Hello. My name is Scott. I am a 46 year old male, divorced with two step-sons, an adopted daughter, and one grandson. I am a professional clinical chaplain at our local hospital, and have been in healthcare for seventeen years, in long-term care, hospice, and now hospital services. I also pastor a small United Methodist church in my spare time (I jokingly call it my week-end job). I am theologically liberal (Emergent Church, Open Theist, inclusivist, Jesus Seminar, etc.), but politically very conservative (I love Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly and Fox News). I enjoy reading and studying; I have two master's degrees and am completing a PhD in Religious Studies with a concentration in Philosophy and Ethics. Being a voracious reader, I have a large library, comprising some 6,500 books. I also like to cook, although I make no claims at being a good one, and often have my siblings, nieces, nephews and friends over for supper. I am a wine enthusiast, and enjoy sharing my collection with friends, and visiting wineries for tastings and tours. My favorite place to be is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on Lake Superior. I go there as often as I can (1-2 times a year), and plan to retire there someday. I have a great love of good humor, and have a collection of jokes I enjoy sharing; I practice 'humor therapy' at the hospital whenever it is appropriate, and put humor in to all the sermons I do, if applicable. I enjoy other people who also love to laugh, and have a good time, and are'nt too serious about themselves. I enjoy the outdoors, and love to go camping (especially in the UP), love lighthouses, most especially those surrounding the Great Lakes, and to go deer hunting with my dad. Some of my friends and I enjoy sitting around and debating (excuse me, discussing) doctrine/theology, philosophy, politics, etc. I anjoy the whole 'conversation' of Christianity in all its forms, and like to explore 'outside the box' as often as I can to find new ways to express old truths; I don't believe there are enough 'thinking' Christians out there, but I love engaging them in any discussion possible when I find them. I consider myself fortunate in that I have a great and loving circle of family and friends who I very much enjoy spending time with. God bless!
Thanksgiving came early this year...we celebrated Thanksgiving on Saturday (yesterday) instead of next week, because my nephew Micah (who lives in Peoria, ILL) could not come home next week, but could this weekend...if I went to get him. So, Friday night, my neice Aubri and I drove the 3 hours there (and 3 hours back) and got home about 3:30 in the morning...and then I got up at 6 AM to get the turkey going and all the rest. This is the first time I have had my family over for a holiday... (continue reading)
I took my daughter Tarah out to see the movie "Martian Boy." I would recommend it to anyone wanting a heart-warming film with a great storyline and wonderful moral at the end. I was truly impressed that Hollywood actually made a movie that featured a strong and compassionate "father-figure" in it, rather than the usual family-values bashing you get. The characters are very human and genuine, there is a subtle love story, a grief-related sub-plot, and great brother-sister... (continue reading)
Saturday is here, and nothing but housework do I see! Nah, really, it is a beautiful day outside, and I have a parishioner in the hospital in Ft. Wayne to go see. While there, I will stop in the Barnes and Noble in Jefferson Pointe, lounge around, buy more books than I should, and then go eat at Biaggi's. Housework can wait for awhile. In the meantime I would like to recommend for your reading pleasure, Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis. It is a great introduction to the Emerging Church philosophy, and... (continue reading)
