It is sad that the impending death of our democracy is largely a product of conservative Christianity.

Bad theology equals dangerous theology. Conservative theology is exclusive, pushing those who are most vulnerable in our society beyond the pale of concern. That includes the poor, immigrants, and our gay friends and loved ones.

So, what can we do? We can support churches that preach the inclusive love of the Gospel. Like St. Matthew.

We enjoy your love from afar, but there are times when we would like for you to show up. Like tomorrow evening—Saturday, Aug. 30, at 6:00 PM.

We will host a concert of Broadway music from our vocal “stars”—singers every bit the equal of the Broadway originals. (I kid you not.) And listen! In these hard times, when the struggle is before us, we need to be lifted. I can promise you joy. And laughter. And—supper!

It is all free, but we will take an offering for Eastside Ministries, which helps feed those in need in our community.

By the way, we are looking for customers on Sunday mornings, too. Worship with us is worth your effort—and even a little drive time. Come to my class at 9:45, the only place you can study my next book, Discovering God. After class, join us for breakfast, followed by worship at 11:00.

Don’t let the churches with bad theology get all the support. Stand with us!

Start Saturday night with the concert. That’s at 6:00. Meet me at the door.

[email protected]
saintmatthewumc.com

Gosh!

(Excuse my French.)

I just lost my place in the Guinness Book of Records as the only person in the world who never made a mistake.

I made one last week.

I said Mr. Morton H. Meyerson played football for Poly. It was actually Paschal—and he was proud of it.

Mr. Meyerson died recently at the age of 87. He once told me that, as a Jewish kid, he always felt a bit left out. But that all changed when he made the football team.

It was football that brought Morton to church a few times. The coach would sometimes take the whole team. I doubt anyone asked the Jewish kid if he wanted to go to church. The team went. So, Morton went.

On one occasion, the preacher asked everyone who wanted to give their life to Christ to stand up. As a joke, the boys on each side of Morton pushed his legs together, forcing him to stand.

The boys got a laugh out of it, but so did Morton. And he stuck with his own faith. When we met, it was the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, and Morton brought me a loaf of bread—a symbol of the Jewish New Year.

There is something Christians need to know: we are all going to the same heaven.

So, why am I a Christian?

Because I know that Jesus was right. He is raised from the dead, and he is Lord.

But Jesus told us it is all about love. And we are all loved by God equally. We are all equally forgiven. And God works with and for all of us, all the time. Whatever our religion.

Live with it.

saintmatthewumc.com
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Life just goes on for most of us, even as our
country changes around us.

The horrors hardly touch us.

We have a secret police force now, extravagantly
funded and growing.

The ICE police wear masks. And they disappear
people.

They pick our neighbors up, carry them off, and
no one knows where they take them.

They are Imprisoned, somewhere, often in a
foreign country.

As far as their families are concerned, just gone.
We used to hear about this in other countries. It
was inconceivable in America. Now, it is our everyday
reality.

The 21 year-old daughter of a New York
Episcopal priest of Korean heritage was recently
disappeared in this way. Gone.

Some are detained in this country before being
shipped off.

In one detention center, the ICE police make
migrants eat like dogs from dishes placed on the floor.
Authoritarians are good at this: dehumanization.

Look at Hitler’s bunch.

They found endless ways to dehumanize the Jews.
And when you have corruption at the very top, it
works its way down.

When the leader is an amoral bully, those below
have permission to do as they wish.

Sending a person to a prison in Libya is not the
same as sending him to the gas chamber.

But for the man’s wife and children, this loved one
is just as gone.

Still, for most of us, life goes on. But it’s not
the same. Because we know.

Under our government, people like you and me
are being fed like dogs.

Lord, hear our prayer.

saintmatthewumc.com
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We are upgrading our online presentation to make it better represent our worship services.
Better picture, better sound.
I asked for a special lens to slim and de-age the pastor. To which the tech guys replied:
“We don’t do miracles.”
The first Sunday with the new equipment in a couple of weeks will be the trial run. It may even be a bit bumpy. Our “tech folk” will be getting used to some new stuff.
I’m talking about this because I want you to do something. I want you to subscribe to us on YouTube.
Find us on YouTube: Saint Matthew United Methodist, Fort Worth.
Or look up our website: saintmatthewumc.com.
Click on “video.”
Our Assistant Pastor, Mary, preached last week.
Her sermon will come up.
Choose “Watch on YouTube.” And subscribe.
We now have 228 subscribers. Our first goal is to push that to 400.
Then beyond.
I talk to you weekly in this little box.
I hope I have more to say to you than this.
If you can take this much of me each week, you can take more.
I’d love to see you in a pew.
If not, I want you to see me online.
I want you to enjoy our great singers. And this fall, our great choir, directed by our great choir director, Blake Glass.
Is everything great at St. Matthew?
Judge for yourself.
But you’ll have to tune in to find out.
Look us up on your device—and subscribe!
This Sunday: What the Church Got Wrong About Salvation.
11:00 a.m. and after.
saintmatthewumc.com
[email protected]

Several kudos and one big Praise the Lord! for Chip and Joanna Gaines.

Their new HBO show features three families trying to survive as 1880s homesteaders.

And one of the families is a gay couple—two dads—along with their 10-year-old twin sons, born via surrogate.

Good for Chip and Joanna!

There is a loud backlash from the conservative side of the church family.

Rev. Franklin Graham is all bent out of shape.

He says same-sex marriage is not biblical:

“God’s design for marriage is between one man and one woman.”

Well—not so. Biblical marriage is all over the place. Just ask Solomon. He had a bunch of wives.

And with some biblical heroes, marriage was not required.

Men had concubines.

It’s there—in the Book.

You know what else is in the Book? Some powerful insights from Jesus.

Including this one: “The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath.”

It’s a general principle.

Rules don’t hold when they work against kindness and compassion.

Marriage was made for people, not people for marriage.

I know several couples in strong, loving same-sex marriages.

And the Jesus I know is very happy with this.

Chip and Joanna are standing firm against the extensive criticism from conservative Christians.

“People want to judge first and understand later. Never!” says Chip.

Chip and Joanna have a lot, which means they have a lot to lose.

God bless them for taking a risk for Christ.

saintmatthewumc.com
[email protected]