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Progressive Christian

2012-12-04T15:41:21-05:00

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 Consumer-Driven Church Model, Part One

Last updated on: December 4, 2012 at 3:41 pm By Christy Thomas

I recently walked out of a local electronics store in some frustration. I have an older inkjet printer that needed new ink cartridges. Now, ink cartridges are some of the biggest consumer rip-offs ever devised, so I wasn’t in a great mood when I walked in. My irritation grew when I realized that my aged printer does not have its exact model number indicated on any of the multitudes of printer cartridges available. Two different sales staff tried to help;... Read more

consumer church model

customers

disciples of jesus christ

General Conference

The United Methodist Church

2012-12-04T14:20:41-05:00

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.

Christmas Advice Column: Why Sad Christmas Music?

Last updated on: December 4, 2012 at 2:20 pm By Christy Thomas

Dear Christmas Advice-Giver, Why are some of the religious Christmas Carols so sad when this is the season of happiness? I mean, really, “In the Bleak Midwinter?” Nothing like a downer. Aren’t we all supposed to be just super joyful right now? And what does “bleak” mean anyway? Signed, “Bleakless” Dear Bleakless, Here’s the situation: For much of Christian church history (i.e., before advertising took over the world), the four weeks before Christmas Day were weeks of soul-searching, fasting, and... Read more

In the Bleak Midwinter

2012-12-03T16:16:52-05:00

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.

Another First World Problem

Last updated on: December 3, 2012 at 4:16 pm By Christy Thomas

In the spirit of poking a bit of fun about the inconveniences of modern life, I post my second installment of my latest First World Problem. The previous one can be found here. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to give away a TV that was connected to the satellite service and served only as a recording device–no one ever watched it. Little did I realize that, by disconnecting it and not replacing it, I would mess up the... Read more

2012-11-27T09:27:44-05:00

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.

Today’s First World Problem

Last updated on: November 27, 2012 at 9:27 am By Christy Thomas

In a moment of complete self-indulgence, I am sending to the recycle center all of my years-long collection of plastic food containers and replacing them with a new set that actually has lids that match the containers. And yes, this is a classic case of a First World Problem! That’s a great website if you haven’t seen it. With humor, it helps to put our frustrations in a good perspective. Read more

first world problem

indulgence

First World Problem

mismatched plastic food containers

recycle

2012-11-27T08:29:43-05:00

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.

Santa is NOT Jesus!

Last updated on: November 27, 2012 at 8:29 am By Christy Thomas

I love Christmas music. The great hymns and classical pieces fill my soul and some of the other lighter pieces add a nice touch of frivolity to the season. But I have one major gripe. A few days ago, I was idly listening to some Christmas music on TV while halfway engaged in another task. Suddenly the words to a song penetrated my distracted brain. The words were, “He’ll be here with the answer to prayers that you made through... Read more

2012-11-20T13:03:55-05:00

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.

Smelly Women and a Hand Up

Last updated on: November 20, 2012 at 1:03 pm By Christy Thomas

A late evening call to the church: “I’m in a motel with my little girl and I can’t pay the bill tonight and I can’t go home because I’m running away from my husband. Can you give me the money to spend another night here?” A friend accompanied me to the motel where we could check out the story. We plunged into the dark underbelly of that town where I was serving, both a little frightened. We noted that the... Read more

2012-11-16T12:50:19-05:00

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.

Above All, Do No Harm

Last updated on: November 16, 2012 at 12:50 pm By Christy Thomas

The idea of “doing no harm” underlies many important service traditions. The Hippocratic Oath, often taken by students upon graduating from medical school, reads in part: “I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.” The General Rules of The United Methodist Church read: First, do no harm. Second, do all the good you can. Third, stay in love with God. Recently, I came across the... Read more

charity

do no harm

Haiti

inherit eternal life; charitable giving

2017-04-24T15:08:15-05:00

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.

Judicial Council Decisions: The Emperor Has No Clothes

Last updated on: April 24, 2017 at 3:08 pm By Christy Thomas

Because the members of the Judicial Council were faithful to the letter of the law, which is exactly what they are supposed to do, we now know for sure that this emperor has no clothes. The United Methodist Church cannot be re-formed. It’s over for us with our current structure. The Judicial Council’s decision to revoke the involuntary retirement of Bishop Earl Bledsoe over issues of violation of procedural minutia found in the Book of Discipline (not over the question of his... Read more

The Book of Discipline

The United Methodist Church

2012-11-09T11:14:27-05:00

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 Election Port-Mortem, the Fundamentalist Takeover of The Republican Party . . . and The UMC?

Last updated on: November 9, 2012 at 11:14 am By Christy Thomas

Election Post-Mortem Mark Davis, a right-wing conservative radio host and columnist, wrote this in his post mortem about the Presidential election: But I lament a country where the middle class is more attuned to government benefits than the work ethic that was once our nation’s engine. I will blame the culture of dependency that leads millions to seek rescue paid by the incomes of others. And I will point to a society that has stood idly by while standards of... Read more

fundamentalist takeover

President Obama

Republican Party

The United Methodist Church

UMC

2012-11-07T15:34:37-05:00

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.

Three Beat Up People, The Art of Discipleship, and Questions About the Pastoral Role

Last updated on: November 7, 2012 at 3:34 pm By Christy Thomas

The Setting On Sunday evenings, I’ve been holding a remarkably well-functioning Confirmation class consisting of several young teens, one older teen, and four adults, ranging in age from early 30’s to mid-70’s, a mixture of men and women. The teens get drilled first. This is a “no-frills” confirmation regime: the faster they learn the material in a thoughtful, integrated way, the faster they can join the youth group which is also taking place. Once I am satisfied they’ve accomplished the... Read more

accountability groups

discipleship

going onto perfection

John Wesley

pastoral responsibilities

real Christians

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