More today from my Saturday “Jesus Blog” – a word from Jesus to you… If anyone tells you you have to do anything to get my approval, they don’t speak for me. If anyone tells you that even though you come to me by grace, you then have to do things to stay in my good graces, they don’t speak for me. If anyone makes you feel less than loved, less than valued, or in danger of my rejection, they... Read more
“Jesus never added a asterisk to his commands to love God and love others. The religion of Christianity has added all the asterisks.” I love the question today as it represents so many people. They have mostly kind hearts and good intentions, but they are so inside their box, they just don’t see how far from Jesus’ truth they and much of the church has drifted. I write Dear Susan posts every Friday. Sometimes they will be poignant, sometimes thought-provoking,... Read more
I love you. Really, I love you. I’m honored to be here with you. I’m grateful God has given me this opportunity to just love you. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. I am on the outs with some of my family because of my work of FreedHearts, because of my love for you. (A few friends have left too, but I care less about that.) I’ll be honest, it hurts, but frankly, I don’t care about any... Read more
Vicky Beeching is in trouble. She is a popular Christian singer and, after living in the closet for more than 20 years, she has come out as gay. She is now under attack by many of those who used to adore her, and who still sing her songs every Sunday morning. She is hurt and scared, but she is living true to herself – and she is not going anywhere. “It is heartbreaking,” she says, her eyes glimmering again. “The... Read more
I came upon a child of God, He was walking along the road And I asked him where are you going, And this he told me… “Well maybe it’s just the time of year, Or maybe it’s the time of man I don’t know who I am, But you know life is for learning” – Woodstock, Joni Mitchell It’s been 45 years, but you may remember Woodstock… (or heard of it in history class!). In August 1969, half a million... Read more
“Depression is anger without the excitement.” – Mike Wells Depression is anger turned inward… it is anger that has no means of expression… it comes when there is no hope. The tragedy of suicide (whatever variables may be involved) has one underlying current: that person has lost hope. To lose hope is to see no way out of the current situation. Life can be so difficult it is hard to reconcile. Circumstances that overwhelm us for a long time, or... Read more
“You have no obligation to defend your journey. There is no jury for you to answer to. Speak your truth with authenticity and conviction. Stop trying to accommodate people who don’t agree with you.” Loved this from Jim Palmer and thought you would, too. Memo to Shedders: As you deconstruct and shed your former “Christian” beliefs, you will likely be told that you are “New Age” or some other label, meant to cast a dark cloud over you and your journey. I... Read more
Guess what? I start seminary next month. Yes, the opportunity came out of the blue — exactly the way God brings opportunities to me. God has led me clearly in this. The knowledge and credentials (Master of Divinity M.Div.) I’ll gain will strengthen FreedHearts – especially in the area of speaking truth to pastors, churches and Christian leaders. It is a progressive seminary, and I look forward to learning a lot. But I am also excited to share my perspective and point of... Read more
“If you asked any Christian before the birth of the modern era and the Enlightenment, ‘what is the foundation of Christianity?’, they would say ‘Jesus Christ.’ If you asked many Christians that same question today in the post-Enlightenment world, they would respond, ‘the Bible.'” – Gungor Perhaps you heard about the latest brouhaha over Gungor’s nonliteral reading of Genesis. (A Baptist church canceled an upcoming Gungor concert because Gungor does not believe in a literal six-day creation). Yeah — that’s just one... Read more
More today from my Saturday “Jesus Blog” – a word from Jesus to you… Remember Mary Poppins? She arrived as a nanny with a carpetbag, then pulled from it items that could not possibly have fit in it – a potted plant, a wall mirror, a hatstand, a lamp. She did this with calm confidence. She did not wonder whether the bag would work for her this time; she just pulled stuff out of it. I want you to trust me like that. Don’t... Read more
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