Nearly half a month into 2015 the newness of a new year is fading. Those who made New Year's resolutions are either beginning to let them go or firmly engaged in their pursuit in ways that are sustainable. Tom Ehrich proposed a list of three faith trends for 2015 topped by "memories are fading." Ehrich believes Christianity in the present and future will benefit by fewer and fewer Christians having memories of the boom time in American Christianity back in the 1950s. He has Read More …
Sermon: Experiencing & Extending God’s Welcome (#1512)
Text: Luke 14: 7-15 Sermon Excerpt What in the name of God is going on here? This is a question you will hear me ask many times in the weeks ahead. I begin this morning as I did with the children – with welcome. I imagine many, perhaps even most of you have a welcome mat outside the front door of your home. It is a sign to all who approach your residence that they will find welcome within. Newcomers to communities of faith are usually not looking down to read words on the Read More …
Top 10 Faith Enriching Books (#1511)
Since launching this blog in 2009, I have reviewed over 150 books and recommended nearly 100 more. Starting in 2010, I have published annual lists of my top books published each year (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014). Each year, I have concluded alphabetical top ten lists with the two books that had the greatest impact on my own faith journey during that year. Together these ten volumes create a list of my Top 10 Recently Published Faith Enriching Read More …
Three Invitations (#1510)
Consider this your personal invitation to join me and many others for one of three events I am facilitating over the next four weeks: Sunday, January 11 at Fort Myers Congregational UCC (Fort Myers, FL). Join us at 10:00 a.m. for worship on the occasion of my first Sunday to preach since assuming the role of Transitional Minister (more about this new role). Tuesday, January 13 at Naples United Church of Christ (Naples, FL). Join us at 7:00 p.m. for Christian Piatt’s talk Read More …
Striking Religious Findings from 2014 (#1509)
Pew Research Center continues to be a leader in providing research and commentary on matters of faith that matter. During 2014 they published 150+ reports and 600+ blog posts considering what is happening in the USA and the world. At the close of the year they reviewed this massive body of work and created a list of 14 facts they "found particularly striking, as they illustrate some major shifts in our politics, society, habits or families." Read More …
End of Year Book Recommendations (#1508)
While I already posted my December book recommendations and my Top 10 Books of 2014, neither list includes a few books that I read in the waning days of 2014. The best from that group follow (rated on a scale of 1-5). (5) Pray: Prayers for People Who Say They Can't by Donna Schaper (2014) (4.5) All Whom God Has Joined: Resources for Clergy & Same-Gender Loving Couples by Leanne McCall Tigert and Maren Tirabassi (2010) (4) Small Victories: Spotting Improbable Read More …
Church Construction at All Time Low (#1507)
This year will go down as having the lowest level of construction of religious buildings in the United States since private records started in 1967. More specifically, Ben Leubsdorf notes the following statistics in his recent piece in the Wall Street Journal: space: 10.3 million square feet of religious construction is projected this year, down 6% from 2013 and 80% since construction peaked in 2002 ( Dodge Data & Analytics) dollars: spending on construction totaled $3.15 billion Read More …
Top Posts of 2014 (#1506)
According to the number of page visits during this calendar year, the most popular posts I wrote in 2014 are Sensory Maundy Thursday Which Disciple Are You? Pastoral Prayer: Love How Worship is Evolving Sermon: More Than Showing Up So What? As the year winds down I always enjoy reading a variety of top ten lists and other lists sharing top moments, experiences, and posts of the year. Share a link to the most interesting Top 10 or top list of 2014 you have read so far. Which of Read More …
Am I a Christian? (#1505)
Christianity is the world's largest religion. Nearly 1 in 3 people (31.5%) are Christian. In 2011 following extensive research, Pew released "Global Christianity: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population." They found: About half of all Christians worldwide are Catholic (50%), while more than a third are Protestant (37%). Orthodox communions comprise 12% of the world’s Christians. Other Christian groups, which make up the remaining 1%, include the Church Read More …
Christmas Story: Fact or Fable? (#1504)
Over the years I have encountered many passionate people who were not only certain they held the only proper perspective about the Christmas story, but were equally committed to converting others to share such a view. Interestingly, I have been involved in numerous one-on-one and group conversations with those who were certain the Christmas story is a fact as it is recorded in the Gospels and also with those who are certain the story is just a fable. Marcus Borg, a progressive Christian Read More …