My Eastertide children’s message series will be “Why Church?” wherein the purposes and practices of the church are explored and explained. I have a brother and sister that absolutely love Holy Communion. They call it ‘bread time’. As they kneel at the altar, they look up and smile. Their enthusiasm always leads me to give them a big piece. I wish we had bigger cups. … Continue reading Why Church?
I love both Creation stories, and I value their collective introduction to the story of redemption that is the Holy Bible. I think that the Creation vs. Evolution debate totally clouds over the rhythmic, poetic nature of Genesis 1 and the earthy, intimate depiction of YHWH and adam in Genesis 2. I think that the nature of the stories push the ‘how’ question to the … Continue reading Parallelism in Genesis 2-3
The Joy of Teaching I have really begun to flourish in teaching ministry. Much of the credit belongs to engaged students. Also, I am teaching topics that I am interested in (a class on Prayer using Richard Foster’s Prayer and a class on Genesis, which I designed myself). Early on in my ministry, I got pegged as an intellectual, which makes me laugh. I really … Continue reading Trust Me…I Went to Seminary
What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. (Eccl. 1:9) Why I Missed the Leadership Summit I didn’t make the Leadership Summit. I wrote it down on my calendar, set my phone to go bezerk at the right time and even thought about getting close to wi-fi (which does not exist in … Continue reading The Best Way to Save the Church is to Keep Doing What We’ve Always Done
Don’t hold your tongue when there’s truth to say. Don’t clench your fist when there’s mercy to give. Don’t throw your boots off when there’s horses to hay. Don’t lay on the couch when there’s life to live. Don’t make excuses for failing to love. Don’t say no to walks on the beach. Don’t overlook the slightest move. Don’t keep loved-ones out of reach. Don’t … Continue reading G’night Little Girl, Don’t Be Like Daddy
Lately, I have really enjoyed the teaching ministries in my charge. We have a covenant group reading Richard Foster’s classic Prayer. The participants are smart and curious, a real treat to be with. This week we also began an afternoon study on Genesis. I was delightfully surprised by the number of participants. It is very encouraging to take the time to prepare a lesson and … Continue reading The Teaching Church
We could digitize and codify baptismal records. That way, only certified Christians can use this ‘Christians-only’ internet. We can establish standards for when someone backslides…kind of like points on your driver’s license. Accumulate enough points and one has to exit the ‘online universal church’ and perform penance to be allowed back in. We can anoint online priests to hear confessions and pronounce absolution for said … Continue reading We Need a Christians-Only Internet
Give up your meat, give up your right to win. Take on the shame, behold your righteous rags. While stepping in the foot-tracks of your sin, The stony weight upon your back now sags. With shoulders slumped the pathway rises on While skeletons of yesteryear appear And chatter with their mercies well withdrawn The incline rises ever more severe. Lift up thine eyes, a Savior … Continue reading Lenten Sonnet
On the heap of fish Challenged to follow Jesus Simon drops his nets Ev’rything to follow Jesus Ev’rything A maturing Lent means less fun and more struggle- Ah! The good ol’ days Let go of fear. Let go of the net. Let go of business-as-usual. Let go of apathy, cynicism, sloth and lust. Let go of war-as-an-answer. Let go of ‘we can’t afford that’. … Continue reading (Not-So) Lectionary Haikus
Lent has turned into a time of reading. I know many pastors are avid readers…I’m not. I’m slow, tedious and hard to please. I have started many-a-book that I never finished, including books I was enjoying. My favorite book of all time, A Prayer for Owen Meany, I began 3 times before completing. I guess I have a shorter attention span and/or I crave immediacy, … Continue reading Reading for Lent
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