“Don’t take this the wrong way, man,” the middle school student said, “but you talk Spanish like a Gringo.” “That’s okay,” I said. “I talk English like a Texan… y’all.” In Orlando, we have many cultures living next to each other. People from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, France, England, Vietnam, Korea, China…. And then … Continue reading Just a Gringo from Texas
Author: David Mercer
David Mercer is the author of the blogs: Deep Calls, Quick Drawls, and Mercer Massage, LLC. He has been a pastor, college professor, deli worker, and grocery store cashier. He is now a massage therapist at Mercer Massage, LLC.
I Was Tired
“I don’t think any of us knew how tired you were,” my friend said after I moved away. I didn't realize at first how right he was. When I arrived in Orlando, I thought I’d find a job right away, but in fact I stayed inside with the lights off and couldn’t move for days which … Continue reading I Was Tired
My Last Church Was Wonderful
I had to leave because I was exhausted and because my beliefs changed. But I didn’t leave because people were mean to me. Idabel FUMC, photo by David Mercer At some point, I want to discuss the unhealthy dynamics of religious culture, but first I want to speak of the last church I served … Continue reading My Last Church Was Wonderful
Am I a Hypocrite?
“I am told God loves me–and yet the reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul. Did I make a mistake in surrendering blindly to the Call of the Sacred Heart?” --Mother Teresa, http://time.com/4126238/mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/ Faith is not an either/or proposition. People often have powerful faith without sensing … Continue reading Am I a Hypocrite?
Silent Reckoning
I finally admitted to myself that while I prayed constantly, God never answered back. No words came to me. The feelings I experienced were my own. And the events that happened after I prayed had only the meaning I attributed to them. It was painful. I had poured out my life in service to someone … Continue reading Silent Reckoning
Death and Dry Bones
I loved being a minister. The job fed my soul and drained it at the same time. I don’t think I can go back. I want to try to explain but it’s going to take some time. The following is just one of the reasons I’m done. The minister helps people cope with death. I’ve … Continue reading Death and Dry Bones
Bloody Love
“God so loved the world that he gave his only son….” The older I get, the less I can accept this idea. When my own sons were born, I discovered a depth of love that I didn’t know I had and I went a little crazy thinking about how to care for them. They’re grown … Continue reading Bloody Love
Is The Story of Jesus’ Resurrection True? You Decide
Mark’s gospel is the earliest account of Jesus’ life, and includes details left out in others' accounts. However, it comes to an abrupt end. Two days after Jesus was crucified, three women went to the tomb to attend to his body. When they arrived, they saw the stone rolled away from the entrance and a … Continue reading Is The Story of Jesus’ Resurrection True? You Decide
I Didn’t Kill Jesus
In recent years, this would have been a big week for me. Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. For a few years, the town’s musicians, especially the high school students would do a Dixieland Jazz style concert on Saturday at our church. And then there was Easter Sunday with a Sunrise Service, breakfast, Egg … Continue reading I Didn’t Kill Jesus
Science and Religion
As a minister, who has been formally trained in theology and biblical texts, I've been sucked into the conflict between these two disciplines innumerable times and I'm sick of it. Anyone who insists that we should get our science from the Bible doesn't really understand the Bible, much less science. Anyone who discounts the … Continue reading Science and Religion
Deep Calls 