Over the years, I’ve had the honor of facilitating different forms of Christian community. I believe there is profound hope in the narrative about the birth, teaching, execution and resurrection of Jesus. I have deep respect for faith traditions different from my own that hopefully lead others along a paths of love and compassion, ultimately toward their […]
Progressive Christian Community of Leiden Outline of Worship for July 1, 2018 Empathy has no script. There is no right way or wrong way to do it. It’s simply listening, holding space, withholding judgement, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of ‘You’re not alone”. – Brene Brown Gathering Music – Be […]
For some time now, moderate and progressive Christians have been wondering aloud how evangelical Christians came to support Donald Trump in all his obvious clash with Christian values – xenophobic, materialistic, fear-mongering bloviating. What’s the question again caller? It recently occurred to me that NO greater clue exists for this apparent disconnect than a linchpin […]
Here we all are again, at the beginning of Pride month and just days after the Supreme Court of the United States weighs in on one person’s “religious liberty” vs. another person’s pursuit of happiness. Millions (hopefully just thousands) of Americans are rejoicing for what some see as a protection of religious freedom and others, […]
All the energy and time spent by some “conservative Christians” focusing on “homosexual practice” is antithetical to the life, death and resurrection of the One we call Christ. There are many things Jesus asks of us as Kingdom builders, but sexual policing is not one. I sincerely hope everyone who is called to the life of […]
All year round, many of us Jesusy types look for ways to be intentional about practicing the presence of God. There are a myriad of books, booklets, websites, podcasts and small groups dedicated to spiritual practices meant to give our wandering minds a compass pointing us toward the Divine. Today I’d like to lift up a […]
So, rumor has it that Matt Damon is moving to Australia to escape the dangerous insanity that is the United States, and as will happen, some folks on the interwebs are not so gently pointing out that this is the face of white privilege. From the perspective of one who freaked out and fled, I […]
About five years ago, in the final moments of Ash Wednesday, I found myself propped up against a dingy Greenwich Village bar room wall when I realized I had just experienced a perfect 18-hour liturgy. Preparation It actually all began, as days like this often do, the night before at a bar on Fat Tuesday. […]
1. To put nothing before The One who is Love. 2. To not worship Mammon, The Constitution, The Bible, culture or technology (sorry Facebook). 3. To only speak God’s name when I am either talking to or about God. Ecstasy counts since it could be argued I am expressing gratitude. 4. To take at least […]
On March 11, 2017, I married the love of my life in sight of God, family and friends, but it was not a great gay wedding. Let me tell you what happened… The day before the wedding, as our friends and family began arriving in sunny Florida, we headed over to a local nail salon […]
