You Choose: Was This a Worship Experience or Was It . . . ?

Last updated on: January 26, 2016 at 1:56 pm By Christy Thomas

All our needs were met. Instructions were clear and signage was excellent. Gracious and competent attendants directed us through the gargantuan parking lot, waving us into a convenient spot. Greeters kindly showed us to waiting areas as the previous attendees streamed out. We were cheerfully ushered inside where another team of greeters took over and did whatever was needed for us to find comfort. The spacious gift shop featured t-shirts and sweaters emblazoned with a clearly professionally designed brand. We... Read more

How we used to die; how we die now

Last updated on: January 26, 2016 at 11:45 am By Christy Thomas

I’m reblogging one of the most beautiful posts I’ve seen written about our dying process. This is the reason I wrote An Ordinary Death: Where Grief and Relief Hold Hands, my book on my mother’s death and our whole dying process. We’ve have just made a mess of it. Read more

Ask the Thoughtful Pastor: Failed Marriages and Mental Illness

Last updated on: January 13, 2016 at 10:10 am By Christy Thomas

Dear Thoughtful Pastor: How does one trust this institution of marriage after a failed one? Oh, this is a short question heavy with layers of hurt, disappointment, sadness and often despair. I am genuinely sorry. Every culture essentially reinvents marriage. It’s a fluid institution and ongoing experiment. I’ve been reading recently about the history of Islam and male/female relations and marriage customs. From what I can glean, women around that time of Mohammed could and did enter and exit marriages... Read more

Muslim Refugees: You Need to Meet Us Half Way

Last updated on: January 12, 2016 at 3:26 pm By Christy Thomas

The repercussions are nightmarish. As we get more information about the December 31, 2015 attack by young male refugees on women in Cologne, Germany, the more disturbing the situation becomes. A short recap for those not familiar with the story: organized groups of refuges, primarily from Arab and African areas, systematically groped, robbed and raped numerous young women on that night. Unrest had already been growing in Germany because of the large numbers of refugees that the country has generously welcomed. But... Read more

A Violation of Integrity: "Coming Out" as a Lesbian Clergyperson?

Last updated on: January 7, 2016 at 2:00 pm By Christy Thomas

She’s been living a lie and I’m deeply troubled about this even as others are cheering her on. I write of the Rev. Cynthia Meyer, a long time pastor, and her announcement to her church on Sunday, January 3, 2016. From this article, “I have been an ordained United Methodist pastor for 25 years. At last, I am choosing to serve in that role with full authenticity, as my genuine self, a woman who loves and shares my life with another woman,”... Read more

Ask the Thoughtful Pastor: Hate the Sin of Homosexuality or Assume Truth?

Last updated on: January 5, 2016 at 5:03 pm By Christy Thomas

How can conservative Christians who believe that homosexuality is a sin support and show respect to their gay family members, coworkers, and friends in ways that will not compromise their personal faith? The adage, “love the sinner, hate the sin,” is blatantly offensive to those who do not believe that homosexuality is sinful. Is there a more nuanced way to look at this issue? This is one of the most complex questions I’ve been asked. It deals with the nature... Read more

Why Do We all Have to Lose Weight? New Year's Rant Time

Last updated on: January 4, 2016 at 12:06 pm By Christy Thomas

I suppose it is a silly question: here in the US, we do tend to the avoirdupois body-styles. But still, it is January 4, and I feel like I’m drowning in lose-weight-now TV/Internet/print media. The pleas to support the multi-billion/lie-ridden weight loss industry surround us. “LOSE WEIGHT NOW!!!” they scream. “SPEND MONEY ON US!!!!” they holler. “WE’LL MAKE YOU THIN”” they craftily promise. The problem, of course, is that our bodies evolved to gain weight easily and lose it very,... Read more

New Year, New Mercies

Last updated on: January 1, 2016 at 9:09 am By Christy Thomas

The “do-over” represents one of the greatest longings of the human heart. Who hasn’t messed up? Who doesn’t want a fresh start, a way to forget the past and see a new, shiny, unmarred future in front of us? That’s the allure of this new year, new day. Many are awakening this morning with fresh resolve to clean up last year’s messes and to actually “do it right” this year. We are all going to get more organized, or lose... Read more

The Most Despised Person in the US

Last updated on: December 30, 2015 at 10:00 am By Christy Thomas

What might it be like to have the status of the most despised person in the US? Right now, that position belongs to Ethan Couch, with the secondary position going to his enabling mother, Tonya. Everyone knows the story by now. At age 16, Ethan steals beer, drives his pickup along a dark road, hits and kills four pedestrians, rolls the truck, paralyzing and leaving permanently brain-damaged one of his friends in the car. Even hours later, his blood alcohol... Read more

Ask the Thoughtful Pastor: Disaster Tourists and Changing the Paths of Tornadoes

Last updated on: September 9, 2016 at 1:20 pm By Christy Thomas

What motivates people to show up after disasters to do the rubber-necking thing? I call them “disaster tourists” because they cause huge congestion and keep the trained workers from doing what must be done. Why do we love action movies where cars blow up and ships sink and buildings collapse? What is it that draws us to the edge of volcanoes and near dangerous animals? What pulls us to sporting events where fights are likely or vehicles collide at high... Read more