Scripture Texts: Luke 4:15-21, Isaiah 61:1-2 January 17, 2016 What is your elevator speech? In 30 seconds or less, how would convince someone to embrace your core values and mission? It must be simple, memorable and exciting. A Mission Statement grounds you in being clear before you act, so every day you can ask, … Continue reading Restoration: When Scripture Makes History
Category: Current Affairs
Springtime for Liberal Christianity: A Quick Response
I'm glad to see NY Times conservative columnist engaging liberal Christianity. But there are a couple things he misses: "Douthat's title, "Springtime for Liberal Christianity" is more correct than his column. Most of his critique was true of the progressive churches a decade ago, but decline has brought reform. The most read progressive Christian voices … Continue reading Springtime for Liberal Christianity: A Quick Response
Bill Maher and Michael Moore just don’t get progressive religion…
Michael Moore and Bill Maher are still missing the point. Many of us are both liberals AND Christians or Jews or Muslims. We do take on the extremists in our sermons, and feed and house the homeless, fight for GLBTQ people, and yet Bill continues to paint all of us with the same brush. Maher's … Continue reading Bill Maher and Michael Moore just don’t get progressive religion…
Christian Ethical Responses to War in Syria
This page summarizes a few of the many resources for Christian decision-making in the midst of war in Syria. As I write the situation is fluid, with a sudden move to have Syria give up its chemical weapons to an international body. By Sunday morning (September 15, 2013) when we discuss this at our 8:45 … Continue reading Christian Ethical Responses to War in Syria
Response To Douthat’s “The Liberal Gloat” – NYTimes.com
Ross Douthat said in Sunday' NY Times: WINNING an election doesn’t just offer the chance to govern the country. It offers a chance to feel morally and intellectually superior to the party you’ve just beaten. This is an inescapable aspect of democratic culture: no matter what reason tells us about the vagaries of politics, something … Continue reading Response To Douthat’s “The Liberal Gloat” – NYTimes.com
Election Thoughts – Christians Need to Speak with Distinctive Voice
Iwill be glad when this election is over, not because I hate politics, but because I am politically passionate. I am a news junkie and the internet is a dangerous, time-sucking place for me. I grew up in Iowa and I thought it was normal to meet Presidential candidates. My mother has shaken hands with every Democrat … Continue reading Election Thoughts – Christians Need to Speak with Distinctive Voice
Dr. Faheem Younus: Amid Sikh Temple Shooting Tragedy, a Triumph of American Values
This is the most inspiring quote from the article from Dr. Younus: What, then, keeps the American minorities so committed to the United States? The answer lies in the wounds of the police officers recuperating in Wisconsin's hospitals. American minorities are cognizant that no matter how much hate the bigots spew and no matter how … Continue reading Dr. Faheem Younus: Amid Sikh Temple Shooting Tragedy, a Triumph of American Values
Zombie Religious Freedom
Talaag Elbayomy, a recent Muslim immigrant to the United States, was watching a Halloween parade in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania with his nine-year-old son. Suddenly he saw a person dressed as Mohammed, but as a zombie. Since depictions of Mohammed are against the law in his country, he believed it was his duty to stop this blaspheme, … Continue reading Zombie Religious Freedom
Weekend Review: The Swerve, New Christianity and Preparing for Lent
As a reader, I am a cross-trainer. I’m never happy with just one book, and often I will have four to six books in various stages of attention. (Thank God for Kindle so I don’t have to carry them all!) It should be no surprise that I don’t finish everything I read. Right now two … Continue reading Weekend Review: The Swerve, New Christianity and Preparing for Lent
Weekend Review: Newt, Unclean Spirits and Today’s Dred Scott
Translating is treacherous. The biblical term “unclean spirit” from this week’s Gospel reading is prone to our projections. What is unclean is bound by culture and perspective. We all think we know it when we see it. For example, let’s take the latest primary rants of Newt Gingrich. No, I will not argue he is … Continue reading Weekend Review: Newt, Unclean Spirits and Today’s Dred Scott