Happy Easter Monday in this season of Eastertide. Easter is not just one day but a season of celebration that lasts from Easter morning when we celebrate the resurrection until the Day of Pentecost when we commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit. So for 50 days, we will celebrate Easter, new life and renewed hope. Here is one of my favorite Easter songs (that people don't think ...
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Just about every year around this time, I write or tell some version of this story in the hopes that one day life will, indeed, be like the Boston Marathon. The Boston Marathon was the first race I ever stood on the sidelines to watch. My husband and our stroller-riding daughter and I could walk down from the campus of Andover Newton Theological School where I was in seminary. ...
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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 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 counting on ...
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If you are over of the age of say, six, then you most likely know what it’s like to have life pull the rug out from under you. Things are going along just great and then out of nowhere disappointment, disaster or disease strikes (sometimes all three at once). These are times when it can seem like hope has abandoned us. Times when we make choices we never thought we ...
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May the God of endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude toward each other, similar to Christ Jesus’ attitude. Romans 15:5 [Common English Bible] One of the things I fail miserably at every day is the effort to be more Christ-like. Where Jesus was kind and patient and gentle, I tend to be cranky, impatient and snarky. Perhaps this is why I’m drawn to encouragement as a spiritual discipline. I ...
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Whatever you do, do it from the heart for the Lord and not for people. Colossians 3:23 (CEB) I have grown up and grown old with Madonna, and I have always been fascinated by her ability to reinvent herself in world that, as a whole, is incredibly resistant to change. I recently ran across a quote from an interview she did with Vanity Fair many moons ago, and Madonna said, “This ...
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When you're getting ready to move, you find all sorts of treasures--photos, forgotten clothing, misplaced jewelry. I've been finding prayers--tucked into books, scrawled in notebooks, drafted into liturgies. I found this one that I once used for a children's message, but (like all good children's messages), I think it's a good prayer for any age. I'm pretty sure I didn't write it, so if anyone knows who did, I'd love to ...
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Different pastors follow different cycles of scriptures to use in their sermons. Some do thematic or series preaching. Others preach whatever is on their hearts that week. In most Catholic and mainline Protestant churches, preachers follow a lectionary--a set schedule of scriptures that take you through most of the Bible over the course of several years. The traditional Revised Common Lectionary goes in a three-year cycle, but there is a ...
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I have a book of liturgical prayers written by Beverly Sawyer, who served as an associate pastor at Pulaski Heights Methodist Church in Little Rock in the late 1970s and early 80s. I really appreciate her prayers, for while she used beautiful language, she could be brutally honest about our own feelings, shortcomings and missteps. I found a prayer she wrote during the Cuban refugee crisis, when about 125,000 Cubans ...
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Today is National Single Parents Day. For someone who was pretty much a hot mess raising one child, with a spouse and grandparents and some awesome and helpful friends in town, single parents are pretty much heroes to me. So I offer up this prayer for single parents today. Gracious God, we lift up single parents to you. Those who do the pick up and the drop off. Those who read ...
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I haven’t been able to find this clip from last week’s episode of legal drama For the People or been able to rip it legally. But it’s such a powerful speech that I believe speaks to the frustration and the realizations many of us are experiencing right now in regards to our country’s stance on immigration, that I decided to transcribe it. I’m a sucker for a good speech, and ...
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We gathered to remember one of our closest family friends this weekend. The pastor at their home church was gracious (and grateful) enough to allow our family to participate in the service. I preached, and my dad shared memories, including some written by my mom. One of the stories my dad told of our friend Arlene was a of a time when he was taking his aunt to the doctor and ...
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There is a big difference in wanting your child to be the best they can be and needing them to achieve the dreams you have for them.
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This past weekend I attended the wedding of one of my husband's college friends who has never been married before. We're all pushing 50, so it was super exciting to be a part of this wonderful celebration. Not only did we get to celebrate the wedding, we got to spend time with old friends. We laughed a lot. The wedding was out on the West Coast, so it pretty much ...
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We intentionally step onto this Lenten path hoping to grow in our love of God, love of each other, and love for our own precious, flawed selves. Recognizing that life is fleeting should only cause us to love more fiercely, more deeply and without reservation. Gracious God, it is hard to think that we will die someday. We dream, make plans, and talk about what we’ll do in the near future. We don’t ...
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Today is known by many names: Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday, depending on your community of origin. In Great Britain and in other commonwealth countries, this day is Pancake Day. It goes back to the days when Christians used to give up items like milk and eggs and butter for Lent, pancakes were a great way to use up all those ingredients before the disciplines of Lent began. So ...
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Over Christmas, my husband and I got both sets of parents (and ourselves) the new Facebook Portal so that we could video chat with them. My father-in-law has had some health issues, and it's been a real blessing to not only talk but to see him and my mother-in-law on a video chat format that's easy for everyone to use. But the portal comes with something I said I'd ...
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Luke 19:28-40 The above is really a Palm Sunday passage, so you liturgically-minded folks will wonder why I'm trotting it out just a couple of days before Ash Wednesday instead of waiting till the appropriate day. Bear with me. Though the folks in the story don't yet know it, this passage marks the beginning of the end of Jesus ministry on earth. People are SO excited to see him! They’ve ...
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Here's a run-down on all the options you have to #lightenupforlent. Click the link in each title name to go directly to signup/learn more or check out the videos you haven't seen. Reminder: the idea is not to do ALL of these, but for everyone to find one that speaks to you. Lighten up: Stop Taking Yourself So Seriously (with me!) Weekly exercises to help let go of things that weigh you ...
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The Academy Awards are on tonight, which means fashion statements, pun-ny presenters and acceptance speeches. Some speeches are professional and polished, some are funny, some are painfully awkward and some go completely off the rails, but everyone who wins gives one. They thank their team of agents, managers, etc. They thank their co-workers, their mentors, their families and (at least some of them) God. Perhaps we should start expecting acceptance speeches ...
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In these days of emails, emojis and texts, a handwritten note is a rare commodity. An old-fashioned message that requires a stamp for delivery is really something special in the 21stcentury. A handwritten letter communicates to the recipient that you were willing to actually pause your life long enough to write down your thoughts, place them in an envelope, search out an actual address, purchase a stamp and get the letter to ...
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Gracious God, You must get so weary with all our thoughts and prayers. You must wonder why there's been another shooting and still no one is going to do a damn thing to stop the next one. You tell us over and over again to "be not afraid"...and yet we persist in our fear. You must be grieved that we put much more time and energy trying to keep people out than we put ...
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Chris Pratt (of Parks and Rec, Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic Word, etc) has become known for being vocal about his Christian faith. Most recently he talked about his faith practices on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Subsequently, actress Ellen Page pointed out on Twitter that Pratt failed to mention that his church is "infamously anti-LGBTQ." Pratt has denied this and says that his church (Zoe Church) welcomes everyone with open ...
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I find that it's a good idea to check myself from time to time to make sure that my theology is staying faithful to scripture and not just to what I want to believe...or what is convenient to believe...or what is self-serving to believe. So before I go making assertions or sharing opinions on certain subjects, I ask myself these six questions. 1. Is it based on something that is actually ...
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As a pastor, I've had the privilege of walking with many people in their last few days on earth. I'm also one of those rare creatures who comes from a family where we talk about death. My father was a counselor for many years and grief therapy was one of his specialties. My mother is from a very large family, and there have been many funerals to attend. So I'm ...
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Want to level up in your Christian faith, but the idea of a prayer journal or daily Bible study seems daunting? Not big into small groups? Why not try being kind? Not nice, but kind. Being kind is often confused with being nice. They are not the same thing at all. Niceness is pretty vanilla. Kindness goes beyond smiling and being polite and trying not to ruffle any feathers. Nice is inquiring ...
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One day recently, I had back-to-back brief conversations with two people who both used the word "just" in describing themselves. It made me pay more attention to how often people use the word, and I started keeping up with it. Over the last four or five days, I've heard: I'm just a student. I'm just a mom. I'm just a programmer. I'm just a go-fer. I'm just a beginner (guitar). I'm just a dabbler (art). No one ...
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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 was National Pie Day (not to be confused with the March 14 National Pi Day). I love pie. Does anyone not love pie? I got to see the ultimate pie musical Waitress for the second time this past weekend. It's based on a movie by the same name that has been a favorite of mine for years. Shortly before the film premiered, Adrienne Shelley, the woman who wrote, directed and ...
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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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One of the statements that some Christians like to throw out whenever they want to exclude or limit the participation and acceptance of women, LGBTQ people, people of color or any group they deem threatening or unacceptable is, "the Bible doesn't change." Meaning that there are verses in the Bible they can point to that say these folks are not okay and that stands for now and all time. There is ...
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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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Our family is very fortunate in that one of our Christmas rituals is to catch the train into NYC while we're visiting my husband's family in Connecticut and take in a Broadway show. This year, we were able to catch the revival of Once on this Island in the Circle on the Square Theater. It's a theater in the round where the audience literally sits around the stage. In this fable of ...
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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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I'm so excited that there is a fairly new live version of my favorite Christmas song, sung by Dar Williams. It's about literally welcoming people to the table, which is my favorite image of what the Kingdom of God is like. If we can't welcome those who don't believe exactly what we do, especially at Christmas, then we're kinda missing the boat trying to be more like Jesus. May you welcome ...
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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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It's getting out of hand. The outrage over the lyrics and the backlash over the banning of the song, Baby It's Cold Outside. I will admit that am not a fan. As someone who is about to send a daughter off to college, any song about a man trying to keep a woman who has queried "What's in my drink?" from leaving his house sends off warning bells in my ...
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Dumplin' is one of the latest original movies to hit Netflix. I watched it this weekend, and here are just five of the reasons I love it. Note: all spoilers are thematic. No actual plot points revealed. It centers around the wisdom of Dolly Parton...and its soundtrack is chock full of her music. Dolly and I practice the same kind of Christianity--one that leans hard on faith and loving people (including yourself). When ...
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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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Tis the season to by jolly and to help one's fellow man and woman. Actually, every season is the season to help, but we tend to hyper-focus on the helping during the holidays. But as we help, we want to be doing the kind of help that helping is all about and not the kind of help we all could do without. You may have seen articles around this (and last) year ...
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In order to pass Bechdel test, a movie must have three things: Two named women characters Who have a conversation with each otherThat is not about a man You may or may not be surprised that Christmas movies that pass the Bechdel test are hard to come by, but here are five. (note to Netflix and Amazon Prime: get it together, you aren't streaming any of these Bechdel-approved flicks.) Godmothered https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYWzEqX-J-4 The latest ...
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'Tis the season to be jolly. But this time of merriment is a virtual minefield for those of us who are loud laughters. Not everyone fully appreciates a hearty chortle--especially if it comes at an inappropriate time. People who know me are used to my laugh. It's highly recognizable. But the holidays often find me in social situations where people are not used to my response to humorous stimuli. And even if ...
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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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If you're too full after Thanksgiving to move and go out to the movies, here are a few to view in-home. Pieces of April is not just my favorite Thanksgiving movie, but one of my favorite movies of all time. It's a tale of redemption. My husband tells me I think everything is a tale of redemption--but this story truly is. Planes, Trains and Automobiles has been out there for awhile, but, ...
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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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DIWALI is an annual festival of lights that symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. And even though it's a Hindu celebration (also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains), Christians can really get behind its message. If you're not familiar with our scriptures, we do talk a lot about light defeating darkness. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness could not overcome it. John 1:5 the people who ...
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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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In response to those Christian voices who decry and denounce the celebration of Halloween, my friend Rev. Marie Mainard O'Connell (minister and unapologetic celebrant) penned this ode a few years ago. She has graciously allowed me to post it here. I think it should be read aloud in the town square (if we still had such things) every year. In defense and praise of Halloween! Rally the hordes of children in masks! Man ...
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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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Friends, Now is the time to put your doubting skills and tendencies to work, and I'm not talking about God. I'm talking about information. When you receive information that just doesn't sound like something a particular person/organization/source would say, don't default to the-whole-world-has-gone-crazy-why-not-them way of thinking. Put on your doubting caps. Recently churches all over a Texas town got a mailer that was ostensibly from a local Presbyterian church urging them to to ...
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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 ...
Read MoreIf you haven't caught the Real Theology 101 series on the Doubting Believer Facebook page, you can catch up here. Follow us on FB to see the next installments. Which one of these resonates the most with you?
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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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This month our Doubting Believer Member Community is talking about fear--and how to not do it. Last week we looked at Joshua's call to be strong and courageous. This week, we're looking at God's word spoken by Isaiah to the exiles. Fear not, I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine. There are, of course, healthy fears. The kind of fears that keep us from reaching ...
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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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Why is Doubting Believer talking about table gathering and eating and sharing recipes? Because gathering around the table with friends and family and people you don’t even know is community at its finest. Wanna be all seasonal at the next church/office/neighborhood potluck without a whole lot of effort? Here are three easy ways to do just that. Note: all the recipes call for at least one 15 ounce can of pumpkin. This ...
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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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There has been more than enough written about all that has transpired this past week in regard to Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford. My concern at this point is less about who will be appointed to the Supreme Court (although I still have concerns), but more about the many, many women in our country who are hurting as a result of this confirmation hearing-turned-fiasco. So here are my suggestions for ...
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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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I grew up watching Sesame Street. I was born the year after it went on the air, and it (along with Mr. Rogers Neighborhood) was a mainstay of my childhood. In those early years, Big Bird was the only person who could see his friend Mr. Snuffleupagus. It wasn't so much that Snuffy was invisible, but he and Big Bird's friends always seem to have missed connections. Big Bird (who is ...
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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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Our Doubting Believer Community mission emphasis in September is Older Adults--in our churches, our families and our communities. Here's an easy-to-throw Halloween Party to use with, well, anyone, but it is especially geared toward older adults. You could do all of these activities or just one or two. Not everyone will be into it, but people who love Halloween never stop enjoying it. Guess the Weight Pumpkin Bring in a large pumpkin ...
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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 ...
Read MoreGet the Bible out of the house (or church) and take it on location! See how reading the Bible in different spaces and places can change your perspective or increase your understanding of the Word of God. Join us for a free 28-day on location Bible study challenge. Experience the Bible in a whole new way by reading scriptures daily in different settings. It all kicks off on October 1. Sign up here ...
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Nobody needs to watch too much television, but for folks who are often unable to get out and about as much as they once were, finding good shows that they enjoy can really make a difference in their lives. As I eagerly anticipate the arrival of Fall Television Premiere Week, and our mission focus this month is on older adults, I thought I'd share with you my top pics to watch ...
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This is my favorite week of the year. Fall television premiere week. I know that's really not an acceptable thing for a pastor to say, but you might as well know the truth (if you don't already). Holy Week and the week before Christmas are a bit of a nightmare for pastors. Not only are the schedules jam packed, but there is the pressure of coming up with just the ...
Read MoreWe all need encouragement, and our older brothers and sisters in Christ are no exception. Aging has it's own set of challenges for everyone, and here are four simple verses to offer encouragement and strength to the oldest (and wisest) among us.
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It's back. Today is the annual Talk Like a Pirate Day. A fine tradition that dates all the way back to 1995. The day was founded by a bunch of guys goofing off and talking like pirates while playing racquetball ((one has to imagine there was alcohol involved). They chose today's date because it was the birthday of one man's ex-wife, and it was the only date he could remember ...
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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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Whether you find the Bible hard to read or have noticed your own Bible study has gotten a little stale, here are five versions of the Bible you may not have seen. Wherever we are in our study of scripture, it's always a good idea to take a look at the Word in a new light, in new format or a different translation. Stories we've stopped hearing because we know them ...
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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 ...
Read MoreI'll admit, I've been waiting for an reason to use this: The Doubting Believer Membership Community is officially launching tomorrow (September 1). You can try this community for 30 days for free anytime, but if you sign up before the end of day September 1, and you decide you want to stay on after 30 days, you lock in the $25 monthly fee for life. So check it out. A monthly Bible study and ...
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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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Ok, so I don't actually have 247 reasons actually written down, but I'm pretty sure there are that many reasons and more not to pluck a verse of scripture from its context and wield it as a tool (or weapon) to make the point you wanted to make before you ever even turned to scripture. Proof texting--it's one of my pet peeves. It robs us of the real richness and ...
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It all started with a bump. A bump on the top of my left foot. It didn't hurt. It only looked slightly freakish. I had never heard of anyone's cancer starting from a foot bump, so I ignored it. But then it grew, and I thought I'd better have somebody check it out. Fortunately, one of the most passionate social justice warriors in my community just happens to be a podiatrist. ...
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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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