I love the Bible and strongly agree that more people should be biblically literate, but I don’t believe that literacy should be obtained in a public school setting. Aside from the fact that our constitution separates church and state, there are a number of reasons why it's just a bad idea--no matter what your faith is or isn't. Biblical Literacy has no agreed-upon definition. Is it just about teaching kids ...
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Yesterday's Supreme Court decision allowing the transgender military ban to go into effect is another reminder that the transgender community is under attack by the current administration. They are being painted as dangerous deviants whose very existence threatens our nation. How can Christians who are rooted in a theology of love, acceptance and hospitality respond to what is happening? How do we live out our faith as allies for the trans ...
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The musical Kinky Boots is set to close in April after an impressive six-year run on Broadway. There are a number of show-stopping, high energy songs in th show--the story of how a shoemaker and a drag queen save a business (and themselves) by making boots strong enough to support men who dress like women. But this is my favorite song from the show. In the production, it's mainly drag queen ...
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On Monday, the New York Times ran an article about a town in Florida that is home to a federal prison that had to be temporarily relocated in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. The people in the town are really suffering from the effects of the government shut-down. The article ends with this quote from a disgruntled Trump supporter: “I voted for him, and he’s the one who’s doing this,” she ...
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The statement “I’m a Christian” has come to mean some very different things to different people. I fall into the progressive, inclusive Christianity camp. The one that works for justice and serves the poor and welcomes the stranger. I’m with those who believe that God’s love and grace are gifted to us, and we live our lives in grateful response to that love, rather than with those who feel that ...
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I'm getting ready to do something blasphemous to most pastors--I'm getting rid of a lot of my books. As of the first of this year, I no longer have an office in which to house them, and by the end of the summer, my family and I will have downsized our home. I refuse to stash books away in a storage unit. Books should be in the hands of people ...
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A New Year is upon us, and that means it’s time to make that list of New Year’s Resolutions. We will pledge to eat less, exercise more, spend less, save more and, of course (my favorite), go to church/pray/read the Bible more. Typically, January is a time to be introspective and explore ways in which we can improve ourselves. Fitness and weight-loss centers love this time of the year, as ...
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When the song of the angels is stilled,When the star in the sky is gone,When the kings and the princes are home,When the shepherds are back with their flocks,The work of Christmas begins:To find the lost,To heal the broken,To feed the hungry,To release the prisoner,To rebuild the nations,To bring peace among people,To make music in the heart. Howard Thurman.
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It's getting down to the wire. If you haven't already begun to gather with family for Christmas, it's likely to start this weekend. Let’s just say it: holiday time with family does not always (often?) look like something out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. There are bad histories, old grudges and deeply held resentments that often get trotted out when families gather around a turkey or other large fowl. My Christmas ...
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Blue Christmas Service on our Doubting Believer Facebook page live at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 21. Christmas Eve message posted at 6 p.m. right here. Sign up to get your own Star Word for 2019. Wishing everyone a blessed final leg of the journey to the manger.
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Recently, I was called upon to submit a statement of faith for a project I'm working on. I've done a number of these over the course of my life and ministry career, but this time I decided to toss out the seminary language and the "key words" I know the powers that be are looking for in a proper Reformed theology faith statement and just say what I believe. Here's what ...
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Are you awaiting the Rebel Jesus? The streets are filled with laughter and lightAnd the music of the seasonAnd the merchants' windows are all brightWith the faces of the childrenAnd the families hurrying to their homesAs the sky darkens and freezesWill be gathering around the hearths and tablesGiving thanks for all God's gracesAnd the birth of the rebel Jesus They call him by the "Prince of Peace"And they call him by "The ...
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Prepare ye the way of the Lord. That’s what her preacher had said. That’s what she was trying to do this Advent season. She desperately wanted to prepare her heart to receive the peace of Christ. God knew she could use some peace. Carol was a single mom trying to raise two kids. Her husband bailed after the second child was born prematurely and had some developmental problems. The doctors couldn’t guarantee ...
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Join us for our Advent Word-A-Day Photo Challenge. Share a photo that expresses word of the day to you and share on social media using #DBAdvent.
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This is a story I share often, but World Aids Day seems like a good time to tell it again. You may not know who Mary Fisher is. She was one of the first faces of HIV that wasn’t gay or male. When she spoke at the Republican national convention in 1992, she completely changed the conversation about HIV and AIDS. In the early to mid-90s, I was part of a RAIN team. ...
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Now is the time (as you recover from your Thanksgiving food coma) to be intentional about creating a meaningful Advent and Christmas season for yourself and the people you love. Join us. Sign up here for the free mini course, Getting Ready to Get Ready. Isn't a better Christmas worth 15 minutes a day for five days? Sign up today.
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(This post is a compilation of a sermon given and an article written in the past. I feel like the idea of “The Dream of the Table” is one that I first read somewhere else, but I can’t seem to locate it at this time. Perhaps there is a song with this title? At any rate, the sentiment expressed is worth remembering at this time–or any time–of the year.) The Dream ...
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Thanksgiving is tomorrow! And there’s so much to be thankful for! After all, you are not a refugee seeking a new place to call home. Your Thanksgiving table is not limited to whatever the good people at the church or the food bank or the Lion’s Club put in your basket or box this year. You are (most likely) not an election commissioner in a state with an unresolved race. Your level ...
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I was fortunate enough to be in the northeast for the nor'easter that started on Thursday night. Almost a foot of snow fell overnight--something rarely experienced in my home state of Arkansas. Even in a place like Syracuse, New York that is well equipped to deal with snow, removal takes a minute or two--especially when snow is still falling. The morning after the snow began, I needed to make a two-block ...
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It's part of the title of one of the best selling Christian books of all time--The Purpose Driven Life--but it's something that everyone from the most devout Christian to the steadfastly staunch atheist seeks in life. Purpose. Everyone wants a purpose...to know that their life has meaning..to know they make a difference in this world. When I think about purpose, I tend to lean on a verse from a book that, ...
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Gracious and loving God, Today, we give thanks that we live in the United States and for the freedoms and rights we often take for granted. We are grateful for the right to vote, and we honor those who sacrificed so that we might each have a voice. May we never take the privilege for granted. We ask that You would help heal the deep divisions that exist in our country. Help us ...
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November starts tomorrow! Let's spend the month not only giving thanks, but giving thanks for people in our lives…and letting them know they are appreciated. Here’s a handy list of people to give thanks for each day. You may not have someone in your life that fits every day, but I bet you can think of someone who comes close. Whoever you are thankful for each day, I encourage you to ...
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Today marks the 80th anniversary of the infamous radio broadcast of Orson Welles' War of the Worlds--a story of aliens invading the earth. The telling of the story was so real that mass panic ensued as people feared it was an actual news broadcast telling people that aliens were indeed running amuck on earth. Stories abound of people running through the streets, men calling the police to volunteer to fight ...
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We're all still trying go process the horrific acts of violence from this past week--bombs and synagogue shootings and remember the Kentucky grocery store shooting? Yeah, that happened this week, too. As we struggle with what our response as people of faith should be, I thought I'd share several articles, prayers and ideas that from other people of faith that I have found helpful. Hope you do to. Saturday Prayer--Don't Be ...
Read MoreI cannot count the number of times in the past couple of weeks that I have heard or read someone begin a sentence with, "The Bible clearly says..." and then goes on to say something that I have never known the Bible to say. Just to check ourselves, here are six questions we can ask to make sure that when we say, "The Bible says..." we're not just using that make ...
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That's about as loaded a question as you can ask these days, isn't it? Like many loaded questions, there is no one definitive answer. It's easy to say, "Christians should vote their values and beliefs." But what does that really look like? Perhaps you are pro-life. How does that play out at the voting booth? Do you vote for the politicians who want to outlaw all abortions and then wrestle with what to ...
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I know all the words to Michael Jackson's Thriller and can tell you stories from when I was four years old, but I have no idea where my keys are...pretty much ever. There's something that just does not connect. I have tried the whole key bowl thing--where you always put your keys in the same place (preferably an attractive and distinctive bowl) so that you always know where they are. It doesn't ...
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Some people are sports fans. Some people are Instagram followers. Others are ardent devotees of Dancing with the Stars. I am a big fan of anything or anyone who helps us deal with death in healthy and helpful ways. I know. It's weird. Kudos to ABC this week for offering up two well-done story lines about how to (or how not to) handle death when children are involved. Single Parents (which I think ...
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I wrote this post three years ago. While my location and circumstances have changed, the rest still holds. When Will and Grace made its heralded return last year, one episode (featuring the always-adorable Ben Platt) pointed out how the experiences of young gay people today are vastly different than those of the folks who came along (and out) 20 years ago...even 10 years ago. My daughter goes to a public arts ...
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Doubting Believer is an online, progressive and inclusive religious community of diverse followers of Christ. Doubting Believers Seek to follow Jesus Christ Believe that everyone is welcome at the table Have lots of questions about how we should live out our faith Do not use religion as a weapon Encourage others in their faith journey Practice the new commandment--to love one another as Christ has loved us (John 13:34) Give of ourselves and our resources to help those ...
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Lend a hand. The river is rising, the dam is about to burst and there is no excuse. Toothless women, one-armed men, the youngest of children and immigrants coming across the border all have to lend a hand if everyone is going to make it. I think Jesus would like this song. He was a lend a hand kind of guy. That’s one of the problems folks had with him. Remember ...
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It does seem that the world is a little lacking in compassion these day. We can't force other people to be more compassionate, but we can work in our own lives to be more compassionate. Empathy and Action are both steps on the road to a more compassionate life, but I believe we have to look at them together. Empathy without action isn’t worth much, and action without empathy can be more ...
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I am a big fan of custodians. From Mr. and Mrs. Kling who were the custodians at my elementary school, to Mr. Terrell who was the all-round fix-it and clean-up man at the camp I attended, to William who helps us unload boxes and boxes of food each week at the school where our church runs a food pantry, custodians have long been some of my favorite people. It's not because I ...
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Really excited about embarking on a new month with our Doubting Believer Community. Here's a quick rundown of some of the things that will be happening: Week by week: Week 1: Fear Not. Be Strong and Courageous for God is with you. (Deuteronomy 31:8) Week 2: Fear Not. You are Redeemed and Called by Name (Isaiah 43:1) Week 3: Fear Not. Love Casts Out Fear (1 John 4:18) Week 4: Fear Not. Lay Down your ...
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A lot of our theology (what we believe about God) comes more from literature, pop culture and popular opinion than we'd like to admit. We all fall in to the trap of bad theology from time to time. Here's a handy six-step guide to check yourself when you think you've allowed less-than-good theology to creep in to your life. Want more Doubting Believer? Check out our Doubting Believer Member Community.
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Who is our neighbor? (Luke 10:25-37) I think Jesus makes it pretty clear that everyone is our neighbor. Somewhere in the history of the church of Jesus Christ (And I haven’t been able to put my finger on exactly when and where it happened) The church lost track of that notion. Somewhere along the way The church became the people who told women what they could and couldn’t do in the church—and in life, who told people who ...
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Pilate went back into the palace. He summoned Jesus and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others spoken to you about me?” Pilate responded, “I’m not a Jew, am I? Your nation and its chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus replied, “My kingdom doesn’t originate from this world. If it did, my guards would ...
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This week a musician, friend and colleague in ministry passed away from cancer. He was my age. He was one of those people who always made you feel like he was genuinely glad to see you...and I'm pretty sure he wasn't faking it. He was a well-known liturgical scholar and song leader/singer in my denomination, so he touched a lot of lives with his ministry and music. He was known and loved ...
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This one is an oldie, but a goodie. One of those it's-funny-cause-it's-true kinda things. There are lots of reasons people don’t come to church. Some are legitimate reasons and some are simply excuses. Here are 10 of the top excuses and ways to respond. 10. I go to brunch on Sundays. (Here is a list of local restaurants that serve Sunday brunch until 3 p.m.) 9. Church is full of hypocrites. (And we always ...
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In the midst of people being angry and irritable about pumpkin spice lattes or Halloween candy out to soon or even (gasp!) Christmas decorations already for sale, I thought I'd share a post from my 18 Days of Encouraging Others. This is Day 5, and it's all about being excited for other people when they're excited about something...instead of acting like they're idiots for taking joy and having some fun. Rejoice ...
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And in what universe does Jesus back terrorizing children? A 12-year-old transgender girl's school had to be shut down for two days because of violent threats made by grown-ups. She and her family are planning to relocate. A nine-year-old boy committed suicide after being bullied by classmates when he came out as gay. A nine-year-old...who had classmates who were so mean to him, he didn't see anyway out but death. Wonder where they ...
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I recently ran across a Prayer for Decision Making. I took a look at it and decided pretty quickly it was not a prayer that I could pray authentically. So I wrote my own Prayer for Decision Making: Ok, God, I've got this HUGE decision to make. I know You realize it's not nearly the big deal I have made it out to be in my head, because You know the big ...
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The other day at an event (that was in need of some music), I turned my I-tunes playlist over to a stranger, and it made me extremely uncomfortable. I knew my phone was in good hands, but I was nervous about what this person might think if he started perusing my playlists. Would he judge me for the Barry Manilow songs? Would he imagine the reason I have the soundtracks for High ...
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Often, we think we are just too busy to pray, and when we do pause to think about prayer, we don't know what to say. Don't fret. Start your week off right with these prayers in your metaphorical back pocket and pull them out when you need them. (They can be used independently, together or in connection with other prayers of your choosing.) Prince of peace, please help me cling to ...
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(I posted this about five years ago, but some recent time spent in a hospital waiting room caused me to revisit) Some of you may not yet have had to spend several days in a row in a hospital or ICU waiting room praying and waiting and hoping that everything turns out alright for the person you love who has ended up in a hospital bed. I probably don't need to ...
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There he was--like so many people in the book of Mark, coming to kneel at the feet of Jesus and ask for healing. Make no mistake about it. This is a healing story (read here). The rich young man had done everything he was supposed to do, yet something was off. He wasn’t sleeping well. He felt anxious all the time. And how could that be happening when he was so wildly ...
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In my neck of the woods, most schools kick off classes tomorrow. Whether or not we have kids of our own, we all benefit when the children in our community have positive experiences in school and receive a solid education. Here's a prayer we can pray today and throughout the year for the kids, teachers and parents in our midst. Thank you, God for children whose excitement and energy and creativity ...
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One of my theological pet peeves is the phrase, God’s Got This. It seems to be used on everything from a pop quiz to a cancer diagnosis to an upcoming job interview to relationship issues. In response to troubles, you get: don’t worry, God’s got this. I see it crop upon FB and email threads and even refrigerator magnets. Depressed? Cheer up! God’s got this. Lonely? Get out there! God’s got this. Money ...
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William Barclay, one of the world’s most prolific Christian commentators, said, “One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement…It is easy to laugh at [people’s] ideals; it is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm; it is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks ...
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Psalm 13 Psalm 13 is a psalm of lament. Psalms of lament are more than a little uncomfortable to read. Should the psalmist really be saying those things out loud? Should we even be reading this stuff that the psalmist shouldn’t have said out loud in the first place? I mean, this kind of Psalm made the final cut into the cannonized scripture, right? Surely they’re not as blasphemous as they ...
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Go ahead. Take your faith to work today. Let go of the idea that people who are seriously called by God become ordained clergy-type people or go into the foreign mission field, and everyone else is off the evangelism hook. Not only is this misguided, it’s not even Biblical. *Noah was a shipbuilder, a zookeeper and a cruise director Abraham was in real estate development Joseph was a pioneer in food distribution systems Esther was ...
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Joy is something that sees quite elusive these days. Outrage, indignation and anger are readily available, but joy seems in short supply. These words of poet Mary Oliver are resonating with me today, particularly her thought that what she was born for was to instruct herself over and over in joy and acclamation. Mindfulby Mary Oliver Every DayI see or hearsomethingthat more or less kills mewith delight,that leaves melike a needle in the haystackof ...
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William Barclay, one of the world’s most prolific Christian commentators, said, “One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement…It is easy to laugh at [people’s] ideals; it is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm; it is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks ...
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As a student at Princeton Theological Seminary, I have found that some of the best theology I have learned has been centered around “RuPaul’s Drag Race." This past year, every Monday, a loyal contingent of queer students at PTS gathers in my room to drink wine, chat and hardly pay attention to this show. It’s one of the places on campus where true familial community is found. The show only runs ...
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If you are not participating in (or even heard about) The Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, you need to find a way to get involved. As Christians, we are called to serve those who are in need, to reach out to those on the margins of society and to welcome the stranger. And we often do a pretty good job of addressing the immediate needs of the ...
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We all start our day with an invisible sign around our necks--one that says, I AM Lovable and Capable (IALAC). We head out in to the world believing that it is a new day, anything can happen and we will be able to handle anything that comes our way. But as the day wears on, we encounter people who put us down, situations that bring us down and problems that ...
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People like to talk about "Family Values" or "Core Values" as if we all hold the same things to be important and, well, valuable. But we all have different values, and even those of us with the same set of values would most likely rank their order of importance differently. But whatever our values are, the key is to stick to them, not use them as weapons when it suits our ...
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In my Presbyterian tradition (PCUSA), we talk about being reformed and always reforming. In the United Church of Christ (UCC), they say that God is still speaking. Both statements are ways of communicating that our understanding of who God is and who we are called to be is ever changing and growing. Other traditions may criticize us for implying that God changes or accuse us of "changing God" to fit ...
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May those who have waited until the last minute be swift and safe on their way to the post box (or at least be fleet of finger on their keyboards) May those who turned in their forms weeks ago resist the urge to be smug May those who feel taxed by the work that comes their way during this season find some relief May those who receive a refund spend it wisely May those ...
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The word “Maundy” is derived from Latin “mandatum,” which means “commandment.” On Maundy Thursday (when we celebrate the institution of the Lord's Supper), not only does Jesus command us to eat the bread and drink the wine in remembrance of him, he also offers us a new commandment: "that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34, Revised Standard Version). In ...
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This is what we've come to: Thank you God. Only two this time. Only two children died in the latest school shooting. (I mean, at the time of this writing it is the latest school shooting...at least as far as I know...there's probably another one happening by now.) Thank you, God, that it was high school kids. Kids who have grown up in the school shooting culture and have been trained in how to ...
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I am an ardent advocate for self-care. There is no debating that if you do not get enough sleep, healthy food, exercise and quiet, you are not living your best life now. You are not able to live into all that God calls you to be. Of course, we all go through times when all of those things are simply not possible (sick kids, work deadlines, family crises), but making ...
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Maybe this Christmas Ron Sexsmith captures what we all hope for at Christmas. Maybe this will be the year. The one where we access everything we truly want out of Christmas. Maybe... If this kind of Christmas is the one you've been seeking, then don't leave it to chance. Don't just hope for "maybe." Love deeper Choose to forgive Open Doors Shine the light Be grateful Participate in the incarnation by letting the Word be ...
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Today only, use the code CYMON to get 25% off of all Doubting Believer online studies. If you're buying as a gift for someone, just put their email in the note at checkout and the date you'd like them notified, and we'll include them in the study. The Bible On-Location 22 plus 44 Days to a New Prayer Discipline (now with weekly Zoom call) The Gospel According to Broadway
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It is a powerful indicator of the mood and the state of our country that the American Music awards opened last night with a soulful duet cover of REM's Everybody Hurts by Pink and Kelly Clarkson. Last year the opening of the award's show was a supercharged Bruno Mars medly, and the year before that it was a dance extravaganza, featuring host JLo and Nicki Minaj. This year, the show ...
Read MoreWhile studying the Book of Amos this week, it occurred to me that it is the anti-prosperity gospel. It doesn't tell rich people they've received their riches as a reward from God, but that their riches have caused them to turn away from God and from the least of these. So just for fun, I searched "Joel Osteen Amos" to see how (or if!) the king of the prosperity gospel ...
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In our 22 plus 44 days to a Personal Practice, we've talked about how technology can be a great aid to prayer and devotional disciplines. If you haven't checked out these apps, take a look. The Ceaseless app is designed to pull from your contacts and remind you daily to pray for three or more of them (picked at random) from your contact list. The beauty of this app is that ...
Read MoreMatthew 18:21-35 When I was about eight years old, I told my mother that I would not be attending Sunday School anymore. I said they just told the same stories over and over again, and that I had heard them all. Needless to say, I did not get out of Sunday School. This is one of those stories that seems to come up over and over again in the Bible...at least the ...
Read MoreThis is one of the prayers we're doing in our 22 plus 44 Days to a Personal Prayer Practice. In the midst of hectic days and troubled times, I've found this one particularly helpful, so I thought I'd share with everyone. Breath Prayer There are several ways to do breath prayer, and we'll go through several types over the next few days. The goal of this prayer is simply to experience God. ...
Read MoreThere is a lot to be angry* about right now, but to allow that anger to transform us into hateful creatures is to defeat ourselves instead of the ones who are causing our anger. Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Ephesians 4:26 (The Message translation) Anger isn't a bad thing. ...
Read MoreI've been thinking (as many have) about what it means to resist in our particular time in history, and how difficult it is not succumb the infectious anger and the addiction to outrage that exists and persists in our world today. Intellectually, I know that the heart of peaceful resistance is not repaying hate for hate or anger for anger and actually loving our neighbors and our enemies just like Jesus ...
Read MoreIn my neck of the woods, we are about two weeks away from the start of the school year (except for the kids who have already started at year-round charter schools), so all of the articles about the importance of preparing the night before--backpacks, homework, breakfast, lunches, etc--are starting to appear. We all know mornings go more smoothly when we've taken the time to prep the night before. We don't always ...
Read MoreThe unsung hero of the summer conference season--the adult sponsor. This is for you. This is for: The ones who give up vacation, income and time with family to bring youth into Christian community The ones who spend nights on rickety cots and under inflated air mattresses The ones who drive the vans filled with stinky teenage boys and giggly teenage girls The ones who who can't believe they have to do one more trust ...
Read MoreOne of our household's favorite quotes is from Dory the amnesiac blue tang fish in Finding Nemo. When Dory is lost and disoriented and confused, she repeats this mantra, "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming." So when one of our family members gets a little overwhelmed and is unsure where to go or what to do next, we like to turn to that wisdom. Just keep swimming. Just keep going. As we prepare ...
Read MoreThis season is not lacking in cute, funny, romantic and sappy sweet movies and televisions specials. But if you're not in the mood for extreme Christmas cheer and looking for something a little more substantive in your holiday entertainment, check out these flicks. A Christmas Without Snow Michael Learned (the Walton's mom) plays a divorced single mom trying to pull her life back together. She joins the choir of a local church ...
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I keep seeing posts on Facebook of people declaring that they are not ashamed of Jesus Christ and challenging me to repost if I am not ashamed of being a Christian. I never repost those things. Not because I'm ashamed of Jesus Christ or because I am not a Christian. I love Jesus. And I'm proud of being a Christian...as long as you understand that what I mean by Christian may ...
Read MoreIt has occurred to me that, because I'm a "trained professional," that people may have some pre-conceived notions about how I'm praying when I tell them I'm praying for them or their loved ones. Spoiler alert: I am not an eloquent pray-er. Here are just some of the prayers I've prayed today. Feel free to be completely appalled or to adapt any and all for your personal use. Dear God, I know that ____________ is a ...
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