Author: Patrick

I decided I would give up meat.* Some people give up chocolate or wine. I don't drink much wine and chocolate doesn't have much of a hold on me. So I thought I would give up meat. I was doing great, too. Just a Diet Coke and granola bar for breakfast. Another Diet Coke and … Continue reading Food

I have struggled to write the last couple weeks. I've had ideas, but as I've sat down to write all the ideas seemed repetitive. You know the whole thing about draft horses, and how they pull more together than the sum of what each one does individually? Yeah, I was going to write about that. … Continue reading Why We’re Here

Today we close out our series on energy, intelligence, imagination, and love. Why these four traits? Read THIS. I have a devotion series on my phone I listen to each morning. A few weeks ago, it covered the story of the Wisemen visiting Jesus and asked the question, "If you could hold the baby Jesus, what … Continue reading Love

Today we are on part three of our series: energy, intelligence, imagination, and love. Why these four traits? Read THIS. *** Part of me would like to say that imagination is in short supply right now. On one hand, it seems like many are having to keep their heads down just to get through the day. … Continue reading Imagination

Today we continue our series on energy, intelligence, imagination, an love. Why these four traits? Read THIS. *** I believe in hard work. I believe that there are rarely shortcuts, magic cures, or "4 F's to better health!" However, today I want to offer you two simple steps that will greatly improve your life. Two … Continue reading Intelligence

*We will return to our series on energy, intelligence, imagination, and love on Thursday. Years ago I was invited to preach at an ecumenical Martin Luther King Day worship service. Upon receiving the invitation, I thought who better to speak on the legacy of Dr. King than a super-privileged white dude who had Forrest Gumped … Continue reading MLK*

In September I left home for three months of active duty training with the Army. If I got COVID while I was there, I would get sent home and have to finish the training another time. A lot had gone into me getting this training done in this particular three month period. I could not … Continue reading Energy

In our church we welcome new officers each January, and in the Presbyterian Church there are questions that each officer needs to answer. Call them questions, affirmations, vows. One in particular has been on my mind recently: Will you pray for and seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love? Will you … Continue reading The Vow

I am a Presbyterian Minister, and I serve a purple church in a purple denomination. What I mean by that is that we have red and blue, Republican and Democrat in our congregation and in the PCUSA. In normal times that is a gift, and I have marveled and been grateful for the way people … Continue reading Define “All”

So I saw this argument on Twitter.  (Did you know people argue on Twitter?) The argument was about which Star Wars movie was the best in the franchise. I chimed in, Episode IV, A New Hope. But I stipulated. I don't know if it was the best, I don't know who gets to decide, and … Continue reading Back in the New York Groove