Alison - D Mergent

Why is it Important to Have Sacrificial Love?

August 18, 2022 by Alison

Jesus taught us that real love is self-sacrificing. He gave His life as a sacrifice so that we might find redemption. He nonetheless made the decision to sacrifice in our stead, although His selfless deed resulted in agony and sorrow. Love Is…

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God’s Table: Playing Musical Chairs and Losing

January 11, 2013 by Alison

I’m a pastor for a Christian denomination where communion is one of only two sacraments observed. It’s pretty important to us. Recently with the debate over homosexuality in the church, including membership, ordination, same-sex marriage, etc., communion has frequently defined the analogy…

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Dented Fenders: Why Christianity Has to Do Better

January 7, 2013 by Alison

Driving to work not long ago, I pulled up behind a blue Ford Fusion. Nice enough car. I happened to glance at the license plate holder, which read: “I retired from Ford. I still drive one.” Looking at the big dent in…

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A Christian’s Extravagant Community

January 3, 2013 by Alison

I cringe when I hear Christians respond to the “spiritual but not religious” by extolling the importance of community. Yes, we all need community for spirituality. We are social creatures. But, while there is truth in this response it is based upon…

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Joseph & Mary’s Christmas Letter

December 23, 2012 by Alison

Dear friends and family back in Nazareth: season’s greetings! Mary reminded me that we really shouldn’t get into a new year without sending you all a note to update developments in our little family. Yes, we ran off and went ahead and…

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What Do I Believe?

August 10, 2010 by Alison

Too often when this type of question is asked, one of the results is that people can now put you in one camp or another. You are either “pro this” or “against that”; you believe “things should be this way or that…

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