste a lot of preaching opportunities to talk about "the end times", the (very unbiblical) rapture, etc.   So what's a Christian to think about the issues that revolve around the State of Israel and the Bible? For starters. let's put the very idea that the modern State of Israel is connected to biblical prophecy itself into a historical context.   Christian Zionism is a political theology with 19th-century roots.  It took on its full form following the birth of modern Israel in 1948.  It's a political theology because modern Israel, in this view, is not like other countries:  It is the outworking of God's plan foretold in the Scriptures, and therefore modern Israel’s political fortunes have profound theological and spiritual consequence...

In a quaint countryside, two corgis play, Their fluffy nubs a-flutter, in bright display. With stubby legs and ears that flop just right, They chase and frolic in the golden light. Their coats of fur, a blend of hues so fair, Like toasted marshmallows in the summer air. They prance and gambol through nature's carpet green, Two little corgis, a charming, joyful scene. Their eyes so bright, with mischief in their gaze, As they explore the world in endless craze. With hearts so pure, and spirits full of zest, These corgis bring to life, pure happiness. So let us cherish these two furry friends, Whose love and loyalty, it never ends. In every bark and hop, they bring delight, Two corgis' love, a precious, warming sight.

 In October's grasp, the chill does creep, Through golden leaves, it softly seeps. The air grows crisp, the skies so clear, As autumn's touch draws near. The trees, they shed their vibrant gown, In shades of red, they tumble down. A carpet of russet, orange, and gold, In the October chill, the world unfolds. The harvest moon, a glowing sphere, Casts its light on all that's near. The night comes early, the days grow short, In this tranquil season, we find support. With scarves and sweaters, we bundle tight, Embracing the chill of the autumn night. Fireside tales and warm mugs of tea, In October's embrace, we find glee. So welcome the chill, the October air, A time of beauty beyond compare. As nature prepares for winter's embrace, October's chill brings a sense of grace.

     October showers, gentle and cool, A soft embrace from nature's rule. As autumn leaves begin to fall, The raindrops dance, a soothing call. They pitter-patter on the ground, A rhythmic, calming, soothing sound. They kiss the earth with tender care, Refreshing life, renewing air.      The skies are gray, but not forlorn, For in these showers, hope is born. A promise of the harvest's yield, In every drop, a secret sealed. So let the October showers fall, A gift of nature for one and all. They cleanse the world and wash away, The worries of another day.      As days grow shorter, nights grow cold, October's beauty we behold. In rain and mist, there's beauty found, In October showers, all around. -- 10/06/2023, upon a drizzly afternoon

St Francis of Assisi, humble and kind, A saint whose love for all creatures did shine. In Assisi's hills, you found your true call, To serve the Lord and creatures, great and small. With joy, you walked the path of poverty, Embracing all, regardless of their plea. Your love for nature, deep as ocean's tide, In every leaf and bird, God did reside. You preached to birds upon a sunny day, A testament to love in every way. The wolf of Gubbio, fierce and wild, You tamed with gentle words, like a loving child. St Francis, your devotion still inspires, To love all living things, our hearts aspires. -- upon the Feast of St Francis, 2023

Whether therefore you eat or drink or anything you do, do all to God's glory.  Be harmless to Jews and to Greeks and to God's church, as I also always in all things please, not seeking my own advantage but that of the many, that they may be healed.  Be my imitators in the way I too [am] Christ's.  I praise you in that in all things you have remembered me and are holding down the traditions that I have traditioned to you.  And I want you to remember that Christ is the head of every man, and the man head of woman, and God head of Christ.  Any man offering prayer or prophesying down on [the] head, shames his head; any woman offer prayer or prophesying with the head uncovered, shames her head, for it is one and the same with having been shaved.  For if a woman does not cover, let her be shaved, and if shameful for a woman to be shaved or sheared, let her cover.  For indeed a man ought not to cover the head, being the image and glory of God; and the woman i...

The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no tribulation will touch them.  They seemed to the eyes of the imprudent to die, and their exit was believed evil, and their going away from us to be shattering; but they are in peace.  And though they are to human eyes punished, still their hope is full of immortality, and having been slightly disciplined, they are greatly benefited, because God assayed them and found them worthy for himself.  He tested them like gold in the furnace and he received them as a burnt offering.  And in the time of their examination, they shall shine and run across like sparks on a reed.  They shall judge the nations and rule the people, and their Lord will reign for always.  Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and those who are faithful in love will continue with him, for grace and mercy are to his holy ones and he examines his chosen.  But the impious shall suffer punishment according to their own thought, tho...

Every time I teach preaching and worship, I require students to read Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death:  Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business .  Preachers who have never engaged with Postman are woefully underprepared to preach and lead the church at worship.  At one point, Postman makes a profound claim:  "I believe I am not mistaken in saying that Christianity is a demanding and serious religion.  When it is delivered as easy and amusing, it is another kind of religion altogether."  Whether or not you preach online or on the television -- or even in the congregation's worship space -- every preacher, at one point or another, will regularly  fight against the temptation to amuse and entertain.  We'll exercise extremely poor pastoral insight and use a gimmick to gain attention.  Performing for the approval of attendees may attract crowds.  You may fill more seats on your high attendance Sunday.  But at what cost? Her...

It is impossible that any one, with a human heart in him, can fully believe this doctrine [of hell and eternal punishment], with all the horrors it involves, with all the accusations it brings against the divine wisdom and goodness, and not feel that it is a terrible weight on his soul, and one from which he would gladly be relieved.  There are many shallow minds, many flippant talkers, who find no difficulty whatever in believing, who are prompt to denounce the slightest doubt on the subject as impiety or infidelity.  There are many small ministers, who are ready at a moment's notice to clear up all the difficulties of the moral and scriptural arguments; who are never embarrassed, never troubled at all in regard to the matter.  But I know that the best and strongest among its believers never treat the subject in this way.  Those who have looked into it most deeply and patiently, who are distinguished equally for their learning and piety, confess that, seen from any ...

  As a student, I lived through the crisis in Southern Baptist life around the ordination of women for pastoral ministry.  It was that time as a student at Carson-Newman that I came face-to-face with the reality that the SBC wasn't the ecclesial home to which God had called me.  (If you're not aware of those days and that struggle, I recommend  this documentary  as well as Bill Leonard's book,  God's Last and Best Hope .)  At that time, one of the driving questions -- though it was more a symptom of the cancer of biblical literalism as the only theological authority in the Church and that horrible idea of biblical innerancy -- this issue was one of the big ones ripping apart the fellowship of Christians as well as tearing at the souls of very gifted, called women  I happened to know  as a student.  So I never took the question lightly:   Does the Bible really affirm women's full ordination to the role of pastor-teacher-pri...

This is a piece I've written for my forthcoming book on Cosby, Tennessee, ancestors.  I share it in observance of Dedication Day (more commonly called Memorial Day), in memory of one of my ancestors who served the US Army during the Civil War:  Asbury (sometimes spelled "Asberry") Fowler.

I am a μυστήριον, a mystery -- I am shadow. I am wind. I am fireflies that from the skies descend. I have rested, wandered through a dream, fought dark sorrows beside a lonely stream. yet here I am, and I am here with you; shadows blow around me, quiet and ever new.

 I recently came across this tweet and it has spurred some reflections. Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) is an endemic scourge in our society.  It should be widely known that men are the main perpetrators and women and children are the main victims.  It's bad, it's terrible, it's demonic.  It happens in churches too, even in ministry families. It is -- not to put too fine a point on the issue -- evil! But if there is one side to DFV that people don't like to talk about, even DFV advocates seem very reluctant to bring this up.  That is, women as perpetrators of violence against their own children. As a child and teenager, my family life was dysfunctional and spasmodically abusive. My "father" was a right abusive bastard.  He was an alcoholic who managed to beat me more times than I dare to remember or recount.   But my mother was equally bad.  She was a real Jekyll and Hyde character.  She could be the kindest and most affectionate...

  I believe firmly in the value of all vulgar notions, especially of vulgar jokes. When once you have got hold of a vulgar joke, you may be certain that you have got hold of a subtle and spiritual idea. The men who made the joke saw something deep which they could not express except by something silly and emphatic. They saw something delicate which they could only express by something indelicate.... And in the first case it is surely obvious that it is not merely at the fact of something being hurt that we laugh (as I trust we do) when a Prime Minister sits down on his hat. If that were so we should laugh whenever we saw a funeral. We do not laugh at the mere fact of something falling down; there is nothing humorous about leaves falling or the sun going down. When our house falls down we do not laugh. All the birds of the air might drop around us in a perpetual shower like a hailstorm without arousing a smile. If you really ask yourself why we laugh at a man sitting down suddenly i...