Category: christian formation

Resurrection Hope Amidst the Broken Politics of 2025 with Drew McIntyre | Episode 241

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLjtDAKNp90 Where can we find hope in the current political context?  For Methodist pastor Drew McIntyre, that hope took place in an empty tomb when Jesus rose from the dead. Drew and I talk about the distinction between hope and optimism, and the cultural pessimism prevalent in society today. We also look at the significance... Continue Reading →

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All Saints in a Halloween World with Jacob Smith | Episode 237

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-64kjm-18cbfd0 In this episode, I talk to Jacob Smith, the rector of Calvary St. George's Episcopal Parish in Manhattan. We compare politics to Halloween and religion to a celebration called All Saints Day, discussing how faith, politics, and today's issues connect. Jacob believes faith should guide our political actions and promote kindness and inclusivity instead... Continue Reading →

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Sermon: You Didn’t Build That.

Joshua 24:1-25 Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time October 12, 2014 First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN Listen to the sermon Every presidential election is always kind of a silly season in America.  People hear what a candidate says and it becomes fodder for the opposing side for weeks.  Certain phrases enter the body politic and... Continue Reading →

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Birth Control And The Sham of Theological Diversity

One of the things that Progressive Christians like to say about themselves is how welcoming and tolerant they are.  Compared to their more conservative cousins, progressives can pride themselves in being able to think for themselves and to have a place where all ideas and beliefs can be shared without fear. Why, your progressive church... Continue Reading →

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Why I Like Lillian Daniel.

I really like Lillian Daniel.  Really. Why, you ask?  Because in 2011 she said something that many mainline Christians have been thinking, but were too afraid to say outloud.   In 2011 Daniel wrote an article with the very provocative title: "Spiritual, But Not Religious?  Please Stop Boring Me."  If you think this was a rant,... Continue Reading →

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How Sunday School Made Us Biblical Dummies

Interesting read: One of the places where America began to become theologically illiterate was an odd one: Sunday school. I believe the introduction of Sunday schools truly has caused the American church to know less about what they believe. Read the whole thing.  He's not saying we should junk Sunday School, but he shows how it... Continue Reading →

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Planned Parenthod vs. Susan G. Komen: Same S*%!, Different Day

I'm not going to get into the specifics of the whole Komen controversy because its been done ad nausem.  But I do have one question: where should the Church be in all this? The whole mess concerning the two groups was one more annoying incident in the culture wars.  Each side, including many a Christian,... Continue Reading →

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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 →

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Discipleship in an Active Age

Presbyterian Pastor John Vest wonders if we need to rethink what it means to be active in a faith community: As a downtown church that draws on individuals and families from all around the Chicagoland area, our youth ministry has always faced some interesting challenges. Our youth come from a variety of schools, so creating... Continue Reading →

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