The Lambs and an OX

Jan 12

A few months after our second daughter was born I was being courted by The Lambs Club in NYC about a job. The ministry was located just off Times Square. Paul Moore was the head man wanting me to be the administrator. Paul was a tall, charismatic guy who tried hard to sell us on the idea of moving to Manhattan. He and his wife fine dined us. We saw Chorus Line at the Shubert Theater one trip.

Returning from New York, I sat down with Millard Reed, my pastor at the time, to talk about the deal. I’ll never forget his summation. He knew Paul and said, “ Mike, Paul is an eagle who soars with lots of ideas. He needs an ox to pull the plow, to make it happen. You are the ox.”

The visual of that wasn't impressive but the truth of it still rings true. It’s not that I don’t have ideas, an ox can ‘soar’ ever so often. I am the guy who will pull the plow through the ditch.

I just did it in Nashville rather than Manhattan.

Michael Malloy

May 1, 2024

Hi, I’m Mike…I talk to trees

So, I told mom what had happened since she had left—she had died Christmas-eve of 1991. I filled her in on great-grandkids, one granddaughter named after her, Evie. I told her about the life we had now after being married almost forty years.

Apr 6, 2024

HOLY KISSING

And what about the wierdos? My teen-age daughters used to come home and talk about ‘that man’ in the church. (Every church has one). “Daddy, that man hugs all the girls with a funny hug.” My reply: “When he does, rub your lipstick all over his shirt and let his wife straighten him out”.

Feb 19, 2024

Deeper, Further, Beyond

until—we notice cracks. Some, if not more of the teachings we heard were incomplete, inadequate if not even misleading. Our own experience over those years did not support what we’d heard, what we’d been told.

Feb 1, 2024

Just Taking Tickets?

Yesterday we buried one of the sweetest, most gentle men I’ve ever known. Clyde was near the top of the list of the most encouraging people. He was a greeter at the sanctuary door of our church for decades—shaking hands and hugging necks. Even if you’d been gone for a good while, Clyde would remember your name.

Jan 29, 2024

Aspiration or Envy or Covetousness

I live in overthink. I have my whole life. It is the disease of introspection. As I overthink this, when it comes to my aspirations, I come down on the good side. We do well to have a sense of aspiration, to imagine or to dream of what could be. It’s been a good path for me—and many others who have created the lives, the culture we all live in the midst of.

The Bittersweetness of Loss

I would not change any of the choices I made. I just wish these guys had lived a few years more until the drug cocktail was available enabling them to live a full life. I’ve lived on to tell you just one of their stories here.

Way too much GOD talk on your Blog!

This fellow finally barked out. “Why do all our conversations wind up talking about spiritual stuff!” I paused for a good while but finally said, “well, because I am one who doesn’t believe there is a secular reality vs a sacred reality, it’s ALL sacred”.

Dec 9, 2023

Post Thanksgiving

It’s the close of the Thanksgiving holiday. Our daughters and families are back home. There is an emotional letdown. We are near the end of the leftovers. I am sitting here this morning, fireplace going, fake candles lite (the good ones), my coffee cup just right, my mind wandering. Things are pretty good.

Nov 20, 2023

A New Twist?

I know commercially the season is a big money maker. I know it is the time where we are cajoled to think about others, to be kinder, more thoughtful and give to charities. I’m not out to change any of that. I just quietly asked, “God, is there another angle you’d like me to see?”

Aug 25, 2023

Stolpersteins

But most wrenching were the Stolpersteins, or stumbling stones. ‘Stumbling’ not so much that you trip over them, but that you must kneel down to read the inscription.

The Lambs and an OX

Gladness

Navel Gazing