Musings on Faith, Culture and ADHD
This week's drama over the issue of same-sex marriage at the Supreme Court has been nothing short of historic. American society is at a point that I thought wouldn't come for several years, if not decades. Same sex marriage might be legal in most of the nation in a few short years. Here in Minnesota,... Continue Reading →
This is a sermon I gave at an ecumenical service in 2010. “A Tale of Four Marys” John 19:25 Good Friday April 2, 2010 Central Lutheran Church Minneapolis, MN When I was asked to speak on the three Marys, I have to be honest that nothing was immediately coming to mind. What could I... Continue Reading →
It's Holy Week, so that means I'm going to hear a number of pastors use their blog space to talk about how they don't buy atonement. They don't believe that Jesus died for our sins, they don't like using the cross which is considered a symbol of violence, they don't like the focus on blood,... Continue Reading →
I don't know when it happened, but at some point it became fashionable among both secular and religious progressives to bash the Catholic Church for basically everything under the sun. Since the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, I've heard a number of slams against the church including that it is old-fashioned, sexist, homophobic and the... Continue Reading →
I'm planning to write a post on Pope Francis and the reaction he's getting from progressive Christians. Until then, I share this sermon from 2004. It was written during a pretty challenging time in my life. “Waiting to Inhale” Romans 5:1-5, John 16:12-16 Lake Harriet Christian Church Minneapolis, MN June 6, 2004 I... Continue Reading →
Ever since it appeared a few weeks ago, I've been thinking about John Vest's blog post called "The Vine is Dying." The Presbyterian pastor from Chicago has been involved in finding ways to help the Presbyterian Church (USA) rebound after decades of decline and his February 27 post was one borne of frustration with the... Continue Reading →
I'm preaching next Sunday and the gospel text is the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Bible Scholar Kenneth Bailey brings a different perspective of the famous story grounded in the context of Middle Eastern culture. h/t Michael Kruse
This is a sermon from my Community of Grace days. I think my sermon writing is a lot better than it was back then, but the essence of the sermon is still prescient. “Three Beeps Means ‘I Love You’” Micah 6:1-8 January 23, 2005 Community of Grace Christian Church St. Paul, MN I’m going... Continue Reading →
“This I Believe” Isaiah 43:1-7 and Luke 3:15-22 Baptism of Jesus January 13, 2013 First Christian Church Minneapolis, MN I really had a temptation to call this Dennis’ Baptismal Follies, because me and baptism have had a troubled relationship. There was nothing wrong with baptism per se, but it was how I learned of baptism... Continue Reading →
It was about 15 years ago that I saw firsthand how love of enemy and justice for the oppressed clashed with each other. I was in seminary at the time and one Sunday afternoon, I went to a discussion held at a local Lutheran church. The then-Bishop of the St. Paul Area Synod of the... Continue Reading →
The Clockwork Pastor 