Author: Gary Furr

I am a musician, writer and Christian minister living in Alabama. I am founder and President of the Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children.
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Thoughts on Suffering

Gary Furr

From a sermon two years ago. This was a post from a listener (and one of my staff) from that day. I am not fond of theories and theologies that discount the depths of human suffering for some exotic notion of “making us better people.” It can pass over the misery and sorrow too quickly. Better to see it, as perhaps the Ukrainian people are teaching us (as did Jesus), that sometimes suffering is the only alternative to yielding to wickedness and evil. I prefer Romans 8 which pictures the entirety of God’s good creation yearning for wholeness and completion, … Continue reading Thoughts on Suffering

Ash Wednesday, Ethics, Hope, humanity, Justice, Theology, Ukraine, violence, war1 Comment

A Prayer for the Russian People

Gary Furr

Today I pray for the people of Russia, passive victims of a sociopathic leader, taken into war without their voices and opinions being considered, lacking full knowledge or with the benefit of a factual and free press we pray. Lord have mercy. For a nation whose history is replete with czars, dictators and authoritarians, who have crushed dissent, stolen her wealth, compromised her people’s trust and repelled her Christian heritage unless it bow the knee to the idols. Lord have mercy. For mothers and grandmothers, whose young sons have been sent on a mission of bloodshed against kinsmen for no … Continue reading A Prayer for the Russian People

Ash Wednesday, Ukraine

My Ash Wednesday Prayer

Gary Furr

My Ash Wednesday Prayer Eternal God, We have been horrified by a Russian army that uses banned weapons. By order of their war criminal President, they kill civilians. The Russian army has invaded a free sovereign nation. Vladimir Putin, as the agent of evil, spews the same language of grievance that Hitler used to deceive his nation into a grandiose lie. God, pour out your judgement on him and those who bow to him, but also on us who watched him do it before and said little. Bring the world together to do Your will. Grant us discernment to choose … Continue reading My Ash Wednesday Prayer

Writing1 Comment
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New book, SHADOW PRAYERS by Gary Furr

Gary Furr

My new book is now at the publisher and will be available in a few weeks. SHADOW PRAYERS is a journal of my final year in pastoral ministry at Vestavia Hills Baptist Church. The book is a combination of pastoral prayers, poetry, narratives, timelines and reflections on my final year of ministry which coincided with covid, the death of George Floyd, the 2020 election and January 6th. ORDER Book NOW click here ORDER AUDIOBOOK ONLY ORDER BOOK AND AUDIOBOOK TOGETHER Or use the QR code Continue reading New book, SHADOW PRAYERS by Gary Furr

change, Citizenship, Culture, Higher Education, hope, Institutions, Leadership, Modern Life, Selfishness3 Comments
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Your Bag of Wedges: A Commencement Address

Gary Furr

I was invited by President Beck Taylor to give the afternoon Commencement Address for Samford University’s winter graduation on Saturday, December 18, 2021 2 p.m. This is my text.. This reflection was originally part of a sermon that appears in my forthcoming book, Shadow Prayers. it will be out soon through Mossy Creek Press. Congratulations, graduates! What an accomplishment! We are proud of you today and you should be, too. Let me share the three measures of maturity that I gave my three daughters years ago: You’re out of the house, out of school and out of my money. My … Continue reading Your Bag of Wedges: A Commencement Address