For some of us, who grew up being taught "the Bible is without error", the violence attributed to God in the Bible presents major cognitive dissonance. For others of us, it doesn't feel quite so major, but it still doesn't make sense! If the Bible is a resource to the modern spiritual life and the pursuit of love and justice in the world (and we believe it is!), what on earth do we do with its violence?
Read MoreFor black and brown Americans, the judgments of authorities too often lead to harm and mistrust (even death, as in the shootings of Daunte Wright & Adam Toledo). On the surface, the God of the Bible can seem just as cruelly authoritative, but what if God is actually the opposite? In our culture obsessed with determining guilt vs. innocence, judgment becomes a weapon people use against each other. On the surface, the God of the Bible can seem just as judgmental, but what if God is actually the opposite?
Read MoreWe collected awesome, honest questions from people in our community about how it’s hard to believe in an all-parts loving, no-parts punishing God. Hayley, Kyle, and Vince (our pastors) have found there ARE actually satisfying responses to these hard questions, that can free us up to feel spiritually alive and active. Even better: there are a number of them. We don’t all have to come to the exact same conclusions…
Read MoreMuch of conventional American religion paints a split personality picture of God (part loving, but part punishing). This leaves many struggling with self-punishment and perfectionism. For Easter Sunday this year, Vince paints instead a consistent picture of the God Jesus shows us (all loving, no part punishing) who helps us have more grace for ourselves, not more punishment.
Read MoreToday's prayer guide helps us listen to our bodies, hearts, minds, and souls.
Read MoreToday's prayer guide is a practice in praying for others.
Read MoreToday's prayer guide leads us in a breathing prayer.
Read MoreToday's prayer guide leads us in a prayer often called "the Jesus prayer".
Read MoreHow we long for change and justice to come about in one fell swoop! But Revolution never seems to happen that way. Does that mean it’s not worth hoping for? When we hold together the traditional Palm Sunday story (of Jesus entering Jerusalem as a triumphant King) with the traditional Holy Week stories (of Jesus exiting Jerusalem en route to his execution), we get a picture of Revolution that isn’t “one fell swoop”, but it is participatory and resilient — and that IS worth hoping in.
Read MoreToday's prayer guide gives us a place to put our feelings about the things that are outside of our control
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