I was asked to offer the opening prayer for the March 25, 2019 gathering of the Tennessee General Assembly by Representative Bill Beck, who represents the district where both my home and church are located. Gracious God, Creator of all things, whose steadfast love is everlasting, we gather tonight as a people … Continue reading A Prayer for the Tennessee General Assembly
God of all people, male and female, old and young, from all nations, races, and backgrounds, we come to you as a city that is broken. Trust has been eroded; lives have been disrupted; and we find ourselves wondering where we go from here. We ask that today represents a new day, a new season … Continue reading A Prayer for Nashville
God of the ages, I don't want to pray this prayer tonight. It's not that I don't want to be with you. I need to hear your voice. I need your comfort. I need to ask "Why?" And I have no problem praying for the wounded, the grieving, and all of us who have been … Continue reading The prayer I don’t want to offer…
Prayed at the May 27, 2013 Old Hickory Memoial Day Observance God of us all, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, we gather this morning as a community, friends, neighbors, citizens together of your world and our nation. We gather to remember in a special way those who have sacrificed their lives in war. We lift up … Continue reading A Prayer for Memorial Day
Several years ago someone introduced me to a book called Praying in Color which outlined a prayer process using drawing as a means for connecting to God at the level of our creativity. I've played around with that off and on ever since, knowing that I'm not much of an artist, but seeing what God would … Continue reading Praying In Color
Loving God, as the birds chirp outside the window, and the sun begins to peek through the shade, I turn my eyes to you. It's time for a new day, not simply the rising of the sun and the procession of the clock hands, but the rising of the new light in our lives. We … Continue reading A Prayer for a New Day
In 1975, I was 15 years old. Frankly, I fluctuated between nerd and punk on a regular basis – a kid without many bearings. I attended church pretty regularly (the fundamentalist Southern Baptist Church that my mother’s family had been a part of for years) but I was already beginning to know that somehow I … Continue reading Requiem for a Mentor
I learned this afternoon that Harold Frelix Jr. was killed yesterday in a motorcycle accident on I-24. Harold is a the son of Harold Sr., pastor of the Priest Lake Community Baptist Church, and after a stint in the military, was becoming a leader in the Antioch community. Harold and I were at best acquaintances, … Continue reading Prayer for a Saint Known From Afar
God, what do you think you are doing? Many times I can write off bad times as the result of a broken humanity; but rains that seemed never ending? I think you are on the hot seat for this one. Yes, I know, nature happens, and we have very little understanding of the stuff of … Continue reading A Prayer for My City
Long ago, back when I was just a kid, in the days when gospel music involved more polyester and pomade than guitars and drums, I stumbled into a place called Fellowship. By day, it pretended to be a bookstore, but on certain nights the books would be pushed aside, the pulsing fluorescent tubes would be … Continue reading A Requiem for Henry
God of peace and presence, today the news shocked us again as bullets flew from a gun and vibrant lives were again lost. The persons in that processing center most likely weren’t too thrilled to be there. Of course they were servants, called to the task of representing their nation in battle, and so they … Continue reading A Prayer for Fort Hood
Only Wonder Understands 