Its a lot easier to have bad theology than it is to have good theology. This of course assumes that we all know and agree on what is good theology and what is bad theology. I often want to say that theology is underdeveloped or immature rather than bad. I would not go as far […]
I have just finished 12 days of time in Pasadena, CA for my first doctoral cohort class. It was an amazing time and it was very fruitful. This doctoral work is hard, but it is also amazing, meaningful and challenging. I have found that my mind is more engaged and thoughtful than it has ever […]
I continually wrestle with the church and what it means to be the church. I find myself usually wrestling with this on a practical and theoretical level and not enough on a theological level. Even my theological reflection is based on the place, authority, and practice of the church and not so much on […]
Its interesting how much fodder my ordination has provided for my blogging the past couple weeks! This past Sunday I was ordained as a Pastor. To be called Pastor, to have the title Reverend are very new things to me and have been more awkward than anything else. There are many reasons for this, but […]
I am currently working on my Masters of Counseling. I am doing it online through a “Christian” University. I will not say which one, because honestly I am a bit embarrassed. I am now in my second course that covers or discusses the integration of science, psychology, theology, spirituality etc. I am thankful for these […]
A while back I heard or read this quote (I do not recall where it is from): “Don’t seek identity at the expense of community.” We live in a highly individualistic culture here in the United States. This rugged individualism has been transposed to the church as well. While it is true that both […]
I have had the opportunity to have some interesting conversations about denominations lately. I did not grow up in a church or the church at all. I also come from a generation (and those after my generation) that do not necessarily believe in or care much about denominations. Mainline denominations are shrinking while non-denominational churches […]
“God looks not only at the act, but the possibility.” Oswald Chambers Even though the majority of those of us who are followers of Jesus would say we believe we are saved by grace and not by works, we often act as though we do not believe that. We often act as though God […]
The sacrament comes when God transcends and invades ordinary elements for the greater purpose of revelation and forgiveness. I think we have lost sight of the power of the sacraments in our American culture and church today. Our reaction against ritual even though we crave the comfort of routine, combined with a poor job […]
Recently I was teaching a class on the spiritual disciplines at church and did a teaching on Lectio Divina. In teaching on this topic, I also had the group practice it and we used a passage from Matthew 25, part of which is below. Even in leading the experience, I had a different encounter with […]
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