Coffee with Creamer

The good news of Christmas Day sweeps through the countryside and temple, past and present, and brings with it a promise as old as our wildest dreams—Emmanuel.     Scriptures: Genesis 12:1-3 Ruth 1-2 2 Chronicles 3:10-17 Luke 1:76-79, 2:4-14, 23:44-49

Barry talks about why sometimes we front-load the good news with bad news instead, and he offers a new way of thinking about our part in sharing the gospel.     Scriptures: Acts 14:8-17, 17:22-31, 3:13-15 Ephesians 4:15 Matthew 23 Ezekiel 34: 1-6 Luke 12:13-21, 16:1-9, 16:19-31, 9:51-5, 18:9-14 Romans 1:18-20 Matthew 7:1-5 1 Peter […]

The sentiment, “If you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself” doesn’t work when it comes to faith. Barry talks through James 5:12-20 and discusses the somewhat uncomfortable truth that our faith depends on others as much as theirs depends on us.     Scriptures: James 5:12-20, 1:26, 2:14, 1:16-18 Matthew 9:2-7 […]

In the last episode of our Disagreeing to Agree Series, Barry returns to the issues of economics, race, sexuality and gender, and abortion, and points out the common ground from which we can begin to build our bridges.     Scriptures: Joshua 7 Joshua 8:30-35  

In the second part of our Disagreeing to Agree Series, Barry walks us through a prayer of Daniel to remind us that historically, biblically, and theologically there is space for us to know our moral condition both as individuals and bound up in a community. One doesn’t have to rule out the other and we […]

Barry talks about how it is possible that advocates on opposite sides of issues like SOGI, race, economics, and abortion have enough common ground that they could build bridges to peace, rather than burn them down.     Books: Science and Religion, Ian Barber America: Religions and Religion, Catherine Albanese

There are times we fight tooth and nail to fix a problem, when in fact, we are only making a dent in the symptom. Barry offers a few examples of this complexity and ways to think more deeply about it.     Scriptures: 1 Kings 22 Book: Plato’s Republic, Book VI

Barry walks us through Psalm 18, dodging earthquakes, volcanoes, thunderstorms to watch God deliver us and bring us into a broad, safe place—a place of humility and gratitude.     Scriptures: Psalm 18 2 Samuel 22:1ff  

Traditional interpretations of authority can tend toward objectification but learning to be a servant in every context is redemptive.     Scriptures: Matthew 15:21-28 Luke 19:6-10 2 Samuel 6:20-23 James 3:7-9 Genesis 1:26-28 Philemon 13-16 1 Samuel 8:4-9 Galatians 2:3-6 1 Peter 5:2-5 Genesis 3:16 Ephesians 5:21-25   Book: The Making of the Atomic Bomb, […]

Barry talks about the tenuous yet long-term relationship between Christianity and education and why it has been fundamental to the faith, including in Judaism and the early church.       Scriptures: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Deuteronomy 17:14-20 Deuteronomy 11:18-23   Poem: “The Second Coming”, William Butler Yeats Articles: “A Deepening Distrust of Higher Education and Other […]