I've always felt gratitude and respect for the service of the outgoing Presidents, even the ones for whom I didn't vote. Until this one. It’s the last twenty-four hours of his term, and I’m not breathing a sigh of relief just yet. In every church I ever served, there was a Trump personality who grasped … Continue reading I Hope I’m Wrong About This Prediction
Category: church
Maybe Less Can Be More
Am I the guy who was once the starting quarterback but is now diminished to where I only play occasionally off the bench? I can’t look at it like that. I have a whole life to live and it does not include becoming less as I get older.
A Conspiracy of Silence
I’m horrified that we locked my sweet, loveable, funny aunt into a prison of silence, where she dreaded the day she would die and go to the hell we had created.
Will God Answer for His Actions?
Over my time as a minister, people whispered these questions to me, often ashamed to put them into words. I’m articulating them in hopes of engaging their thinking.
Drowning in the Baptismal Waters
It has taken me a long time to see that our religion could be a tool to prey on the vulnerable. The baptismal waters come closer to drowning them rather than cleansing them.
What I Said Then; What I Say Now
I told the young teens, “Your parents baptized you when you were little and raised you to hear the teachings of the church. But confirmation is your chance to take ownership of your thoughts and beliefs. Nobody can make you. Not your parents. Not me. Even God won’t. "
Evolution and Those Left Behind
I still love the people of the church. I cared for them my entire life.... I didn’t want to leave them behind but I couldn't be like them anymore.
Atheism Versus the Easter Bunny
Many Christians accuse atheists of having a hidden agenda, which I think takes a special blend of nerve and insanity, considering that their highest priority is to convert the entire world.
Southern Baptist Terror
"Let me ask you," he said to the little children, "If you were to die in your sleep tonight, where would you go?"
Standing Apart from the Crowd
I’ve been observing crowds all my life. I’ve seen them get sad, anxious, giddy, angry, reactive, and just plain stupid. People who were generally thoughtful as individuals could lose their ability to think for themselves when influenced by a crowd.