Every so often, someone will visit the church and they will say they are looking for a “Bible-believing” church. The answer would be no.
Not Bible-Believing, but Jesus-Believing
Sermon: The Whole Truth
Micah 5:2-4 and 6:1-8 Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time November 9, 2014 First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN Listen to the Sermon. Our long national nightmare is over. I’m talking about the conclusion of the 2014 midterm elections. For several months we have seen endless commercials on television, our mailboxes stuffed with campaign mailings, our... Continue Reading →
For the Spirit Tells Me So
When I was coming to terms with being gay, one of the obstacles that I had to deal with is the role of Scripture in my life and how it squared or didn't square with my sexuality. I remember reading the book Is the Homosexual My Neighbor? and being shown the story in Acts 10... Continue Reading →
We Can’t Be Friends
It was about 20 years ago, that I attended a large Baptist church in Washington, DC. The church was an odd mix, or at least it would be odd today. Evangelicals and liberals were somehow able to worship together, along side a healthy dose of members from Latin America and Asia.The church decided at some... Continue Reading →
Leviticus Revisited
Methodist Blogger Morgan Guyton gives the best understanding of what Leviticus 18:22 meant and what it might mean for us today. Here's a snippet:In 1956, United Methodists decided that Paul’s admonition in 1 Timothy 2:12 not to “permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man” had an appropriate application in the... Continue Reading →
Personal Jesus
One thing that I've noticed over the years is that mainline Protestants don't seem to take God very personally. Growing up as I did in the evangelical world, God and Jesus was up close and personal. A lot of the songs we sung in college intentionally changed the words of some songs from something like,... Continue Reading →
From Goats to Sheep
An interesting and hopeful take on Matthew 25:31-46 (and you get to learn a little Methodist history as well!).
All Bankers Go To Heaven (Not)
A few days ago, I got an email from some person who didn't like the fact that I was gay and that the church I serve is okay with gay folk. The writer said something to the effect that I was basically hellbound and that I needed to ask God for forgiveness for being gay.... Continue Reading →
What Should Pastors Say on 9-11?
Good words from Methodist Pastor Alan Bevere: 1) First, I want to remind folks that there is indeed radical evil in the world, and because of that people commit heinous acts against other people. Moreover, when we reflect upon a day when such evil was committed, we need to do a "gut check" ourselves as... Continue Reading →
The Clockwork Pastor 