Yesterday I was drawn into conversation around two hashtags that were trending on Twitter: #ThingsJesusNeverSaid#FakeChristian Many people I follow and respect along with a host of unfamiliar individuals weighed in on one or both topics. A common thread in both streams was the critique of some who self-identify as Christian but seem to live in ways that are not consistent with Jesus' core teachings. The Good Samaritan Given all that is happening in our country and in Read More …
Discipleship
Nationalism: Just Say No (#1811)
Many people have identity issues. Many Christians residing in America have an identity problem related to both being American and being Christian. Being American / Being Christian It is possible to both be American and Christian. It is not, however, possible to fully pledge one's allegiance to nation as that act necessarily makes nation one's primary commitment. Jesus made it clear that all who follow the Way of Jesus seek first the kindom (kingdom / realm / Read More …
Top 5 Posts of 2019 (January – June) (#1809)
I've written more blog posts during the first half of the year this year than any year since 2015. My readers have selected the following posts as the top posts so far this year based on the number of page views each has received year to date. I’m Back: My Return to the Mansfield Mission Center (March)Our Search for a Church 2.0 is Over! (May)Book Recommendations – March 2019 (March)Visiting 50+ Churches in Dallas – Fort Worth (February)Top 12 Authors: 2009-2019 Read More …
We are the Kindom of God (#1808)
Over the last few days, I've been watching my social feeds for updates on the United Church of Christ's General Synod in Milwaukee, WI. Yesterday afternoon, I was able to watch the livestream of the worship service that included a sermon given by Rev. Traci Blackmon. Rev. Blackmon is Associate General Minister of Justice & Local Church Ministries for the United Church of Christ, and she serves as Senior Pastor of Christ The King United Church of Christ (Florissant, MO). I had the Read More …
An Alternative Friday Night Experience (#1806)
There are many Friday night events that draw large crowds in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. I've never heard a hymn festival mentioned on any list of most popular Friday night events. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I was one of more than 300 people on Facebook who had indicated they were going or were interested in attending The Church Music Institute's hymn festival entitled, "All Times and All Places Praise the Lord." Held on Friday, June 14 at St. Stephen Presbyterian Read More …
A Decade of So What Faith (#1805)
I decided to start a blog in the spring of 2009. On June 11, 2009, I published my first blog post. Over the last decade, I've written over 1,800 posts - a post about every other day! Top Posts My attempt to determine the top all time posts is somewhat limited since I did not add Google analytics to this site until October 2012. From that date to present, the 18 most viewed posts (roughly the top 1%) are Prayers of the People - Youth Sunday (2009)Pastoral Prayer - Love (2014)Review Read More …
A Compelling Version of Christianity (#1804)
I cannot count the number of times in recent years that I've had to explain that I'm not the type of Christian someone assumes I am (and/or assumes all Christians are). A Compelling Christianity It is helpful to focus on what one's version of Christianity is about or stands for rather than how it differs from another type of Christianity that is best known for what it is against. Rozella Haydée White formerly served in the national setting of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Read More …
My Life in Ministry: The First 20 Years (#1802)
I went to college to prepare to enter vocational ministry. During seminary, I assumed that I would spend the rest of my working years in pastoral ministry in a local congregation. Experience Like many people in my generation who went straight from life as a traditional undergraduate student to seminary, my vocational path has broadened in recent years. After serving in long-term roles in local congregations from 2000 to 20012, I ventured into interim ministry beginning in 2013. Read More …
Honk if You’re Holy!?! (#1799)
I like to take pictures of religious signs, including those on vehicles. I discovered this "Honk if You're Holy!" sign in a parking lot in Florida back in 2015. Of the three signs displayed on the vehicle it is the one that captured my attention (the other sign on the rear read "JW.ORG Psalms 83:18 and a sign on the side simply displayed the number 144,000). Would You Honk? When I originally shared this image on Facebook I asked the question, "Would you honk?" Some of the more Read More …
Our Search for a Church 2.0 is Over! (#1798)
I know quite a bit about churches. I was raised in the church, studied ministry as an undergraduate, attended seminary, and served 9 congregations. I know far less about searching for a church to participate in as an active member. My wife and I embarked on what I know think of as our original search for a church in March 2015 after I completed an interim ministry role and we moved from Southwest Florida to North Texas. That 70 week long search included attending worship 61 times in 36 different Read More …