The World According to Bill Pickett

This is a recorded eulogy for Thomas McFadden.  He died in early December and the memorial service was held on December 17, 2022.

I have been living for many years with three different misconceptions about Christianity.  This podcast deals with the first one that religion, or at least Christianity, is just about my relationship with God and the sins that disrupt that relationship.

When our pastor put up a BLM sign in front of the church, he received both positive and negative comments.  He invited parishioners to express their views by writing a piece for the weekly bulletin.  This is mine.

Fort Pickett in Virginia was named for Maj. Gen. George Edward Pickett, CSA.  Is this a good idea?  Pickett was a traitor who led troops against the United States in a civil war that took the lives of 750,000 Americans.  The war was fought to preserve the rights of people to own other people,  the abomination of chattel slavery.  I am a distant relative of Pickett and feel a special responsibility to answer this question.

Recent events have made clear that America has reached a tipping point.  While government action is called for, the most important thing for each of us is to open ourselves to relationships with those of different races and belief systems.  That is the only way that hearts can be changed and unless that happens the underlying racism that infects our country will continue its destructive course.

During the three months of the Covid-19 pandemic, I have reflected on my experiences.  Here are some of the lessons I have learned or, in some cases, relearned.  This is the second of a two-part podcast.

In reflecting on the three months of the Covid-19 pandemic, I have learned or, in some cases, relearned some important lessons.  This is the first of a two-part podcast.

The murder of George Floyd has caused me to reflect on four critical issues in America today:  police violence, guns, racism, and inequality.  Can we communicate with our elected leaders to recognize the issues and begin to take action?  We did and want you to.

This is the third of three episodes bout leadership.  This episode presents the characteristics of effective leadership.

Although often misunderstood, power is the engine of leadership.  There are two categories of power:  positional and personal.  This podcast explores both and their several power bases.

The Walrus never said it was time to talk of leadership but we surely need to talk about it because we sorely need it.

This is based on blog I originally wrote and published on January 26, 2020.  During the last week, the COVID-19 pandemic caused me to revisit and expand my thoughts.  If God is in everything, how come I cannot hear God?

There is a difference between taking and making a photo.  To understand we need a little of the history of photography.  We can apply the result to some other areas of life.

This is a continuation of the podcast applying the concept of triangulation to my relationship with President Trump.  It looks at the impact on the mainstream media and my personal relationships.  It concludes with five steps I am taking to improve things.

Murray Bowen's concept of triangulation helps explain the way in which the change in political and social discourse over the last three years has infected the way in which we relate to each other.

COVID 19 is an opportunity to reflect on the American character and the interplay between individualism and communitarianism.

Habits of the Heart insights are used to analyze the current situation.