• The Discipline of Confession

    Michael Wear’s book, The Spirit of Our Politics, was a book we used in a book group at our church right up to the election. When the book moved from theory (what is wrong with our politics) to the practical (spiritual disciplines can help us be better in this world), we faltered.

  • Can you hear?

    I reflect back to Dallas Willard’s newest work, The Scandal of the Kingdom. Dallas worked to get to the heart of why Jesus used parables. The long and the short of it is this: God’s people have ears… but don’t listen. They have eyes… but refuse to see. We have our presuppositions of what the Kingdom is about and just…

  • The love of something more

    “I love being an American. I love this place in which I have been placed — its language, its history, its energy. But I don’t love ‘the American way,’ its culture and values. I don’t love the rampant consumerism that treats God as a product to be marketed. I don’t love the dehumanizing ways that turn men, women, and children…

  • Prayers as we vote

    A prayer against apathy God of empathy and compassion, we are grateful you do not sit idly by without concern for your people. In your deep love for us, you sent your only Son to walk among us, to know what it is to be human, and to suffer on our behalf. O Lord, as your humble servants, give us…

  • Quick thoughts

    This morning I was meditating on spiritual heritage. Two things I am thankful for this morning: The theological roots of being Anglican. It sharpens my mind and widens my theological perspective. It roots me in the blessedness of the Kingdom and delivers me from the escapist sectarianism I knew before. The spiritual roots of my Pentecostal heritage and my connection…

  • What is your life?

    16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I’ll sit back…

  • Prayers for the election season

    A prayer for the opposing candidates King of the universe, you who reign over all things, we submit to you our thoughts, feelings, and frustrations about the candidate we disagree with. May we not look at them with contempt, and may we be reminded that they, too, are created in your image. We pray for protection over all political candidates…

  • Freedom from self promotion

    7 When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: 8 “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? 9 The host will…