Coffee with Creamer

Barry takes us on a journey through various aspects of identity, highlighting the importance of acknowledging differences while extending moral equality. Ethics is in the same line of work as the good news: breaking down barriers and crossing lines.       Referenced Episodes: Disagreeing to Agree: Parts 1-3 Scriptures: Acts 22:6-22 Ez 18 Rom […]

This second episode of our series about real change has something for everyone: gnats, hermeneutics, corn shucking, and camels. Barry provides a few more instances of the ways in which we pitch our tent on the bridge instead of crossing over where love of God and others meet.         Scriptures: Matthew 23:24 […]

Barry begins a series about real change and how sometimes we stop short of it: instead of crossing a bridge, we pitch our tents in the middle. In this episode he lays that groundwork by citing some real-life (and real embarrassing) examples of this very thing in our everyday lives. Scripture: Matthew 7:1-6    

Barry covers Psalm 51 in part two of our series on David’s (the man after God’s heart) most famous failures. In this song he points out the insanely good deal we are offered (good news): we beg for mercy, and God gives it, and transformation. Our only requirement: brokenness.       Scriptures: Psalm 51 […]

Barry starts a new series on King David’s famous failures and points out aspects of those failures that we commit regularly. Psalm 50 reminds us that while we prefer a talisman what we really need is a Judge whose mercy is as unlimited as his power.       Scriptures: Psalm 50 1 Chron 15:1-17, […]

Barry finishes up a 2-part series about gun violence and gun control. The focus, as always is a way to get at a thoughtful and measured conversation, where we hear concerns from the other side, and come up with compromises that make things better, and hopefully make us better in the process.  

Barry starts a conversation about mass shootings, inviting believers to think through narrowing the topic, developing parameters for response, and seeking clear-headed and soft-hearted means for conversing about challenging topics facing our culture.         Articles: More than 13,900 people killed in gun violence so far in 2023, Kiara Alfonseca AR-15 Rifles Were […]

Psalm 49 describes our descent into the fear of death while offering a handhold out—a much better shepherd than the one we first see inside the boundaries of birth and death.         Scriptures: Psalm 49 Matt 10:28 James 2:1-7 Psalm 23

Using Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann in Jerusalem, Barry talks about how challenging it is to acknowledge our own frailties and yet maintain a moral standard. Peacemakers in God’s world have to do both.         Book: Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil, Hannah Arendt Scripture: 2 Cor 10:7-13 Referenced Episodes: […]

Barry concludes a series about evangelism and the dangers of “selling the gospel.” God tore the veil not to get more people into the temple, but to get the church into more of the world.       Scripture: Luke 9, 10, 19 Acts 24 Isaiah 56:6-8