What Reward Have You?
On my recent birthday, I received a card from one of my fundamentalist relatives. As usual I was happy to get it; and preparing to read of the goings on of my family on the other side of the country as well as a birthday
Hate and Grace in Kansas City
The wave of heat and humidity of a July day in Kansas City swept over my body and filled my lungs as I left the hotel. Blessedly, it was a short walk to the convention center, where I was a delegate to the combined General
Blessing Those Who Curse Us
Following Jesus is not always easy. In fact, it can be downright difficult. In Matthew 5, Jesus teaches on the proper attitude toward those who use and abuse, persecute, and take advantage of us. Verses 38 – 48 are devoted to this topic. In verses
Loving Our Enemies, Within and Without
Holy Trinity Metropolitan Community Church, Edinburgh, Scotland February 18, 2001 Readings: Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40; I Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38 We spend a lot of time up here at this lectern preaching about love. Love God with all your heart and all
Fear Divides and Love Joins
“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, There is a field. I’ll meet you there.” — Rumi When I was in college, a private and conservative institution, an unusual and impromptu revival occurred on campus. For several days, the school’s chapel was packed for hours
The Blessing That We Are
“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:12 As Christians, when unbelievers persecute us, it is easy to feel
The Sharp Edges of Blessings
Gentle Spirit Christian Church, Atlanta, Ga. Readings: Proverbs 25:21-22; Romans 12:14-18; Matthew 5:11-12, 38-48 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. (Romans 12:14) Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you
This Is Love
A sermon delivered at the Lutherans Concerned/Twin Cities worship service Psalms and Lessons (Series C, Seventh Sunday after Pentecost): Psalm 138, Genesis 18:20-32, Colossians 2:6-15, Luke 11:1-13 Offertory: Psalm 84:3-4 Wrestling with the text “Who decided I should preach on August 17th?” That was my
Jesus or My Boyfriend?
My name is Adam. I’m 22 years old. I come from Poland. Since September 2001 I live in Germany and study here. I’m an ex-gay who is actually fighting with his identity, and looking for the truth in God’s words. I’ve been bisexual all my
Can I be Gay and Repentant?
For the last 6 months I have been going through a powerful spiritual transformation. I’m going to briefly hit on a few cornerstones of my background to orient you as to who I am now. First, I am gay and I’ve been gay for as