Author Archives: pastordavesimpson

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About pastordavesimpson

I'm an unexpected pastor. Why unexpected? Because no one is more surprised than me that I'm a pastor. See the "About" page on my blog for more info.

The Saddest Place on Earth

Posted on February 25, 2014 by pastordavesimpson

(This is the first in a series of posts in which I will reflect on my “group study pilgrimage” to Israel, February 10-20.  We begin at the end of the journey . . .) “It will be the most incredible … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Stop Talkin’ ’bout My Sister!

Posted on January 28, 2014 by pastordavesimpson

It’s time for me to be the  big brother I never really was when we were growing up.  I was too involved in my own life.  But it’s time for me to stand up for my sister. Not that my … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Living, Christianity, Homosexuality | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments

Grace Alone (Really), and Jesus the Firefighter

Posted on January 27, 2014 by pastordavesimpson

“I made a decision for Jesus.” “I invited Jesus into my heart.” We Christians want so badly to take some credit for our salvation.  For all of our talk about being saved by grace, statements like the two above give … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

LIFE OF THE PARTY – A sermon on John 2:1-11

Posted on January 17, 2014 by pastordavesimpson

(I rarely post my sermons on the blog.  Usually I refer people to the sermon podcasts on our church website because sermons are a spoken form of communication, and because I never preach exactly what’s on the manuscript.  But this … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Living, Christianity, Sermon | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Review of ZEALOT by Reza Aslan

Posted on January 16, 2014 by pastordavesimpson

Probably the best thing to happen to Reza Aslan, and his book, Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, was a train-wreck of an interview on Fox “News” back in July.  You may remember that the interviewer (“inquisitor” is probably a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christianity | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

O Dangerous Night! (A Christmas Eve Sermon)

Posted on December 25, 2013 by pastordavesimpson

(You can listen to a podcast of this message here.) Looking back, one of the reasons I rejected faith in God and especially the church when I was a young adult was that I thought Christianity had nothing to do … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Christmas | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Santa Is Spelled with the Same Letters as Satan!

Posted on December 17, 2013 by pastordavesimpson

Yeah, the title is a little over the top, but I figured it would get more hits than my first idea, “Santa Is Just Alright with Me.”  Lots of folks are probably too young to remember the Doobie Brothers, anyway. … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Living, Christianity, Christmas | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

Keeping Christ in White Christmas

Posted on December 13, 2013 by pastordavesimpson

“Jesus was a white man.” Megyn Kelly of Fox “News” asserted this as  “verifiable fact” in the midst of an asinine conversation about the ethnicity of Santa. When I heard about it,  I  posted a mini-rant on Facebook: Megyn Kelly … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Christmas, Racism | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

My Christmas Top Ten

Posted on December 10, 2013 by pastordavesimpson

My parents didn’t spend a lot of money on record albums when I was growing up.  They mostly listened to the radio.  But after Thanksgiving, we would pull down the box of Christmas albums out of the attic and for … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Christmas: Bill O’Reilly and Sara Palin vs. Jon Stewart . . . and Pope Francis?

Posted on December 5, 2013 by pastordavesimpson

“I thought Christians used to complain their holiday was getting too commercialized.  Are those days gone?” Good question, Jon Stewart. On the December 3 edition of The Daily Show, Stewart engaged in what he acknowledges is a yearly “dance” with … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts and Culture, Christianity, Christmas | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment