Category: Faith

America, Culture, Faith, fear, Hope, hope, Politics, social media, spirituality, Story3 Comments

Faith is Courage in Spite of …

Gary Furr

A friend who has devoted her adult life to global poverty texted me this week. Discouragement, confusion, chaos is everywhere. A sense of paranoia and ruthless cruelty has settled in our capital, and now the enemies of America are apparently other Americans. I sent these words to her amid the distress and I share them with you if you need them. ———————————————————————————— There’s a famous story that Robert Bly tells about Carl Jung who, whenever a friend reported enthusiastically, ‘I have just been promoted!’ Jung would say, ‘I’m very sorry to hear that; but if we all stick together, I … Continue reading Faith is Courage in Spite of …

Bible, Covid-19, Evangelicalism, Faith, fear, God, Jesus, pandemic, Sickness and Health, Theology, Theology and Life, Vaccines3 Comments

Faith and Vaccines

Gary Furr

This week I remembered a conversation I had with a woman many years ago. I had gone to teach a series on the family at a friend’s church in another state. She came up to me after the presentation and asked to talk with me. Of course, I said. “What’s on your mind?” I asked. “Well, I feel like such a failure in my faith. I suffer from depression. It was affecting my marriage, my children, and most of all, my faith in God.” “Why did you feel it made you a failure?” I inquired. “I’ve tried everything. I prayed … Continue reading Faith and Vaccines

Children, Faith, Family, Hope, hope, humanity, Spiritual disciplines, spirituality, Suffering, Theology3 Comments

Turning the Page to a New Day

Gary Furr

Some people can look at the big picture and take it in. Others of us have to plant down on the earth and focus on digging the one hole that is ours to do. When you’re trying to get it together, simple is best. You can’t fix the entire universe, but you can fix a healthy breakfast. You can’t answer the question of suffering humanity, but you can lend a hand to one person hurting. We live in time. It’s different for each of us. But what we do with the hand dealt us will finally determine how the story … Continue reading Turning the Page to a New Day

Advent, Christianity, Christmas, Dr. Gary Furr & Friends, Faith, fear, folk music, Gary Furr music, God, Gospel music, Hope, Hymns, hymns, Jesus, Music, Narrative, spirituality, Story, Theology1 Comment

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Gary Furr

I confess, I have now been part of a ukelele flash mob, back when mobbing was not a public health crisis. But enough of that. Every year, the curmudgeons, musicians all, who inhabit the couch and chairs at Fretted Instruments of Homewood, contribute tracks for a Christmas CD that is given away. This is one I did a few years ago–ukelele, mandolin, dobro and guitar played by yours truly. Oh, and banjo, just for good measure. Merry Christmas! “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” was penned by Edmund Sears. Sears was a divinity graduate of Harvard and became a Unitarian … Continue reading It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

apocalyptic, Bible, Christianity, Covid-19, creation, Faith, fear, Fundamentalism, Hope, pandemic, Revelation, Book of, Sickness and Health, Suffering, Uncategorized

Diligence not Goosebumps

Gary Furr

There is plenty of good work to do—beyond the ministries of the church itself, we have a world of opportunity.  Children and schools are important to all of us. Hungry children need food. Frightened children need reassurance, even if it’s not certain out there. Lonely children need connection. The technology that was supposed to make life easy now is only our connection to get things done.  Everything is a lot harder. Here’s the problem now: the pandemic is going to stretch well into next year, from everything I can read. No vaccine is coming next week. I can see businesses … Continue reading Diligence not Goosebumps