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Religion/Politics

I have been inspired and deeply challenged in the last few months by the writings and lectures of Fr. Richard Rohr. At every turn he is forcing me to rethink things I once took for granted. Below is a repost of a recent daily devotional I received from him. How can I be of and with theContinue reading “Religion/Politics”

Your Truth and My Truth

Look at others and their truth. Do you like a part of their truth? Then put it in your world and make it part of your truth. Don’t like their truth? Say to yourself, “It’s okay for them but I want something different.” The point here is to live YOUR life and YOUR truth theContinue reading “Your Truth and My Truth”

Get Away from My God!

I came across this lovely post recently: Plan worship only for people who can worship. Many churches plan their worship services as though unbelievers can worship. But the Apostle Paul makes plain in 1 Corinthians 12:3 that “no one can say, “Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.” Anyone can utter the words, ofContinue reading “Get Away from My God!”

The Almost-Gospel

In yesterday’s post I was writing about how there’s a problem in the church that is evident in the statistical data which shows that divorce and other moral problems are occurring in the lives of Christians at the same rate as in those who are not Christians. I think the cause of this is deeperContinue reading “The Almost-Gospel”

I’m Think I’m Gonna Puke If…

…if I get to the end of one more Bible study lesson and have to answer questions like, “How can you be more [XXX] (loving, joyful, peaceful, gracious, etc.) this week?” “What is one thing you can do to walk more in love this week?” “How can you be a good representative of Christianity?” “WhoContinue reading “I’m Think I’m Gonna Puke If…”

“Dumb-Shitness”

http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fpower2uth%2Fdumb-shit-ness “dumb-shit-ness” by thefallencleric This brief clip from Father Richard Rohr just completely captures what Christian spirituality (as contrasted with Christian religion, which is not actually spirituality at all) is all about. We are united not by strength, but by weakness. That’s how community is formed. Jesus came and modeled a theology of weakness. PaulContinue reading ““Dumb-Shitness””

Weakness

I was wondering today what is it that accounts for the fact that almost without exception every pastor wrestles with the size of his/her church. I don’t know a single one (including myself) who doesn’t go home feeling elated on days when a lot of people are there, and depressed if attendance is low. IContinue reading “Weakness”

A Journey Toward Humility

An old couple was once asked what the key was to the longevity of their relationship. They said each of them had learned to say one phrase to the other person during an argument, really believing it deeply: “You could be right.” I want my life to communicate the openness and respect that comes fromContinue reading “A Journey Toward Humility”

Dealing with pain

I have a group of fellow pastors I meet with once a month for breakfast. We socialize and talk shop, but mostly we just hang out. That’s right. We hang out. It’s not usually very “spiritual.” It’s not usually what a person might expect from a group of pastors hanging out together. No one bringsContinue reading “Dealing with pain”

On extremism — both left and right

When I got this from YouTube, there were people there commenting, “This is crap — all those groups ARE evil.” Cleese’s point is not that every person in every one of these groups is angelic, his point is that that isn’t the point. His point is precisely that targeting this or that group is aContinue reading “On extremism — both left and right”