Musings on Faith, Culture and ADHD
Every so often, I've heard an argument that goes like this: "the press only talks about the Christians vs. the gays as if all Christians are against being gay. Don't they know that there are Christians who support gays?" The frustration comes from being ignored by the wider culture, especially the media. When we think... Continue Reading →
For the last few years, I've been impressed with a growing number of writers and bloggers, mostly from Methodist circles, but from some other traditions as well who seem to be carrying the Neo-Orthodox/Post-Liberal banner that had seem somewhat dormant for a while. I've been attracted to this stream of Protestantism after finding both evangelicalism... Continue Reading →
A friend on Facebook linked to an article in First Things by Mark Regnerus. Regnerus is an interesting fellow. He is a sociologist at the University of Texas and has been at the center of some controversy in recent years over a study he released on gay parenting that did not put same sex families... Continue Reading →
Start Play Work of Christmas Series | Matthew 3:1-17 | First Sunday of Epiphany | January 11, 2015 | Dennis Sanders, preaching "...today’s passage reminds us that baptism isn’t all sweetness and light. God wants people to live changed lives and when John baptizes these people, they are saying they will live a changed life.... Continue Reading →
As Jesus and his disciples traveled along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Human One[a] has no place to lay his head.” 59 Then Jesus said to someone else, “Follow me.” He replied, “Lord,... Continue Reading →
Writer’s note: I was going to write another post about church planting in Mainline churches, and I still plan to, but I think this post sums up a lot of what I am feeling still. One update: I am not leading the new church team anymore.
As most of you know, I’ve been the head of a new church ministry in my Region. There have been some good and not so good developments in the area of church planting last year, though for the most part it was a down year in many ways. The good news is that our group got bigger as a few more people expressed interest in being involved. The so-so news is how I’m leading. I want to give people the chance to step up and take part, but I have to balance that with the need to just get something done.
The not-so-good things is the fact that a lot of potential church plants just died on the vine. One planter looked like he was going to plant a new community in the eastern suburbs of the Twin Cities. Things seemed to be moving ahead and then he back out…
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For the last few months, I've been following a blog called Via Media Methodists. The purpose of VMM is: 1."To offer an alternative beyond the current polarization in The United Methodist Church; 2. To raise the level of discourse within The United Methodist Church; and 3. To practice what we preach." After a few bit... Continue Reading →
A few months ago, Methodist pastor and blogger Allan Bevere wanted my viewpoint on the argument that the acceptance of same-sex marriage will lead to polyandrous relationships. (Allan doesn't share that view, but is trying to answer that question.) I have to admit that I haven't answered Allan's question yet. It's not for lack of... Continue Reading →
My wife Jan and I have been members of First Christian Church of St. Paul for nearly 20 years. We love the congregational focus. We particularly embrace the dedication to the principles of wholeness and inclusiveness of the Disciples of Christ, that welcome everyone to the Communion Table with no exceptions. We have recently rededicated... Continue Reading →
This past week, the Presbyterian Church (USA) meeting in Detroit, approved pastors being able to marry same sex partners in states where same sex marriage is legal. According to Presbyterian polity, it still has to get the approval of the majority of presbyteries (there are 172) before it becomes the law. Judging Facebook and Twitter... Continue Reading →
The Clockwork Pastor 