During Lent, I’ve been leading a study I called “Doubters Anonymous” which was set up to give those with questions about our faith a place to express them openly and without condemnation. I had no idea what would happen when we began this. I planned to simply let it unfold. What we ended up doing was examining this scenario: a pastor (married), runs off with the choir director (married), both divorce their spouses and then marry each other. Church left... Read more
So just why did people put down palm leaves when Jesus headed into Jerusalem that last time to celebrate the Passover? Quick answer: because palm fronds were readily available. Deep answer: the people were hoping that Jesus might be the Sent One who would deliver them from oppression. His reputation had spread. He healed and fed, taught and touched. He stood up to critics, responding to even the most skilled debaters with ease, intellect, and often devastating retorts to questions... Read more
I read today in the NY Times an article about the extension of a patent on the best-selling Alzheimer’s drug Aricept. In order to keep the lucrative patent protection, the drug’s maker, Pfizer, just radically upped the dosage in the tablets. After study of the effects of the new dosage, the researcher recommended against its approval. Serious side effects, including nausea and vomiting (especially problematic for the elderly, frail and mentally impaired) and increased death rates (now, that is a pretty serious side effect),... Read more
I wish I could get it across that what Jesus lived and taught has almost no relationship with the “hate-ianity” that masquerades as Christianity across the press, airways and religious institutions today. What should be a grace-infused, fully-life-giving, all-welcomed, heavenly-spaces-opened, mystery-explored, forgiveness and reconnection-enjoyed experience has turned into a “gotta hate gays, gotta vote republican, gotta be sure and send everyone who believes differently to eternal conscious torment” religious charade. Now, the “gotta-hate” group makes better headlines. And the “gotta... Read more
Those who have been hearing my teaching for a while know how I’ve interpreted the Garden of Evil/Fall story through the breaches of covenant that took place before the woman and man ate the forbidden fruit. The crafty serpent begins the process by inviting them to doubt God’s goodness: “Gosh, all this good food and you can’t eat any of it! How nasty God must be!” The woman perpetuates the process by embellishing the truth: “Sure we can, but not... Read more
Three years ago, the congregation I serve moved from their home of 85 years to a new, functional, welcoming and repairable building about one mile east of the historic facility. The church needed to move. Although the new owner has restored the old building and made really important improvements (like adequate and accessible restroom facilities), the limitations there are still huge, particularly for the music ministry and expanded children’s ministry that is part of the core motivation and drive of... Read more
Recently, I posted a response on the Missional Methodist blog about what I see happening right now in The United Methodist Church. I mentioned that I see huge parallels with what is happening in the academic world and what is happening with the church. Academia is being told: the purpose of education is economic–getting good paying jobs for the graduates. The real purpose of a good liberal education–to teach people to think widely and deeply over multiple disciplines so they... Read more
“How can anyone get into heaven? It must be impossible!” That’s what Jesus’ disciples said to him after he had told a very rich young man that he had to give everything away in order to inherit eternal life. Most of us aren’t asked to give everything away, but there certainly is invitation to give generously of the money and belongings entrusted to us by God. But lots of people either giving nothing away at all or give scantily, as... Read more
Onions were picked from the garden, The pot of Saturday soup is on, the scraps sent to the compost heap,and I am ready for a rainy day of writing and thinking. I know families with young children and those with recreational and sports activities planned do dread rainy Saturdays. At this point in my life, I treasure them. I love the sound of the rain. I know each drop nourishes the soil, and is so much better than chlorinated tap... Read more
I was taking a quick break from digging through emails and paperwork and decided to check out the New York Times. My eye caught an article titled, “After Firings and Controversy, the Wedding Will Go On.” I took a look and saw that it was about a gay couple, long partnered, long open about it, life-long faithful Roman Catholics, one of whom was a teacher in a private Catholic high school in St. Louis. He and his partner had decided... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In