> faith
Practicing Resurrection Subversively
How easily we forget. If resurrection is both a reality and a metaphor for how we view the world, then we should be about practicing resurrection in creative ways all the time. Enter stage right: Wendell Berry. Wendell Berry is a novelist, poet, farmer, activist, and...
Clearing Space
For about a month I've been clearing space: mentally, emotionally, and likely in some ways I'm still not aware of. For the seasons of Advent and Christmas I decided to unplug from a few things in order to make room for something new. I'm not sure if the new has yet...
The Outsider Is My Salvation: From the Archives
[callout]This post first appeared in May, 2016. It is good reminder to us now.[/callout] If the person of Jesus is my salvation, then where is Jesus found? In those who are "other" from us, from me. Liberty, freedom, and salvation are in the outsider. [featured-image...
God Left the Building
This is not a newsflash. Consider it a public service announcement and a reminder from about 2500 years ago. Before Jesus of Nazareth ever walked the earth, we were told the God he called Father was not contained in a building we may deem sacred. And if there was any...
The Lie of Practicality
Can authentic faith be practical? Is the Way of Jesus a system of ideas that provide for positive lives of practicality? Or is the Way of Jesus rather a way of challenging and risk-taking practices to be lived out in community? Even practices that will cause us in the...
Offensive Grace
This week's episode of the Reimagining Podcast concerning reimagining grace has me ... well ... reimagining grace. Imagine that! Ha. Since I'm more of a Hebrew Scripture guy, I don't think grace is a purely New Testament thing. Sure, Jesus shows us what both divine...
Unscripted Faith
Certainty may have little to do with the life of faith. Maybe that's why it's called "faith" and not "absolutely sure beliefs." [featured-image single_newwindow="false"] If you are traveling in a place you've never been, do you always have your map app of choice open...
The Metaphysics of Eating, Listening, and Leisure
If you happen to be part of typical North American organized church you have rather limited options for activities to engage in that announce God's Kingdom: weekly "worship services," maybe some Bible study classes, perhaps a big service project once in a while. You...
Why a “Perfect” God Can Only Lead to Atheism
There is a popular but superficial understanding of God that argues God is perfect. Of course, there are many definitions of "perfect." But most of these definitions give us a God that is immutable. "Immutable" is a churchy word that means "unchanging over time and...
God’s Authority
Authority tends to be asserted in two broad ways: coercion or persuasion. If someone uses coercion to exercise authority it would involve violence enacted upon another in relationship. If someone uses persuasion to exercise authority it would involve non-violent...
Glimpses of the Good
Too often, I think, we forget that we all desire the good. Sometimes it takes tragedies, like the recent spate in Orlando, to remind us of our first love. [featured-image single_newwindow="false"] In recent years, I've realized that all my vocational endeavors have...
Exile, Grief, and Hope
The Hebrew word for exile is galah which means “to strip naked or bare.” Our ancient spiritual ancestors experienced this, and we have the strange opportunity to experience it now. [featured-image single_newwindow="false"] A Brief Survey of Biblical Exile The people...