The World's Okayist Pastor

For new readers and those who don't know me, I'm fat. Medically labeled "morbidly obese." I have always been fat since I can remember. It's a multifaceted part of my reality: it's part my choice, part genetics. I am well aware that I need to work on this. I'm reminded every time I go to the doctor: need a flu shot - you're fat. Have an ear infection - you're fat. Cat bite - discharge instructions start with you're morbidly obese (I'm not kidding). You lost weight and still think something's off - loose more weight. I have been working on addressing my weight and have managed to loose and keep off just under 80 pounds. Do I still have a lot more weight to loose? Yup. I didn't become this size overnight and taking this off won't happen overnight either. A few weeks ago, a friend stopped by to visit me on their journey to vacation. As they were preparing to leave, I get stopped and asked to sit. I was told that they're concerne

At the opening ceremony, for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, the organizers/choreographers had various pieces of art involved. They literally carried the Olympic Flame through the galleries of the Louve. As part of the nod to fashion and to demonstrate the welcome to everyone, a runway was set up on a bridge where people, representing many groups, sat, danced and walked the runway.  At one point there was a group of performers sitting at the runway. I'll admit that I thought that it was a nod to the Last Supper painting by DaVinci. But as I looked at the setting and especially after I looked at all of the screen grabs going around, I was pretty certain that it wasn't a live enactment of DaVinci's work. Instead, it was more of a nod to a Greek tradition - a loud party, called a bacchanalia. Are there some artworks that depict this ancient Greek tradition in a similar style and setting as DaVinci's work? Sure. I say all of this because in less than a few hours of the open

This sermon was delivered on June 30, 2024 for Open and Affirming Sunday/Pride Sunday. The scripture references are 2 Corinthians 8 and Galatians 5:1, 13-25. Paul, the author of these letters, has a lot to say to two groups of people, trying to be people of faith, together, in their respective communities about 2,000 years ago. The churches in Corinth and Galatia clearly had some things going on. Unfortunately, we as readers, in the much distant future to when these letters were written, don’t really know what those issues were. And although biblical scholars have tried and tried again to figure out the issues, they are at best guesses. Lots of inferences are made but no one can say this is exactly why Paul wrote these letters to the communities. So, we hear that people of faith are in fact “people-y” – you know they try to get along, but everyone has an opinion. Some people think this way or another. Everyone has “feelings” about everything that’s happening. We can relate to that to

In June 2024. Louisiana Governor, Jeff Landry, signed a bill that requires the 10 Commandments, along with other historical documents, be displayed in all state funded K-12 and university classrooms by 2025. While this seems like a harmless thing and a way to strengthen or bring back the "moral fabric" of America, I stand in opposition to this law and the similar bills that are floating around several states. First - I have a hard time claiming the Protestant, Christian bible as a historical document. While some of the stories contained in the bible can be found in other accounts, that are in fact historical documents, the bible as a whole is not historical. As we know the Protestant, Christian bible - it is not in chronical order. There are multiple accounts of several stories within the bible. And from what scholars have found, the authors of the Protestant, Christian bible never claimed to be documenting history. They are sharing their experiences and trying to answer ques

I am not speaking at anyone's commencement and/or baccalaureate. But in light of a certain American football kicker's commencement speech, I thought that I would offer my own. Enjoy! Congratulations Class of 2024! You've made it. You have survived a global pandemic, an insurrection, the increase of technology and AI, serious conversations about personhood and the rights of each and every person, global weather phenomena's and so much more. I don't know about y'all but I'm tired. But you've made it. You're here. And if no one else tells you this, know that I am proud of you and I am cheering you on in whatever positive and good things you choose to do as you go forward. Remember to stay healthy and safe and that your actions can and do affect others so please don't only think of yourself.  You will never stop being inundated with messages from others about what you should do and be, how you should do those things and how you should be as person. Y

They say "grief is a funny thing." While sometimes funny things happen as part of the grief process, I'm not sure I buy into this saying.  Recently, a colleague died unexpectedly, leaving behind a partner, two adult kids and countless friends, colleagues and others. Many people are in shock and grieving the surprise of this person's death. Others are feeling some relief and PTSD as their lived experience of this person has been different from others. Watching the social media posts roll in and seeing people go at it in the comments breaks my heart a bit. Most of the comments have been about sorrow and how good this person was. Other people have chosen not to share anything and a few have expressed that they feel a relief or even sorrow because this person is not going to be held accountable for their actions against them. And people are attacking those who have not had positive experiences with this individual. As someone who has attended hundreds of deaths and offici