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Progressive Christian

2011-12-25T14:22:06-05:00

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.

Everybody and Their Dogs Were at Worship Today

Last updated on: December 25, 2011 at 2:22 pm By Christy Thomas

We could have turned off all the lights in the worship center today and the light on this child’s face would have illuminated the entire space when she came forward for the blessing of the toys. As her mother said later, “Everybody and their dogs were at worship today! The children in prayer as we seek God’s blessing on their gifts: Read more

2011-12-25T13:38:57-05:00

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 Day Thoughts

Last updated on: December 25, 2011 at 1:38 pm By Christy Thomas

Several weeks ago, I became part of an online discussion group dealing with the question, “Should churches have services on Christmas Day since Christmas is on a Sunday?” I could hardly believe the question was even being asked, but then learned that some megachurches had decided not to hold services because of the cost of utilities and the number of volunteers needed to run a service did not seem to be worth the benefit. I wondered then if the “benefit”... Read more

Christianity

religion

Christmas Day

Worship on Christmas Day

2011-12-24T20:36:49-05:00

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 Eve in Krum

Last updated on: December 24, 2011 at 8:36 pm By Christy Thomas

Christmas Eve worship ended a little while ago for us. The worship team had decided that it would be good to have a separate time of Holy Communion with the choir and tech people beforehand so they could lead with their voices and other necessary work during that time. Rarely do I get to face them when giving the words of consecration. Tonight as I did so, love flowed through the choir room. I find it great privilege to be... Read more

worship

christmas eve

first united methodist church

worship leadership

2011-12-24T11:50:56-05:00

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 “supposed to” of Christmas Eve

Last updated on: December 24, 2011 at 11:50 am By Christy Thomas

There was a steady stream of people in my office yesterday, just needing to talk. Many of them were battling the “I’m supposed to feel . . . ” syndrome of Christmas Eve, that idea permeating the air that everyone is supposed to be happy, carefree and excitedly anticipating the morrow. So not true. So very, very not true. More and more churches are holding “Blue Christmas” services to seek to honor that fact that not everyone is having a... Read more

2011-12-23T14:14:10-05:00

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 Indulgence

Last updated on: December 23, 2011 at 2:14 pm By Christy Thomas

I receive most days a clean “funny” from Mikey’s Funnies: www.mikeysFunnies.com Yesterday’s was just too good not to pass on. Let me just say that, although I am an advocate for sound nutritional practices and good self-care, I also think celebration is quite a good thing. Let’s dispense with taking the joy out of parties by too much self-control. Yes, even that discipline can cross over into unhealth. The author of this post has given permission to pass this on. HOLIDAY HINTS... Read more

Christmas

laughter

Christmas humor

keeping weight off in the holidays

2011-12-22T14:12:19-05:00

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.

The Aftermath Cometh

Last updated on: December 22, 2011 at 2:12 pm By Christy Thomas

I feel tension rising. I see it on people’s faces, I read it on Facebook updates, I sense it in myself. The biggest holiday/family celebration of the year approaches. The question many are asking: Will it be perfect? Will we have done necessary to make it the ideal holiday? Will all the children be happy? Will all the adults get along with each other? Will the food be both good and in sufficient amount? Will the house look festive enough? ... Read more

Christianity

celebration of the year

shortest day of the year

winter solstice

2011-12-13T17:28:24-05:00

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.

The Basket Case

Last updated on: December 13, 2011 at 5:28 pm By Christy Thomas

I emailed a friend of mine this morning that I felt like a basket case today as I deal with the church, community and personal grief of our losses this week. My friend, a wonderful woman with profound spiritual insight and gifted as writer, wrote back: When we are basket cases, God carries us by the handle that has been woven especially to support our weight. He walks along, filling us with handfuls of Heavenly balm. The cadence of his voice caresses... Read more

profound spiritual insight

2011-12-09T13:18:06-05:00

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.

Schools and Religious Teachings

Last updated on: December 9, 2011 at 1:18 pm By Christy Thomas

I am working on an anger issue right now. A young person in my congregation made a very age-appropriate profession of faith and requested baptism, a request that I gladly complied with. The child had not been baptized as an infant. A some point, a few weeks past this joyous day, this child was apparently told by a teacher at the local public school that re-baptism would be required later because there would be no memory of the occasion in... Read more

Christianity

public schools

religion

separation of church and state

trust

separation of church and state

2011-12-07T08:54:03-05:00

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.

No More Virgins?

Last updated on: December 7, 2011 at 8:54 am By Christy Thomas

OK, according to this article, religious leaders in Saudi Arabia have stated that if women are permitted to drive (keep in mind that this is the country that sentenced a woman to ten lashes with a whip after she was caught driving a car), there will be no more virgins in that country in a few years. Yep, the only thing that keeps this country sexually pure is keeping women, the source of all temptation, covered and hidden from the... Read more

religion

Islam

women source of evil

2011-12-07T08:09:08-05:00

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.

From Swords to Plowshares

Last updated on: December 7, 2011 at 8:09 am By Christy Thomas

What can one person do? Well, entrepreneur Peter Thum has figured out a way to turn AK47’s, the ubiquitous and deadly Russian-made assault rifle, into high-end jewelry and in the process, destroy thousands of those guns. More of the story can be read here. I am awed. This is biblical truth in today’s life. The dream of the kingdom of heaven where the wolf lies down with the lamb and weapons of war turn to agents of peace and production... Read more

Christianity

swords to plowshares

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