Many religious people count on God's forgiveness, but it is far more difficult to put aside human feelings of bitterness and resentment to pardon others. New research, however, shows the two spiritual goals are related.

In houses of worship, we share so many important milestones of our lives. We are a community, unlike any other. This amazing, intangible, but palpable, "mystery" of the Holy is what gives us common ground on which to stand.

We have succumbed to the trends of the surrounding culture, employing professionals to prepare the perfect space and the ideal services to accommodate all comers. All you have to do is show up. But if I don't have to invest anything into the community, the community doesn't really matter.

Houses of Hospitality will deliver the powerful message of welcome and inclusivity to a generation and it will make churches a central part of the service movement, which is where it needs to be. All it takes is a desire to do it and the decision to follow through. It is called the Gospel.

In order to connect with youth in our communities, we have to walk outside the church doors everyday and let the community know who we are and what we have to offer so they will choose us instead of a gang.

When a church provides the space for showing films discussing the issues, it becomes more relevant by becoming a catalyst for coalition-building.

Without adequate ways for veterans to process their war experience, reflect on its moral and psychological impact, and restore them to civilian life, we fail as a society to bring them all the way home.

The word conspire means "to breathe with." My hope and belief is that everyone can experience the beauty and healing power of Community. By embodying love actively and engaging the Beloved within ourselves, we can conspire to transform the entire world into a love-based Community.

Everybody knows everybody and we look out for each other, especially one segment of our little community: 76 foster kids Possum Trot families have taken in. Not bad for a town of 600, right? Some people say it's a miracle.

We do not come to Scripture alone, but do so with the Holy Spirit who helps us discern God's truth and will within. This same Holy Spirit is the Spirit who unites us as God's people, the community that is the Body of Christ.

A year from now, let's have more than 100 congregations and other groups follow Wesley Seminary's lead and gather folks around the table for food, fellowship and conversation.

Life In The Trinity Ministries, where Brian McLaren is the "Resident Theologian," proposed this question as their conference theme this past weekend here in Fort Worth. In the latest episode of "Outlaw Theology," McLaren answers.

Americans have a deep desire to gather around tables with loved ones, even if relationships are sometimes strained by the experience. Deep inside us, we sense the importance of shared meals.

Last Sunday morning began like most other mornings around our house. The mood was carefree, relaxed and lazy. Until, that is, I announced that it was time to get dressed so that we could leave for church.

FaithStreet is doing something right: connecting people to churches and empowering churches to serve even more people in the community, increasing the common good.

My prayer, as I was listening to the doctor say the words, "invasive, lobular carcinoma," came suddenly and clearly: "Gracious God be with me through this journey, allow me to walk it with dignity and grace. And help me to be grateful, whatever may be."

If there are so many churches here, why does America look so unlike the Kingdom of God? Why are we strangers to our neighbors? Why do we have homeless poor among us? Why do sweatshops produce the majority of our goods?

It is not just our small rural county that knows about church shoppers. Even big cities and large communities have lots of churches and lots of competition for new members.

When I am asked why I go to church, I pause. I go to church for many reasons. Church reminds me of God's on-going activity, God's word to us in countless forms. Church helps me reorder things, reprioritize.

I wrote a story a while back about a family in our church back in Pueblo whose baby was due just after we left town. There was a good chance he'd need surgery in utero or immediately after being born.

Call it cynical, iconoclastic or even destructive to the fabric of society, but placing humanity above ideals seems the only hope we have for living out Christ's call to love one another as ourselves.

I get why people would create the dichotomy between spirituality and religiosity. But, as a Christian, it is by living with both the beauty and the brokenness of humanity that we discover who we are.

What better place to engage in theological reflection than along well-worn paths trod by previous generations of travelers who undoubtedly did the same?

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I wonder if our post-modern, neo-Christian, progressive church is shortchanging the Christian religion. Is this cause for a sit-down with the pastor, a committee, national church leadership?