Morning at the Office

General Convention

Friday, September 14, 2012

Christians Tired of Being Misrepresented: Hello, Thanks, and a Short Essay

Christians Tired of Being Misrepresented: Hello, Thanks, and a Short Essay: Tracy Nelson Christians Tired of Being Misrepresented received an email last night from Tracy Nelson. It reads in part,  "My name is Tracy Nelson, I'm a TV actress and a writer, from a famous family ("The Nelsons") who have become synonymous with 'Good Ole American Values.' This means that fans of my dad's and grandparents 'friend' me on Facebook, and then are shocked and offended when I turn out to be a liberal Christian, and a (gasp) Democrat to boot. I'm a political activist and patient advocate; 'Obamacare' is personal to me; I had cancer 3x and was 'uninsurable', and lost everything to pay for the care that saved my life.......I wrote a short essay that I wanted to share with you, in hopes that you may consider it or some portion of it for publication on your page. It's regarding the issue of the apparent disappearance of God from the liberal agenda, and why it might have happened, something I feel very passionately about.  Thank you for the work you do, God Bless, Tracy Nelson."


Here is her essay:

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Creedal Christian: "Let us try to recover our commitment to genuine inclusivity"

Creedal Christian: "Let us try to recover our committment to genuine inclusivity."


" Let us try to recover our commitment to genuine inclusivity. Let us continue to welcome our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters as an intrinsic part of the Church; but let us also extend a warm and affirming welcome to our conservative brothers and sisters. Let us try something new: Let us try to resist the tendency for purity and separation and instead live in a place that is more ragged and interesting. "

Interesting post within a post, and interesting comments following.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Dear Sweet Joan

Joan Gibson Tate, 43, of London died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Russellville.

She was born March 12, 1968, in Texarkana, Texas, to John Arthur and Jane Pauline Markey Gibson of London, Ar. She was a registered nurse, having graduated from the nursing department at the University of Central Arkansas and was a member of St. John Catholic Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her maternal grand-parents, Jim and Pat Markey formerly of Lake Charles, LA and late of London, Ar, and her paternal grand-parents, Chester and Mary Gibson of Georgetown, Ar near London.

Survivors include her son, John Gibson “Jack” Tate of Searcy; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary and Joe Jimenez of Russellville, Jane and Gary Storment and Kate and Jason Harness, all of London; and seven nephews and nieces, John and Patrick Jimenez, Rachel, Megan and Emily Storment, and Miranda and Hannah Harness; her Aunt Pat (Ida Mae) Bewley of London, Ar, and many cousins.

A memorial service by Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, at St. John Catholic Church, officiated by the Rev. Ernest Hardesty. Burial in Price Cemetery at London will be private.

The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the church parish hall.



Memorials may be made to Price Cemetery Association Fund, c/o Darwin Price, 11568 U.S. Highway 64 West, London, AR 72847.

The online obituary and guestbook are available at 
Shinn Funeral Service.

Paid obituary

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Whatever is pure and worthy of praise


The ancient Greeks believed their plays would give  a "purification" or a "purging" (catharsis) of strong emotions such as sorrow, fear, pity, or even laughter to those watching .
Do the violent video games we play today or the soap operas and crime dramas so many watch have the same effect in our society?
Our miiitary trains soldiers with violent  video games to desensitize them to the violence, the killing of others. 
Are the soap operas and crime dramas similar in effect?
Do these videos take away our humanity or enhance it?
St. Paul said,  “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. “ Philippians 4:8 (NRSV)

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