Randall K. Hartman's Blog, page 2
June 20, 2023
My Interview During the LGBTQ+ Conference with Oord
On May 26, 2023 an online conference was held featuring contributors to the book Why the Church of the Nazarene Should Be Fully LGBTQ+ Affirming. I was privileged to write a chapter in the book titled Saying “But the Bible Says” is Not Enough. During the conference I was interviewed about my essay. If you […]
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May 9, 2023
The Bible and “Bye Bye Miss American Pie”
Yesterday I asked a group of high school students what they thought was the greatest song ever written. After they gave all their wrong answers, I shared the only correct response: “Miss American Pie” written by Don McLean. In a fraction of a second I realized most of them had never heard the song. […]
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November 1, 2022
Hey Weirdo, Rebel, Trouble-Maker Join Me on the Outlier’s Road
Do people label you as a heretic, a troublemaker, a rebel, or a misfit? If so, you might be an outlier. Contrary to what people say, that can be a good thing. The word “outlier” comes from the world of science and math. These fields focus on the study of random samples. Any sample values […]
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October 11, 2022
It’s National Coming Out Day. Pastor Have You Come Out as an Ally?
Ally. “…someone who helps and supports other people who are part of a group that is treated badly or unfairly, although they are not themselves a member of this group.” (Cambridge Online Dictionary) Pastor, have you come out as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community? It’s a good question to ask on National Coming […]
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October 9, 2022
I Was Asked, “What Happened To You?” Here’s My Answer.
A friendly conservation between me and two pastor friends got awkward when one of them asked, “What happened to you?” No one spoke. We all knew what was behind that question. As an ordained Nazarene pastor, I used to be at the hub of all things Nazarene. The Church of the Nazarene was the center […]
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August 30, 2022
August 26, 2022
Dear Christians, Can We Please Stop Whining About Forgiveness?
I know. You are mad about the loan forgiveness program because, “It’s not fair. I had to work and scrimp to pay for my schooling. No one helped me.” And so you express your rage on social media at forgiveness in action. How did you forget forgiveness is all about “unfairness.” Unfairness is what […]
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August 21, 2022
A 4:30 AM Shocker: YOU Are God’s Sermon!
Although it’s been two years since I’ve preached a sermon, it’s still a part of who I am. I half-woke this morning at 4:30. My first thought was that I wasn’t ready to preach. I had no sermon in my heart to deliver. (For the record, in all my years of preaching I always was […]
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August 18, 2022
Here’s Why Liz Chaney Ought to Be Your Example to Follow
This is not about politics although her story is wrapped in that fabric. She serves as a Republican in the United States House of Representatives for Wyoming. Last week she lost in the primary election. Why? She voted to impeach President Trump a week after the January 6 insurrection. Her belief in his guilt drove […]
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July 29, 2022
Is a Culture of Fear Emerging in the Church of the Nazarene?
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18a ESV) I’ve spent 68 years in the Church of the Nazarene. My great-granny was Nazarene. Her son (my grandpa) served as a Nazarene pastor. When I was four days old I attended my first Nazarene service. Two of my academic […]
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