Giving Thanks in Advent World

Thanksgiving is a time of looking back and giving thanks to God. Advent is a time of looking forward and living into God's promised future. Below, I did a video on Advent and Thanksgiving in light of the recent shooting at an LGBTQ bar in Colorado Springs. https://youtu.be/pwnUqiZh-ic

Are We A Progressive Church?

Is First Christian a progressive congregation? The answer is complex.

Brayden’s Big Break

If you are part of a congregation, know that there are probably people in your congregation who stutter or have some sort of neurodiversity like autism or ADHD.

Who Was That Masked Stranger?

I'm going to wear the mask because when we wonder if Jesus would wear a mask, all I need to do is look to Philippians to know the answer.

Big Me and Little Jesus

Maybe as Christians we need to start engaging and changing the nature of social media instead of letting it change us.

The Politics of Jesus

The church needs to be political, if it can learn what it means to be a political church.

The Politics of Fear, Reconsidered

It's wrong to be hate another person for their religion. But God also looks down on pride, the sense that you are better than others because you are so righteous.

The Invisibility of Progressive Christianity

Every so often, I've heard an argument that goes like this:  "the press only talks about the Christians vs. the gays as if all Christians are against being gay.  Don't they know that there are Christians who support gays?" The frustration comes from being ignored by the wider culture, especially the media.  When we think...

Was Jesus a Progressive Rabbi?

Before I say anything, take a look at this  graphic. I've seen a few people on Facebook share this image from theologian Benjamin Corey and I have to say that it bothers me.  Maybe Corey thinks he is sharing the gospel truth, but I don't think he's doing that.  He is peddaling a Jesus in...

Big Me and Little Jesus

Over the years, I've noticed a change on social media.  When I started writing on LiveJournal about 15 years ago, the circles of friends were fairly open about their lives.  They wouldn't share their deepest secrets with everybody, but they would with a certain group.  There was nothing exhibitionist about it- it was just everyday...