God Is…
At one time in my life, when I was in the midst of a very difficult time, I recall an argument that I had with a self-proclaimed “born again Atheist” friend of mine. Before he and I had crossed paths, he had at one time
Why Is Luther Winking?
A friend of mine, just back from a conference at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s headquarters in Chicago (our “Vatican”), sported a sassy new T-shirt. On the front was a colorful portrait of Martin Luther, giving the world a jaunty wink. And on the
Behold the Butt of God
Readings: Exodus 33:12-23, Matthew 22:15-22 I used to think my dad was God. He was a Southern Baptist preacher and each Sunday I’d see him ascend onto the stage and take his place behind the pulpit. There he was – placed high above those of
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Chicago Theological Seminary Reading for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 I am grateful to President Thistlethwaite for the invitation to be with you today – and to Dr. Haldeman and the LGBT students who worked with him on the marvelous liturgy that
How Should We Respond to the Vatican’s Decision Barring Gays From Seminaries and the Priesthood?
On Sept 21st, I read in the New York Times that the Vatican, under Pope Benedict, the former Joseph Ratzinger of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is considering the decision to bar all gays, even celibates, from the priesthood. My immediate reaction
Up to Our Necks in Pearls
Gentle Shepherd Metropolitan Community Church, Phoenix, Ariz. Reading for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, sold all else that he had and bought it. (Matthew
Sermon Mad Libs
MCC Columbia, S.C. Readings: Luke 15:11-24, Romans 8:5-11 Back in 1953, Leonard Stern, one of the writers for the TV show “The Honeymooners,” was working on writing a new character into the series. He was stuck for a descriptive passage and yelled out to his co-writer Roger
Love in Action Co-Founder: ‘My Ministry Shatters Lives’
Author Wayne Besen has released an explosive letter by Love In Action’s co-founder and former ex-gay John Evans, which rebukes gay conversion groups saying that they “shattered lives.” The group he started has recently made headlines because it runs a boot camp for gay teens
Mother Teresa in Heaven
When Mother Teresa died and went to heaven, God greeted her at the Pearly Gates. “Be thou hungry, Mother Teresa?” asked God. “I could eat,” Mother Teresa replied. So God opened a can of tuna and reached for a chunk of rye bread and they
Where Was Jesus Born?
A lifelong unchurched man suddenly develops a vague religious urge and decides to join a church — any church. So he sets out to find one. His first stop is a Roman Catholic church where he asks what he has to do to join. The