Category: humanity

Bible, Christianity, Death, easter, Grief, Holy Week, Hope, hope, humanity, Jesus, Jesus, resurrection, spirituality, Story, Suffering, Theology, Worship6 Comments

Easter

Gary Furr

Six weeks ago my father died. I have not spoken much about that except to friends. Grief is deeply personal, and the journey is different for us all. Suffice it to say that as a primary caregiver for my Dad the past three years, two in a nursing facility, I have been up close and personal to the end of his life at 91. My father was a wonderful, larger that life presence in my life. For weeks it is the cursed insane busy-ness after death. Experience is crowded out by necessity, but that is not all bad. Denial has … Continue reading Easter

America, Children, Citizenship, Culture, Ethics, Family, Grace, Hope, hope, humanity, Leadership, spirituality, Story1 Comment

Glimmers of Hope

Gary Furr

Glimmers of Hope Sometimes. I stand back and think of how strange this moment is. We had a car sale on the lawn of the White House. People are screaming at their representatives at town hall meetings. A man who said he could make the government run better got on a stage with a chainsaw to encourage us somehow. I have abandoned arguing on Facebook with anyone. Well occasionally I get sucked in like we all do, but it seems as though we cannot decide who the real adults are. Adults are not acquitting themselves too well at the present … Continue reading Glimmers of Hope

9-11, America, Baptist life, Christian Nationalism, Citizenship, Constitution, Culture, Ethics, First Amendment, Harrassment, humanity, Immigration, Interfaith Dialogue, Justice, Modern Life, Politics, September 11, spirituality, Terrorism1 Comment

Give Me Liberty and I’ll Give You Liberty, Too

Gary Furr

Religious freedom is either a principle or a convenient fiction. I once taught American church history at Samford University, and I at least know something about religion and American history. And on the matter of religious liberty, I am a fiery Baptist. It is a principle, not a convenience. If you are a real Baptist, you fight for EVERYBODY’S freedom.  My friend Glenn Hinson once wrote, “For faith to be genuine, it must be free.” That means unsupported by government, and free from government power over our conscience and the practice of faith as long as we do not interfere … Continue reading Give Me Liberty and I’ll Give You Liberty, Too

Calling, Christianity, Competition, Conflict, Evangelicalism, Forgiveness, Fundamentalism, Grace, hope, humanity, Humor, Jesus, Jesus, Lent, Pilgrimage, Prayer, reconciliation, spirituality, Story, Thankfulness

NEW PODCAST Cheap Preachers Trip to Israel

Gary Furr

LATEST PODCAST. Preachers are like manure. When you spread us out, we can do a lot of good. But when you pile us up all together it can be almost unbearable. On a preachers tour to Israel I found out why. Click to listen Continue reading NEW PODCAST Cheap Preachers Trip to Israel

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