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The warrior leader Joshua warned the Hebrew people that they would be tempted to water down their faith in the God of their ancestors in order to fit in, adapting to the surrounding culture for the sake of doing business and raising their families. He warned that they may end up serving "the gods of the region." Of course they all insisted that they would never do such a thing. Still, Joshua declared, "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, and him only."
As a pastoral prophet I must tell it like I see it. Too many Christians want to believe in Jesus but they do not want to be very "Christian." They retain their beliefs without living like Jesus. Belief in Jesus serves only as social cred and eternal fire insurance.
As lovingly as I can, I am "provoking one another" to be more like Jesus. Walk the walk, not just talk the talk (or post a "Jesus" bumper sticker). Questions for reflection and conversation follow each chapter. I hope this "open letter to my Christian kin" will foster understanding, confession, repentance, and reconciliation among all who identify themselves as "Christian."
The book is available on Amazon. Get two copies, one for you and one for a loved one with whom you share Jesus in common but have very different views on things like guns, good violence, money, and politics. Stand firm in your love for Jesus and for each other and go from there.
In a second edition of American Idols:: Local Church Edition I have removed explicit references to former President Donald Trump to avoid unnecessary conflict among those who may read and respond to the book together.
As a pastoral prophet I must tell it like I see it. Too many Christians want to believe in Jesus but they do not want to be very "Christian." They retain their beliefs without living like Jesus. Belief in Jesus serves only as social cred and eternal fire insurance.
As lovingly as I can, I am "provoking one another" to be more like Jesus. Walk the walk, not just talk the talk (or post a "Jesus" bumper sticker). Questions for reflection and conversation follow each chapter. I hope this "open letter to my Christian kin" will foster understanding, confession, repentance, and reconciliation among all who identify themselves as "Christian."
The book is available on Amazon. Get two copies, one for you and one for a loved one with whom you share Jesus in common but have very different views on things like guns, good violence, money, and politics. Stand firm in your love for Jesus and for each other and go from there.
In a second edition of American Idols:: Local Church Edition I have removed explicit references to former President Donald Trump to avoid unnecessary conflict among those who may read and respond to the book together.
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As a retired "professional Christian" I feel like I can look at faith through possibilian lenses. Possible Faith is both confession and profession. I offer, more as testimony than apologetics, on a wide variety of subjects including the nature of God, the dynamics of free will, the embrace of science and faith, and finding paths to reconciliation. Essential reading for people of faith or of questioning faith, who don't fit into established denominational organized religion or belief systems. Faith is possible. Being in a faith community with a diverse group of people from diverse faith and non-faith traditions is possible! Includes the beginnings of a related reading list, a "playlist" of songs encouraging reconciliation and hope, and some pointers from other authors and spirit guides for broaching inter-faith dialogue. Available on Amazon
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Princess Mary Elizabeth's Birthday Wish, is an allegory about incarnation, sharing, showing others honor, responding to their needs, and treating each other with dignity. It affirms basic human needs for shelter, food, and access to healthcare. The story is dedicated to our grandchildren and to all children everywhere. The back cover affirms the notion that "part of living a good life is helping others have a good life." Illustrator Lara Milataru brings the story to life with beautiful images. Grandson Reece (8 years old) served as a consulting editor helping me choose words that made more sense to him :-) AVAILABLE on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at other book sellers and distributors worldwide.
. Download a free "Conversation Guide" to biblical themes in Princess Mary Elizabeth's Birthday Wish. Just click the blue button! |
Why did I write The Porpoise- Given Life? Because life is about more than being driven! Drawing on wisdom from the Cetacean Nation (porpoises, dolphins, and whales), each chapter is an invitation to celebrate life - to breathe, save lives, play, listen, hydrate, embrace our interdependence and spread joy. A confession: much of the research and analogies are related to dolphins, but "dolphins" didn't rhyme with "purpose" and "porpoise did ;-) AVAILABLE in paperback and as an ebook on Amazon and as a Nook book on Barnes & Noble. |
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According to the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians [4:12], one of the main purposes of the church is "to equip the saints [one of his definitive names for followers of Jesus] for the work of ministry." For too long, the ongoing work and ministry of Jesus has been the domain of "professional Christians" - ordained clergy and "designated religious people." Jesus clarifies for his followers that "you will do the ministry I have been doing (John 14:12). We are spiritually gifted to respond to the people needs that we have "eyes to see" and passion to care about.
This collection of forty Meditations on the Ministry of All Christians was written by a team of pastors who call ourselves "The Docs Project." All of us have done D.Min. work in the area of equipping ministry and we offer this as a resource to facilitate the expansion of the ministry of all who follow Jesus.
AVAILABLE on Amazon. The authors receive no royalty payments. Our strong desire is for churches and faith communities of all traditions to use this resource to foment the passion directed, Spirit empowered ministry of all Christians.
This collection of forty Meditations on the Ministry of All Christians was written by a team of pastors who call ourselves "The Docs Project." All of us have done D.Min. work in the area of equipping ministry and we offer this as a resource to facilitate the expansion of the ministry of all who follow Jesus.
AVAILABLE on Amazon. The authors receive no royalty payments. Our strong desire is for churches and faith communities of all traditions to use this resource to foment the passion directed, Spirit empowered ministry of all Christians.
Consecration 3x3 is a combination reference book and program resource for churches that are serious about deep preparation for confirmands to make a public profession of their faith and make lifelong commitments as part of their community of faith. The first half of the book is an overview of purposes and possibilities for Confirmation. It explains and advocates for the readiness of both confirmation students and of the church systems for sustaining ongoing disciple formation after confirmation.
The second half of the workbook includes a suggested template for a three- year confirmation process, adaptable to local church traditions and habits and a suggested sequence of sessions supported by the two most recent confirmation resources from the United Methodist Publishing House [Credo and Confirm].
BONUS in 2nd EDITION: This edition includes the complete outline of the annual Foundation for Christian Formation Confirm confirmation retreats offered for 15 years at Lake Junaluska Assembly in North Carolina.
AVAILABLE on Amazon.
The Wesleyan Way is an adult Confirmation-ish resource to help adults reconnect with and recommit to Wesleyan Methodism. I developed this resource (and retreat model) for people who may have never been "confirmed," or who may desire a refresher course in Methodist Christianity. It's also for "hybrid Methodists" (usually by marriage) - Bapotists, Roman Methodists, Methcopalians, and Methbyterians, to name a few.
Given the recent turmoil and schism within the United Methodist Church (or the Un-tied Methodist Church), this may be the perfect time to celebrate all of the good things about John Wesley's Methodism. Topic covered include Wesley's scheme of salvation as a lifelong process, the Methodist Quadrilateral (a four-pronged way of discerning faithful living), and the covenants we make as part of a congregation and the broader Church.
AVAILABLE on Amazon
