What Should the new pope do first?

A controversial game plan that will please almost no one.

Referenced in this Podcast:

Scott Austin Key and

Every Shelter, an organization which empowers refugees to build shelters: We Design Shelter Solutions for Refugees - Every Shelter

https://everyshelter.org/

"All-Inclusive - Homophobia and Transphobia," Sermon by Pastor Zach Lambert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3d_mhbTwL4

or on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/69RLRBxTUJJz4zXrq6nKiJ

The fascinating history and back story of Pope Paul VI's ban of birth control in Humanae Vitae: https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/new-birth-control-commission-papers-reveal-vaticans-hand

Grandpa Scott and Grandpa Bobby

Two Gay Grandpas Travel YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@twogaygrandpastravel

Their Podcast: Travel Your Heart: https://open.spotify.com/show/29TnR3cpXCGRlif38XYy6P

Original Rotary interview: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4WSHhnO0xEp63ZKSnPQKlH

PFLAG (Parents, Friends and Allies of LGBTQIA+ individuals): https://pflag.org/

The Boulder County (HIV) AIDS project: https://www.bcap.org/

The Trevor Project (for Queer/LGBTQ+ Youth): https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Netflix documentary, Join or Die: https://www.netflix.com/title/81746809

Grandpa Scott and Grandpa Bobby:

Two Gay Grandpas Travel YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@twogaygrandpastravel

Their Podcast: Travel Your Heart: https://open.spotify.com/show/29TnR3cpXCGRlif38XYy6P

Original Rotary interview: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4WSHhnO0xEp63ZKSnPQKlH

PFLAG (Parents, Friends and Allies of LGBTQIA+ individuals): https://pflag.org/

The Boulder County (HIV) AIDS project https://www.bcap.org/

For LGBTQ youth, The Trevor Project:

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Reference to “Mrs. Cleaver” from the TV sitcom Leave It to Beaver: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Cleaver

Reference to the LDS Church: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints

Reference to AIDS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV/AIDS

“I could literally talk your ear off for hours about all the good fruit I experience on a daily basis in the lives of my queer friends. It's just endless.

“On the other side, the fruit of the anti-LGBTQ theology has been literally devastating.”  Linda Robertson

More of Linda’s Story can be heard on two previous episodes of this podcast:

“A Mother’s Regrets” (15 min.) and

“I Believe You – I Have Your Back” (11 min.)

This podcast is extracted from an interview with Becky Aste (a Trauma-Informed Marriage Coach) on her podcast, “Your Breakthrough Blueprint,” from an emotional episode called, “Can I love God and my gay son too?” The complete interview (1 hr.) is available on:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0O222LNg1w96K5VjlTOIkK?si=JZW0jHFnTvOhUDb3td-FLA

And Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-breakthrough-blueprint-with-becky-aste-for-the/id1676348200?i=1000664115395

The American church is facing an unprecedented shift, with younger generations rapidly dechurching and stepping away from organized religion.

In this episode, we dive into the reasons behind this trend with my daughter, a Stanford epidemiologist and biostatistician. Raised in an evangelical megachurch, deeply involved in campus ministry, and now attending an LGBTQ-affirming Presbyterian church, Elizabeth shares some of her experiences and observations.

We discuss the key factors driving millennials and Gen Z away from traditional churches, including the treatment of women, queer individuals, and other marginalized groups.

Elizabeth shares insights on how church teachings on sexuality, authority, and social justice have influenced her peers' decisions to leave—or stay—in religious communities. From purity culture to the political entanglements of modern Christianity, we explore why so many young people feel disillusioned with faith institutions and what it would take for churches to truly be places of belonging.

If you're curious about the intersection of faith, justice, and identity—or wondering what an inclusive church looks like—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. We cover everything from affirming theology to the broader cultural shifts shaping young people's spiritual lives. Tune in as we unpack what it means to question, evolve, and reclaim faith in a changing world.

Romans 12 and Google AI on dealing with difficult relatives.

This sermon was delivered the Sunday after the 2024 Presidential election.

An election that has left many fearful.

Today we sit in our grief, tomorrow we sit in our anger, and then after that we accept that empire will never save us and we mobilize to create more just and safer communities and political systems.

Does Trump Pass the Biblical Test? AI’s Answer.

Seven scriptures ChatGPT says disqualify Donald Trump.

In this episode, the scriptural case for voting against Donald Trump.

In exploring a scriptural case for voting against Donald Trump, one can turn to various teachings in the Bible that emphasize virtues like humility, truthfulness, justice, and care for the marginalized.

1. Humility and Leadership

• Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

• Philippians 2:3-4 – “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

These verses highlight the danger of pride and selfish ambition.

2. Truthfulness and Integrity

• Proverbs 12:22 – “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”

• Ephesians 4:25 – “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor.”

Truth and honesty are essential biblical values.

3. Justice for the Marginalized

• Isaiah 1:17 – “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”

• Matthew 25:40 – “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

The Bible repeatedly calls for justice and care for the marginalized, including immigrants.

4. Peacemaking vs. Division

• Matthew 5:9 – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.”

• Proverbs 6:16-19 – Lists seven things the Lord detests, including “a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”

5. Servant Leadership

• Mark 10:43-45 – “... whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”

Jesus calls leaders to serve others humbly.