In the 2nd round of the MLB draft, my son, Cooper Flemming was drafted by @raysbaseball.com as the 53rd pick overall!! I am overwhelmed with pride & joy and may not sleep again for a long time. This is the start of a brand new journey, & I cannot wait to see where it takes you, Coop! LET’S GO RAYS!
Wired - A Crime Thriller Short Film, written and directed by my son, Jackson Flemming.
I am so proud of J, his creative vision, and his team of brilliant friends who worked together to create this film. Please give it a watch!
youtu.be/y2rcY4tQDm4?...
Beloved, observe a Holy Lent:
Loose the bonds of injustice,
Break the yoke of oppression,
Feed the hungry,
Shelter the poor.
With the blessing of God our creator,
Christ our redeemer,
and the Spirit our sustainer,
the glory of the Lord shall be your guard. #ashwednesday
Join us at noon PT today for our virtual Ash Wednesday Service on Facebook Live and YouTube.
Trump is currently attending a National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral presided by Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde. I interviewed Bishop Budde, she told me, "Trump seeks to dismantle everything I stand for.” Then I learned of the unlikely Trump resistance within the cathedral.
Wow. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde fearlessly calls out Trump and Vance to their faces. This is heroic.
(posting in 3 parts due to Bluesky's 1 minute limit)
Could the arc of the moral universe be a little shorter please
We worked diligently to create a free, public, perpetually accessible labyrinth at @lafirstumc.bsky.social. It brings me so much joy to know that it is a place of peace for anyone who needs it. ❤️
I had a lot of people asking me so I wrote an explainer: Here's how you can help the incarcerated firefighter battling the blazes in Southern California this week:
www.latimes.com/california/s...
May you remember that you are not alone. We, as a city, are stronger together. It is God who created the foundation of the earth, and God who has promied to be faithful to us. May you find peace in the midst of this storm.
If you're able to stay indoors, do so, especially if you can run an air purifier or have filters on your HVAC system.
Please be sure to wear a mask if you’re outdoors. While N95 masks are great for capturing particles, they do not capture gas-phase toxics in wildfires (urban wildfires have higher toxicity.) If you can, look for snug fitting "P100+ organic vapor" masks for the best protection.
In Altadena, the Eaton Fire has consumed 10,590 acres and an entire community. The devastation is gutwrenching. Altadena United Methodist Church is totally gone, as are most of the houses of worship. Our prayers are with Rev. Andre Wilson and his congregation and community.
As I write, the Palisades Fire has consumed 17,234 acres and destroyed hundreds of homes, businesses, and schools. Both the parsonage and physical building of Pacific Palisades Community United Methodist Church have been totally destroyed.
Due to the weather conditions, high winds, & unhealthy air quality, worship at @lafirstumc.bsky.social will be held ONLINE ONLY on Sunday, January 12. We will be offering breakfast as a grab-and-go sandwich so that exposure to the air can be minimized.
www.lafirstumc.org/blog/Los%20A...
I had the privilege of working for Rosalyn at the Carter Center when I was in college, and it changed my entire perspective on mental health and the stigma surrounding it. Jimmy & Rosalyn have always been a model of love, for one another & for our country. Rest in peace, President Carter.
We're live on the app and on the radio covering the legacy of President Carter: npr.org
www.npr.org/2024/12/29/1...
I inexplicably burst into tears when Blue appeared on camera #beyoncebowl
Join us tonight at @lafirstumc.bsky.social at 5:00 pm for our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight and Carols Service! Empaffee will be serving hot chocolate, so come and stay warm with us under the tents!
“Sounds of the Season” is the perfect soundtrack for your day!
soundcloud.com/el-dorado-41...
This feels a lot like October 5 👀
I was born and raised in Knoxville. I am a lifetime Tennessee sports fan, and Pat Summit is one of my personal heroes. But, my son is a Vanderbilt baseball commit and I feel *zero* conflict about pulling for the Commodores today. #AnchorDown
Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!
So. Much. Pie.
Happy Thanksgiving! The house is full and so is my heart. Also, this is your annual reminder that pie is a perfect breakfast food.
Before mass deportations are bad economics (think the food you eat, the homes that are built, the roads upon which you drive), they are cruel, immoral and deny the image of God in our neighbors. The time to speak is sooner rather than later.
It was an honor to celebrate Homecoming at Vanderbilt with Cooper, Sloan, and the rest of the #vandyboys recruits! #anchordown
I've been tracking the #VandyBoys 2025 signees over at The Tennessean. Players who have signed so far include 3 top-15 overall players, the top pitcher in the state of Tennessee, a late-rising mid-90s arm + the younger brother of a top minor league prospect: www.tennessean.com/story/sports...
This lowkey feels like we all broke up with the same person and came here to process it.
