What does your Jesus look like? Is he white? Pale, pale skin. Clear of blemishes, with a translucent quality. Pure. Holy. Long, blonde-brown flowing hair, shining like the models on TV. Soft, flowing blonde-brown beard — straight, not curly. White, straight teeth. Perfect, flawless hands, held, with feeling, over the heads of the poor children, … More The Color of Jesus
It is not what I expected, this life. It’s much harder, and much better — far deeper sorrow, far brighter joy than I anticipated. When I’m in the depths, it’s just so very dark. I didn’t realize there would be times when I couldn’t see at all. But the joy – I didn’t see that … More Spiritual Life
. . . therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. — Genesis 3:23 It is both a curse and a blessing, to till the ground from which we are taken. It is a curse because it is hard, hard … More To Till the Ground
“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” — Mark 10:25 You always hear “You can’t take it with you,” and that’s right, you … More To Enter the Kingdom
How can I speak for someone I don’t know? Someone whose life I have not led, whose history I do not hold, whose shoes I do not walk in? How can I speak for hurting people whose pain is their own, whose loss is a turning knife, giving them no rest, no peace, no space … More How Can I Speak?
Comparisons are being made in the media. Recent actions taken by an individual are being compared to actions taken by great civil rights leaders of the past. Oh how we want heroes. Oh how we scan the landscape for greatness. Oh how limited is our vision. We are called to look beyond everything to God. … More Beyond to God
So many layers of judgement and preconceived notions and bias lay between individual souls, it’s a wonder we can connect at all. But we can. By God’s mercy and grace, we can. As the governing bodies of the United Methodist Church take on the issues of the day, and as my brave church does the … More New
Praying for peace. Praying for strength. May we never give up. ~~~~~~~~~~ Voices But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. — Luke 23:23 No. I do not want their voices to prevail. Not then, not now. Who are they, anyway, and why do … More Voices
I was present for the worship service Saturday, August 8 at Travis Park UMC in San Antonio, TX, during the Gather at the River event. Yes, that worship service. I would like to share with you the piece I wrote about it, but first I am going to break all rules of poetry and tell … More The Dragon
Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. — Isaiah 49:15 I know you. I know you by name. I know you fully, deeply, intimately. I was there the moment you … More Remembered
Lindy Thompson 