Yesterday I attended Connecting the Dots: Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Training. The event was co-sponsored by More Light Presbyterians and Just Texas and hosted by Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ in Dallas. The Rev. Alex Patchin McNeill, Executive Director of More Light Presbyterians, served as the primary trainer. My biggest takeaway from the day was a reminder that simply saying "all are welcome" on websites, worship bulletins, and other materials is not enough. Read More …
Discipleship
Expanding My Horizons (#1829)
During the fall semester, I'm teaching an adult Sunday School class at First Presbyterian Church (Fort Worth, TX) on Future Faith. Each week we are exploring one of the ten challenges Wesley Granberg-Michaelson identified in his new book: Future Faith: Ten Challenges Reshaping Christianity in the 21st Century. Last Sunday our topic was "Embracing the Color of the Future." This message was challenging for us to consider. The Read More …
My “What Next?” (#1827)
Tomorrow I start a a new role as the Associate Executive Director at the Mansfield Mission Center. In this new role, I'll be focusing on three Ps: People: designing and implementing a new human resources strategy (we currently have an amazing team of 30+ staff and 500+ volunteers and expect many more people to join us as we live into our bold vision for a brighter future for all people in our community)Programs: refining and implementing a new integrated program model to better serve Read More …
Future Faith – Coming Soon (#1820)
I'm excited to announce that I'll be teaching a class titled "Future Faith" at First Presbyterian Church (Fort Worth, Texas) starting Sunday, September 15. The class will meet for 11 consecutive Sundays at 10:00 a.m. All are welcome. The class is inspired by Wesley Granberg-Michaelson's book Future Faith: Ten Challenges Reshaping Christianity in the 21st Century - a book I Read More …
Back to the Basics: Jesus’ Priorities (#1818)
This is the time of year when students of all ages are heading back to school. At the Mansfield Mission Center we will kick off the new school year with a staff study on The Jesus Priorities. Over the next ten weeks we will consider eight essential habits that Jesus prioritized expecting that Jesus' priorities will increasingly become our priorities. Origin The eight priorities shown in the image above are the top priorities of Jesus based on Christopher Maricle's book: Read More …
God’s Doors Are Open To All (#1815)
Bright, beautiful, multi-colored doors dispalying the message "God's doors are open to all" greeted me as I entered Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ's sanctuary this morning. Open Doors I was delighted to attend worship at Cathedral of Hope this morning for the congregation's anniversary service. From a group of twelve people gathering in a home 49 years ago, the Cathedral of Hope has grown to become one of the largest congregations in the United Church of Christ. Throughout Read More …
Embracing a New Spiritual Practice (#1814)
I just finished reading Alice Connor's delightful new book How to Human: An Incomplete Manual for Living in a Messed Up World (Fortress Press, 2019). Meet Alice Connor Connor, an Episcopal priest who leads a campus ministry at the University of Cincinnati called Edge House, is a master storyteller and a skilled discipler. She also has a gift for saying the things that others often leave unsaid. A Read More …
Living Christianly (#1813)
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 …
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 …