Fair warning to you who are about to read this: It’s written with an “R” rating. It’s not sugar-coated, mealy-mouthed or any of the other indirect, passive-aggressive things you might expect from a pastor. In fact, I’m feeling quite aggressive. Maybe I’m about to exercise my “aggressive liberty”. Now, if that term doesn’t make sense […]
“Erotic Liberty” Pastor Proves He’s Stuck on Stupid Read More »
It’s the first day of 2015, and if anything is clear at this point, it’s that we absolutely must change the way we conduct ourselves. In other words, we need some powerful collective resolutions – yes, resolutions – to help us change the way things are and the way they might be. But groups of
Let There Be Peace on Earth, and Let it Begin with Me Read More »
Progressive Church: Definitions of progressive Christianity include characteristics such as spiritual vitality and expressiveness, a willingness to ask questions, an affirmation of human diversity, a sincere respect for other faiths, and a concern for the environment. At Gentle Spirit Christian Church, our culture and values intersect with each of those characteristics in both subtle and
Progressive Church: What it Means for Us Read More »
From the order of worship for the fourth Sunday of Advent (Year B) Voice: Last Sunday we lit the candle of joy. We light it and the candles of hope and peace again as we remember that Christ will come again and bring us everlasting peace and joy. A person lights the candles of hope,
Advent IV, 2014: Lighting the Candle for Love Read More »
The Candles of Advent (Year B) The Third Sunday of Advent: Joy Voice: Last Sunday the candle of peace was lit. We light it and the candle of hope again as we remember that Christ will come again and bring to the world everlasting peace. A person lights the candles of hope, and peace. Voice: The third candle of
Advent III, 2014: Lighting the Candle for Joy Read More »
We all know that feeling of talking to someone who’s not really listening to what we’re saying. They can hear us just fine, but they’re not listening: They’re distracted, they’re not taking it all in. They’re too wrapped up in their own thoughts to listen to ours. They’re nodding their head, but in that vaguely
Are You Listening — Or Just Nodding Your Head? Read More »
The Candles of Advent (Year B) The Second Sunday of Advent: Peace Voice: Last Sunday we lit the first candle in our Advent wreath, the candle of hope. We light it again as we remember that Christ will come again to fulfill all of God’s promises to us. A person lights the candle of hope.
Advent II, 2018: Lighting the Candle for Peace Read More »
The Candles of Advent (Year B) The First Sunday of Advent: Hope Voice: Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the Sunday in which we recall the hope we have in Christ. Voice: The prophets of Israel all spoke of the coming of Christ, of how a savior would be born, a king in the
Advent I, 2014: Lighting the Candle for Hope Read More »
This season I’m providing a series of daily Bible readings (at the bottom of this post) to help you relate to the Advent themes of waiting, preparation, light in the darkness, and the coming of the promised Messiah. But first I’d like to share the following story. By Dr. James Allan Francis, written as a
Advent 2014: One Solitary Life Can Change the World Read More »
If there was ever a time for the Christian Church to step up and step out, now is the time. The Church has historically been not only slow but hesitant to stand up for justice and mercy. It was too slow in responding to the Civil Rights Movement, the Women’s Liberation Movement, the genocides in
Ebola: Pastoral Statement on the Virus and Our Response Read More »