CWR Blog
Christianity Without The Religion BLOG hosted by Brad Jersak.
Bob Dylan
Your Kingdom Come
HIS kingdom is 1) for everyone, 2) does not depend on our prayers or efforts, 3) is a kingdom like no other and 4) is past, present and future.
“God” by Name, No Name, Any Name – Brad Jersak
“God” — an Unsettled Term:
I come from a Christian tradition that too often assumes the word “God” is a settled term—as if that word means essentially the same thing to everyone—or ought to. The implication can be that any other constructs of the Divine must be false gods.
But Scripture itself invites a far more patient, layered understanding. I’ve been provoked in a good way by David Armstrong’s article “Inclusive Monotheism” in his Perennial Digression Substack, which also directed me to Thomas Römer’s The Invention of God, for a ...
Extravagant Love
A dinner in Jesus' honor is sandwiched between the death and resurrection of Lazarus and Jesus. With the smell of death in the air, Mary, Lazarus' sister, pours out an extravagant act of love.
Grace and Cookies – Three Lessons – by Greg Albrecht
In a “Dennis the Menace” cartoon, Dennis and his pal Joey are seen leaving next-door neighbor Mrs. Wilson’s house loaded up with a plate full of cookies. Joey says to Dennis, “I wonder what we did to deserve this?” The forever-in-trouble, always-in-hot-water Dennis, well aware that he is far from perfect, astutely advises Joey, “Look, Joey. Mrs. Wilson didn’t give us these cookies because we’re nice, but because she’s nice.”
The first lesson of grace (at least in this letter!) is this: We don’t deserve God’s love – God is not obligated to ...
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
May 13, 2026 - Quote for the Day:
“Immediately following 9/11, two well-known American religious professionals alleged that God allowed the attacks to happen because, while they presumed God had once protected the United States, now they believed God was so angered by our growing acceptance of abortion and gay rights that he had removed our so-called ‘hedge of protection.’
Along with millions of others who share their superstitious and off-the-wall ideas of who God is, these so-called ‘evangelists’ seemed to believe that God sits on his ...
Running With Horses
One of the great travesties and tragedies of modern Christendom is the idea that Christianity means having your best life, in terms of health and wealth, now. When Jeremiah complained about his fiery trials, God told him that he hadn't run with the horses yet.
He Can’t Stop Loving You – by Greg Albrecht
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”—John 11:25
Ray Charles is one of my favorite blues singers of all time. The movie about his life, produced several years ago, won several Academy Awards, and was simply titled “Ray.”
Human suffering has given birth to much of our music, poetry, literature and art. The tragedies and the traumas of human relationships were the fertile soil from which many of the ...
He Touched Me
When Jesus healed a leper he gave a bear hug to someone who was considered untouchable, even by religious priests. Join us as we consider the significance of Jesus' embrace.
Reflections Along the Jesus Way
May 11, 2026 - Quote for the Day:
“Mothers are perhaps most celebrated when we, their children, can see how they, in some way, enabled us to see and experience something of God’s unconditional love. In that light, remember:
The biological act of childbirth does not deliver all attributes to a woman that enable her to be the mother her children need. There’s more to motherhood than biology.
Women who truly grow and mature into motherhood often sacrifice themselves for the good of their family. When, for example, there are only three pieces of ...
All Things Beautiful #8 – Ken Williams
Ken Williams
Transformed by Jesus’ faithfulness and love:
Dave, my friend and brother in Christ, and I discussed marriage and sexual intercourse after church services. I said to him, “The only one of God’s commands humanity has obeyed is, ‘…Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth…’” (Gen. 1:28b). Dave laughed, “Yes, but God cheated.” Surprised, I asked, “God cheated?” Dave responded, “Well, he made it fun!”
Dave is now deceased but at that time he was recovering from heroin addiction. In our discussion he told me his former wife ...
An Easter Miracle and Not So Much – Brad Jersak
Brad Jersak
Looking back - Lamenting on Resurrection Day:
“…but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel…Luke 24:22
An Easter Miracle
Easter morning I woke up to a mountain of text messages proclaiming, “He is risen!” and “Christ is risen” and “Alleluia!” For Christians, the resurrection message reminds us that in our story, Jesus is not merely an inspiring prophet from the distant past, but the One whose conquest of death means he is alive today. His promise, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” is ...
Join Us For Our Sunday Sermon
"Lopsided Love"
Join us for our Sunday Sermon:
Greg talks about the lopsided love of a mother.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/CWR639.mp3
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Reflections Along the Jesus Way
May 9, 2026 - Quote for the Day:
“I believe the Bible to be inspired by God. However, I also believe there is, by design, a substantial human component in the writing, editing, translating, preservation and publishing of the Bible. You have heard the boast made by processed food manufacturers – “untouched by human hands.” The Bible has been touched by many human hands and is therefore fallible and less than 100% perfect. The Bible is not divine. God never intended that it be divine. The moment humans became involved, absolute perfection and ...
Tender Mercies: Ordinary Panoramas — By Ruth Tucker
Bless the Lord who crowns you with tender mercies (Psalm 103, NKJV).
My favorite coffee table book is one with a beautiful cover and page after page of colorful paintings inside. But for a twist of fate, it wouldn’t be lying there waiting to be opened. “If I didn't start painting, I would have raised chickens.” These are the words of Grandma Moses. There is much to be said for raising chickens, but how much poorer we would be without the paintings of this farm woman who shared her memories on canvass.
It is ...
The Mother of Us All
Paul’s allegory (Galatians 4) of Sarah and Hagar is filled with extensive, far-reaching spiritual implications and illustrations of our relationship with God.
https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR327.mp3
A Mother’s Legacy
Join us as we give thanks for mothers and the critical role they play in the lives of their children.
One In Christ Jesus -Women and Mothers – by Greg Albrecht
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.—(Galatians 3:28)
What exactly is a mother? What is her job description? What does a mother do? There's a story about a man who came home from a long day at work—when he drove into his driveway he saw his three children, still in their pajamas, covered from head to toe in mud, fighting and screaming.
He was just too exhausted to deal with it, so he walked right past his kids, through the front door, into a house that was in upheaval. Chaos reigned supreme....
Forgiveness Is a Journey
Mother's Day is a perfect time to focus on forgiveness! Forgiveness is a day by day journey with and in Christ. It's a life-long process, an attitude, a way of life we lead that is produced in and through us by our risen Lord.
For the Love of Dog – A Relationship of Trust Pt. 2 – Steve Orr
Time For the Boy to Become a Man;
It started with the attack of the devil — otherwise known as the angry she-bear.
I wanted to be mad as hell. But all she did was follow her wild instinct — to protect her own.
But why, God? Where were You? Why did you just look on and allow this to happen? I know I shouldn't feel this way — but I'm mad at you. Mad as a bear.
We were at the veterinarian’s clinic.
Luke was on the table — sadder than ever. Not just a dog. A friend. A brother. A hero.
The vet said there was nothing she could do to save him.
...
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