What's Tony Thinking

First Weekend of Fall

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September 23, 2023 — Welcome to the first official weekend of the autumn season. The equinox was late Thursday night, the sun crossing the celestial equator heading south. I try to use the word “autumn” in memory of Connie Wentzel, Plymouth member and staff person with me for a time. Connie lamented that we didn’t say “autumn” much anymore,... Read More

When Is It Time to Step Aside?

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September 20, 2023 — Two weeks ago I wrote a piece I titled “Biden’s Gamble.” I confessed my growing angst that what worked in 2020, and got Joe Biden elected, might not work in 2024. I raised the idea of a “national unity” ticket with someone sane who believes in the Constitution from each party. Last week that piece... Read More

Leaving Ministry

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September 18, 2023 — Earlier this month a pastor named Alexander Lang posted a letter about why he was leaving the ministry. I’m not sure if it originally appeared on Facebook or somewhere else, but it went “viral” getting a lot of “Amens” from other clergy. The five factors he cites as leading to his burn-out and resignation are... Read More

Festival of the Arts

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September 15, 2023 — The Wallowa Valley Festival of the Arts opened on Friday evening. It’s an amazing exhibit of 105 different works — paintings, photography, sculpture. There are a lot of very talented artists working here in Wallowa Country. I am honored that one of my paintings made it into the juried exhibit. That painting (right) is titled... Read More

End of the Week, September 15

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September 14, 2023 — Should He Stay Or Should He Go? The Biden Debate Continues. Last week I expressed my concern about the Biden/ Harris ticket for 2024. To be clear, my lead issue is not the President’s age. It is whether or not he can again beat Trump. His age figures into that. But defeating Trump is my... Read More

A Scuffle Between the States

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September 13, 2023 — One of the taken-for-granted glories of the United States is open and free passage across state boundaries. Usually, it’s a matter of two signs. One says, “Thanks for coming, Come Again!,” while the next says, “Welcome to ______ ! Drive Safely.” Could this change? Might we find ourselves going through border checkpoints and inspections when... Read More

At Home On An Unruly Planet

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September 12, 2023 — Our book group reconvened last Sunday evening, continuing our current series on Climate Change. This month’s book was At Home On An Unruly Planet: Finding Refuge on A Changed Earth by the science journalist, Madeline Ostrander. What happens after a climate change related disaster vanishes from the headlines? How do people recover, pick themselves up and... Read More

Conflict in the Church, My Sermon of Sept. 10, 2023

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September 9, 2023 — Conflict in the Church/Matthew 18: 15 – 35/September 10, 202, A sermon preached at Joseph United Methodist Church, Joseph, Oregon “Conflict in the Church.” Why in the world would a guest preacher bring up and preach on a topic like that? Trust me, it wasn’t my idea. I didn’t pick it. This is the appointed... Read More

Week’s End, September 9

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September 8, 2023 — People of the Dog. Turns out Christians are way more likely to own dogs than cats, according to an article in Christianity Today. We have had both, along with a gerbil or two, and at one time, rats (in a cage). At this point, we have neither. Unless you count “grand-dogs and cats,” which are like grandchildren... Read More

Biden’s Gamble

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September 7, 2023 — “Generals,” according to an old proverb, “are always prepared to fight the last war.” I’m worried that Joe Biden is prepared to fight the war of 2020, when he emerged as the best alternative to Donald Trump. He knew about governance, he cared about governance. He had a record as an old-style union/labor guy. He... Read More