Becoming a Methodist
Having just completed a challenging Southern Baptist Convention, the headline on this blog may alarm you! Never fear, I am not joining the United Methodist Church. Whatever problems we have in the SBC, the problems in the UMC are even more challenging. The kind of Methodist which appeals to me are the men I have […]
Celebrating Ministers Wives
A couple of years ago, my wife Ann Iorg was asked to be the Chairwoman for the National Ministers Wives Luncheon at the Southern Baptist Convention in Anaheim. She agreed, grateful the event would be in our backyard and likely easier to host since it was anticipated this annual meeting would have a smaller attendance. […]
Don’t Let’em Ruin You
As I prepared to leave for seminary, a concerned, callous-handed deacon called me aside for a private word. He said, “I know you’re going to seminary and it might do you some good. But, just don’t let’em ruin you.” What he meant was, don’t let a seminary education quench your compassion for people and don’t […]
Reaching Men
Incomprehensible. That’s the best word to describe my response to the recent shooting in a Buffalo, New York supermarket. Reading the racist manifesto of the shooter leads me to another word—despicable. It’s hard for a person with so many non-white friends, employees, pastors, and fellow church members to understand—on any level—hatred directed toward African-Americans or […]
Get Ready
The leaked Supreme Court brief which may preview a coming decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has sparked protests at Catholic churches, vandalism of Catholic Church facilities, and threats to disrupt worship services and other church events. These actions by pro-choice activists are designed to intimidate Catholic Supreme Court justices and convince the Catholic Church […]
Passion for Ministry
My reading habits wander from book to book, often prompted by a reference in one book guiding me to another. It makes for eclectic reading through various genres and eras, usually weighted toward my interests in history, biography, and missions. Such a process led me to The Autobiography of Peter Cartwright – considered by many the classic […]
Defining a Caring Community
Baylor University recently chartered Prism, its first LGBTQ+ campus organization. As reported in a university publication, Matt Burchett, assistant dean of philanthropic engagement and senior director of student activities, indicated Prism fulfills part of Baylor’s mission to create a “caring community grounded on its Christian commitment, leading toward the acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community on […]
Making Church a Habit
On a recent Sunday, a pastor remarked some of this church members had not resumed the habit of post-pandemic worship attendance. He lamented some of them might not be returning, citing their new habit of viewing online worship services or just not participating altogether. When he first used the word “habit” to describe church attendance, […]
A Prediction Fulfilled
When Gavin Newsome infamously declared same-sex marriage legal in San Francisco in 2004, one of my predictions was that decision would lead to a complete redefinition of marriage and family in the United States. Sadly, that’s a prediction being fulfilled in one generation. Consensual non-monogamy—or “CNM,” because every movement needs its acronym—is the name for […]
Turn off the Noise
It is comforting to know the Disney company is removing gender references from everything from corporate training to program scripts. For example, rather than begin a program with “Welcome ladies and gentlemen” you will now hear “Welcome friends.” That’s a relief. We will no longer be accosted by disgusting references to men and women when […]