What are we including and why? Why are we being inclusive? What are we being inclusive for?
What Are We Being Inclusive For? (Revisited)
Gathered and Sent
The changing of the seasons and the act of blessing backpacks and students has me thinking about coming together and going out, or in church parlance, gathering and sending.
What Is Mission First All About?
At the 2015 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Columbus, Ohio, those gathered heard about a new initiative being rolled out called Mission First. Mission First seems to be a way to retool the denomination for the 21st century. A central part of this initiative is to have Mission Gatherings... Continue Reading →
First Comes Marriage, then Comes Grace
Well, it finally happened. After a decade or so of amendments, court challenges, referreudum and the like, same sex marriage is now legal accross the United States. The 5-4 decision by the Supreme Court was a momentous day for many LGBT Americans, myself included. Of course, this news is personal for me. Like a lot... Continue Reading →
Fear Factor
Religious conservatives and the LGBT community have to learn to make room for each other.
Sermon: Getting God’s Goat
Start Play Matthew 25:31–46 | Fifth Sunday of Lent | March 22, 2015 | First Christian Church | Mahtomedi, MN | Dennis Sanders, preaching "Not all the sheep are good all of the time. Not all of the goats are bad all of the time. We are sometimes sheep, giving of ourselves to help... Continue Reading →
What Are We Being Inclusive For?
There has been something that has been bothering me for a while. Usually when people start talking about gay ordination or same-sex marriage, someone on the pro side will say something to the effect: "Jesus was inclusive," or "Jesus welcomed everybody." Now, I'm all for welcoming people into our churches in the way that Jesus... Continue Reading →
Praying for Revival (I Think)…
A few years ago, I was at a local gathering of Disciples (my denomination) in Minnesota. It was a good event overall, a time when our small tribe could gather to worship and fellowship. Somewhere early in the event, there was a slide that showed all of the Disciple congregations in Minnesota that no longer... Continue Reading →
Sermon: Out of the Saltshaker
Those of us who follow Jesus are called to leave the saltshakers of our own making and do good works for the glory of God in the wider world.
Sermon: Make Me Wanna Holler
Habakkuk 1:1–4, 2:2–4 and 3:17–19 First Sunday in Advent November 30, 2014 First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN My dad was always concerned whenever I did something with one my white female friends. I never really understood what was the deal. I had no interest in dating them, just hanging out with them. I went to... Continue Reading →
The Clockwork Pastor 