Church – Apprentice 2 Jesus

The Church

I love the Body of Christ. We’ve done a good job of messing up the vision of Christ’s body in the conservative evangelical church in America, yet… there is this magnificent Body of Christ that endures and thrives all over the world. This hymn was used in our Second Sunday of Lent and one verseContinue reading “The Church”

The Feast of St. Stephen

Today being the first Sunday of Christmas is also the Feast of St. Stephen. What we seem to focus on in the Church is his martyrdom. He is the Church’s first martyr. Even the prayer for the day focuses on his martyrdom.

We tend to think “theology” and it’s really, too often, “white theology”

Theological frameworks have a tendency to get stuck. My own frameworks certainly have gone through that hardening over time. I need to realize my framework is certainly ONE framework, but not the only framework. In the past few years it has led to an expansion of theological voices in my life. Mainly at this pointContinue reading “We tend to think “theology” and it’s really, too often, “white theology””

Always reforming… this should be the Church

First, distinguish between deconstruction and reform. The church is a Christ-made institution, but it is also a sinful institution. It always needs reform. If a person’s frustration with the church arises from the biblical vision of community, that’s not deconstruction. It’s calling the church back to the gospel. More HERE. There is a deep workContinue reading “Always reforming… this should be the Church”

Deacons and serving

I have been just over a year in ordained ministry as a vocational deacon in the Anglican Church. The main thing we know about deacons is… they “serve.” It’s that term “serve” that may need a little work because I think it may have atrophied. These are some initial thoughts and very much in process.

Our spiritual blindness

Mark 8:22–26 (NIV): They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”24Continue reading “Our spiritual blindness”

Hacking our way to clarity

The second half of this Holy Post Podcast has an interview with Philip Yancey. They feature his latest book, which is his memoir. Yancey has been a challenging voice for me for decades. (His interview comes around 49 minutes in.) With our current struggle with terminology like “deconstruction”, Yancey represents the understanding that some formContinue reading “Hacking our way to clarity”

Our obsession with “winning”

Decades ago I remember a column or opinion piece written about our obsessions and warped values. At the time it was referring to the way we lift up people who work hard, work long hours, and don’t have time to “take it easy.” The prime example for that article was Dick Cheney (long before heContinue reading “Our obsession with “winning””

Warning to the white American conservative church

This passage leapt into my spirit as the Spirit said, “This is the warning for the self-righteous church in America.” Matthew 3:7-12 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?Continue reading “Warning to the white American conservative church”

Spiritual Abuse

It doesn’t matter the denomination I serve in, spiritual abuse is a possibility. It is being exposed in my current denomination, the ACNA, in a diocese that is different in operation than my own… which is proving to be a bigger problem overall.