Adaptive Challenge?
During discussions about the future of the United Methodist Church, including the Call to Action and the Global Leadership Summit, there’s been much discussion of the “adaptive challenge” facing us. But official presentations go on to say that we know exactly how to meet that adaptive challenge. So here’s an alternative perspective of poetry, not … Read more
Further Adventures in Blogging
Good day, expat companions! You may have seen some of my shameless self-promotion over the past week or so, but in case you missed it, here’s the big news: I’ve got a new blog! Kate Shellnut approached me about blogging for the Houston Chronicle’s online religion portal, HoustonBelief. After conversation, some advice from fellow community-religion-bloggers … Read more
Envisioning Campus Ministry Anew
In yesterday’s post I talked about giving up our Babylon-like assumptions about how campus ministries might work, and focusing on what we might call the Israel model: a smaller community, dedicated to the highest ideals of faithfulness to God’s calling and mission. But this means quite a bit of adjustment about how we might go … Read more
What’s our story in campus ministry?
One of the best resources I’ve used so far in campus ministry is Sean Gladding’s The Story of God, the Story of Us which has just been published by IVP; I’ve used it 3 times in its manuscript form after Sean was kind enough to email it to some of us who asked after hearing … Read more
What are Campus Ministries?
I am not sure I’m even an average campus minister. To look at the statistics, Lamar’s Wesley Foundation isn’t doing great in my 5th year. Better than when I got here, sure: building gutted, zero program and students, poor relationship with the university and area churches, & a board of directors which was outdated and … Read more
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
Harry Potter’s Two Monuments
Like the rest of (what seems like) the country, Christie and I headed to the cinema this weekend to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 … twice. There are a number of good reviews out there, including those appearing online at Pop Theology, Relevant Mag, Think Christian, and Christianity Today, so I … Read more
Confessing Christ the King
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[ Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood … Read more
What would you teach your leaders?
I’m putting together a leadership curriculum for the student leaders in my campus ministry. For good or for ill, I’m staying away from how-to books (though there are some good ones) and instead provoking a deeper level of reflection about servant-leadership and Christian formation. Here’s what I’m toying with (yes, I know it’s a long … Read more
