Don’t Be a Coward
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but we have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 Fear is of the devil! It comes about when one does not trust God to know what
Category Archives: Faith & Witness
Standing Firm — Faith
Persecution is as old as recorded history. Being right has nothing to do with being popular or accepted. You know what you know. The approval and disapproval of others, both subtly and blatantly is to be expected no matter what path our life takes. The
What If They Won’t Ordain You?
“What if they won’t ordain you?” “You could leave the Presbyterian Church [USA] . . . that is what people are doing in other churches and that’s leaving a shortage in qualified people for the ministry and that sends a message too.” Both of these
If I Keep My Eyes on Jesus, I Can Walk on Water
The older I get, and the more I live out the blessing of my sexuality, the more the incident of Jesus calling Peter to walk on the water to him comes to means to me. Amid a raging storm, and a supposed “apparition” of Jesus,
Are All Welcome?
Being convinced that the Biblical intent for sexual behavior is loving fidelity within marriage and celibacy outside marriage, we intend to pursue a clear statement of policy on the part of the United Church of Canada declaring the unsuitability of self-declared practicing homosexual persons for
An Urban Pilgrimage: Thoughts on Race, Sexuality and Spiritual Violence
I have, since 1996, lived in the Borough of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. A mainly working-class town, Wilkinsburg has a population that is about half African-American and half non-Hispanic Caucasian. In my four years in Wilkinsburg, I have discovered no evidence of any significant Latino population. Because
Spiritual Abuse: How To Recognize It, and 1 Way To Overcome It
Spiritual abuse: What is it? A preacher, his face distorted with rage, shouts anti-gay slogans from his pulpit into a television camera. A mother quietly tells her son that he is no longer her son because he has just revealed that he is gay. She
Keep Choosing God, and the Rest of Your Life Comes Into Focus
Choosing God: For the glory of God When your eating, drinking, working, playing, speaking, or writing is no longer for the glory of God, you should stop it immediately, because when you no longer live for the glory of God, you begin to live for
Practicing the Presence of the Living God
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! This month’s topic is so close to my heart that I’m not even sure where to begin! Let’s see … I could try to tempt your tastebuds by describing the experiences of famous devotional authors: I would cite Brother
Seeking the Life Hid With Christ in God
Few topics are as difficult, or important, as this one. The desire for God to be at center — to BE the center — this is the quest which gives my life meaning! And yet, all too often it is the very thing I neglect.