Sermon Fun!

This has a few suggestions on what to do to amp up your worship service. There is nothing like a bad sermon to ruin the rest of worship (no pressure guys!). While sermons are not the only part of worship - music and prayer certainly have important roles - the direct connection between the congregation and scripture comes usually through the sermon time. It is for this reason, sermons need to be engaging and interesting to the congregation.

Church Search: Asbury United Methodist

This is a critique of a church I visited recently. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised and we plan to go back. There was a distinct feeling that the church was willing to change and move and transition however it needed to, which definitely is NOT present in a lot of church communities. I'm crossing my fingers!



To see some of the ministries etc the church is doing visit: http://www.aplaceforallpeople.com/

The Context of Scripture

Music - Mixing it UP!!

Guns, God, and the American Way

This is because of the US Pastor in Louisville that decided to have an "Open Carry" rally for a service. Seriously guys? Is nothing sacred?

Music - Content!

This is all about the lyrics. To paraphrase the movie Music and Lyrics, the music draws you in but the lyrics are like getting to know someone...

Aside: Stupid Sarkozy

Now, I know people all have different ideas about burkas, BUT there are some other considerations that people need to think about before legislating against them.

Music - Genre!

This is the first of 3 entries relating to music and the New Church. The following 2 will relate to content (lyrics) and playing with musical style in worship respectively. I feel the latter is really the direction of the New Church as it is in line with the generation coming into leadership positions - there is a desire for a mix of styles and a playfulness in worship which hasn't been present in the mainline Protestant church. Well, at least, I'm crossing my fingers...

Big Stuck #9 - Evangelism

The "E" word... *gasp*

Big Stuck #8 - War

What is it good for? Absolutely nothing! The truth is, Jesus was not pro-war and anyone who says he was, is delusional.

Big Stuck #7 - Sunday Christianity

There are 2 sides to this dinar - those who only are Christian on Sundays and those who say you can only be Christian if you go to Church on Sundays... *sigh*

Tolerance, plurality, or co-existance? - an Aside

I saw this video on pomomusings. It caused me to remember many of the lessons I learned while I was in India which I think are relevant to our discussions here. Particularly, I think of how we all seek something more than "this" and how difficult it is for so many of us to find "it". Beyond that, when we do, frequently we tend to be hurtful to those who have a different way of accessing the divine. This is a problem in our globalizing world where so many cultures and religions are interacting at an increasing rate.... the question becomes, how do we deal with this?

Now I would not say that I am tolerant of others views. In fact I am actually quite hard and fast about where I come down. This doesn't mean I won't give you air time. If I were merely tolerant I might simply condescend to allow you to believe whatever it is and smirk behind your back saying my way was the high way. By being forthright and admitting inconsistencies and conflicts, it's much easier to respect the other.

This should not only be practiced in India in political elections, or even on an interfaith level, but rather needs to be practiced on an intrafaith level. That is, different denominations of Christianity need to come into conversation with one another and really talk. May the most pragmatic begin!!

Indian Elections : A Mammoth Democratic Exercise from Shashwat Gupta on Vimeo.

Big Stuck #6 - Abortion

It's a sticking point not only for the Church, but also American society. In fact it has become more important in elections than other topics such as Social Security and health-care... something strange about that one...

Big Stuck #5 - Who's got the Bible?

Right interpretation is a major sticking point!

Big Stuck #4 - Money

Let's Talk About Sex!

Big Stuck #3 - Sex and the Church

The Church Fault

What's really wrong with the Church? I'll tell ya...

The Alpha Story