by Randy Walker We agnostics are misunderstood and often shunned. Type “agnostic” into any search engine, and all kinds of insults and critiques will populate the window. We are called non-committing, afraid of confrontation, spineless, and so on. I encountered one forum that labeled us as lacking certain male reproductive organs. The point I am making here is that because we choose doubt over certainty, we are accused of not taking a stand and choosing the easy way out. I... Read more

The final entry of my sabbatical adventure away from the Church entitled: “Church No More.” Almost three months ago I (an ordained minster who has gone to church my whole life) walked away from church– for three months. It is what I’ve decided to do with my sabbatical. You can read about my initial thoughts on my blog or on The Huffington Post. As the journey unfolds, I will be blogging about it in this series entitled, “Church No More.” I hope you will... Read more

Part 5 of my sabbatical adventure away from the Church entitled: “Church No More.” A little over two months ago I (an ordained minster who has gone to church my whole life) walked away from church– for three months. It is what I’ve decided to do with my sabbatical. You can read about my initial thoughts on my blog or on The Huffington Post. As the journey unfolds, I will be blogging about it in this series entitled, “Church No More.” I hope you will... Read more

Part 4 of my sabbatical adventure away from the church entitled: “Church No More.” A little over two months ago I (an ordained minster who has gone to church my whole life) walked away from church– for three months. It is what I’ve decided to do with my sabbatical. You can read about my initial thoughts on my blog or on The Huffington Post. As the journey unfolds, I will be blogging about it in this series entitled, “Church No More.” I... Read more

Part 3 of my sabbatical adventure away from the church entitled: “Church No More.” A little over a month ago I (an ordained minster who has gone to church my whole life) walked away from church– for three months. It is what I’ve decided to do with my sabbatical. You can read about my initial thoughts on my blog or on The Huffington Post. As the journey unfolds, I will be blogging about it in this series entitled, “Church No More.” I hope you... Read more

I lost my joy. I suspect there are a few of you who feel the same way. Not that you aren’t happy, but there is this deep place of celebratory joy which you once knew that really doesn’t come around much anymore. There was a time when I was a pretty joyful guy. Not “blind to the world’s problems” kind of joyful, just “blessed to be blessed in the midst of this mess” kind of joyful. Lately though, I’ve found... Read more

Part 2 of my sabbatical adventure away from the church entitled: “Church No More.” A few weeks ago I (an ordained minster who has gone to church my whole life) walked away from church– for three months. It is what I’ve decided to do with my sabbatical. You can read about my initial thoughts on my blog or on The Huffington Post. As the journey unfolds, I will be blogging about it in this series entitled, “Church No More.” I... Read more

I’m rewriting the old African-American spiritual “Down By the Riverside.” (Don’t worry. It’s Okay. I’m a minister). My new version goes something like this: Gonna lay down my robe and stole Down by the Riverside Down by the Riverside Down by the Riverside Gonna lay down my robe and stole Down by the Riverside Ain’t goin’ to church no more. Yep! That’s it. This minister is walking away from church – well, for three months. I’ve gone to church my... Read more

Dear Church, There is, by the nature of culture, always a gap between the younger and eldergenerations within a society. The arts have almost always been the first to pick up onthis reality whether it is Bob Dylan noting, “Come mothers and fathers throughout theland and don’t criticize what you can’t understand. Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command. Your old road is rapidly aging. Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand... Read more

Image from LivingOS (flickr)   I’m republishing the following sermon in co-ordination with an exceptional short-story written by my friend David Henson entitled “The Rain Bow.” His short-story is available on Patheos or downloadable as a pdf here. I’m telling you, it is brilliant story-telling and includes brilliant insight. Do yourself a favor and check it out. I’m re-publishing this sermon precisely because of the brilliant insight I mentioned. David was kind enough to share an early copy of his short-story with me and... Read more