Some of the best feedback I got last week, when talking about Social Costructivism being my philosophical orientation within my chosen discipline of Practical Theology, came from WrdsandFlsh Responding to my sentence: "I do not believe in the autonomous, selective nor the pre-institutional self. … Read more about Branded From Birth and the Web of Meaning (2/2)
Wrestling With Original Sin (1/2)
The conversation has been lively this week. It has been uncharacteristically defused: some on Facebook, Twitter, email and some here at the blog. What follows in the next 2 posts is an attempt to address a theme that emerged out of that vibrant conversation. We have 3 good contemporary … Read more about Wrestling With Original Sin (1/2)
Raising Girls
There are a lot of great women in my life - women that I love, respect, pray for, listen to and learn from. I have two sisters that I adore and who teach me much about life. I am a life-long youth pastor who is also responsible for ministry to children and families at my church. Several things … Read more about Raising Girls
Things have really changed in 30 years (Day 18)
Things have really changed in 30 years. It is nearly impossible to overstate how monumental the shift has been! You can see it in areas from: Technology Spirituality Denominational loyalty Media and so many other categories. We could talk about evangelism, Facebook, homework, dating, … Read more about Things have really changed in 30 years (Day 18)
Living Out Faith Loud (Day 15)
I’m blogging my way through Neighbors and Wisemen for Lent. Today we read chpt. 15 where the author tells us a story about Dr. John Perkins’ visit to a packed Reed College auditorium. For those of you who don’t have the book, here are some selections from the chapter to get you up to speed. With … Read more about Living Out Faith Loud (Day 15)
The Silent White Guy and Invisible Black Women
A record number of people read the post yesterday “Beyonce and the Bigger Question”. I want to thank everyone who commented on the blog, FaceBook and Twitter for making the conversation so fruitful and constructive. It is a difficult question and we certainly have an issue with race in our … Read more about The Silent White Guy and Invisible Black Women
5 Biggest Changes for Pastors in the Last 50 Years
I’m preparing to facilitate a conversation with some colleagues in the new year about ministry and honoring tradition. I want to begin - and thus frame - the conversation with the changing culture that we are products of, interact with and attempt to minister to. It is a different way to approach … Read more about 5 Biggest Changes for Pastors in the Last 50 Years
Waiting for Superman: the problem with Christopher Reeve
I had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine about Christopher Reeve. As you may remember the rich movie star, famous for his role as Superman, was tossed from his show horse and broke his neck resulting in paralysis. He soon began a campaign to bring awareness for the cause of such … Read more about Waiting for Superman: the problem with Christopher Reeve
Evil Is as Evil Does
Earlier this week I wrote about Dealing with Demons - a progressive take, and in it I mentioned that the Devil was a personification of when evil is too big and too bad for us to comprehend as a human result ... we outsource to an ancient, cosmic bad guy. Many were able to track with the demon … Read more about Evil Is as Evil Does
Why the Church of N. America will always be (mostly) like it is
The church of N. America will always be (mostly) like it is today. When those who think as individuals read a text that is communal, there is always going to be an issue. I know that there is a real danger in painting in broad stokes and speaking in generalities. I normally steer clear of such … Read more about Why the Church of N. America will always be (mostly) like it is
Bananas, Bullies and the Bible – you can’t start in the middle
by Bo Sanders Let me say upfront what I’m going to end with and then build from there: You can’t verbalize the way things are - which is a result of the way things have been - as proof that this is how it should always be. Creation ‘expert’ Ray Comfort famously made a fool of himself by … Read more about Bananas, Bullies and the Bible – you can’t start in the middle