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Values, Faith, and Church

A collection of 32 issues

One-Sentence Guideline for Christians

From Connie Schultz, panelist on last night's Bill Maher show: I was raised by a born-again Christian who taught us that being a good Christian meant fixing yourself and helping others, not the other way around. Okay, folks, there's your sermon for today; no need

Irony Is Lost on Some People

I wrote a big, long introduction to this, trying to find some way to explain it -- but I just can't explain it. Perhaps their good intentions can be their excuse. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/30/145245/63/817/647006

Life As Gift, Live As Gift

Sometimes, when you least expect it, grace breaks in. Sunday night was the Four Churches concert that our church participates in each fall. Having finished my small handbell contribution (we accompanied the first hymn), I sat down to enjoy the rest of the concert. As I looked around the beautiful

The Incarnation -- A Fake-Out?

We're working through Brian McClaren's book Everything Must Change at church on Sunday nights, and it's been a good study of a challenging book. (There are still some weeks to go -- come join us.) Today's section contained a point that really helped crystalize a thought for me, and challenged me as

Faith Versus Belief

I've started re-reading the book Stages of Faith (Amazon link [http://www.amazon.com/Stages-Faith-Psychology-Human-Development/dp/0060628669/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204508162&sr=8-1]) by Fowler. It's an important book, and I'm sure I'll post some more on it as I work my way through it.

The Question of Utility

I've been reading an interesting book (if you're a policy wonk like me) called The Utility of Force [http://www.amazon.com/Utility-Force-Rupert-Smith/dp/0713998369]. It's by a British general and military historian who explores the changing ability of military force to be useful politically, or as t

I'm Getting Tired of ... Religion

You know, I'm really getting tired of religion. I don't mean spirituality, necessarily, and I certainly don't mean the practice of Christlikeness. But I surely do mean the earthly-focused, useless, institutional, powerless, unexamined fabric of delusions and rituals that pass for Christianity in man

Have a Very Merry, Horribly Conflicted Christmas

(Cross-posted at DailyKos and at Street Prophets) I have always loved Christmas: the decorations, the special services at church, the parties, the time off. When I was young, the gifts were part of the attraction, but over time getting gifts has become much less important than giving them. One

Pastor Speaks Out on Walmart

(cross-posted at Daily Kos) Our church, and our pastor, are serious about two things: inviting people into the love and acceptance of God, and confronting injustice as the opportunity presents itself. So when Dr. Joseph Phelps of Highland Baptist in Louisville was contacted by the WakeUpWalmart folks and asked

Who Would Jesus Torture?

Our pastor, Joe Phelps, passed along an essay he did for Ethics Daily (link at the right). I cross-posted it on dailyKos here. Please go give it a read -- it's very good. Labels: Christianity, Jesus, non-violence, torture