“As [childlike] play is the forerunner of religion, so religion is to be the friend of [childlike] play.” —Horace Bushnell, _Christian Nurture_

“I say I’m a pacifist because I am a violent son of a bitch…I can feel it in every bone I’ve got. And I hate the language of pacifism because it’s too passive. But by avowing it, I create expectations in others that hopefully will help me live faithfully to what is true.” — Stanley Hauerwas

I’m not interested in people’s opinions on what constitutes “working class” if they’ve never had a job with a time clock and a strict 30 minute lunch break for an eight hour shift.

I’m off today (my first day off in two weeks—gotta love ministry!) and my regular, daily use Bibles are in my office an hour away. That means my daily devos are done in an old friend: My large print thinline NIV with center column references in blue buffalo leather.

by the glorious resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light:

things which were cast down are being raised up

We bless thee for our creation

While I love the sentiment, I *do* find it troubling that the outcome of this collaboration was alcohol. Alcoholism is a problem in the LGBT+ community. What I would’ve loved to seen done is the church opening its space for Queer-centered, alcohol-free third spaces. We need more of those.

I own many premium Bibles, but all of them pale in comparison to this simple gift my husband got me years back. I’ve used it so much that I’ve had to tape the front and back covers on; they fell completely off. The note especially, and most importantly, is why this is my dearest treasure.

To my theologian, clergy, a religiously-curious friends this Pride: Queer folks have a lot more to offer than just apologetics.

There is no Queer liberation without the liberation of Palestine. There can be no Queer self-determinism without the self-determinism of Palestine. There is not and cannot be Queer Pride without Palestinian pride.

“If the Baptist name becomes a cloak for nationalism, cruelty, racial resentment, greed or authoritarian appetite, then we have betrayed a spiritual inheritance.”

Hey siri play I’m Coming Out by Diana Ross

For Pride month, two LGBT-affirming, theologically rigorous essays. “The Body’s Grace” by the Most Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams: www.anglican.ca/wp-content/u... “Same-Sex Marriage as an Ascetic Practice” by Dr. Eugene Rogers: libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/E_...

Bëâņįė Wěëñįėş

“Christianity without transcendence degenerates into politics.” —Brian Zahnd

I was just asked to be my denomination’s regional Moderator Elect for the northeast region of the CBF!

I was talking about how much I loved a rocker being sold at the annual church garage sale. A congregant bought it for me to surprise me. Y’all, church people are the best.

The misuse of the Bible by Department of Homeland Security was bad during Kristi Noem's tenure but is increasing under Markwayne Mullin: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/the-gospel...

Hey @mccdenomination.bsky.social, I…don’t know if having the Crucified One—God murdered by empire—in bondage gear is the right advertisement for this.

READ THIS THREAD!!!!

Since it is Pentecost: The Upper Room, Jerusalem, Palestine. This site is supposedly where Jesus had his last supper and where the Spirit fell upon his disciples—though archaeology shows this is probably a crusader-era construction. Photo taken by me during my Palestine delegation this past January.

So Baptist that my main Bible has switched. I now used the Baylor Annotated Study Bible.

May God the Son, our great high priest, who has passed into the heavens, clothe you with power from on high. ⚓️

Grant these our prayers, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

It finally happened. I used this Bible so much that the cover completely separated from the spine and text block. As the evergreen Charles Spurgeon quote goes, “A Bible that's falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't.”

in commemoration of the Lord's crucifixion

God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm. —Psalm 47:5-7 | #AscensionDay

My favorite word is upbraid and I try to sneak it in when I can.

An important reminder that tomorrow is Ascension Day, and that the Ascension of our Lord is of vital importance to the apostolic kerygma.

Happy 140th birthday to the man, the myth, the legend: Karl Barth! This is a photo of the infant Karl with his mother, Anna Barth.

Clergy friends, now is the time to be public in your affirmation of all of God’s LGBT+ children, especially God’s Trans children. If LGBT+ people, and especially Trans people, can’t feel safe in the house of God, where else can we feel safe? Especially with a President such as him in the helm.

Current nighttime read.

No matter the religious heritage, AI and robotics cannot serve in any set apart capacity. Humanity and the incarnate life is central to religious vocation, and coding cannot replicate that.

Such stories are not unique in the Southern Baptist Convention. Paul Pressler is not a “fluke in the system.” The system knew what Pressler was doing behind closed doors, and it willingly turned a blind eye—and worse, even provided financial assistance to make his abuse possible.

Hind Rajab should be turning eight today. She should be playing doctor and getting ready to go to Gaza’s beaches. Instead, the IOF killed her three years ago.

The Testament of Ann Lee

Richard Dawkins: Trans women aren't real Also Richard Dawkins: AIs are conscious and my Claude is a Claudia

What do I do in my free time, you ask? I study The Lore™️.

to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of thy Divine Majesty to worship the Unity:

As a begrudging Austinite, can confirm this is 100% true.

Again again I say, clergy running for office—Democrat or Republican—should cease in their capacity as parish clergy. Adam Hamilton should step away from the pulpit if he wants to run for senate.