This is it. That “Meet ‘N’ Talk event at my church is this Sunday. May 7 at 10:00 a.m. We’ll have 50 minutes. This is for folks who might enjoy sitting down with me for a short time to talk about faith.
   Where did you start? Where are you now?
   Has your faith changed over the years, and, if so, why?
   I’ll also let folks say whether they go to church. If so, why? If not, why?
   And you can ask me any question you want to.
   We’ll just talk. All who come will get a copy of my book, God, Grace, and Gooseberry.
   And I will give you a copy of the last chapter of Discovering God, my not-yet-published book.
   That last chapter gives an account of the most powerful religious event of my life. A miracle, I guess.
   You may find it hard to believe. But if what I say happened did happen, I think we must accept the whole of the Gospel story.
   We won’t talk about that experience because you won’t read it until you get back home.
   Here’s the exciting part: We’ll have donuts.
   And for those who stay for worship, there will be a church dinner afterwards.
   By the way, this is not an effort to get new members. It is just what I say it is—a chance to meet some of the folks who read Friday’s Word.
   If this is a meaningful event, we may do it again in the fall.
   Drop me an e-mail if you plan to come. I want to have your packet ready for you. And enough donuts!
   That’s this Sunday. May 7—10:00 a.m.
   And I’ll tell you now, I’m older than my picture.

   Tucker is gone!
   Long live democracy!
   And kindness.
   And decency.
   And above all—truth.
   What’s this got to do with the Gospel?
   The Gospel is all about kindness and decency and truth.
   Tucker has preached “replacement theory” in over 400 of his shows—the idea that there is a plan to replace our “heritage” population of white people with foreign folk.
   Fear sells–especially to older people who are afraid of human diversity.
   I grew up in Kemp, Texas. We had two Jews and a few Hispanics. There were black people, but great effort was made to keep them “in their place.”
   Separate.
   That was the world of the 1950s and it is still the world Tucker longs for.
   I’m tired of it.
   I’m tired of racism.
   I’m tired of homophobia.
   I’m tired of Christians thinking they can be mean to the neighbor and claim to live for Jesus Christ.
   And I’m ashamed.
   I am deeply ashamed of every Methodist who left the UMC, thinking they are doing something for God by rejecting that teenager who is gay or trans.
   And I’m saddened.
   Very saddened by all of you good folk out there who know better, yet you are doing nothing to take a stand.
   You are leaving the church to the misguided and the ignorant.
   Do something.
   Find a church where the truth is proclaimed—and get involved in it. Stand for Christ and against evil.

(I look forward to that Meet ‘N’ talk on May 7—10:00 a.m. Drop me an e-mail if you are coming.)