Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian

2013-11-12T11:29:08-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Don't Send Shoes

Last updated on: November 12, 2013 at 11:29 am By Christy Thomas

The number one thing is, “Don’t send your used shoes.” Compassionate people plus tough and tragic situations equals a desire to do something, anything, to relieve suffering. So we ask, “how can I help?” There’s plenty of suffering to go around. From mass near starvation of Syrian refugees to still-unmeasured destruction and death in the Philippines from Typhoon Haiyan to the average, everyday angst that afflicts most everyone–well, we’re just not going to run out of instances that birth the... Read more

international adoptions

Philippines

Typhoon Hiayan

what would Jesus do

2013-11-07T13:07:47-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I Was There, November 22, 1963

Last updated on: November 7, 2013 at 1:07 pm By Christy Thomas

I was there. I saw him, that fateful day, November 22, 1963, in downtown Dallas. I, and a group of maybe fifteen 13 and 14 year olds from J. L. Long Junior High, no chaperone, or other adult presence. Parents had freely given permission for us to walk a half-mile to the nearest bus stop, catch the bus to downtown, make our way among the city streets, find a spot on the curb, and watch the presidential cavalcade. We saw... Read more

2013-10-29T13:07:46-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Sounds of Silence

Last updated on: October 29, 2013 at 1:07 pm By Christy Thomas

The words to a Simon and Garfunkle song from my youth have been reverberating in my brain all week as I continue to agonize over the heartbreaking news in community where I live and serve. Remember this? Hello darkness, my old friend I’ve come to talk with you again Because a vision softly creeping Left its seeds while I was sleeping And the vision that was planted in my brain Still remains Within the sound of silence In restless dreams... Read more

2013-10-25T22:25:47-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Two Months, Five Days: Charge Conference Reports

Last updated on: October 25, 2013 at 10:25 pm By Christy Thomas

I suppose this is true across all professions when retirement looms and perspective on what is necessary changes, but I admit it for myself here: for the first time since I’ve been a solo/senior pastor, I am not terribly concerned with Charge Conference reports. Our Charge Conference is next Tuesday. Now, the church administrator and I sat down several weeks ago and walked through who needed to do what. He had responsibility for all reports that don’t have to be... Read more

The United Methodist Church

2013-10-24T19:09:04-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The General Rules as Interpreted by my Confirmation Class

Last updated on: October 24, 2013 at 7:09 pm By Christy Thomas

Wesley’s General Rules provide wonderful basic guidelines to Christian living. The rules read this way: First: By doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is most generally practiced, such as: Secondly: By doing good; by being in every kind merciful after their power; as they have opportunity, doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all men: Thirdly: By attending upon all the ordinances of God; such as: Notice that each general... Read more

Wesley's General Rules

2018-03-12T15:11:18-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

We Have Got To Stop This

Last updated on: March 12, 2018 at 3:11 pm By Christy Thomas

Anger, shock, disbelief, fear, heartbreak: these words best describe the primary emotions of those in and around Krum following the revelations last week concerning the arrest of a Krum teen. The arrest sprang an investigation of what experts determined to be arson. A home burned to the ground, pets suffered and were lost, possessions destroyed. No people were hurt, for which all are thankful. So, while a bundle of folks are leaping to judgments here, while rumors fly there, while... Read more

2013-10-18T11:11:14-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Pastor and Politics: the Particularly Puzzling Puddle

Last updated on: October 18, 2013 at 11:11 am By Christy Thomas

The Election Conundrum I could not vote for Barack Obama for President of the United States. I am a fiscal conservative. I want a more balanced budget. After listening carefully to President Obama’s State of the Union Message in 2012, I realized I was unable to support him, as much as I do respect him as a person. I could not vote for Mitt Romney for President of the United States. I am a person who feels strongly that the... Read more

2017-12-20T11:21:02-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Two Months, Seventeen Days: The Pain Behind the Retirement Decision

Last updated on: December 20, 2017 at 11:21 am By Christy Thomas

And finally peace: it was indeed time for retirement, to relinquish the full-time pastoral portion of this call. The Question A dear friend and fellow clergywoman sat across the table from me and watched compassionately when I burst yet again into inconsolable tears. She asked, “Who has been your pastor through this awful time?” Now there’s a fascinating question for a pastor to hear. And what has been so awful, after all? This friend mentioned this blog. “Christy, how would people... Read more

committee on investigation

divorce

The United Methodist Church

2013-10-09T08:42:11-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Solution to the Government Shutdown: Holocaust, US Style

Last updated on: October 9, 2013 at 8:42 am By Christy Thomas

I know how to end the government shutdown and the growing economic crisis that it is causing. My solution may seem drastic to some, but drastic times call for drastic answers. Really, it is quite simple: eliminate all non-productive members of society. No more drains on the federal budget. We reverse the unholy dreaded deficit, and can get back to business as usual. The Criteria for Elimination (Must meet both. We do want to be fair) 1. All who do... Read more

The United Methodist Church

2013-10-01T13:15:41-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

And WHO is My Neighbor? (with apologies to Luke 10)

Last updated on: October 1, 2013 at 1:15 pm By Christy Thomas

A certain man, life-long student of sacred texts, faithful in religious obligations, admired for doing good deeds and giving favors to those in his friendship circles, found politics fascinating. He had made decisions on political stances based on his understandings of the sacred texts he studied. He did not understand how others, also studying those sacred texts, could come to opposite conclusions, and was well-known for his vigorous debates. Surrounded by those who agreed with his positions, he took an... Read more

"who is my neighbor?"

Krum First United Methodist Church

Luke 10:25-37; The Parable of the Good Samaritan

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Paul commanded Timothy to rebuke older men harshly.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category " obedience abortion accommodation accountability administration adolescence Advent advice an ordinary death anxiety apology apportionments Ash Wednesday ask thoughtfulpastor baptism betrayal Bible bondage calling certainty change character charity children Christianity Christmas church church as garden clergy clergy credentials closure comfort compassion competition compromise Confirmation conservation conservative conspiracy theories consumer conversion coronavirua corruption courage covenant cultural context death Deconstruction discipleship discord divorce doctrine doing good drugs dysfunctional Easter Easter; Resurrection education election entertainment envy escape evaluation evil exclusive church exercise faith faithfulness family fasting fear feast featured film review finances first world problem food forgiveness fundamentalist garden gay marriage General Conference generosity giving thanks GLBT glory good government grace guilt habit happy harmony hateful acts healing health health care heaven hell hello/goodbye heresy hidden agenda holiness homelessness homosexuality humility hymn hypocrisy Imago Dei In training inclusive church indulgence injustice innocents insurance intolerance itinerancy joy Justice kindness Kingdom of Heave kingdom of heaven language laughter laundry lawsuit leadership Lent LGBTQ liberal life Little Things Matter longform meandering thoughts memories mercy metaphor metrics miracle misfortunes morality Mormon Muslim mystery worship natural disasters New Category Name nutrients older adults oppression pain Paleo paperwork partnered pastor peace pension pharmaceutical placebo politics poverty prayer privilege public schools questions quiet racism rain reason reconciliation religion repentance requirements rescue respect rest resurrection retirement Sabbath sacrament sacred salvation same-sex marriage sanctuary schism schooling science SCOTUS secrecy separation of church and state sexism sexuality short cuts silence sin sleep soil spiritual journey stillness suffering surgery sustainable church teacher technology thank you theology therapy thinking tolerance TOS trust truth Uncategorized welcome Why Easter? wisdom women worship

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 December 2025 October 2025 September 2025 July 2025 June 2025 March 2025 February 2025 December 2024 November 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 April 2024 March 2024 January 2024 December 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 July 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 October 2021 July 2021 June 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 January 2020 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 July 2007 March 2007

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian