Our own reactions to the perceived differentness of others matters. Our assumptions matter. Love means owning my reactions so I can treat the beloved person before me with love.

darkness, and know bone deep that God already knows we’re assholes, somehow loves us anyway, and calls us to love us too! — even knowing that we’ll continue to be broken and toxic and fickle. God doesn’t love our fickle toxicity, but loves and tends to the wounded heart at the center of it. In this love, God calls us to love and tend to our own wounded hearts so that we in our pain won’t cause pain to the wounded hearts around us.

Part 2 in a multipart series exploring the scriptural basis and theological explanation of why I say that there is no sin in one’s gender identity or orientation, and that there’s no peculiar sin in these relationships that isn’t present in every marriage or partnership … Continue reading Reflections on Love: Plain Clothes Preachers

Part 1 in a multipart series exploring the scriptural basis and theological explanation of why I say that there is no sin in one’s gender identity or orientation, and that there’s no peculiar sin in these relationships that isn’t present in every marriage or partnership … Continue reading Reflections on Love: Conscience Unbound

An Experiential Reflection of the Resurrection Standing at the edge of the entrance and peering inside, he looked in and saw them lying there. Running past the beloved one, it took a moment to process the shock of seeing the linen that covered his face … Continue reading Considering Mary Magdalene

The works of your hands are faithfulness and justice;  all of your precepts are sure. They stand fast forever and ever,  because they are done in truth and equity.  Psalm 111:7-8 My daughter spent what felt like five minutes looking at my hand after I … Continue reading Good Deeds, Done Expensively

The Church has its own calendar, and each season has a color. We haven’t reached Pentecost yet, but we’re back to green until Ash Wednesday, meaning that it’s Ordinary Time. This might seem weird right now, considering COVID and all the crazy things going on … Continue reading Ordinary Epiphanies

I agree that these are stances and beliefs clearly opposed by the Gospel and are prevalent in the American Church. My disagreement with Pastor Watts is with his assertion that this way of sinning is somehow a new and uniquely American misrepresentation of God, Jesus, and Scripture.

When it comes to Sin, ehilr er Americans might put our own spin on it, our Sin is not very original.

The congregation I began serving as pastor in December 2020 provides a constant stream of amazement for me. I love getting to meet new people, learn new things about the ministry and history of the congregation, and hear stories of something wonderful we’ve done. I … Continue reading Normal Radicals