Ten Questions: #7 – Why do you condemn homosexuality?
Complete question: Why do you condemn homosexuality when it’s clear that God made gays and that he loves all people the same? Summary The Story of Jesus’ interactions with the Samaritan woman () provides a helpful model for our consideration Jesus modeled the need to affirm God’s love toward all people–including men and women ensnared in …
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Ragamuffin Gospel: #11 – A Touch of Folly
Chapter 11 The Power of a Great Affection Manning relates a story from the archives in New Orleans: instead of being “born again,” those who came to know a personal relationship with Jesus Christ would say, “I was seized by the power of a great affection.” This is the phrase that describes an authentic and …
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Ten Questions: #6 – Why is abortion such an Issue?
Full question: Why is abortion such a line in the sand for Christians–why can’t I be left alone to make my own choices for my own body? Summary The opening story about a child found in a box on the road should cause us to give unborn children the benefit of the doubt and the right to …
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Ragamuffin Gospel: #10 – The Victorious Limp
Chapter 10 Keep Coming Back The mature Christians I have met along the way are those who have failed and have learned to live gracefully with their failure. One of my most consistent problems is taking on too much, too many things at once — overcommitment. Perhaps I lack the ability to set proper boundaries, …
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Psalm 27
Ragamuffin Gospel: #9 – The Second Call
Chapter 9 Halftime This chapter reminds of Bob Buford’s book, Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance1. In October of 1995, I transitioned from the Air Force to civilian life–it was time to move into a new season in my life. The truth is, I’m still growing and trying to figure out what’s next, but this hasn’t prevented me …
Ragamuffin Gospel: #8 – Freedom from Fear
Chapter 8 Freedom Awaits All This chapter starts with a summary of Dostoyevsky’s, The Brothers Karamazov. For the church, this is a rather fatalistic view of its organization and intention to control parishioners. Quite depressing. Following this brief discussion, Manning asserts, “Some Christians want to be slaves.” This is not the freedom taught by Jesus, “If …
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Ragamuffin Gospel: #7 – Paste Jewelry and Sawdust Hot Dogs
Chapter 7 Counterfeit Christians This chapter presents a poignant story from Manning’s visit to a rehabilitation center, one that left me speechless. The point of the story is to evoke an emotional response, but more than that, it’s to force us to evaluate our response. Imagine if this were a Candid Camera episode where a …
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Ragamuffin Gospel: #6 – Grazie, Signore
Chapter 6 Decide, Trust and Show Heartfelt Gratitude Decide. Take Action. The gospel of grace calls us to action! This chapter calls us to arms, to action, to get out of the bleachers and onto the playing field. Manning we are indecisive, caught between a rock and a hard place because we cannot will ourselves …