On the latest episode of TNT I was asked to quickly define ‘Glossolalia’ a.k.a. speaking in tongues. I said some things in that opening segment that I want to clarify here. Here are 4 thoughts: Initial Design The original miracle that we read about in Acts 2 and the story of Pentecost is … Read more about Speaking In Tongues Isn’t What It Used To Be
Jesu Babushka: the day after Easter
Easter turns everything upside down. The temple veil is torn in two. The sealed stone is rolled away. The dead are made alive. In darkness we have seen the light. The powers are defeated. I have friends who are transitioning back to paycheck & mortgage N. America after 15 years of international … Read more about Jesu Babushka: the day after Easter
Why didn’t God tell me? The Minority Report
I'm passing this work on to you, my son Timothy. The prophetic word that was directed to you prepared us for this. All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. - 1 Timothy 1:18 (Message) Do not … Read more about Why didn’t God tell me? The Minority Report
Poetics of Pentecost: Don’t get Distracted by the Dove
Nearly everyone here agrees that reading the Bible like contract, constitution, instructional manual or newspaper report is wholly unhelpful. Yet when it comes to Pentecost - it’s almost as if we get lazy in our hermenuetic and revert to a Children’s Church level engagement of the text. I say … Read more about Poetics of Pentecost: Don’t get Distracted by the Dove
A funny thing happened on the way to Pentecost
Tomorrow is Pentecost Sunday in the liturgical calendar. As one who emerged from a charismatic evangelical background and is now employed at a mainline church, this is my favorite Sunday of the whole year! Here are just 3 funny things about Pentecost Sunday: Charismatics don’t celebrate it. … Read more about A funny thing happened on the way to Pentecost
Reflecting on the Resurrection part 2
Resurrecting space for belief Easter is a big deal. Passages like Paul’s claim in 1 Corinthians 15:13-15 (NIV) tell us: 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More … Read more about Reflecting on the Resurrection part 2
Reflecting on the Resurrection part 1
He is risen! ... now what? Several of my mainline friends get to preach this coming weekend - as do I. The conversations have been great as we compared notes. The first question is usually "are you using the lectionary text?" (which I am not) and then the question of post-Easter themes as we … Read more about Reflecting on the Resurrection part 1
Making Sense of Miracles
In his book Process Theology: a basic introduction , C. Robert Mesle says: “the miracle of birth” is a wise phrase, pointing us toward a healthy theology of miracles. Birth is not supernatural. It involves no intervention violating natural processes. We know a tremendous amount about reproduction … Read more about Making Sense of Miracles