Prophetic Grace in a Manger
"When we celebrate Jesus’ birth only as a “Jesus sweet and mild” newborn, we unconsciously dismiss the radically prophetic message his birth and whole life embodied." Rev. Paul Graves challenges us to see the birth of Christ as the bold unmerited gift of grace that it is.
Unexplored Territory
Considering the contemporary argument that severe immigration enforcement is the "law of the land," Rev. Paul Graves looks to how Jesus engaged his contemporaries and their rigid application of Jewish laws. "[Jesus] knew unconditional love is the unexplored territory between those laws and the deeper meaning of those laws."
If you want to be taken seriously…
The Rev. John Brewer, Bishop Cal McConnell, and Mary Tapp share a moment of laughter during Tapp’s retirement party at PNWUMC in 2010.
Nurturing Elders...
Nurturing Elders: Practicing the Better
A young man was the subject of this story.
But I have heard persons of all ages say virtually the same thing, and have to...
Housebreaking Ageism in the Church
Housebreaking Ageism in the Church | By the Rev. Paul Graves
A few months ago, I invited us to consider naming the unidentified elephants that...
Nurturing Elders: What do we do with our FEAR?
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Learn more about the image, here.
By the Rev. Paul Graves
On November 8, we all have a chance to vote...
COVID-19 tests more than our bodies
"The COVID-19 is testing more than our bodies. Our spirits are getting a great test too," writes the Rev. Paul Graves. He argues that despite our separation and individualistic tendencies, we are our best, most authentic, selves when we help each other.
Elders: Imperfect Signs of Perfection
"A perfect hammer is a tool that is used to pound nails and extract nails from wood…but a perfect human being? That’s more difficult...
Nurturing Elders: Putting the You, Me, We into US
Nurturing Elders and Others:
Putting the You, Me, We into US
By Douglas Ferguson | Photos by Wikimedia Commons
Editor’s note: Douglas Ferguson, a young adult within...
A Matter of Alignment?
The Rev. Paul Graves uses the metaphor of chiropractic alignment to discuss the problems we are experiencing as a denomination today, and at times in our own struggles as well. He states, "alignment has everything to do with relationships we have – with our bodies, emotions, the people we live with and around, the God we perceive, and the Bible we read."