About the Author: David M. Felten
David Felten is a full-time pastor at The Fountains, a United Methodist Church in Fountain Hills, Arizona. David and fellow United Methodist Pastor, Jeff Procter-Murphy, are the creators of the DVD-based discussion series for Progressive Christians, Living the Questions. A co-founder of Catalyst Arizona and also a founding member of No Longer Silent: Clergy for Justice, David is an outspoken voice for LGBTQ rights both in the church and in the community at large. David is active in the Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church and tries to stay connected to his roots as a musician. You’ll find him playing saxophones in a variety of settings, including appearances with the Fountain Hills Saxophone Quartet. David is the proud father of three reliably remarkable human beings.
Bethlehem, Gaza, and the Gospel We’d Rather Avoid
It’s disorienting. The split-screen of unpacking Christmas decorations and news footage of Gaza in ruins. At the same time, we’re untangling light strings to “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” our news feeds are filled with images of Palestinian families fleeing bombs in the very region that birthed the story we’re supposed to be celebrating.“Blessed are the Warmongers,” said Jesus Never
May’s commencement speech at West Point contained a number of surprises for the cadets, not the least of which was President Trump informing them that the military was going to have a new focus: “crushing America’s adversaries, killing America's enemies, and defending our great American flag like it has never been defended before.”Abundant Lives: A Progressive Christian Ethic of Flourishing A Conversation with Dr. Amanda Udis-Kessler
Dr. Amanda Udis-Kessler is a writer, musician, sociologist, composer, hymn writer, trainer, and consultant — each of which she says she pursues with the intention “of making the world a more joyful, gracious, and less painful place.”Illegitimi non carborundum!
As the actions of the Trump administration continue to generate waves of fear, uncertainty, and disbelief... it’s precisely in these kinds of moments when our every action becomes critical. History shows that over and over again, the most transformative changes come from those who are willing, as Robin Meyers implored last week, to stand up and say, “Excuse me?!” — especially when it feels like the world is pushing back.
