Todays Thought Archives - Calvary United Church of Christ

Todays Thought

The Quakers

I would be the worst Quaker – sitting still in silence is really challenging for this ADHD blessed individual. My prayer time is almost all about movement – I would be really good at doing the Muslim thing 5 times a day (stand, kneel, bow, sing, chant, repeat). Silent sitting? Not really my gig. Still,…

Don’t Apologize for Being Happy and/or Successful

Many years ago, when I first started in the ministry, I was having some minor difficulties in a number of aspects of my life, so I decided I needed to talk it through with someone. I was new to the pastoral counseling role (and well aware of my limited training and capabilities), so I made…

The Golden Rule

For my entire life I have heard people talk about the Golden Rule – you know the one – “Do to others as you would have them do to you”. It exists in just about every religion in varying forms, but I think the Buddhist version is the best: “Put yourself in the place of…

Original Sin

If you have ever heard me preach or teach about this, you know that I rejected this concept a long time ago. Why? Not only is it not in the Bible; it is a made-up doctrine that first began to emerge in the 3rd century. St. Augustine (354 – 430) was the first we know…

Compassion

Ever since we got the go-ahead to wear masks back in April of 2020, I have been a fierce advocate for their use, and for other ways to protect ourselves from COVID. I was doing the shopping for our house, going into the church for a few hours every day, and having limited interaction with…

People are People

A few years ago I applied for a position at the national level of our denomination (sorry Calvary folks, but sometimes you have to test the waters). It involved working with people in our conferences who were in the process of seeking ordination or some other form of authorized ministry, and I figured that I…

Christian Nationalism

I have read a number of recent articles about the danger to democracy that Christian Nationalism (CN) poses to our country, and I agree – it is a perversion of my faith and a danger to the church and, to some extent, our country. It is not, however, something new. The simplest definition of CN…

The time the priest did the right thing and paid a steep penalty

When we lived in Cincinnati, I got to be close with a local priest by the name of Jim Willig. Jim and I would play racquetball and tennis (he usually won the second, I usually won the first), go out for the occasional beverage, and talk at length about our theological perspectives. When our son…

Fear & Judgment

When I was 19, I got an earring. My brother and a couple of his friends had gotten them, and I thought it looked good, so I got one. It was 1979, and people were still pretty weirded out about things like that, but I didn’t care. It was just a simple adornment. It wouldn’t…

What is the purpose of the church? Part 8

Justice is an interesting concept – it is both political and spiritual. The Justice System varies from place to place, but in this country, it is supposed to be based on the rule of law. A woman with a blindfold on and scales in her hand represent our greatest aspirations; that justice is blind to…