As most of you know I have begun studies toward earning a Doctor of Ministry degree through McCormick Theological Seminary. In a little over one week I will be flying to Chicago for my first class (Nov. 11-16) called, “Where Three or More Gather.” The focus of the class is how we live in community: … Continue reading “…On Gratitude as a Way of Life”
Category: ideology
Hope for Redemption?
One of the books I’ve been reading for my D.Min. program is by Mary McClintock Fulkerson called Places of Redemption: Theology for a Worldly Church. She follows a southern multiracial congregation through its trials and triumphs as they seek to be multicultural. Her book starts with this small United Methodist congregation as a dying white … Continue reading “Hope for Redemption?”
Paralyzed by Fear
I have been using the Feasting on the Word‘s Daily Feast: Meditations from Feasting on the Word, Year B for my sermon prep the past few weeks. I am jazzed by the directions it has taken me, places I would not have naturally gone. In Monday’s devotional using March 18th’s lectionary text, the author focuses … Continue reading “Paralyzed by Fear”
The Hunger Games
I just finished the final book of The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I am shaken by this story—it’s honesty about the realities of the human race, the circle of violence that seems to plague every generation, evidence of our fears and insecurities taken out on our neighbors. I don’t know how intentional Ms. … Continue reading “The Hunger Games”
When the Oppressed Become the Oppressors
I received an email the other day from Faithful America, a progressive online community motivated by faith to take action on the pressing moral issues of our time (from their website). Normally, I can appreciate what Faithful America has to say…normally. But I struggled with this email. The subject was: “URGENT: Church arresting Occupiers!” Immediately, … Continue reading “When the Oppressed Become the Oppressors”