Episodes
Tuesday Nov 19, 2013
133: Radical Gratitude
Tuesday Nov 19, 2013
Tuesday Nov 19, 2013
I've been known to sarcastically say "life has dealt you a rotten set of cards" to people who lose track of the blessings they have received in the midst of temporary, and often small, setbacks. For example, I could complain that I've never had the talent to see a musical note on a page and fight the correct tone with my voice. As a music-by-ear singer, I tend to follow others rather than truly joining the choir. On the other hand, I should be grateful for all of the music I've imitated. Thanksgiving, as a day or a state of mind, means being grateful even when circumstances are much more severe.
Different Drummer: Horatio Spafford
Tuesday Oct 22, 2013
131: Christianity 301
Tuesday Oct 22, 2013
Tuesday Oct 22, 2013
Taking the Bible seriously.
Different Drummer: Rob Bell
Rob Bell answering questions
Monday Sep 02, 2013
128: Proud To Know You
Monday Sep 02, 2013
Monday Sep 02, 2013
Pride 48 is the weekend of September 6th this year in Las Vegas. I would love to be there, but I can't. Even as recently as a year ago, I'd never considered attending an GLBT pride event before. Why would I, I could have said, not being gay? That, and questioning if there are better ways to defend people from discrimination than going to a meet-up. On the other hand, the absolute best way to tell someone "I am proud to know you, just as you are, and to continue our interactions because I anticipate my esteem of the person you will become" is in person. Face to face. I am proud to know you.
Different Drummer: Janet of CToBM
Friday Aug 16, 2013
127: The Sin of Silence
Friday Aug 16, 2013
Friday Aug 16, 2013
Elie Wiesel once said: "I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure
suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps
the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never
the tormented." I believe I've received similar direction in answered prayer. Too often, though, Christians are silent in the face of bullying and marginalization of those on the other side of privilege. More often than we'd like to admit, Christians join the oppressors. All of this is sinful, the log in our eyes that stops us from clearly seeing others, must less serving them as Jesus taught and demonstrated.
Different Drummer: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Saturday Jun 08, 2013
Poem: 'Tithe'
Saturday Jun 08, 2013
Saturday Jun 08, 2013
Some poems, like this one, work better visually. "Tithe" can be read in multiple ways -- two of them, crucially. You can read it directly, or as a hymn. Lyrics: @ic_greg Melody: Traditional Season: Pentecost
Jesus woke me up
I thanked him anyway,
He wished me well and
Sunday morning - much to my surprise.
Seeing that my sins
Confused me,
He told me that
Had been quite a burden.
Because He didn't want me
He died for my sins,
We talked about old times,
To build a church
In my shock, I did not
I guess for ten minutes
Or seek people who
Know what to say,
Or more,
Would donate their money.
Initially,
Subsequently,
Ultimately,
(Refrain) This relaxed me and Convinced me that the Times really don't change.Tuesday May 14, 2013
120: Making Contact
Tuesday May 14, 2013
Tuesday May 14, 2013
I recall hearing in a Sociology course about a form of existentialism so dark that some people never accept they were alive until the moment of death itself. For most of us, even the slightest touch confirms what I'll jokingly call "our suspicion" that we actually exist. A handshake, pat on the back, or a hug can provide powerful validation. It's a mistake to take such an obvious thing for granted. Different Drummer: Leo Buscaglia
Sunday Apr 07, 2013
118: Where Would I Be Without God?
Sunday Apr 07, 2013
Sunday Apr 07, 2013
Personally, the better answer to a question like "where would I be without God" calls up a lot of powerful memories. I know the Holy Spirit has moved in my life through specific people and situations, which I can recall as vividly as if the intervening decades disappeared. I can name the names, in fact, and I do a couple of times. They are people who loved me in a way that supersedes human understanding, empowering me to do God's will. I have loved. I do love. I will love. Different Drummer: Chris Rice