American Christianity needs to let therapeutic ‘believing’ die in order to move forward and impact the world. A therapeutic form of ‘believing’ is not about individual doctrines or particular answers to any of those age-old questions of existence or the faith. In fact one could be a therapeutic … Read more about Go Heretical – in the good way
Call In Challenge: the Church & the World
On the most recent TNT, Bo threw out a theory that the dichotomy between 'Church & World' doesn't work well anymore. Part of the thought came from the book Rethinking Christ and Culture: A Post-Christendom Perspective by Craig A. Carter which revisits Niebuhr's influential 1951 work "Christ … Read more about Call In Challenge: the Church & the World
God Is Not Like Me
I grew up in a tradition that said I should be, as much as possible, like Jesus. I get that - and I try to do so. Yesterday at the Loft LA I had the privilege to say 3 things (among many others) about God: God is Black (from James Cone) She Who Is (from Elizabeth Johnson) God is a Fag ( … Read more about God Is Not Like Me
Pannenberg and the Kingdom of God
Ever start something that you can't finish? I got into a conversation with deacon extraordinaire Matthew G. McCracken before he read Wolfhart Pannenberg's 'Theology and The Kingdom of God'. After he read the final chapter, he had some questions - questions that I would love to engage but ... I … Read more about Pannenberg and the Kingdom of God
Emergent Preaching?
A good question can stimulate the brain to put together things that one had not previously connected. Stuart Harrell asked my a question about what a course on emergent "preaching" would look like. Here are some of my thought - I would love to hear yours. My cleaned up tweets are posted as … Read more about Emergent Preaching?
The Cross: meaning, redemption and the future
Guest post by Renee Axtell - one of the stars of the Easter Call-In Challenge has sent us her thoughts from the amber waves of Kansas. Should we stop saying that God sent Jesus to die? My answer is yes. We should stop saying that God sent Jesus to die, because that implies that God’s … Read more about The Cross: meaning, redemption and the future
Beauty, Bodies and Blunders
President Obama got in some hot water for a compliment he paid California Attorney General Kamala Harris. He said: You have to be careful to, first of all, say she is brilliant and she is dedicated and she is tough, and she is exactly what you'd want in anybody who is administering the law, and … Read more about Beauty, Bodies and Blunders
Tiger Woods, Nike and The Easter Narrative: When #Winning Means Nothing
I’ve been a fan of Tiger Woods for a long time. As a youngster, I aspired to golf like him, and as an adult, I’ve spent hours watching nervously as his putts rolled in - or past - the hole. However, this week, Holy Week, Nike’s self-effacing advert for Tiger has gone one … Read more about Tiger Woods, Nike and The Easter Narrative: When #Winning Means Nothing
3 Days Left To Respond To The Easter Challenge!
You have till Easter Sunday to CALL IN and respond to the Easter Challenge. We will pick a selection of calls and posts to interact with on next Monday's TNT - the day after Easter. Here are the step-by-step instructions: Read the challenge post below Think about a response Write up … Read more about 3 Days Left To Respond To The Easter Challenge!
Homosexuality: the difference between TV and Greek Tragedy
Blogging is a fascinating way to interact with people over an issue or topic. Once in while a blog will unexpectedly come back to life after months of lying dormant. It usually happens when A) somebody references it month later B) when the topic hits the news again. The dying embers leap back to … Read more about Homosexuality: the difference between TV and Greek Tragedy
Palm Sunday Is The Most Political Sunday
As a children’s and family minister, I love Palm Sunday. At our stained-glass and organ church we do it up big. We get lots and lots of palm branches for folks to wave during the singing of the hymns and we have the kids process down the aisle and march around the sides of the pews. It is quite a … Read more about Palm Sunday Is The Most Political Sunday
The Easter Call-In Challenge!
Last year’s John 14:6 challenge was a blast - so we decided we would throw out another challenge and ask the deacons to call in. We will pick a selection of calls and posts to interact with on the next TNT. Here are the step-by-step instructions: Read the challenge post below Think about a … Read more about The Easter Call-In Challenge!