What do we want to bind ourselves to here on earth--judgment, exclusion and disconnection? Or do we want to bind ourselves to love, inclusion and relationship? I have scoured the scriptures and can't find anything that insists that we are bad Christians if we don't police the actions and attitudes of others. But I find a lot that insists that love, forgiveness and welcome is essential to a life in ...
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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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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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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 is at the core of what I believe it means to be Christian. Jesus invites us all to the table. There is enough for everyone, and everyone has a place. As Christians, we don't get to choose who we serve, and we don't get to decide who gets a place at the table. In my eyes, Sara Sanders Huckabee is the worst kind of people. She has completely deserted the ...
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This is a revised version of a post in which I asked the question: Do Christians get to choose who to serve? Three years later, I’m ready to simply answer with an emphatic “No. We don’t,” but ask again: why would any Christian even think we get to choose when it comes to serving people? I get that as a business owner, you may want the ability to choose who you ...
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We do, indeed, live in politically divisive times. There is much to stand up for, speak out about and steel against. But statements like the one above from the former governor of my state, who is also a fellow clergy member, have no place in our discourse. They are offensive (this one on SO many levels), distasteful and (as any good Southern girl would tell you) down right tacky. I get it. I ...
Read MoreRecently my home state has gone on a killing spree of inmates on death row. It has been a painful time. I am against the death penalty. I was raised by parents who were and are anti-death penalty. I have some good and honorable reasons for holding that stance and some very Christian (yet oddly not that honorable) reasons as well. When I was a kid, someone was debating with my ...
Read MoreBefore we go any further with this “That’s not in the Bible” series, I think it’s important that we acknowledge that the Bible is not the only thing we misquote. Famous movie tag lines get altered after being told and re-told over and over again. Clint Eastwoord’s Dirty Harry is oft-quoted as saying, “Do you feel lucky, Punk?” was actually, “You’ve got to ask yourself one question. Do you feel lucky? Well ...
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