The first part was a rousing game of “How Are You Weird?” that I thought Genesis remarkably willing and skilled at…
followed by some reflections on Ephesians and radical inclusion
Adopting Faith Through the Eyes of Our Heart
Sunday’s message on Adoption as THE MODEL for families. Oh, and the heart of Presbyterianism as well…
For My Brother on His Birthday
#BigTent2017 pt 5 – Saturday Departure
#BigTent2017 pt 2 Arrival
For me, the start of #BigTent2017 was some of the most powerful of all…
Big Tent 2017 pt 3 – Friday
some of the seminars, Bible Study, and conversations that shaped the event for me…
#BigTent2017 – Friday Eve at Ferguson
Part 4 – A Friday evening of a glorious few days in St. Louis. A field trip to First Presbyterian of Ferguson, MO – Michael Brown’s hometown
#BigTent2017 pt 1 – Take Off
The national gathering of Presbyterians in St Louis
I was getting ready to attend: (1/5)
Choosing Our Way, Unashamed
Wisdom is letting our smarts be subject(ive) to Christ. The great tradition embodied so well by Proverbs has much to teach us.
With a Little Help from Friends: “Plurality, Play, and Authenticity in the Most Influential Album Ever”
That’s a long title for some fun romping around on a 50th Anniversary
SIDE A: The concept, and what the Trinity has to do with it:
SIDE B: The personalities, and what we might have to do with it:
SIDE C: finishing up with the The Best Song From the Most Influential Album of All Time by the Best Band of All time:
Snowy 14-Miler
Some surprising late May hiking
finding our Way and “erring”
The real reason for wandering…
Religious Freedom on Our National Day of Prayer
Our President in today’s Executive Order is trying to make it easier for churches and pastors to publicly support one candidate over another and push their congregants to do so, without fear of losing their tax-exempt status. This is probably a bad idea. It makes coercion and turning religion into merely a subset of political parties too easy, and it’s pretty easy already. Many say Evangelical Christianity has already sold its soul and become a mere subset of the GOP. I find it hard to argue otherwise.
I speak as somebody who talks relatively freely about politics and whose congregants usually know where he stands, for better and sometimes for worse. But we won’t be having any voter pamphlets at Genesis anytime soon. Continue reading
My Pres(by) Trump
At 100 days I am finally (!) developing some compassion for our beleaguered President. It has taken me a while. Trump has been caught off guard by the complexity of NAFTA, Healthcare, international relations… and now this week he has confessed the job is far more difficult than he thought it would be. I get it. That can happen to Presbyterian pastors too.
Millions of us knew he was not prepared to be President, and he has shown it in dozens of appalling and reckless ways. Our least equipped of Presidents is in way over his head. And it is seeing his flailing and failing in so many areas that has triggered in me, pretty late I suppose, some compassion in addition to my ongoing anger and judgment.
I don’t like Donald Trump at all. But something has begun to warm a little down deep inside. Continue reading
A Conifer(‘s) Life
From summer projects to winter warming, with many throws in between.
Oxen Draw: Reflections at 9,000 feet
The Nephew and Niece join a hike
Defensive Christians
These feel like hard days to be Christian, what with culture pushing against us and changing the rules. Church influence is on the decline everywhere, people are making laws about religious rights, and we really need to redefine ourselves.
But then I put my big boy pants on and realize hey! It’s actually pretty nice outside. Continue reading
