This week is my last week serving as associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church. The past few weeks have been surreal as I have attempted to remain mentally, emotionally, and spiritually present to this congregation, while at the same time reflecting on my time with and being in conversation with the people of University Presbyterian … Continue reading “On Leaving a Congregation…”
Category: relationships
The Social Networking Dilemma
I am in my final weeks as associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church of San Bernardino. In the PC(USA), it is required in most presbyteries (our regional governance) that a minister cut ties with a congregation completely upon leaving (unless, of course, one is bestowed with the honor of being “emeritus”, which usually only happens … Continue reading “The Social Networking Dilemma”
A truly thanks giving moment…
Tomorrow is the day we give thanks—as though we don’t have to give thanks any other day. Tomorrow, our entire nation gathers with family and friends to feast and fellowship—except for those who do not have jobs, who are living on the streets, who have no family, or are otherwise struggling with personal issues they … Continue reading “A truly thanks giving moment…”
Upon Listening to Marcus Borg
Last week I had a rare opportunity (rare for me) to spend an entire week listening to the very orderly ponderings of Marcus Borg as he shared his latest work, Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power – And How They Can Be Restored (2011), with a group of clergy and … Continue reading “Upon Listening to Marcus Borg”
The God Who Leaves Room for ‘No’
In Matthew 19, a young man approaches Jesus and asks what he must do to have eternal life (see also Mark 10 and Luke 18). Jesus responds with a list of some of Moses’ commandments from Exodus and Deuteronomy. But the young man persists and tells Jesus he has done all that, and then asks … Continue reading “The God Who Leaves Room for ‘No’”