Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he
Zacchaeus: The original ‘despicable me’ Reading for the 21st Sunday after Pentecost: And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who
Read the rest of the Via Negativa: The Hunger Games sermon series Jubilee! Circle, Columbia, S.C. Readings for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost: The Lord is the upholder of my life. (Psalm 54) Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. (Mark 9:30-37)
Read the rest of the Via Transformativa: From Glory to Glory series Jubilee! Circle, Columbia, S.C. Readings for the Third Sunday of Easter: O that we might see some good! (Psalm 4 NRSV) … Their eyes were opened. (Luke 24:13-35) Our first song comes from
Listen to the podcast interview I first saw Jay Bakker when he spoke at a conference held by the Gay Christian Network in Washington, D.C., in 2007. At that time, it was a big deal for Jay to be speaking before a crowd of gays
Teaching thanks: A lesson for the rest of Christianity Gratitude is an attribute we don’t seem to have been born with. Most babies don’t thank, they just demand — as loudly as possible, and with no shame. Thankfulness is learned, and it only seems to
There is little agreement regarding the spiritual or physical resurrection of Christ. We use our minds to look at the event only as a theological issue. But people often gather around a common set of values and not theological beliefs. I believe in the resurrection
Delivered during the only worship service conducted solely by LGBTA people at the Ninth Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Porto Alegre, Brazil This week, more than 4,000 people have gathered under one of the most diverse, inclusive “tents” the world has ever
When I was twenty I climbed onto the roof of an abandoned building with two friends on an October day and a few moments later we were surrounded by thousands of starlings, all migrating to the South. We had not expected to find birds in
And lo, a star shone in the East Once upon a time, or so the story goes, in a land far away, lived a nation of people very different from us. Their appearance was different, as were their customs and clothing. They had no idea