Galen Guengerich, senior minister of All Souls Unitarian Church (New York City, NY) and of author of God Revised (one of my top books of 2013), recently wrote about the "selfie culture" on the occasion of the Oxford Dictionary adding this word to their 2013 edition. Selfies are pictures people take of themselves then share via social media. They are doing far more than merely cluttering social media feeds. Guengerich writes: This moment in dictionary history may Read More …
Academic Teaching (in Church) (#1338)
Stephen Mattson recently proposed a list of seven things churches have largely stopped doing that he believes they should still be doing: discipline, testimonials, corporate prayer, challenge, academically teach, sacrifice, and practical ministry. Academically Teach While each item on his list is worth considering, I found myself most intrigued by #4: academically teach. Mattson writes: Churches used to be innovative leaders in education, but now all “higher level” Read More …
Which Disciple Are You? (#1337)
A few days ago I finally gave in and submitted my answers to a rather unusual (ok, I will admit it: somewhat bizarre) quiz making the rounds on social media. If you have a sense of humor and enough patience to answer ten questions, then you can learn which one of Jesus' disciples you are most like. It turns out that, according to my responses to this quiz, my New Testament alter ego is Saint Jude. So What? While being asked to choose a color and choose a month as a part of the Read More …
Sermon: Do the Impossible (#1336)
Sermon Text: Matthew 25:31-46 Sermon Excerpt Texas was my home from birth until I moved to Florida in 2007. After so many years in one place, my adjustments were many: from big city to small town, from a stable annual population to a community that swells several months each year, and from weather worries centered on tornadoes to those focused on hurricanes. Within days of arriving, I had several conversations about hurricanes and learned that I had arrived right in the middle of Read More …
An Amazing Welcome (#1335)
Quinn Caldwell is the pastor of Plymouth Congregation Church (Syracuse, NY) and a member of the United Church of Christ Stillspeaking Writers’ Group. A few years ago when he was serving at Old South Church (Boston, MA), he wrote about the welcome that church provides to all: In the name of Jesus Christ, and through his spirit, we bid you welcome to Old South Church in Boston, an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ. You are welcome here if you are Read More …
Recent Reading (#1334)
In the quest to keep reading new material while balancing the demands of more "jobs" than I have ever held at one time, I have opted to forgo my normal weekly book reviews for the first half of the year. When my interim pastoral ministry role is complete, I plan to resume those reviews. Today, I share four books I have read recently that I enjoyed enough that I will recommend them (listed by rating, on a scale of 5.0): (5) God for Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Lent and Read More …
So Many Pastoral Stunts (#1333)
David Gibson's recent Religion News Service article listed 12 stunts performed by pastors that received significant publicity, including bishops pretending to be homeless, a week of congregational copulation (followed up with a bed in), living the bible as literally as possible (including Rachel Held Evans' A Year of Biblical Womanhood), eating foods that can be purchased on a "food stamp" budget, and losing weight for the Lord. So What? Each of these stunts was designed Read More …
Why Facebook? (#1332)
According to a recent Pew Research survey, men and women share many "major reasons" for using Facebook. The top reason women use Facebook is to see photos/videos whereas the top reason men use Facebook is that it allows them to share with many people at once. So What? Whether you are a relative newcomer to Facebook or have been a part of this social community for many years, it is likely your own major reasons for using it have evolved over time. While some of the change may have Read More …
Reality Check: Religious Non-Affiliation (#1331)
In recent months I have had more conversations than ever before about the continued rise of the nones (the increase in the percentage of American adults without formal religious affiliation). While there is plenty of data out there showing that the percentage of nones is increasing (for example:"America the Religiously Diverse" and "Rise of the Nones") it doesn't answer the number one assumption I hear: as people age they become more religious. This assumption sounds logical and Read More …
Learning from Diana Butler Bass (#1330)
After two years of planning, the big weekend finally arrived. Naples United Church of Christ welcomed Diana Butler Bass for our annual weekend lecture series. This year's theme was chosen to compliment Valentine's Day weekend: "The Romance of Faith." At the kick-off lecture on Friday night, Diana spoke on "The God Who Woos." She reminded us that our faith is supposed to be a romance, suggested that we consider our teaching of sexuality not as stop signs (what not to do) Read More …