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Progressive Christian

2013-03-27T18:40:08-05:00

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.

Easter Conversation with God from a Troubled Pastor

Last updated on: March 27, 2013 at 6:40 pm By Christy Thomas

Me: “OK, God, can’t you see that I’m in the midst of doing all this for You? Look at all the services we’ve planned! See how creative they are! We’re doing such a great job telling that Passion Week and Easter story. So, that being the case, how about you take all this other stuff away? You know, as in, ‘Let this cup pass from me.'” God, “I think you may be missing something.” Above was the conversation taking place... Read more

let this cup pass from me

resurrection

2013-03-26T16:34:18-05:00

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.

Peter’s Puzzle

Last updated on: March 26, 2013 at 4:34 pm By Christy Thomas

While idling some time away playing computer solitaire and thinking about Easter, it dawned on me how much we humans like to grapple with puzzling things. Early and often favorite childhood toys are jigsaw puzzles. Big, heavy, easy-to-manipulate shaped puzzles fill toy boxes of many a toddler. I know few children who don’t like solving them over and over again. It gives such satisfaction to fit the final piece and say, “It is finished.” As we age, our puzzles grow... Read more

Easter; Resurrection

Easter

2013-03-19T12:55:15-05:00

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 Wasteful Weekend

Last updated on: March 19, 2013 at 12:55 pm By Christy Thomas

What a waste. Twice a year, a large team of people head to the Texas Youth Correctional facility in Corsicana, TX. There they lose three days and spend a huge amount of money feeding, caring for, speaking with and offering grace and love to some of the incorrigible adolescent males incarcerated there. Many of those troubled kids will be transferred straight to an adult correctional facility when they turn 18. In the meantime, they are there for a reason. Someone,... Read more

generosity

grace

Texas Youth Corrections; perfume; anointing

2013-03-13T09:56:08-05:00

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.

Six Words

Last updated on: March 13, 2013 at 9:56 am By Christy Thomas

The race card project (http://theracecardproject.com/) has been inviting people to send in six word descriptions about their experience of race. According to a story I heard this morning, this idea came from an Ernest Hemingway challenge for writers to come up with a complete story in six words. Here was his contribution: “Baby shoes, brand new, never worn.” I started thinking about describing the life of the pastor in six words. This came to mind immediately: “Loves God, loves people,... Read more

2013-03-12T17:24:33-05:00

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.

On the Art of Communication: Generation Gap or Just Plain Rudeness?

Last updated on: March 12, 2013 at 5:24 pm By Christy Thomas

Nick Belton, a young “guru” on the digital age, offered a recent rant about excess text messages, especially ones that say things like “thank you.” Belton hates wasting even one extra minute on any communication medium that does not serve his immediate purpose. He finds phone calls and voice mail particularly offensive, saying: My father learned this lesson last year after leaving me a dozen voice mail messages, none of which I listened to. Exasperated, he called my sister to... Read more

2013-03-06T11:31:23-05:00

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.

A Modern Take on Luke 15–Probably Heretical, Possibly Shedding Fresh Light on a Shocking Story

Last updated on: March 6, 2013 at 11:31 am By Christy Thomas

The Complaint A group of VERY IMPORTANT church leaders began to grumble about Jesus. “He ignores us, the movers and shakers, the ones divinely given the leadership of The Church. Instead, he takes his meals with people who don’t even give $5 a year to our coffers, haven’t partaken of the sacraments in years AND even support gay marriage and homosexuals as ordained! The church will decline in numbers even further if they get their way. Why isn’t he dining... Read more

Parable of the Prodigal

2013-02-25T10:39:47-05:00

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.

Can the Morally Twisted Vote for Good?

Last updated on: February 25, 2013 at 10:39 am By Christy Thomas

Can the morally twisted still recognize and support that which is good? I ask that in light of the upcoming papal election. Now, the former Archbishop of Edinburgh, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, has mercifully solved that dilemma for himself. In the last couple of weeks, as multiple allegations of sexual impropriety against him became public, he did two things. First, he moved his planned retirement forward, so he no longer has the privilege of voting in the elections. Second, he admitted... Read more

truth

women

Cardinal Keith O'Brien

papal election

Roman Catholic Church

2013-02-22T15:33:01-05:00

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 Passion Story, Seen Through the Fresh Eyes of Teens

Last updated on: February 22, 2013 at 3:33 pm By Christy Thomas

On Wednesday afternoons, I spend the 40 most enjoyable minutes of my week and also the 40 most exhausting minutes of my week. That’s when I work with a group of teens who are interested in developing their worship leadership skills. I teach them to read scripture with meaning, to lead the congregation in prayer, to handle themselves in front of a group, to breathe properly, and especially to recognize how important their presence and ministry is to the life... Read more

2013-02-21T11:04:24-05:00

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.

On Adolescence and Underwear

Last updated on: February 21, 2013 at 11:04 am By Christy Thomas

It is very easy for someone who works exclusively in a church environment to become culturally isolated from the “real world,” so I make it a point to read extensively outside my field. I want to learn what others are thinking and how they experience life. So, I perused a recent article in The Atlantic written by a middle-school teacher extremely concerned about the ways the girls in her classroom dressed for school. She writes, “I hate having to defend... Read more

freedom of expression

2013-02-14T12:55:20-05:00

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 Do Love Our Tools

Last updated on: February 14, 2013 at 12:55 pm By Christy Thomas

Humans are tool-making and tool-using creatures. Our opposable thumb and finger grasp strength provide the springboard to create and use machines as extensions of our bodies and brains. We are also tool-purchasing creatures. Tools to cook, tools to communicate, tools to study, tools to build, tools to create, tools to clean, tools to repair, tools to heal, tools to build muscles and increase stamina, even tools to help us relax and have fun. We really do like ‘em. Last spring... Read more

spiritual disciplines

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