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Disaffiliation possibility appears discouraging

I read with interest a front-page story in the Times Observer (Sept. 3) covering the recent information meeting at First United Methodist Church, a meeting led by the United Methodist officials to provide information regarding the process of “disaffiliating” from the denomination. As the article stated, the “presenting” issue is how the United Methodist Church addresses “homosexuality,” or more broadly, the LGBTQ community. I was quite discouraged to see that the Church Council of First United Methodist Church voted almost unanimously to explore disaffiliation. First United ...

Christians can learn from fantasy football

Editor’s note: This two-part series will explore Christian themes seen through Fantasy Football. The fantasy football draft is quite the experience. I have seen fantasy football owners with NFL magazines that are highlighted with notes next to their laptops that probably have a few internet pages open of statistical information. I once had a friend at the draft call another person for their opinion on what player he ought to select. One of my favorite parts of the draft is when a fantasy owner makes a selection and everyone else says, “good pick, that’s a real good pick!” ...

Helping Hands across New York City

The three different doctors who sold me my three knees strongly agreed on one aspect of my future: “Don’t fall. Do everything you can to proceed safely. DO NOT FALL.” Gotcha. I have respected their advice and been uncharacteristically cautious. During the past 21 years, since Knee 1, I have fallen – but only three times. None of those tumbles was my fault. I am v-e-r-y careful. Until last week. When I was visiting New York City. I blew it. My dear BFF, Ginger, lives in Forest Hills, a leafy section of Queens, just outside Manhattan. Ginger converted her late husband’s ...

Chew had ‘significant impact’ on many

Life, much like a ticking clock, continues to move on. Last week the last role model of my formative years passed on into the great beyond. First it was football coach, Toby Shea. Then during the COVID years my college wrestling coach, Dr. Bob Barnett. Then my brother and dad, Dean and Don ...

Coaching style also a lesson in life

It is a sad day to read of the passing of Coach Lee Chew. May his family find comfort in the coming weeks and months as their feelings of loss transition to sweet memories of their life together. Far too few times in life do we reflect on, or more importantly convey the significant impact some individuals have on the lives of others. Certainly, Coach Chew forever holds this place in my life. Lee Chew was a purveyor of “Man Training,” determination, discipline, and excellence. As a teenager it wasn’t possible to fully comprehend the overall significance of his coaching style. ...

In Senate race, Fetterman serves up class envy card

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman likes his hoodies. He doesn’t seem to have any other piece of clothing in his wardrobe, and he struts around in the “everyman’s” uniform as if he were campaigning to repair the broken cement on your front curb instead of a seat in the U.S. Senate. Fetterman, who comes from affluence, has played this “hail fellow well met” game all of his adult life. I’m not sure how it went over at Harvard, his alma mater, but it’s snookered a lot of folks in the media. Bully for him, the Twitter bully. Fake it till you make it, as they say. But ...