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Elevator Talk
In a class this semester, we were asked to write a short blurb about our theological convictions. The catch was that it had to be an “Elevator Talk.” Think of it this way. Imagine you get into an elevator and punch the button for your floor. It’s a pretty big building and it’ll take a…
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Moving To the Country…
I remember that song that came out in 1995: “Moving to the country, gonna eat a lotta peaches…” The video’s here. My favorite part is the ninjas at the end!! Now you may be wondering what this is all about, and perhaps I’m offering humor as a sort of distraction from something that’s difficult to…
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Jesus Loves Gay Porn Stars
Yup. I said it. Jesus loves gay porn stars. And what’s more, I believe it! A friend, classmate, and author named Steven Luff gave me a T-shirt just the other day with that saying on it, and it made me think. Just how far does Jesus’ love go? Is it possible that Jesus could really…
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Wesley’s Quadrilateral & Arizona’s Immigration Law
Wesley’s Quadrilateral is applied to the recently signed immigration law in Arizona…
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Politics in the Pulpit
So yesterday I preached on Acts 11:1-18 (Peter’s vision that prompted him to preach to the Gentiles) and John 13:31-35 (Jesus gives the disciples a new commandment: to love one another). In it, I applied the idea of “love in action” to the new immigration law in Arizona. I have to admit that I was…
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Podcast: 5th Sunday after Easter, 2010
Here’s a conversation I had with three UMC clergy from the Cal-Pac Conference on the upcoming Lectionary scripture. The verses can be read at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. Voices heard are Rev. Krista Givens, Rev. Molly Vetter, Rev. J. Dan Lewis, and me! This is a “first-attempt” episode, so if you like it please forward a link to…
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Doubting Thomas
Here’s the video of the Nickle Creek song. It’s groovy. If it’s not embedded on this page, click here instead. Here’s what I wonder – and many others have too. Why do we call him doubting? Weren’t all the other disciples equally questionable? How many of them ran to the tomb to greet the risen…
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A Methodist & an Atheist Walk Into a Bar…
I’ve had some ongoing dialogue with an atheist (I’ve also heard the phrase non-theist) friend of mine. Yesterday he posted on my Facebook page a Daily Beast article quoting Orange County Pastor Wiley Drake who appears to be calling for the deaths of Congress members – and perhaps others – who support health care reform…
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Challenging the TAG10 Crowd
I’m a little disturbed at how excited I am about the Theology After Google conference that started tonight – ok, last night ’cause this is an early morning post. The opening session was loaded with prophetic voices including Philip Clayton, John Franke, Monica Coleman, Adam Walker Cleaveland, Callid Keefe-Perry, and Spencer Burke. And there was…
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The End of Science v. Religion? Not…
I just got home after attending the Clayton v. Dennett debate over at CGU. I’m still processing, and will likely want to watch the debate again. If you missed it or need to watch it again, the place to do so is here: Here are a few thoughts I’d wish to share, and then I’d…