There has been a lot of talk on the airwaves lately about ideology. Mostly regarding economics and politics and the way people played chicken with this debt ceiling question. As I heard a debate a few weeks ago, I actually thought that someone had said “idiotology” and it got me thinking. Are our attachments to certain…
a church that agrees too often
After a few years in my congregation, I realized I had a major, however, hidden problem… My church didn’t know how to disagree. This may not seem like a problem on the surface. What pastor wouldn’t be thrilled by a church that jumped right on board with their requests and was quick to respond in…
Where is Peter Bishop?
I honestly think that the closest I am ever going to come to experiencing what the disciples experienced after the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ is the summer hiatus of Fringe. It is absolutely crazy that I have not yet posted on my favorite television obsession, Fringe. It is a visual feast, has some…
a commitment to blog!
This section of my blog was supposed to be the creative outlet to pull my less than admirable hobby of television watching into the realm of theologizing and spiritual reflection. Yes, I had hoped to turn t.v. into a spiritual discipline. No, it didn’t really happen last year. But another season of shows that will…
do I look/act like a pastor?
Today, a young man wandered into our church building and needed a place to sit for a while. He looked like he was having a hard time and wanted a quiet place to think, pray, wrestle. I invited him upstairs to our sanctuary and told him he was welcome to stay as long as he…
Who, Me?
As we start off this morning, I want you to find a blank corner of your bulletin or the hymn sheet and scriptures, and I want you to write on that corner one thing that you are personally good at. What is one thing that you know how to do and do fairly well. Turn…
Hand-me-down Faith
How many of you had to wear hand me down clothes as you were growing up? One of my favorite mental images of hand me down clothes comes from my brothers. They are three years apart in age and both of them have school pictures from second grade in the exact same gray and blue…
Making the Congregation Cry
This has been an insanely busy summer… vacation, a new nephew, mission trips, fundraisers, cleaning at the church… So I have tried to make my summer a bit easier by working through Romans with the congregation. Ha. In some ways, it hasn’t been that bad. Each piece kind of follows on the one before it,…