Noah and Developing Faith

This is the first in a six-part sermon series in the stages of faith. The stages of faith have a couple components. James W. Fowler mostly famously wrote about stages of faith, but others have contributed to the body of knowledge. They came about as a result of psychologists and sociologists, with theologians, coming to understand that our faith does...

Feb 2018

Unthinkable, But Required

I am a pastor of a small church- a church full of people whom I love and whom I greatly trust that God loves. On Sunday mornings, there may be any number of children and older people, this includes my own children and some of their best friends. I have spent a lot of time thinking about what I would do if someone came in and began shooting.I've analyzed...

Feb 2018

There Will Always Be Monsters

Octopus made from rescued trash from the ocean, Sea Life Center, Seward, AlaskaI have come to realize that there will always be monsters. The pain and surreal nature of the unexpected cancer diagnosis,The incomplete healing from a surgical solution,The seemingly perfect call that ends with spears in the most tender places,The omnipresence of the dis-ease...

Feb 2018

White Washing the World

I pay attention to what I see. A lot. In the past few years, I've paid additional attention to what I don't see.Today, I saw two interesting things.The first was brought to my attention by the professor and Biblical scholar, the Reverend Doctor Wil Gafney (to whose work I commend you). Dr. Gafney noted on Facebook that, regardless of one's actual race,...

Feb 2018

Six Cans

I realize these six cans don’t look like much, but they represent a big deal to me. I made dinner for a group tonight and I wasn’t entirely sure how many people were coming. I have a tendency to overestimate and overprepare, ending up with way more food than necessary. I have come to realize, though, that cooking too much is my attempt to control a...

Feb 2018

Goats But

Feb 2018

A Better Way

A friend recently expressed frustration that empowering people to take ownership and leadership takes a lot more time than doing something one's self. This is true... in the short term. In the long term, empowerment is the more efficient means of reaching a given destination because empowerment involves honest recognition of one's own limitations, the...

Feb 2018

The Jesus Test (A Corollary to The Rock Test)

In response to new/old news about powerful men abusing and manipulating women, blogger Anna Victoria Clark wrote a fun and true piece called The Rock Test: A Hack for Men Who Don't Want to Be Accused of Sexual Harassment. I recommend this piece and if you haven't read it yet, take a moment, click over, and then come on back for some theological reflection.I...

Feb 2018

Something New

Knitting a basketweave hat! I recently taught myself how to knit, with the help of videos, books, and a few friends. I ultimately want to make a certain kind of sweater and I can only find knitting patterns for that sweater. Knitting makes a different kind of fabric and would open up more projects for me. However, in order to start knitting, I had to...

Feb 2018

Human Being

I have been thinking about getting a new tattoo for over a year. For a while, I thought about the phrase I read in a book by Augusten Burroughs: “Harder is just harder”. I felt comforted at the idea that harder isn’t impossible, it’s just harder. However, the right time and place for that tat never materialized. That idea faded when I came upon another...

Feb 2018