Countryside Community Church, United Church of Christ is an Open and Affirming community. Here, all people are treated as creations made in God's very image, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, physical or mental ability, nationality, or economic class. We are diverse, yet united by Christ's example. We care for one another, support one another and challenge one another to become all that God creates us to be. We work together to nurture our community and to promote peace, equality, and justice in our conflicted world.
I enjoyed this very much. One step at a time is the right approach in failing forward with Belief. I read an old writing once that said that when we look at our life it is like a Bundle of Sticks we carry on our backs. The heaviness of this bundle weighs us down almost from the minute we wake up. But God told this man (in the story) that it was never your responsibility to worry or carry the Bundle of Sticks. For God said that is my bundle and my pressure to carry. All I ask of you each day is to take one of the sticks of the bundle and carry that for the day....focusing only on this individual stick, understanding it, and trying to complete the requirements of that stick. In that moment, the man threw down the bundle and the weight that it carried in stress on his mind and body. Then he looked at the bundle and said to God...."I will take on this stick today....now that my focus is not distracted by the bundle." And God said, "Good job my faithful child....and I will take the rest of the bundle for you. For now we clearly understand each other's roles." In that moment, the man was relieved....for now he knew his proper role in working with God....not just for God. This story is the same analogy of taking one step at a time throughout this process of Life with Belief. Maybe this story which helped me gain newfound perspective....will help someone else as well. Thank you Dr. Jenny for your thought provoking topic on Belief....and the personal touch you provided to it to make it more relatable. 🙏 ~ Ryan
Wow, just wow. We were so lucky to have Bishop Spong. And I am so glad I can listen to him on RU-vid. I hope for many more to follow in his footsteps. Many may nit realuse how deeply rooted in bible scholarship he is. Its just wonderful to hear someone being honest about the bible, and interpreting it as one would hope in the 21century. And makes it look easy! Why have we not looked at it like this before?!
Trying really hard to have an open mind and listen but what about the fact the Jews were slaves to Egyptians. What’s wrong with being rescued out of the hands of your tormentors?
Bishop spong was a great person and human being we need more people like him I stumbled upon him accidentally in a video on tik tok and I love the way he explained his beliefs which to me make sense!I have also recently bought a couple of his books and can’t wait to read them!
He deliberately missed the rest of the verse out where God ordered the people to ''kill the Amaleketes and kill every woman who's known a man by lying with him but to keep all the virgins for themselves as plunder.'' Interesting that, don't ya think? As for God ''changing'' as he said, how do you explain the verse where it says ''God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow;;?
You've missed the point. Bishop Spong views the authors of the different books of the Bible as giving their views on God. As we meditate on that, we can think where did they get it right? Where did they get It wrong? As with all society, we can see how the Hebrew people initially claim God just for themselves. We see genocide that is not of God, but people claim it so. Or most likely, it never happened, but part of a 'foundation myth'. But the important message we can glean, more in some places than others and culminating in the story of Jesus, is the love of God. We can also look at the teaching of Paul, and think... where did he get It right? Where did he get It wrong. God is love, however we may understand'God'. Do listen again if you can. Blessings and Peace.
Now this was truly a man of God! Most so called "apologists" just dance around the "creeds" defending what they say is the only "truth" wanting to keep God in a box that was determined by clerics in the early centuries. When I was in that box and first heard of Bishop Spong, he was just dismissed as a heretic by those in that same echo chamber. Thank God, I've had my own awakening. Thank you Jack Spong!
Allah revealed this to me: "Islam is the fastest imploding religion in the world, as more and more Muslims are realising that Mohammad and others (breakdown given below) fabricated the Quran to persue their own personal agendas. Islam is nothing but 7th century Arabic tribalism. Muslims are much better and bigger than this oppressive ideology. I love all Muslims as people, but dislike the Supremisist Quranic Ideology they follow". 1000% support to all Ex Muslims, from 7 billion of us (includes many Muslims)...Lovers of Truth. Breakdown of Quranic inputs as reaveled to me by Allah... 10% Mohammad 30% Plagerised from Christian, Jewish and Pagan texts. 58% Added on after Mohammad. 1% by Satan ( Mohammad himself reaveled this. He later removed these verses). 1% Eaten by a goat (as reaveled by Muhammad's wife Ayasha...he married her when she was 6years and he was 53years). 0% by Allah.
"the prophets were not people predicting the future. The prophets were people discerning a new understanding of God". What a sly way to say scripture isn't true. Yuk. I hear hissssssing in his vocabulary.
Ye old Prophet of Death-preaching his Gospel of No Hope in that unmistakable slave owner accent right up until the very end. And still, even to this day… the most eloquent, angry and bitter heathen I’ve ever listened to.
sponge’s ideas have been so helpful to me. atheism makes sense but doesn’t quite fit with what i feel to be true about the universe. this just clicks for me. as a historian ive tracked ideas of god throughout time and what he says is so spot on with all my studies. i think his vision of god is where humanity is headed and in 200 years if we’re still around, he’ll be regarded as a man before his time. :)
contrary to what is said here, the reason the prophet jonah was disobedient at first was because he knew God was going to be merciful towards the people. If you read the book, you will see.
The technology bug won out Monday night, and our Town Hall live stream failed. But we have recovered. Here is what you missed. My apologies. - Ray Meints
Should we not follow the Bible and work 6 days and rest on the 7th day, the SABBATH day, according to the word of God? God rested, blessed it and sanctified it..(set it aside for holy use). God has faithful people who love Him and keep His commandments, shouldn't you be one of them? The 6 days of creation with all it implies cannot be reversed or changed. The only day Adam and Eva could rest was on the Sabbath day, the 7th day. Simple math!
This guy is clinically insane, heretical and reprobate. He writes a book called, "Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalists," and another one entitled, "The Sins of Scripture." Why does he remain, or why did he remain, a bishop in a church where he makes a vow to uphold its Trinitarian Creed? From the very beginning of his ordination he is a liar. And his books are absolutely horrible. There is no scholarship in them. Just groundless flights of fancy.
Spong John socialist pants. This buffoon is neither a man of God nor a good person at all. Why doesn't he write his on religious book and stop using the bible. He does not think the bible is the word of God, so why doesn't he grab War and Peace and teach is brand of Christianity from that novel?
And Black America more than any other group on this earth, have been the ones who have forgiven their white racist neighbours. In modern times, every time some racist goes into a black church and kills people at Bible study, the black community--even those who lost someone in the crimes - have come forward and publicly proclaimed forgiveness for their aggressors! Think about that. Unfortunately, that has not seemed to have helped black America at all!
Why are the five pillars of Islam are not found in the Quran listed as the five pillars? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dqPNMTvDCD4.html
I always have found it interesting that you all are so progressive and inclusive, yet the lyrics of the songs sung there always seem to mention things like Christian soldiers, fighting, missions and imposing Jesus onto all, or the world as the one true lord.
