There are times when I wish that I could stop while reading the appointed gospel for the given Sunday and give a breakdown on what's really going on in the text to the congregation.  This past Sunday's reading from Matthew 5:38-48 was particularly challenging for me in that regard.  I felt like Dwight Schrute having to … Continue reading Death For The Passive Aggressive →

Last week I had blinds installed on the window of my office door.  The reason: in case of a shooter.  The idea is that by pulling the blinds down the shooter will not know if people are in the office and will move on. The blinds could very well save my life and the lives of … Continue reading New Blinds On My Door →

On his way to heal the ruler of the synagogue's daughter Jesus is interrupted by a woman with a bleeding problem.  The story goes that she made her way through the crowd in order to touch Jesus with the hope that she would be made well.  This woman had this bleeding problem for 12 years, … Continue reading Misogyny And The Radical Grace Movement →

I think from the time I was a child I could intuitively sense that there was something wrong with the world.  As a teenager this sense and understanding was expressed through the energy of hardcore punk music.  I began to calm down as I moved out of those teenage years and came to understand more deeply that … Continue reading Pushing Back On The Doctrine Of Vocation →

The way in which we order our lives in the modern age is something that burdens me more and more each day.  I recognize that I have benefited greatly from the advances of modern civilization and its technology but, then again, this is the only world I've known.  Of course I would say this especially … Continue reading A World Within A World →

All eyes are upon Washington or so it seems and the words from Matthew come to me, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." "Follow me and let's turn this social order upside down." It doesn't feel like there's much that I can do right now.  I have work responsibilities, I have family … Continue reading Follow Me: What Can I Do? →

Recently one Christian claimed that it was the hand of God that elected Donald Trump while another Christian likened Donald Trump to King Herod. Billy Graham Jr. says it’s the hand of God. Nadia Bolz-Weber says Trump is King Herod. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Not only that but while it could be said that the … Continue reading Exasperation Of The Right/Left Binary: Billy And Nadia →

Recently while reading the gospel of Mark as part of my lectio divina practice a line from the religious leaders about and to Jesus popped out at me: "Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion.  For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God." … Continue reading When Cain Gets Close To The Center →

I love Christmas if for no other reason than the sentimentalism and nostalgia it elicits within my soul.  Now that our almost three year old knows what's going on I find myself reliving those fun days of my Christmas youth.  It makes the little boy in me want to go out and buy some Legos, … Continue reading A Christmas Menace →

On the street on which I grew up there used to be a lot more trees.  In fact, there were three very lush trees on our side of the street.  Now they are no longer there.  Instead, the only objects that stretch forth into the skies on this part of the street are telephone poles with … Continue reading As Creation Groans – A Babe Who Hears →