Open wide the gates of hope and let us through
One of the most disturbing scenes in Serenity is after Captain Malcolm Reynolds, on the run while trying to discover the secret kept by the highest echelons of the tyrannical Alliance, discovers that practically all of his friends and business partners have been hunted down by the Alliance’s Operative. The Operative calls to ask him, … Read more
That Christmas Feeling
I’m not sure I’m ready for Advent to be over, yet. That seems strange to say, or even feel. But I love Advent’s sense of expectation, of hope, of breathless desire. Moreover, I feel like I’m not ready for Christmas to be here. Not everything is ready at home, I haven’t made things right with … Read more
What to Get a Savior Who Already Has Everything?
There’s a lot of talk these days about Christ and Christmas, and what’s appropriate to say and do at this time of year, especially as a person of faith. With so many going to worship this evening to inaugurate the Christmas season, I thought perhaps a brief word on the subject might be appropriate. One … Read more
Discipleship and Attending Worship
One of the things that Mike Gaffney said this morning has really stuck with me. When asked, “How many college students attend worship” at his collegiate church-based ministries, he would respond, “I don’t know and I don’t care. The much better question is, ‘How many students are connected in relational way to a member of … Read more
The Empty Church
My former District Chair David Perry, in his engaging and beautiful blog, brought this poem to mind for me again from one of my favorite poets, R S Thomas. Thomas’ poetry grapples with Welsh life & culture in the face of extinction, technology as eradicator of the human, and God as enigmatic and mysterious. I … Read more
Something I have to get off my chest
I seriously wonder if Christ really needs our help staying in Christmas. I mean, is that our job? Did Jesus ever actually get out of Christmas, and if so, are we really going to be able to get him back in? Is saying “holiday” (which just means “holy day”) that bad of a thing? And … Read more
