The Continuing Presence of Jesus in the World
I read today a quotation emphasizing that Jesus has taken up residence in the human heart. I get it and I don’t think it’s wrong. The language of abiding in the gospel of John would indicate that...
View ArticleThe Backward Hermeneutics of Paul
I’ve been reading posts from my students in their missional hermeneutics course. They are currently responding to Richard Hays’ book, Echoes of Scripture in Paul. I’ve read these posts alongside...
View ArticleGiving up Snark for Lent
I’m not good at Lent. I have no great Lent advice and I always have a hard time thinking of something to give up. This is not because I lack possibilities, but because I have too many. Where do I...
View ArticleMission in an Age of Crisis: Call the Midwife
In our graduate program, we are careful about the metaphors for leadership we use. I believe that definitions of power and authority, which are not bad words in and of themselves, may be the thing...
View Article“A Pandemic is a Terrible Thing to Waste”
I attribute my title to Pat Keifert, who has said this in my presence time and again the past few years. He could stop at “a pandemic is a terrible thing.” And it is. Think of all the ways it has...
View ArticleDespair that disguises hope
I’m in despair. I have great hope. I’m not optimistic. There is a clear path forward. Yes, I am of two minds. The topic is the state of the church today in North America. I browsed the “religion”...
View ArticleLove, Understanding, and Participation in the Life of God
Just thinking out loud here, and trying to reverse engineer the bigger project I’ve been working on. So, you are generous to audit my raw notions. The author of 1 John insists that the deal is not...
View ArticleUnderstanding as the Telos of Mission
Let me begin by clarifying what I mean by the word “telos.” It’s a Greek word that is sometimes used to stand in for “goal.” But it can mean other things as well, like fulfillment or completion or...
View ArticleConga Lines and Joy as Resistance to Despair
I’m not much of a dancer. I did win a line dancing contest once, but my competition was the theology faculty at the seminary for which I taught. This is a little like playing members of the marching...
View ArticleMusic for A Secular Age
Theology books built on the work of philosopher, Charles Taylor, are everywhere to be found these days. His book, A Secular Age, has provided a vocabulary that expresses well the moment we inhabit. In...
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