Reba Riley's Blog, page 6
December 16, 2015
It’s Called Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome and Yes, It’s Real
If there’s one thing I know the power of, it’s a name. For the better part of a decade I suffered from a chronic mystery illness that was attacking me from the inside out. Countless doctors and specialists couldn’t diagnose me, couldn’t give me a name for what was happening. They told me it was [Read More...]
The Miracle of Detachment
For me, strange coincidences are real life, unexpected miracles and occur when we allow intuition and openness to intertwine in the most intricate of ways Post by Guest Contributor Julie Cline I was traveling on business last week to Jersey City, NJ for a full day meeting that started at 8am; then into New York [Read More...]
December 13, 2015
Podcast Sunday: Doug Pagitt
This week’s Podcast Sunday features Doug Pagitt: leader of the Emergent Church movement, pastor,author, and convener. Dougseeks to be agoodness conspirator & possibility evangelistwho finds reative, entrepreneurial and generative ways to enlist people to join in the hopes, dreams, and desires of God for the world.He isthe pastor ofSolomon’s Porch in Minneapolis(a place I have [Read More...]
December 10, 2015
The Year I Traded in Church for Cooking: How Nigella Lawson Changed My Life
I don’t necessarily recommend giving up on your marriage and your religion in the same year, but I recommend that you learn to make spaghetti carbonara if you do. Post by Contributor Susan GrayBlue Shortly after moving to Los Angeles in my early 30s, I left the church and my marriage. I’d been devoted to [Read More...]
December 4, 2015
#FridayReads: FLUNKING SAINTHOOD by Jana Riess
I run out of words to say how much I adore Jana Riess.(My enthusiasmembarrasses Jana to no end, but if you enjoyed Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome,she is the reason.Jana took my messy second draft through innumerable edits, and taught me how to write a book in the process.) I first found Jana because of her funny, [Read More...]
December 3, 2015
Life After Fundamentalism
Post by Contributor Susan GrayBlue If I emerged from fundamentalism, anyone can. I know I’m not alone. Maybe not everyone was sent to a Jesus-branded charm school, but religion plays a significant role in the lives of most Americans, even in our shifting spiritual landscape. Seven years ago, roughly 78 percent of the country was [Read More...]
December 1, 2015
Why We Need to Do Nothing Every Day (Especially During the Holidays!)
Post by Contributor Julie Cline “I need to do nothing.” How often do you hear that phrase? Typically, the phrases I hear most often in my world sound like this: ” I have so much to do, I don’t know where to start.” “I feel like I’m drowning!” “I have 10 places to be at [Read More...]
November 29, 2015
Podcast Sunday: Brian McLaren
In this second installment of Podcast Sunday, we hear from Brian McLaren, author, speaker, and activist, who Mark interviewed while Brian was speaking in New Zealand earlier this year. If you have ever struggled with lost faith, you will be encouraged by Brian’s open, honest reflections on suffering, fear, andlife’stough questions: “I’m sure I am [Read More...]
November 27, 2015
How I Lost My Religion and Found Meaning
Post by Contributor Susan GrayBlue I was born the year we landed on the moon, but I grew up on another planet entirely. Sheltered in a city nestled among Midwestern corn fields, I thought drinking wine was sinful and listening to rock ‘n’ roll put you on a fast track to hell. I’ll just go [Read More...]
November 26, 2015
A Thanksgiving Blessing (In Lieu of Prayer)
This is the blessing I wrote for today’sThanksgiving meal at our home.I share it herebecause I know holidayscan be difficult for families of different faiths, or no faith, because we want to acknowledge the sacredness of togetherness, but often we aren’t sure how to do so. Enter this blessing, which may be read aloud as [Read More...]
