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The Sleeping Giant of Progressive Christianity
Is this the end? Phyllis Tickle has long argued that the fight over human sexuality and marriage is the last battle of the culture war. It is the last plank of the cultural conservative political platform; and the plank is crumbling. That is why the fight has been so brutal. She argues that conservative Christians…
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5 Things I loved about Wild Goose
We finally made it to Wild Goose. After the last four years saying “I really wish we could go,” which became “let’s give it a try,” which became “we’ll go next year.” It finally became “we’re going!” We just got back from the Wild Goose Festival in Hot Springs, North Carolina this weekend. Rose and I…
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Simple, bold, NOW!
Several years ago, I made a nearly nightly trip to Barnes & Noble to read and write. I had discovered Seth Godin’s books Tribes and The Dip and I was starting another: Lynchpin. This was the book I was looking for. In a very literal and figurative way. It was the book. The book I…
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Is the church’s message really “we don’t love you”?
For us, the ultimate example of marriage is found in Romeo and Juliet, not Genesis. It comes from true, burning desire to not only have sex with a person, but to be with a person, commit to that person, sit alongside that person every single day. To partner and respect and give and share and live a life…
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How Do Other People Hear Our Gospel Message?
It seems that, right now, in the United States, in the midst of the Charleston shooting, two years of national conversations about race, and arguing over the confederate flag, we have long ignored the most crucial part of communication. A Should’ve Asked Question When Jesus tells us to proclaim the gospel to all nations,…
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Literal revolutions : The flag, the killer, and a fluctuating view of how to literally “take America back”.
When I hear talk of “taking our country back” I rarely hear the voice of heroes come to save the Rebel Alliance, with Ben Kenobi as “our only hope.” I hear bigotry and division and might. I hear the faint call of the Empire coming to overtake the Republic. I have no memory of…
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A letter to Emanuel AME in Charleston, SC
Dear Brothers and Sisters of Emanuel AME, I can only begin to imagine the sense of loss and terror you are feeling. The horror of violence and suffering of Wednesday, the defilement of your temple and your people, has shaken me and many of my friends. Please know that our prayers are certainly with you…
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Shouldn’t all sacraments be on Sundays?
a Should’ve Asked Question Speaking to people much older than myself about baptism, I hear some pretty interesting things. First among them is how their children were baptized. Many of the people I’ve met in ministry have an experience of gathering with family on a Saturday for the baptism of their children. This practice is…