https://youtu.be/Y6l1x1ResJ4?si=hcxuy6yjkJDHLQ38 https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-3r7kt-191f23b In this conversation, Amy Mantravadi discusses her article on 'the theology of staying,' where she reflects on the historical context of Christianity in Egypt and the challenges faced by Christians in the Middle East. The discussion also delves into Dietrich Bonhoeffer's experiences in Nazi Germany, exploring the complexities of staying or leaving in... Continue Reading →
Are We A Progressive Church?
Is First Christian a progressive congregation? The answer is complex.
Why I Need Church
Of course I could be a smartass and say "because I'm the pastor," but I want to give a real answer. Why do I go to church? Why do I need church?
God Is A Concept.
When I was in journalism class in high school, I remember seeing a poster in the teacher's classroom that caught my attention. It was one of those posters that shows something like a big sky or the stars at night. At the bottom of the poster were these words: "God Is A Concept." I really... Continue Reading →
Repost: I Miss the Old Mel White
The positive Mel White of old the "SpongeBob Squarepants of the gay community" is long gone. What's left is a man that's pretty pissed off at the church and when I say church, I mean the whole church.
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 →
Paul Ryan and Christian Discernment
Now that Paul Ryan has been selected as the GOP Vice Presidential candidate, I've noticed an awful lot of talk about the Wisconsin Congressman from liberal Protestants, most of it not positive. I've already stated that I think Ryan's budget was a good start in thinking about balancing the federal budget, but I tend to... Continue Reading →
Jesus is a Cat Person
One of the more common understandings of Christianity that I've found in Mainline churches is that God is all about love. I struggle with that belief. I know that God is a loving God, and as expressed in the life, death and resurrection of Christ, we get to see a God that really did love those... Continue Reading →
Autism and Grace
Rod Dreher, who has a son who is also autistic, wrote a post called the "Gift of Autism," and he said he wrote that title with some trepidation.As someone who is autistic, I can understand that. I know the common thing among those of us who are autistic is to talk about how wonderful being... Continue Reading →
The Problems With Following Jesus
I finally finished reading Andrew Sullivan's Holy Week essay on Christianity in Crisis. There's a lot of think about in this article, so I have a list of what questions came to mind as a read this.We really can't know Jesus without the church. Sullivan seems to think there is the pure Jesus out there... Continue Reading →
The Clockwork Pastor 