It was the last night of a week-long retreat. We were seated in a circle. Each person was to anoint the next by making the sign of the cross on the person's forehead and offer a blessing. The leader used the words “Christ be with you,” and many chose to go with that. You'd hear an occasional "Blessings upon you" or a "Go in peace." But when the vial of oil ...
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If you've ever been part of a church I pastored, you've probably heard this song at Christmas. https://youtu.be/iPnzywnr2LA?si=z3SGYWT8AiZ9ko7z A song about Christians and pagans may seem an odd choice for a pastor, but the theology in this song is right up my alley. Christmas is like solstice, and we miss you and it's been awhile. It reminds us that we have more in common than we often believe, and ...
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Advent is almost upon us. What are your plans? Find some ideas below. Want a more holy Advent? It's as easy as 3, 2, 1! (Okay, that may be an oversimplification, but it is a pretty easy, yet effective, approach) https://youtu.be/R0fIzeBF5DA?si=mTVwHhnEHJNKQlWk Need some ideas for your Advent spiritual discipline? Here you go. https://youtu.be/izV41yoYGvI?si=q5sVHYZVswh1cYlu And don't forget to make use of this free resource from Beyond Sunday. https://youtu.be/yXmBoNS44Lo?si=EFmeqs34xrNWbBIu Wishing you a happy and meaningful ...
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I just had to share this TikTok series from @mrs.frazzled where a kindergarten teacher and gentle parenting adherent uses her skills on relatives at the holiday gathering. They're hilarious, but also contain some wisdom you might find helpful. https://www.tiktok.com/@mrs.frazzled/video/7302588223883267374?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7301743293395322414 https://www.tiktok.com/@mrs.frazzled/video/7301081269260127534?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7301743293395322414 https://www.tiktok.com/@mrs.frazzled/video/7301468875416276266?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7301743293395322414 These hilarious videos are an excellent reminder that even (or perhaps especially) during the holidays, bad behavior is not okay, loving people means respecting them and children get to have boundaries, too. ...
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Loving God, In a world where people so many cannot escape the violence, help those of us who are not under constant threat be radically committed to non-violence. May we never glorify our friends, our family or our elected officials threatening others with harm. May we never remain silent when others use language of hate when speaking of or to any of Your beloved children. Help us to measure our ...
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Note: the songs mentioned and shared in this post have some strong language. Some thirty years ago, Tex Sample wrote a book called Hard Living People and Mainstream Christians. He challenged mainline churches to break the bonds of middle/upper class captivity and reach out to those who live, well, a little bit harder. We didn't listen very well then, but perhaps country music is calling on us to rethink ...
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God of Peace, On Veteran’s Day, we pray for all who have served our country on land or sea or air, at home or in far away lands. We pray for the safety of future veterans in active combat zones, and for those in places where violence could rear its ugly head at any time. We pray for those who made it home alive, but for whom life has never been the ...
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There is a quote often attributed to the Talmud, but more accurately described as a loose translation of a portion of the Pirke Avot that is commentary on Micah 6:8. Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it. While I agree with the premise and ...
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This is a remix of a post I created during COVID, but its message is valid today as well. And I needed to be reminded. Do you ever get a song stuck in your head? One that just keeps coming back again and again and bubbles up in your brain at the oddest of times? I’ve had one lately. It’s an old country gospel song that my grandmother and my parents ...
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The day that Hamas launched an attack on Israel that killed at least 800 people at this posting will be one of those days like 9/11. October 7, 2023. A day that will divide so many lives into what came before and what happened after. Will we end up using 10/7 for shorthand as time goes by? (Disclaimer: We can agree that none of us is going through anything close to ...
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Tuesday, October 10 is World Mental Health Day. Last week in Brooklyn, a young climate activist and advocate for those with drug addiction was randomly stabbed to death by a teenager. It was all caught on video, and the teen has been arrested. To make the tragedy worse, the alleged perpetrator has a history of mental illness. Two months ago his aunt called the police to say that her nephew was "mentally ...
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We're approaching Spooky Season when fear can be fun, but most of the year, fear is not the state we were made for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCvutEJc-aQ To learn more about how the Bible knows what's good for us, check out Health Hacks from the Bible.
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It's not that we don't care, God. Of course we care about people in Morrocco What kind of monsters would we be to not be horrified that the death toll from the earthquake is almost up to 3000 people. 3000! On this day when we commemorate the largest loss of life on American soil, our siblings in Morocco--a country far smaller than ours--is about to eclipse that record. Of course we ...
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Note: I've been writing a version of this prayer for several years now. Here is the 2023 version. Maker of all things, We pray for those who are overworked and overwrought. For those who are overwhelmed and just plain over it. For those who feel like there are not enough hours in the day and for those who fill their hours with that which does not feel like enough. For those who have lost ...
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(as Idalia makes landfall) Creating God, It’s hard when Your good creation is trying to kill us. It’s hard to reconcile a loving creator with a creation that can, at times, be devastatingly beautiful and then be just plain devastating. We know we are complicit We know we haven’t cared for Your Earth the way You told us to But, to be fair, these natural born killers existed way before any coal engines or smoke stacks ...
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I talk a lot about not using the Bible as a weapon--aka using scripture to hurt and harm others. Scripture is often mis-used to exclude and shame people. All too often, it is scripture taken out of context and sometimes the "scripture" wielded is not even actually in the Bible. We don't usually associate forgiveness with weaponry, but it is used all the time to guilt, shame and ...
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If you've followed me for anytime at all, you know that I believe that fear is the antithesis of the Gospel. We are called over and over again to Be Not Afraid throughout the Old and New Testatments. But of course, sometimes the fear gets us. I imagine most of you have heard about the killing of Jordan Neely on the NYC subway, and the subsequent arrest of former marine ...
Read MoreThere are far too many Pinterest and Instagram stories out there from people who get up at five in the morning, fix themselves a cup of coffee or a very specific kind of tea and then spend an hour with their Bible and notebook in prayer and study. So, that is fantastic...if it works for you. But most of us are NOT going to be able to pull that off in ...
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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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As humans and as Christians, we need to stand up and speak out for our trans neighbors. Please take a few minutes to watch this video and hear my thoughts on why it is critical that we support trans people in our families, our churches and our communities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-muNI_OmBA How will you support the trans people in your community on March 31 and beyond?
Read MoreTherefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.1 Thessalonians 5:11 Find out why I think encouraging others is the easiest best way we can affect positive change in our world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ricP9DIM8hE Wanna join me for the Eastertide encouragement challenge? Opt in and download the Intentional Encourager 2.0. Be on the lookout for weekly emails beginning on Palm Sundays and a link to join the private Encourager ...
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Full disclosure: you may not be the reason, either. There are many, many reasons church attendance is down--changing demographics, work schedules, busy lives, youth soccer/hockey/volleyball--the list is long. You could be doing all the "right" things and still not see your congregation growing in number. However, there is one sure-fire way to make sure a church won't grow: if the congregation is more concerned about meeting their own ...
Read MoreOn International Women's Day, let's celebrate little known women of the Bible. For centuries, people have abused the Bible in order to oppress and quash the rights of women. They've done their best to diminish and even obscure the powerful roles women played in our scriptures. Who knows how many stories were simply excluded from the canon by the men who curated it? Here are a few stories of women ...
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Maybe it's not about what you give up or take on, but about who you want to become. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0-jnvVbFNw&t=16s You've got some time to think about what you'd like to do for Lent, so don't just think about the what, think about the why. And consider joining me for A Gentle Lent. A Gentle Lent
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Hey friends, I spent last week with a bunch of people engaged in Christian camping ministry. If you know me, you know that I LOVE camp. We had one session where we broke up into small groups and talked about ways we experience God's abiding presence in our lives. I got some really good feedback on the exercise, so I thought I'd share it with you. Disclaimer: time in nature is ...
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Make your holiday a happy one. Based on my experience and extensive research, here are the top 10 questions to avoid this Thanksgiving Day. So, who did you vote for? When are you two getting married?When are you gonna have a kid/another kid or when are you gonna stop having kids? (basically stay away from all talk of people's sex lives and reproductive choices)Do you have a job yet?How can you ...
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God of love and God of all, We enter into this election with more anxiety than hope about the future of our country. We are battling for the soul of America, but we have very different ideas of how that soul should look, feel and behave. We fear for the safety and peace of our nation, as many have already threatened violence if the results are not the ones they want. We ...
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That's my new question at the end of each week. Instead of asking "what did I accomplish" or "how much did I get done" or even "how much money did I make," I've started asking "was I the person God calls me to be?" The answer is always "not totally." And that's okay. I believe there's something in the Bible about how we all fall short (Romans 9:23). Don't beat yourself ...
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Yeah, here we are again. November. When everyone trots out their gratitude practice, and the focus of everything from store fronts to social media feeds is on how grateful we all should be. But gratitude can be hard...because life is hard, and this season of forced gratitude doesn't help. Add a layer of guilt about not feeling grateful over the general malaise of already not feeling particularly thankful and you ...
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My friend and colleague, Rev. Kelly Fitzgerald, and I have put together a FREE resource for families to use at home this Advent, and here's five reasons I'm excited about it. It's Not a To-Do List This is a not a devotion-a-day resource where you have to commit to gathering your family together in the same place at the same time every day while you read and reflect on scripture ...
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It’s no accident that Reformation Day and Halloween fall on the same day. It was actually by design. The 31st of October was the night before All Saints Day and came to be known as All Hallows Eve—the origin of our Halloween. It was a time when people were particularly focused on remembering their loved ones who had died—and being worried about their loved one’s souls. Early on in the life of ...
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So, yeah. It's embarrassing. Embarrassing is not really the word. Convicting. That's it. It's convicting. That Christians like me only pay attention to anti-semitism when someone like Kanye West puts it in the headlines. Like it's not always there. Like our Jewish neighbors don't deal with it all the time. I've done a little reflecting on why I don't pay more attention (not making excuses) and on how our Christian ritual ...
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At the heart of the message of the Gospel is "be not afraid." However, we can believe in the Gospel and share the Gospel and do our best to live out the Gospel and still have times when we are afraid. It happens. But here's the thing about fear: we don't have to be afraid of it. Fear can be valuable. It's fear of being burned that keeps a small ...
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One of the things that's making me happy this week is the newly released concept album Welcome to Lindeville created by Arkansas native Ashley McBryde and friends. It's the story of the people in the fictitious town of Lindeville, named after the late songwriter Dennis Linde (who brought us--among others--the classic Good-bye Earl). Lindeville doesn't sugar coat life in small town America. It lays out all that's funny, ugly and ...
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Disclaimer: most of what is posted here at Doubting Believer is designed to lift up and encourage. This is not that kind of post. As a free-range pastor, I spend a lot of time talking with caged...um, I mean, traditionally placed pastors and educators. They're tired. They're discouraged. They're exploring other options. And, if you're part of a church community, chances are it's at least partly your fault. I ...
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Here is a piece that I wrote for my denomination's (Presbyterian Church USA) Season of Peace. If you need another reason to take care of yourself, here you go: Then suddenly a messenger tapped him and said to him, “Get up! Eat something!” Elijah opened his eyes and saw flatbread baked on glowing coals and a jar of water right by his head. He ate and drank, and then went ...
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Maybe this horrific tale that we've tried to turn into a children's nursery theme actually does have something good to tell us about who God is. Maybe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elVp0X3YvSE&t=10
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I, like anyone over the age of 25 in the United States, remember where I was on September 11, 2001. My daughter was four-months-old, and we were living on the campus of Andover Newton Theological School. I watched the events unfold live on Good Morning America. As horrific as that day was, we could never have imagined the fallout. The trauma of those who survived the attack and that ...
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Let's talk about death for nowTo the people at home or in the crowdIt keeps coming up anyhowDon't be coy, avoid, or make void the topicCuz that ain't gonna stop it GenXers and Elder Millenials no doubt clocked that the verse about was not actually penned about death. It's from Salt N Pepa's 1990 hit Let's Talk about Sex. But sub in the word "death" and it still works. I believe ...
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Even the most confident, well-adjusted, emotionally healthy, spiritually grounded people in the world (and let’s face it—how many of those people are there out there) need reminders that they are, indeed, beloved children of God, worthy of love and capable of doing good things in the world. We ALL need to be reminded. If you've followed me for awhile, you probably know about the IALAC sign we wear. We all start the ...
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We believe in children whose excitement and energy and creativity inspire us all to be more childlike in our lives and in our faith. We believe in teachers and in their call to nurture and educate amidst increasingly difficult circumstances. We believe in the grown-ups who wake up the kids, fix the lunches, volunteer at the schools and help with the homework. We believe in friends and co-workers and neighbors who step in ...
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I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 We are all works in progress. We are not who we used to be, and we are not yet all we will become. We make adjustments. We change. We grow. That's how life works. I'm hearing a version of the statement below ...
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I am a big believer in community when it comes to nurturing our faith. I believe that the Christian life is meant to be lived out in community. Jesus called 12 disciples. The early church gathered together to pray and learn. For we trinitarians, God actually dwells in community as the three-in-one. But... If you only nurture your faith life when you are in community (in church, Bible study, prayer group, small ...
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Let’s hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, because the one who made the promises is reliable. Hebrews 10:23 If you follow me and this blog regularly, you may have noticed it's taken kind of a dark turn. I, like many of you, have been a bit overwhelmed by everything that is happening in our country these days. And it is important (imperative, even) to stand up ...
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You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only don’t let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses, but serve each other through love. Galatians 5:13 If you follow me at all you know that my unofficial tagline is: a faith that struggles with questions is always stronger than one that never asks any. Did you realize that our national anthem—the one that’s so hard to sing—ends in a ...
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Although we knew it was coming, I am terribly grieved by the supreme court's decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. "But you're a pastor!" you say. "You HAVE to be pro-life." Actually, I'm pro-choice because I am pro-life. Pro WHOLE life. Abortion is a difficult topic to talk about, because, contrary to what a lot of people would have you believe, it’s an extremely complex issue. First of all, taking away ...
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A funny thing happened this week in pop culture. You can read a little more about it here, and then see what I think about it in the video below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3O5yIxNAaY&t=8s Welcoming and inclusive are who and what we are called to be, y'all.
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We see you and we celebrate you We see the good you do We see the love you share We see the people you serve We hear the names people call you Names that we do not recognize or publicize, lest we legitimize For those names don’t define you We know you by one name: Beloved Child of God Created in God’s own image We don’t pretend to know your pain But when you hurt, we hurt, too We may not ...
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This list is making its way around my social media feed right now. I've been unable to track down the original writer, so if someone knows who that is, I am happy to properly attribute. This piece is one of many like it that idealize the "good old days," and long for a way of life that is not a possibility for most people. For me, these kinds ...
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(disclaimer: This is an angry post. I don't usually do angry. In fact, anger and resentment totally wear me out. But I can't get around it right now.) Oh, I know how awful my title sounds. Believe me. I'm not thrilled to be feeling this way. But unborn babies have such fierce champions. My undergrad degree is in journalism with an emphasis in public information (which means I've studied a ...
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The church where my friend, Rev. Dr. Robert Lowry, serves has created a litany to be used in homes and churches and any place people may gather in the wake of yet another school shooting that has taken away so many lives. They have come up with words that so many of us are at a loss for and have graciously shared them. A Litany Against Gun Violence Composed Following the Robb ...
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Fitting prayer into a busy life can be hard. And it's not just finding time for prayer--it's having peaceful, quiet time to pray. Good news! You don't need quiet and solitude to pray. Okay, there are ways we can be more in tune with how God is speaking to us and more open with our own authentic prayers, but prayer time can be anytime. In fact, the noise and ...
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This is a text version of the story I told at the opening worship this past week's Arts, Recreation and Worship Conference. You can find video at the bottom of the post. The whole story--our story, our faith story--begins and ends with water It all begins with the spirit of almighty God hovering over the water—an inky, black, watery abyss. Water left to its own devices will create chaos and wreak ...
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https://open.spotify.com/episode/4eAitdqpo0GjlsaliGL5Vg?si=ae02d7a935a14a2e Here we get our first glimpse of the disciples gathered together after the resurrection. All in all, not a very pretty picture. Near the end of his life, Jesus had carefully prepared his disciples to be a devoted and confident fellowship of faith. They were to be a community of love whose doors were always open and the welcome mat always out, but here we find them barricaded in a ...
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Friends, Easter is not one day. It's an entire season. Eastertide runs from Easter Sunday through Pentecost, so we have plenty of time to celebrate, access and revel in the new life that is ours through the risen Christ. I believe in Easter. I believe in the Resurrection and the Life. I believe that God loved us enough to become one of us, to walk among us, to die for us and ...
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Pastors listen to a lot of stories, and we carry a lot of secrets. Maybe not so much secrets (as that sounds somewhat illicit), but more like stories that aren't ours to tell. While Protestant pastors do not carry the protection of the Catholic confessional, we do keep confidences. I can't tell you how often someone has told me their story thinking they were the only one (at least in ...
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Very early in the morning on the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb, bringing the fragrant spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 They didn’t know what to make of this. Suddenly, two men were standing beside them in gleaming bright clothing. 5 The women were frightened and bowed their ...
Read MoreThe world says Do more Be more Get more Make more But God says Do justice Be loving Get along Be still Make a joyful noise But we insist on chasing more God forgive us when we feel we can't get to enough. Save us from chasing the elusive "more" that we can never quite find. Be gentle with us when we fail to love people because they have what we think we want. Rescue us when greed and envy begin to ...
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There's this great, dramatic story in the Bible where prophet Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to prove whose God is greater(1 Kings 18). And Elijah wins. Big time. Elijah made all the prophets of Baal look like idiots. Totally discredited them. Well, and then let them be killed by a mob he whipped up into a frenzy. And surprise! He gets put on Queen ...
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Across the country, states are passing legislation that will do untold harm to many, many young people. If you are serious about caring for and protecting children, here are five reasons you should oppose this kind of legislation. https://youtu.be/MTIuorM24uw No child (or adult) should ever be made to feel like life is not worth living because of who they are. No one, especially those of us who profess Christianity, should ever ...
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Ash Wednesday has been called the most difficult service of the year. More difficult even than Good Friday when we remember the death of our Lord. On Ash Wedensday, we come to acknowledge our own mortality. Traditionally, the words we hear when we have the sign of the cross marked on our foreheads are “From dust you were born and to dust you will return.” Not always an easy thing ...
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Yesterday, I went with my husband to visit his parents. They emigrated from Germany over 60 years ago. As young children following World War II, they were both war refugees when Allied Forces came in to take over the country. My mother-in-law is from the land that became the Czech Republic, and my father-in-law from what became part of Poland. They know first-hand the cost of war. My husband, Rob, ...
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Today is National Random Acts of Kindness Day. It's as good an excuse as any to do something nice for someone...but is nice enough? Being kind is often confused with being nice. They are not the same thing at all. Niceness is pretty vanilla. It's what polite society expects of us. Kindness goes beyond smiling, perfunctory "please" and "thank yous" and trying not to ruffle any feathers. Nice is inquiring about ...
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So yes, I know that someone as white as I am might not be your first go-to for recommendations for Black History month reads. Mine is by no means an exhaustive list, simply books that I've found educational, inspiring and/or convicting. Check out these books at your locally-owned bookstore. If you are near one of these Black-owned bookstores, be sure and patronize them as you build you expand your reading. ...
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There have been many calls (including a New York Times op-ed piece) for churches to cease offering service online because it's time for people "to come back to church." There is so much wrong with this way of thinking, I had to make a list. So here are my ten reasons churches should not give up their online presence. One The most obvious: you don't want to be ableist. In ...
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Jesus, Gentle Healer, our pain is piled on top of pain We've just about done all we can do. We've worn our masks. We got our vaccines. We've kept our distance. We've missed out on so much. We thought we were done. But it keeps coming back. Another cancelled trip. Another missed event. Another season of missed revenue. Another distance learning day. Another friend who is no longer with us. The pile of grief and pain and ...
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It's Epiphany! The day that we celebrate the mysterious wise men who come from the East to visit the Baby Jesus. Herod tries to trick them into revealing the location of this baby whom he believes threatens his empire, but we know that the wisemen were warned in a dream to avoid Herod and go home by another way. That must have taken some courage. After all, they could have ...
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Friends, for almost four years, every Friday, I've brought you things to read, watch and listen to that are sure to make you smile. Because we all could use a little good news. It's the longest running spiritual discipline of my life, and I hope you have, indeed, smiled, laughed and been encouraged. But it's time to put Feel Good Friday to bed for now. Doubting Believer has grown so ...
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At Christmas, we get all caught up with the great story of the star and the shepherds and the inn with now room and the baby born in a barn. We forget about those people who were waiting. The ones who were so desperately waiting for the messiah. We forget how tangible the expectation was for the messiah to come. Anna and Simeon were just two of the people ...
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Christmas means celebrating, but also navigating difficult family relationships. Sometimes, our desire to be "good Christians" may cause us to handle these situations in less-than-healthy ways. To that end, I wanted to clarify the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hntFtBq3bUY If you will be navigating difficult relationships this Christmas, take radically good care of yourself. A few more things to remember: Self-care is not selfish.Other people's happiness is not your ...
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It's Gaudate Sunday, when we light the candle of Joy. It is traditionally the Sunday that we celebrate Mary's response to the news that she is going to carry the child of God. Gaudate is Latin for rejoice. It's a good time to remember that if Mary can recognize God's blessings in the midst of finding out that she's an unwed pregnant teenager in an age where they could ...
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Every week, Doubting Believer brings you things to read, watch or listen to that are sure to make you smile. Because we all could use a little good news. A Cookbook Revival I love a good community cookbook. This one has been revived after a son found a copy in his deceased mother's belongings and is now raising money to feed kids on weekends and holidays. Learn More People Can ...
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This season, as you gather with friends and family and friends who have become family, there are bound to be some relational hiccups (euphemism is one of my spiritual gifts). Here are three things (that all conveniently start with the letter C) that you should give up engaging in or listening to so that you can thrive instead of merely survive during the holidays. Comparison You are a beloved child ...
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In the midst of the hustle and bustle and stress and uncertainty of this holiday season, never, ever, ever, ever underestimate the power of stopping to breathe. It's powerful...and it's easy. Throughout the Old Testament the spirit of God is is described by the word ruah, which means breath. God is the breath of life. We cannot live without breathing, and we cannot live without God. So it is not surprising that ...
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Every week, Doubting Believer brings you things to read, listen to or watch that are sure to make you smile. Because we all could use a little good news. The butterflies are back! Monarch butterflies are making a resurgence in California. This is good news on many levels. Learn More Father/Daughter Duo Connect People and RVs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-2D2lf6XC8 Zoom and Fauci among the Top Pet Names of 2021 Did you get a ...
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Gifts don't need to be things you can wrap. In fact, some of the best gifts aren't things at all. Here are five things that you can give this holiday season that will mean a lot and cost nothing--but a little time and effort on your part. One Make a list of people you know who are grieving a loss this holiday season--particularly those who are experiencing a first holiday ...
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Every week, Doubting Believer brings you things to read, watch or listen to that are sure to make you smile. Because we all could us a little good news. School for the Deaf Football Team Has Undefeated Season Read More Boy Scout Saves the Day (and the dog) A couple lost with their injured dog while hiking in Hawaii were fortunate to have a twelve-year-old Boy Scout and his mom ...
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Yes, it’s true. As a country, we desperately need to work on our civil discourse skills, but Thanksgiving may not be the best time to practice those skills. With that in mind, here are 10 fun facts that you can bring up to steer the conversation away from politics at your Thanksgiving feast. Pull these out as needed to prevent heartburn and hurt feelings. Thanksgiving is to blame for TV dinners. In ...
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Did you know that it's approximately 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem? https://youtu.be/bEj2J003tG4 Join us for the journey. Bethlehem or Bust. Use #bob2021 to post your progress on social media and download an old school paper tracker HERE>.
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Every week, Doubting Believer brings you things to read, watch or listen to that are sure to make you smile. Because we all could use a little good news. Homelessness--what feel-good topic! But when it comes to a problem that seems overwhelming, it is good news indeed to learn about what some cities and communities are doing to make reduce homelessness. A friend of mine who is a homeless ...
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Hey friends, the new Gospel According to Broadway Bible Study is up and running. I thought I'd share the playlist of songs that the study pairs with different Bible stories and verses. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jYmmMNTEfWDnlJoLIigbX?si=89bdb5380c9b4006 I'm actually going to see Waitress again tonight because country singer Jennifer Nettles is playing the lead character of Jenna for another week or so, and I think she'll be great in the role. Join us for the Gospel According ...
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Covid Communion--what I call communion using those little pre-made, plastic sealed cups that contain a tasteless wafer and half a swallow of grape juice--has been less than satisfying for me. I was blaming COVID. Turns out, it's me. https://youtu.be/Yt5W1koCXxQ Click below for Liturgy for Keeping Communion Holy Even While Using the Covid Cups Everyone Hates Download Communion Liturgy
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Seventeen SongsSeventeen-plus Bible versesAnd how they intersect to help us become the people of God we are called to be. https://youtu.be/P9w2PzdK4zo Find Out More Kinky Boots ~ Wicked ~ Sister Act ~ Dear Evan Hansen ~ Come From Away ~ Heathers ~ Matilda ~ Something Rotten ~ Avenue Q ~ Footloose ~ Spongebob the Musical ~ Hairspray ~ Book of Mormon ~ Miss Saigon ~ Once on This Island ~ Waitress ~ ...
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We're a few days in to #gratitudeonthemove. To get you in the gratitude groove, here are a few examples of how some folks are putting their thankfulness in action. Tomorrow the Vaccine bus will be in our parking lot...so thankful for the science and the staff that will be sitting out in the cold tomorrow...baking cookies and making sure we have fresh coffee and hot chocolate for them. --JoAnne in ...
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Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong? Of course you have! I don't care who you are, where you're from or how much of an insider you look like to others, we have all felt like we didn't belong. That is a really rotten (and scary) feeling. That you’re an outsider. That your life is somehow unacceptable. That you aren't enough. Click and check out Matthew 9:9-14 . That’s probably how Matthew had ...
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Are you saved? Most of you reading this know what people mean when they ask you that question (and some of you may be slightly triggered by the question), but I’m going to guess that a few of you are thinking, “from what?” When people ask that question, what they’re really asking you is “Are you a Christian?” And they usually have very specific ideas about how one gets to claim ...
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It kicks off October 15 (aka my dad's Birthday!) https://youtu.be/Q592rrw_zE8 Seven Songs Seven Stories Some new insight into what the Bible is saying to us. (Maybe even some characters you missed!) It's fun. It's online. You do it on your own time. Opt in now and start on October 15 or anytime thereafter. Learn More
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In The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis pictures hell as a lonely, gray town trapped in twilight, where the houses are built at a huge distance from one another, yet people are continually moving farther away from each other. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. We are not meant to go it alone. We are called to live in community. And it would be a wonderful thing ...
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If you're not familiar with the story of Jacob and Esau, you can listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3BLexsGYvmW2cASToRpzvQ?si=zhy0P92PTwmAazGIVtBd2Q&dl_branch=1 To recap: Jacob has been fighting to be the first-born or at least receive the benefits of the first-born since he and his brother were in the womb. Finding his brother in a weak moment, Jacob trades Esau a bowl of stew for Esau’s birthright. Knowing that this not really kosher, Jacob and mom, Rebekah, concoct a ...
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Psalm 121 I raise my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. God won’t let your foot slip. Your protector won’t fall asleep on the job. No! Israel’s protector never sleeps or rests! The Lord is your protector; the Lord is your shade right beside you. The sun won’t strike you during the day; neither will the ...
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Regular followers of Doubting Believer know that I'm not really one to cherry pick Bible verses and toss them out as easy answers or rules for life. Individual scripture passages should be read in context to the whole and always in light of the words, work and witness of Jesus. That being said, there are, of course, some real gems contained in our scriptures that may be just what ...
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There are plenty of verses in the Bible that celebrate wine. Psalm 104 says that wine is a gift from God to "gladden our hearts." Proverbs 3:9-10 claims wine is a blessing for honoring the Lord with our gifts and tithes. Our vats will "overflow with new wine." Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:6-10) , and, of course, Jesus himself instituted one of our holiest rituals using wine to represent his own ...
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I have committed to dropping a new online course on the 15th of every month until the end of 2021. September's offering is All About the Money--because the Bible has a LOT to say about money. Watch the video and click the link below to learn more. Like my other courses, this is one that you can do at your own pace. https://youtu.be/JRBstFTDJk4 Learn More
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A cheerful outlook brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. Proverbs 15:30 Medical experts have determined that the writer of Proverbs was right: A positive attitude brings joy to the heart because our heart is literally healthier when it is cheerful. Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. Health benefits that positive thinking may provide include: Increased life spanLower rates of depressionLower ...
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Many moons ago, Don Henley sang about how the heart of the matter is forgiveness. He's not wrong, but just how much do you know about it? How'd you do? If you didn't get them all right, take some time to consider what you believe about forgiveness. Your health and well-being depend on it. Like so many things that Jesus tells us to do, it's not for his own good, ...
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How we view God very much affects our own reading and understanding of holy scripture. https://youtu.be/p8SwQcCEBCQ Learn More About That's Not in the Bible
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Throughout the Bible (particularly in the Psalms), there are calls to sing God's praises. Is this because God demands our adoration? Do we really think God is that needy? Maybe, just maybe, God wants us to sing praises because it is good for us. When you sing out loud your body releases endorphins and increases levels of oxytocin, meaning your mood is lifted and you feel happier. Singing with groups ...
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We believe in children whose excitement and energy and creativity inspire us all to be more childlike in our lives and in our faith. We believe in teachers and in their call to nurture and educate our children in-person and online. We believe in parents who wake up the kids, fix the lunches, adjust the masks, volunteer at the schools and help with the homework. We believe in friends and co-workers ...
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I've been asking myself this question for awhile now. I think I figured it out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B_aBF2LotU&t=103s It all starts on August 15. Join us! Learn More about That's Not in the Bible
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Many parents (particularly those of kids too young to be vaccinated) are worried about kids heading back to school. It is weighing heavily on their hearts and minds. If you want to be present and helpful, here are five things not to say to concerned parents right now. If you're worried, have your child wear a mask. Once again, for the people in the back: masks are not to ...
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Note: this prayer is not meant to exclude the unvaccinated. It is to give voice and vocabulary to the frustrations and struggles I am hearing from those who are vaccinated (and am experiencing myself). I believe our prayers are most effective when we can be honest with God and ourselves about what we are thinking and how we are feeling--especially when we wish weren't feeling and thinking those things. God, ...
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