Christendom has protected us from the beginning. We, as American Christians, have never been the “minority” voice. The influence of Christendom (not necessarily Christianity) runs deep because this nation has roots deep in Christendom. That does not mean “this nation was founded as a Christian nation.” Those are not identical comments.
Continue reading “Our American Christian aversion to not being in power”The beauty of entering into Christ
It is doubtful I have reread any book as much as Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton. It is far more moving to me than Augustine’s Confessions. The story of coming to faith, the journey, along with Merton’s prose, deeply move me.
Continue reading “The beauty of entering into Christ”Worship that speaks
We sang this song at a clergy retreat yesterday. The words moved me.
Amazing worship
A prayer for All Saints Day
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Reminders for the journey in my “last third”
I am embracing the journey in “last third living.” My mind prepares for what is ahead. I am thankful for all that has brought me to this point.
Finishing Arthur Brooks’s book, From Strength to Strength, here are the key reminders for me:
Continue reading “Reminders for the journey in my “last third””Wrestling with unhappiness
We can tend to insulate ourselves against the harshness of what is going on around us. We build thicker walls to keep the noise out. We ignore news because it is “all bad.”
We need to keep our eyes and ears open. There is unhappiness around and we need to LISTEN to the why.
Continue reading “Wrestling with unhappiness”The only constant is change
I think I hate change. I think I hate disruption in my patterns and routines. My fantasy thinking is there should be no change.
Yet, change is constant. Our bodies changes on the cellular level constantly. As I age, I grouse about the changes I feel on a bigger level in my body. Still, I hate change and I have to deal with change.
Continue reading “The only constant is change”The extreme edges can be toxic
What I’ve felt for awhile David French articulates so well.
Whereas the far left sees America as irredeemably racist, the far right sees America as irredeemably woke. All of the institutions of American life are “captured” by the left—from the academy, to corporate America, to the military, to pop culture. Even our churches and religious schools are infected by wokeism. Conservatives have conserved nothing.
Between these two far flung views, there is enough momentum to do serious damage.
More HERE.
In gratefulness to God for my ordination
It has been two years since my ordination as a vocational deacon into the Anglican Church. This has been a blessed time in my life and I am thankful for the leading of the Lord into this place of ministry.
October 11 was feast day for Philip the deacon and evangelist. I cherish this collect for Philip:
Continue reading “In gratefulness to God for my ordination”
Apprentice 2 Jesus 