An Interfaith Christian Ministry In The Missouri Ozarks

1 Peter 5:8-10 (NIV)

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Lent, in Christian tradition, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In the process of self-denial, many traditions require one to “give up something” — [Read more →]

A river, normally peaceful and picturesque, flowed through a small town but heavy rains had caused the stream to swell to a raging torrent that had exceeded flood stage threatening the neighborhood where a crotchety old man lived.   The authorities recognizing the threat to those living near the river and realizing that the level of the river would continue to rise, issued warnings to the residents to evacuate their homes. [Read more →]

In my years of ministry, I have consistently called for unconditional brotherly love to become the cornerstone of society.  The reader will note that I state brotherly love as the context that I call for unconditional love, this context being within a religious realm.  I add “brotherly” to the unconditional love formula simply because some people cannot grasp the simple concept of the need to separate the spiritual from the carnal forms of love, especially when exploring these two greatly different concepts in church or study of  religious formula.  Simply put, carnal desires, while acceptable outside of a Christian Church, are not desirable inside.  And I have made this distinction very plain in my sermons and editorials, so that the reader who might be spiritually immature is not confused. [Read more →]

To all my friends and church family;

Without a doubt sometime this holiday season we have once again viewed the story of the birth of Christ, child born in a manger of a virgin Mother, and attended by Magi, shepherds and hosts on high.  But let us take a moment to reflect and be cognizant of the meaning of this story, which while veiled in allegory is a lesson that admonishes hope, joy, and peace among all mankind.  A lesson that becomes so poignant as we near the end of the year and the end of the first decade of the 21st century.

Here in the US, to my knowledge we have never known a decade when we as a people were so divided by anger and hate, when even the church itself has become divided along lines — not Catholic versus Protestant – but liberal versus conservative, inclusive versus exclusive, traditional versus progressive.

Let us celebrate the birth of Christ with faith and works in an attempt to make the new year and new decade far more improved than the one we are bidding farewell too, let us resolve to make the new year/decade one dedicated to the word, the words of Christ.  Let us resolve to bridge the gaps and overcome the fear that has prevailed among our own people, the fear that leads to anger and hate.  Let us look at the story that a small child offered so much hope that he changed the world.  And let us metaphorically give birth once again to that child and the joy and hope that his birth brought into the world.

With that thought in mind, we wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and New Year.  May the God of peace and love continue to delight to dwell with and bless each and everyone one of you.

Approximately five hundred years ago, a religious renewal was launched on Germain soil in the town of Wittenburg by an Augustinian monk and theologian named Martin Luther. This Reformation, as it came to be called was a revolution heard around the European world. Its result was a split between the Roman Catholic version of Christianity and what we have come to know as Protestant Christianity. Like any great historical event, the reformation was the product of combined forces. [1] [Read more →]

Thought for the Day……

One who has read books, magazine articles or watched wood working videos has learned that “Measure Twice, Cut Once” is the mantra of the consummate wood worker or craftsman. Simply put, this adage inculcates the necessity of careful planning and attention to detail that separates the true craftsman from the inexperienced. Exotic woods and expensive mill work can be rendered useless if the wood worker fails to plan and measure carefully, a cut made too short can be disastrous, and result in waste of material and time. Therefore craftsmen, authors and others involved in the operative aspect of wood working or carpentry constantly repeat this “mantra” in the hopes of ingraining it into the psyche of the novice, helping them to be the better enabled to perform the tasks required of the craftsman. But can we use this adage in a speculative sense? [Read more →]

A movement rather than an organization, Creation Spirituality focuses on the original blessing from God rather than like the more well known traditions which are preoccupied with the concepts of original sin, fall of man from grace, and redemption.

• Redemption comes to us followers of Creation Spirituality,) not as a power alien to our natures, but as an “aha” experience that puts us back in touch with our authentic natures. Redemption also reconnects us with our relational nexus. We reconnect with the relationship of reason and intuition, consciousness and embodiment, ourselves and others-humans, animals, plants.[1] [Read more →]

For years, at least since I became active in the various on line religious groups, I have listened to my friends and associates lament the behind the scene attacks of their critics and detractors, those that we refer to as “fans” with whimsical exaggeration. These “fans” are noted by their unsolicited opinions delivered through anonymous e mails (aka nasty grams), or by their attempts at character assassination when they contact other associates and deliver untruths and innuendos.

What amazed me is that as long as I have had a presence on the Internet, until recently, I never had such a “fan club” and I wondered what am I doing wrong? Am I not controversial enough? Is my writer’s voice not harsh enough? I know from examining the statistics from my hosting service, the web pages I have authored are being read by numerous visitors a day, so why is there no hate mail coming in? Surely, like my peers I must be “offending” someone, and seemingly deserving of their “attentions.”

Well I can now say that I have a “fan club.” Over the last few weeks my “fans” have made their presence known, through “nasty grams” – anonymous e-mails that track back to non existent accounts, or the phenomena that several associates have reported in which multiple individuals have contacted them and told of how bad a person I am. Wow! Golly gee!

It is small, no more than a half a dozen members, but it is a start! A foundation upon which to build, as I guarantee all, friend and foe alike, that I am not going silently into the night. I will continue to write editorials and inspirational material designed to make people think, or do so to best of my literary abilities. I will continue with plans to build a local ministry reaching out to those disenfranchised by others (others not too dissimilar of those in my “fan club”) who expect 99% world to walk in lockstep with doctrines espoused by 1%, (percentages purposefully exaggerated for making a point, not quoting fact). And like a personality in contemporary media, I will remain elite and aloof to this particular fan base and instead continue to focus my attentions on those that appreciate my work.

Humm, perhaps I could raise a buck or two by having some T-shirts printed with the phrase “I hate Rev Ed” and offering them for sale to my “adoring fans!”

Jus’ kidding

Rev Ed

It is with a sad heart that I bring to you the news that Reverend Ernest A Steadman, the founder of The Church Of Interfaith Christians, was called from this world, Sunday 1 November 2009. His widow just called me with this sad news this morning.

Reverend Steadman was a great man, loved by many and respected by all. A… man of vision dedicated to the service of God and his fellow man.

Always an outspoken supporter of the downtrodden and the disenfranchised, however through his editorials and writings he never wavered in his admonitions of those who oppressed mankind through the power of their secular or sectarian office.

Any wishing to send cards or love donations to his survivors, may contact The Church Of Interfaith Christians at church_of_interfaith_christians@crabtreeinternet.com for mailing address.