For years and years I have held to what I have called a “remnant theology.” I haven’t voiced it well, and I know my version of it may not match up with other thoughts. There is always a remnant. While we chase numbers and bigness, that is never a true measure of the Kingdom of God.
Read moreThe refusal of repentance, pt. 2
The American Church falters and it grows more and more obvious that it does so without a clue.
My reading to day was from Jeremiah 8, so I will continue on this theme of refusing to repent because it runs parallel to our own day.
Read moreThe refusal of repentance
It’s probably an apocryphal story, but I do love it:
According to a popular story that has circulated for a long time, a well known London newspaper in the early part of the twentieth century (usually stated to be The Times) asked the question “What is wrong with the world?” and received many replies. The shortest was from G.K. Chesterton, simply consisting of “I am.”
Read moreThe Feast of St. Stephen
In my journey from being ordained as a pastor in another tradition to the decision to be ordained as a vocational deacon in the Anglican Church, I have drawn more from the example of Stephen in the Book of Acts.
Today is the Feast of St. Stephen.
O Glorious Lord, your servant Stephen looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors: Grant that in all our sufferings here upon earth we may love and forgive our enemies, looking steadfastly to Jesus Christ our Lord, who sits at your right hand and intercedes for us; and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Global Christianity
When we say we have “struggles” with Christianity, or more specifically “evangelical” Christianity, we may then make a mistake and then blame “the Church” as a whole. I come too close to that line far too often.
Tish Harrison Warren makes the case for global Christianity:
Read moreAs Advent approaches we are tempted to flood ourselves in light
By all measures it is probable we can all agree we want 2020 behind us… NOW. Why wait until December 31?
We’ve lost loved ones. The world has lost heroes. We’re fighting over masks to slow down a pandemic…
People are putting up Christmas lights and trees and flooding their lives with Christmas music and the Hallmark Christmas Channel.
We want this OVER!
Read moreThe repair of American Christianity
The ordination
Today I will be prayed over, affirmed, and appointed as a vocational deacon in the Anglican Church in North America. These are oaths to which I give witness:
Read moreWhere I failed after 9/11
It’s been 19 years. I can still remember where I was sitting. The memories of halting the retreat where I was attending, huddling around the one TV with bad reception, the shock… calling my family…
Coming out of that time I also knew the word I had from the Lord: “Prepare the Body. The world is different. Get back to discipleship.”
This is where I failed. Miserably.
Read moreAs white Christians we have a deep work still to be done in us
“The relationship between holding racist views and white Christian identity is actually stronger among more frequent church attenders than among less frequent church attenders.”
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