On Oct 4 much of the Christian world will pause to remember St. Francis of Assisi. In the United States, we tend to remember his love for animals. However, several years ago Steve and I celebrated St. Francis’ feast day in Assisi. Not a pet blessing in sight! Don’t Italians know that this is theContinue reading “Celebrating St. Francis’ Feast Day on Oct 4th”
Author Archives: April Love-Fordham
Justice IS a Priority
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Mat 5:6 NRS) For me this is one of the greatest things about the Reign of God. However, some mistake righteousness for meaning, “those who are good at following the religious rules.” But that’s not it. Jesus wasn’t all that fondContinue reading “Justice IS a Priority”
Meek
2021/Blog 4 Jesus taught: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth,” (Matt 5:5). According to one dictionary, meek describes a person willing to go along with whatever other people want to do without ever speaking up for themselves. That’s not quite what Jesus is conveying here. Another dictionary has a better definition:Continue reading “Meek”
Needing Comfort
2021/Blog 3 As Jesus describes his way of living where love is the core value, he turns from addressing The Poor in Spirit to addressing The Mournful: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted,” (Mat 5:4 NRS). Again, Jesus is intentionally vague. What are they mourning? Racism, poverty, riots, pandemics, hunger, war,Continue reading “Needing Comfort”
Feeling Down?
2021/Blog 2 Does anyone need convincing that the world isn’t working? I doubt it. Not after this past week. Jesus didn’t think the world was working either. So, like Trump, he addressed his followers. Trump, however, demanded his followers march down to the capitol and fight for him–risk their lives for him. He tells themContinue reading “Feeling Down?”
The Reign of Love
2021/Blog 1 Jesus was born into a world where the faith of his ancestors, Judaism, was in full religious bloom. Judaism had become a relationship with a set of religious rules—thousands of them. This is not a failure specific to Jews. It has happened inside Christianity too. Instead of being a funnel that helps peopleContinue reading “The Reign of Love”
A Blog for the Disorderly
The Disorderly Blog is for anyone who doesn’t fit—for whom the status quo is a failure. It is for anyone who recognizes that the political, economic, and religious cultures around them aren’t working. The Disorderly Blog is for anyone suspecting a better way exists—for anyone curious about a man named Jesus who showed up twoContinue reading “A Blog for the Disorderly”
April Love-Fordham’s book, “James in the Suburbs,” has won the 2019 Silver Medal for Christian Devotion/Study
Reader’s Favorite has awarded April’s book, James in the Suburbs: A Disorderly Parable of the Epistle of James, the 2019 Silver Medal for Christian Devotion / Study. Here is the Five Star Reader’s Favorite review of the book: James in the Suburbs: A Disorderly Parable of the Epistle of James by Dr. April Love-Fordham is aContinue reading “April Love-Fordham’s book, “James in the Suburbs,” has won the 2019 Silver Medal for Christian Devotion/Study”
Don’t Look Back. You’re Not Going that way.
It sounds right: Don’t Look Back. You’re Not Going that way. Right? Good advice, but bet you didn’t know it is ancient advice. Lot and his family have been living in a city that was ruled by rapists and violent gangs. But – let’s tell the truth – Lot was not a great guy either. ToContinue reading “Don’t Look Back. You’re Not Going that way.”
Disorderly Parables
Not your ordinary Bible Studies. Each book is a parable – a story – wrapped around a biblical commentary. These stories will make you think about ancient scripture in new ways, provide insight into what is happening in the world today, surprise you with laughter as you catch a vision of the journey ahead, andContinue reading “Disorderly Parables”