The World's Okayest Pastor

  In the church I currently serve, we celebrate communion on the first Sunday of the month. Everytime we celebrate communion I always conclude the meditation and the Words of Institution with an invitation to the talbe that includes the following: Come to the table because this is God's table. It's not the table of this congregation or this denomination, but God's. Because of that you all are welcome here.   Some of my church members think that I just like to repeat myself. But I say this for theological reasons. All too often churches like to put up boundries to participation in the full life of the church: membership requirements, approval by the pastor, counsel/boards, reciting certain creeds/belief statements, etc. While these are more formal reasons that churches bar people from full participation in all aspects of the church, there are informal ways of keeping people from full participation: unwelcoming, rumor mills, creative ways of making sure people are not includ...

  This past week has been interesting to watch with the drama going on at the Rowan County courthouse in Kentucky. After SCOTUS' decision that bans on gay marrages were unconsitutional, Kim Davis, County Cleark - an elected offical, refused to issue any one a marriage license so not to discriminate because she believes that gay marriage is against her Christian beliefs.   After filing appeals and losing, Kim was sent to jail for contempt of court after still refusing to issue any marriage licenses. Couples could drive to a surrounding county courthouses to get a marriage license but a lawsuit was filed against Kim Davis and her office for refusing to comply with the law, orders from the govenor and the state attorney. Kim has spent several days in jail and she is still making the news, along with political candidates.   While I agree with Kim being sent to jail for failure to comply with the law and that she should either fulfill her duties she is paid to do by taxpayer...

Scripture readings are Acts 4:32-35 and  1 John 1: 1-2:2           So what do you hear or think about when we look at these scripture readings? Usually with the Acts reading, people think of Communism, not the China/North Korea version of it. But true, real communism, where everyone is taken care of and has what they need. Most folks don’t react very well with this concept today, especially in Western society because we've all earned what we have and if you don’t have what you need then you’re not trying hard enough. Let’s face it we've all had those thoughts running through our heads when we see someone asking for change or when you get in a line behind someone who’s using WIC to buy milk, juice, formula and other basic items and the cashier has no idea how to ring it up in the computer system so you have to wait a few minutes longer. Isn't it interesting how fast we jump to assume that these people have...

            I am convinced that there are not many new ideas coming out. For the most part, folks take what already exists and put it in new packaging or reword a phrase or two and then say it’s new. Think about your cell phones. We’re bombarded with constant ads that we need new ones that are better somehow. Really it’s the same thing, just coming out of a new box.             At times, when we follow the Church year it feels like there’s nothing new. We move from one thing to the next because, as the Church, it’s what we do. The Church  doesn't  really think of time like we do in our everyday lives. Generally, we think of time in a linear fashion; there’s a beginning, middle and end. So it’s already a shift in thinking when the Church year, although it technically does have a beginning (first Sunday of Advent) and end (Christ the King Sunday), is a circle. With a perfect circle ...

I feel like a broken record when in church. I feel like my sermons, liturgy and prayers are basically the same thing over and over. I've tried journaling about it. I've tried writing out my sermon, I've tried using notes/outline. I've watched new movies and shows, went and met and talked with new people. I've prayed/meditated on this and I still feel like I'm repeating myself. So I'm going over past bulletins and prayers trying to see if I'm really repeating myself as much as I like I am. Themes that I've seen: love, unity, growth, inclusion, forgiveness, generosity, mission, welcome/welcoming, struggle. I've only been with this current congregation for about 3 full months now. No one has said anything to me and when asked no one says I'm repeating (makes me wonder who really is listening). I do get the standard "nice sermon pastor" so I don't think anyone is unhappy and I would have heard the rumor mill by now if anyone was (...

Solomon Prays for Wisdom: What do we want? [i] Using Children’s Worship and Wonder format open with: ·          Welcoming the children ·          Explain the space ·          Sing “Father we Adore You” and “Be Still and Know” Story [ii] Solomon was the son of king David. He took over the thrown once David died. Solomon was a good man. He tried his best to follow the 10 best ways to live. One night, in a dream, God spoke to Solomon. God asked Solomon what he would like because Solomon had been so good and was living the best life he could. Solomon thought about it and said that he wanted God to help him know right from wrong. He wanted God to help him lead God’s people. Solomon could have asked for money, clothes, and many other things. But instead he asked for the right things and God was very pleased. God was so pleased that he not only gave Solomon the ab...

The Beatitudes: Beatitude Kiosk [i] Using Children’s Worship and Wonder format open with: ·          Welcoming the children ·          Explain the space ·          Sing “Father we Adore You” and “Be Still and Know” Story [ii] One time, Jesus was teaching. There were so many people that he went up on a mountain. Jesus began to teach them, by saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” “Blessed are those who mourn.” “Blessed are the meek.” “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst.” “Blessed are the merciful.” “Blessed are the pure in heart.” “Blessed are the peacemakers.” “Blessed are those who are persecuted.” “Blessed are you when people revile and persecute you.” These teachings are called the Beatitudes. Wondering Questions ·          I wonder what it was like to teach so many people? ·    ...

I grew up watching "Walker: Texas Ranger" probably because I have a father who, I believe secretly, wants to be a cowboy. I watched Chuck Norris solve the world's problems in an hour every week. Granted there were worse things to watch but I'm sure hoping there were better things too. But I'm disturbed that this picture was used as a sermon illustration. I believe that the point that the pastor was trying to make was that people and communities of faith need to have vision and a plan on how to make that vision a reality. Somehow this picture of Chuck Norris exemplifies this? I'm all for people of faith and congregations having vision and goals. But I have issues with this picture. First machine guns???? Who are we going to go kill in order to bring about this vision or goals? We're to be militant and use violence? Then the theme of patriotic loyalty. Vision is only for the United States? We're the only group of people that God blesses? It's okay ...

In a conversation with a more conservative Christian then me (take in mind I call myself a bed-wetting liberal and I’m also a big time Process Theologian) the person started rambling off scripture quotes (proof texting really) to make a point. I have never claimed to be a great memorizer of anything. And even though I have read the Bible many times and own many copies of the Bible, I am still not a person who can just pull out scripture references in mid conversation. I do have several verses that I turn to and love dearly but I can’t tell you word for word what John 2:5 or Ruth 1:4 says. This got me thinking, why do Christians really feel the need to qualify their faith based on the amount of scripture that they can recite from memory? While it may be very handy to be able to quote scripture in a variety of situations, I believe that this can be dangerous. Proof texting (pulling scripture, from any religion, to support an argument without careful and learned consideration for its cont...