How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Social Conservatives

I happened to look at a sermon I wrote about 7 years ago.  It was during the time I was involved in a new church start.  Reading the sermon, I tend to think it wasn't my best sermonizing.  The sermon seems a fitting for the current context; it was based on Micah 6:1-8 and focused... Continue Reading →

Social Media and Social Witness

A recent post by Michael Kruse put a finger on something that has been bothering me lately.  Kruse is talking here about pastors and social media: I unfollowed six people on twitter in recent months because of their incessant divisive political tweets, especially during the primary debates. The majority have been pastors or academics, including... Continue Reading →

Sunday Sermon: “In God We Trust”

“In God We Trust” Mark 10:17-31 Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost October 14, 2012 First Christian Church Minneapolis, MN I will admit it: I really don’t like this passage. Why don’t I like it?  For a lot of reasons.  I don’t like how people sometimes use this passage to lord over others.  People who are full... Continue Reading →

The Intolerable Thing

It's quite common in Progressive Christian circles to talk about the importance of justice or doing things for others over belief.  There is a reason for this; that being the sad history of people who had solid beliefs in Christianity and yet their lives did not reflect what they were saying.  I am reminded of... Continue Reading →

Stimming and Stimming and Stimming…

Aussie blogger Gavin Bollard wrote an article recently on why persons on the autistic spectrum stim.  Stimming is best defined as some kind of repetative body movement.  The word stimming shorthand for self-stimunlation. For those of us on the spectrum, it can be something that can calm us down when we are stressed or dealing... Continue Reading →

A Pastoral Letter on the Marriage Amendment

I wrote the following for the church newsletter regarding the proposed Minnesota Marriage Amendment which would limit marriage to one man and one woman.  The thrust of this letter was to share why I stood where I stood, but do it (hopefully) in a spirit of respect towards those I disagree with. I love chatting... Continue Reading →

Sermon: “This Woman’s Work”

  “This Woman’s Work” Proverbs 31:10-31 September 23, 2012 First Christian Church Minneapolis, MN I’m taking a risk in preaching this text.  The passage in Proverbs about a “capable” wife and as you can tell, I’m a man.  Men tend to get into trouble talking about women, especially those of us in the pulpit and... Continue Reading →

Elizabeth Warren, Mitt Romney and the Common Good (And My Answer Is Not What You Would Expect)

My dear partner and I are a mixed marriage.  He's comes from Norwegian and Swedish ancestry, I am African American and Puerto Rican.  It's gets better: he's a Democrat and I'm a Republican. This means that we tend to have some interesting talks during election years.  Recently, we were talking about the selection of Paul... Continue Reading →

Fear of a Fundamentalist Planet

So quick, what is a Progressive Christian? I can come up with two answers. First, we are a bunch of Democrats who like to go to church and talk about God. Second, we are NOT evangelicals/fundamentalists. One of my favorite site to visit is Patheos.  I tend to read from three channels: Progressive Christian, Evangelical... Continue Reading →

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