Teer Hardy

As I dropped my 9 year old son off at the bus stop this morning I prayed, “Lord, watch over C and and his classmates. Keep them safe. Hold them in your care. If they learn something, that’s great. Send them home safely at the end of the day. Hold them in your care. Amen.”

God’s mercy reflects God’s character and God’s call to God’s people to model it in their dealings with others. Mercy requires seeing others through God’s eyes—not as enemies or obstacles, but as fellow image-bearers deserving of grace. open.substack.com/pub/teerhardy/…

I made the jump to Bluesky. Find me there. bsky.app/profile/teerha…

Advent 1 2024 Mary, Theotokos: Bearer of Hope, by @teerhardy open.substack.com/pub/teerhardy/…

I’m not a political commentator nor am I carrying the water for any political party. I am ordained to proclaim the good news of Christ resurrected. Nothing more and nothing less. Still, it’s not an easy task after this last week and election season.

This Sunday’s sermon has proven to be the hardest sermon I’ve written. I said the same thing after Charlottesville, and after DACA was rescinded, and after J6. I have a feeling the next few months will be difficult for pastors.

The U.S. empire has a new Caesar Christ’s kingdom has the same King I’ll honor the former. But my allegiance belongs to the latter.

@umjeremy I told my congregation, “The Kingdom of God is not something we can elect or vote into place.” Remember that ballots and polls will always divide us while Christ’s table of grace is what makes us one.

I wrote and deleted a lot today, and couldn’t find the right words for Election Day Eve. So I’m giving up, and just asking to my network here: What do you want to hear from your pastor on Election Day? #umc #pcusa #tec #ucc #elca

I told my congregation, “The Kingdom of God is not something we can elect or vote into place.” Remember that ballots and polls will always divide us while Christ’s table of grace is what makes us one.

For those canceling @washingtonpost and @amazon subscriptions, had the Post endorsed Trump would you have reacted in the same way?

Many don’t realize that the first people Hitler sent to his concentration camps weren’t everyday Jewish citizens, but his political opponents. So, when Trump rants about retribution, locking up his opponents, and giving them “very long sentences,” I can’t help but take him seriously… because history teaches us that is what fascist dictators do during their “Day One” period to consolidate their power. (After all, if you’re hellbent on staying in power but aren’t likely to win the next election, you can’t have your political opponents running around free.) To keep fascism out of our lives, vote for democracy!

We have heard @taylorswift13 say, “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem,“ but God says that what we or others say makes us the problem - our shortfalls and failures - are no problem at all. open.substack.com/pub/teerhardy/…

It’s amazing that @CNN corrects Trump surrogates when they intentionally mispronounce @KamalaHarris’ name.

A preview of tomorrow’s sermon where I combine the gospel and @taylorswift13: “We have heard Taylor Swift say, “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem,“ but God says that what we or others say make us the problem - our shortfalls and failures - are no problem at all.”

If you believe faith gives you an advantage over other people (in the way DJT implies), then you do not understand what it means to have faith in the God who gave himself for the sake of creation.

This is why I read everything @BrianZahnd writes.

As Jesus pours out His love through us, may others encounter Christ, finding hope and grace that overflows like a cup running over.

The work we do, the resources we share, and our lives are opportunities for us to wear Christ, for Christ to wear us, work through us, and bless the world.

To live a cruciform life means our lives take the shape of the cross. Paul tells us that we have been crucified with Christ and that Christ now lives in us. open.substack.com/pub/teerhardy/…