Clarity and Charity 2 The Foundation of Christian Sexual Ethics 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 January 12, 2020 As we noted last week in Paul’s earliest letter, addressed to the Thessalonians, Christians are called to sacrificial love and sexual holiness. * Holiness is not rigid and repulsive but beautiful in every way. We worship in “the beauty of holiness” – Ps 29 There are many competing voices today on both love and holiness and whether eternal standards for such matters even exist. As a Christian community, we are looking at the documents, at the teaching of Jesus Christ and his Apostles on... Read this post

Clarity and Charity 1 1 Thessalonians 4:1-10 January 5, 2020 Paul was with these people only a brief time before persecution forced him out of the city and down to Athens and then on to Corinth. This was a small fledgling Christian Community to whom Paul wrote and this is the first letter Paul ever sent to a church. That makes it the first document of the Christian Scriptures. That’s important to know – when we read this passage we are getting a sense of ‘firsts’, of the basics for what Paul wanted in life for those who called themselves... Read this post

One We Struggle in this Conversation – Our Own Sins (and shame) – Our Own Suffering (abuse and temptation) – The Church’s Failures Abuse of children and women Self-Righteousness and Neglect – The Pace of Cultural Change Acceleration and Language Two Why We Need this Series 1. Declare the Whole Counsel of God – The Bible is not anti-sex; exactly the opposite! 2. Deal with Falsehoods – Permissiveness and Culture Warriorism 3. Deal with Confusion and Questions 4. Open Up Avenues of Healing – These broken places can be healed 5.Open Up Hearts to Gospel-Shaped Living – Concerns for our... Read this post

This is about the Salvation Army and the people who so hate what it believes that it will seek to cripple its ability to help the most poor and marginal of people, regardless of what those people believe. It is not about Chicken or about whether a corporation can do what it wants within the law with the funds that are theirs to steward. It is about a popular myth. That myth is that Christian organizations which do great good in the community will be left alone by those who cannot abide their traditional Christian stands on sexual ethics; that... Read this post

The aesthetics of worship are always a source of both inspiration and conflict. From sound, light, color, and clothing to bread, wine, oil, and water the elements that constitute the look and feel of worship are massively important and even defining of what a church is all about. Think about it. If a Pastor stands on a large platform behind a plexiglass pulpit wearing a Hawaiian print shirt and skinny jeans, and is surrounded by guitar stands, his image broadcast on large screens in a room without windows and illuminated by theater lights, you know that’s a particular kind of... Read this post

These are the sermon outline notes from September 8, 2019 Scandalous Savior Healer of Hearts and Homes Mark 10:1-16/Matthew 19:1-15 Sept 8, 2019 The ‘jagged stones…’ – David Brooks We’ve all been impacted by divorce. There is no one here who has not been wounded through divorce, unhealthy marriages, and family brokenness. Pastors sense the need to navigate a minefield when they approach this issue. Why? Christians and non-Christians alike are impacted by these issues in very painful ways People here who are going through a divorce Want a divorce or fear a divorce Single people who can feel left... Read this post

Paul’s Big, Wild, Loving, Punch in Gut Letter to the Corinthians “I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters…” – 2 Corinthians 10:9 Lesson One: The Big Picture Suppose you overheard a conversation about a big church in a major city that was having problems with divisions in their fellowship rooted in the powerful preachers they preferred, the place of spiritual gifts, how women were supposed to function in ministry, marriage, divorce, and celibacy, the way the wealthy handled the poor, and whether or not they were being too accommodating to the prevailing culture on... Read this post

College Football Week One Review I love this crazy, wild, silly, fantastic game. The joy and heartbreak and unpredictability of college football are just entirely wonderful. Week one did not disappoint. Filled with shocking upsets, last-minute drama, and eye-popping performances, this past Thursday through Monday night came through with compelling and exciting viewing for the rabid college football fan to enjoy… or bemoan. Prediction Results for Week One 20-6 Big Hits: Auburn over Oregon; Boise State over Florida State; Utah over BYU; Memphis over Ole Miss Missed it bad: OK, who saw Tennessee losing to Georgia State? Not me. That’s... Read this post

Time for Week One College Football Predictions!! Last week: 1-0. Florida beat Miami 24-20 (I had Florida 28-24) Here we go with this week’s crazy predictions for the games beginning Thursday night. I don’t predict a score for every game. I am SOOOOO HAPPY College Football is BACK! Thursday Utah over BYU by 7, 35-28. In Provo, and a rivalry game. ‘Holy War’ will be close, but Utah has the muscle to win on the road. Cincinnati over UCLA by 3, 31-28. In Cincy, and the Bearcats are just better than UCLA… again. Clemson beats Georgia Tech by a fistful.... Read this post

Two weeks ago I wrote this letter to Dr. Rosaria Butterfield. It is self-explanatory. I am publishing it now as she has not responded, nor has she responded to other similar communications from others. My blog post I note in the letter will be published shortly. Dear Dr. Butterfield, Grace and Peace. Thank you for your diligent and faithful work in the Gospel, and for all the help and encouragement you have brought to so many through your writing and speaking. When I served as Pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas and quoted ‘Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely... Read this post