Christian Spirituality

Lent: Give it ALL up

Feb
22
2012

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If you’re a Christian who’s been wondering what you might this year give up for Lent, might I suggest that instead of giving up something, you give up everything? Everything. All of it. All you are. All you have. All you know yourself to be.

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“I’ll do” is not “I’ll do you.”

Feb
18
2012

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Relative to some of the conversation that’s come up around yesterday’s post, If no one’s being hurt, God’s okay with your sexuality: Saying that God doesn’t condemn any two consenting adults who love each other in whatever way they might is not at all the same as encouraging or condoning casual sex. Conflating those two is [...]

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All in all, we’re just another brick in the wall

Jan
13
2012

TWC-120x120Opaque

About a year ago, under the title Toward a Christianity of Common Sense, I published a 16-point articulation of a Christian theology that, to me, makes sense. I only (if carefully, with input on it from the best pastors, theologians, and Christian layperson I know) wrote it because I couldn’t find anything like it. The [...]

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The Life of the Party

Jan
08
2012

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In his most recent sermon, my dear friend Pastor Bob talked about John 2:1-11, wherein Jesus changes water into wine. For whatever it’s worth (and it’s certainly not worth what Pastor Bob had to say about it), below is a little something I once wrote about John 2:1-11. It’s an excerpt from my book, I’m [...]

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What (if anything) should public schools teach children about religion?

Dec
27
2011

iam

I recently received an email seeking my contribution to a book wherein people prominent in various fields answer the question, “What (if anything) should public schools teach children about religion?” Among those who have already submitted their answer are former US President Jimmy Carter; John Hennessy (president, Stanford University); Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; Katharine Jefferts Schori (Presiding Bishop, [...]

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Now comes God

Dec
23
2011

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Christmas is our one chance, once a year, to revel in the truly new. Now comes to us the essence and totality of all that we have ever been or dreamed we might become. Now comes God. Made of man! Made of woman. Made of us. Made of the best of us—and more, of course. [...]

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Posts by Theme

Christian Issues

Evangelicals and Muslims: Both Love Jesus

Aug
18
2010

muslims_believe_in_jesus

Today at lunch I asked Pastor Bob, “If you could say any one thing about Islam or Muslims to American Christians, or to Americans generally, what would it be?” As he started talking, I started taking notes. This is what he said.

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Relationships

When Your Heart Leaves Home

Aug
27
2011

panddaughter

The reflections of a good man upon the occasion of his daughter leaving home for college.

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Christian Spirituality

What Jesus Left Out of The Great Commandment

Oct
31
2011

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“Why would Jesus leave something important out of the Great Commandment? I believe it was so that we could discover that thing for ourselves.”

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Humor

Why Aren’t Fundamentalists Telepathic Comedians?

Feb
28
2011

mindboy

I knew I’d end up in hell! There’s such a dangblangit fine line between “Funny!” and “Meet Snikky and Snarky, the two fanged minions who throughout eternity will be jabbing at you with searing tridents. Have fun, funny boy!”

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Pastor Bob's Corner

A Primer on Islam: The Basics (Lesson 1 of 6)

Sep
30
2011

pastorbob1

Hi. I’m Pastor Bob. This is the first lesson of a multi-week class on Islam I taught for a large gathering of folks from multiple congregations: Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Catholics, recovering agnostics, etc.

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Personal

My Five Reasons For Not Having Children

Nov
20
2009

world

When young my wife and I decided not to have children. Here’s why.

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