Musings on Faith, Culture and ADHD
John 10:1-10 and Acts 2:42-47 Fourth Sunday of Easter May 11, 2014 First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN It’s Springtime and that means that it’s time for the spring pledge drive on public radio. Now, I love listening to Minnesota Public Radio and I’ve been a supporter for about a decade. I get that public... Continue Reading →
I was at an ecumenical LGBT meeting several years back. What we were talking about, I can't remember, but I remember saying something about the Great Commission found in Matthew 28. Accross the room from me was a middle aged man from Canada. I could see him mouth the words "Great Commission" and he had... Continue Reading →
Luke 24:13-35 Third Sunday of Easter May 4, 2014 First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while the leader was describing the change which God works... Continue Reading →
I've noticed a blog called Via Media Methodists which is trying to get out of the left-right box the American church finds itself in. That leaves me wondering: are there a group of Disciples who want to elevate the discourse in our tradition? This is how Via Media Methodists describe themselves: Via media, Latin for... Continue Reading →
Last week, I had a conversation over the phone with a fellow pastor who is interested in planting a church. He share some of his plans and ideas. It seemed solid, so I asked him to share an outline of his idea that I could pass on to some other folks in the area. While... Continue Reading →
I've never watched Duck Dynasty. I didn't really know about Phil Robertson until he uttered his beliefs on homosexuality and race. It's no surprise that I don't agree with either of those views. But there is a question that keeps rumbling in my mind. It's not directed at Robertson, it's directed to my fellow Christians... Continue Reading →
From 2012. I have a mixed relationship with Mary's Magnificat found in Luke 1. On the one hand it is a wonderful message of justice; that the lowly in life will be vindicated and remembered by God. I love singing the song A Canticle of the Turning by Rory Cooney. But the text also is... Continue Reading →
“Things Can Only Get Better” Isaiah 11:1-10 Second Sunday of Advent December 8, 2013 First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN When I Daniel and I moved to our house in North Minneapolis back in 2007, there was a large Silver Maple tree in the backyard. This tree was quite fruitful, because we were always getting rid... Continue Reading →
I've been noticing something. A mainline church either moves out of its current location or closes. Soon there after, an evangelical church or an immigrant church buys up the property. Here's the interesting thing: the mainline churches moves out because the community is no longer sustainable or the building is too much for a shrinking... Continue Reading →
I stumbled on this blog post about the renewal of United Theological Seminary in Ohio. The school now has 600 students but only a few years ago it had only 130. Some think their addition of distance learning has made the difference, but Jason Vickers, a professor at the Methodist seminary says the real difference... Continue Reading →
The Clockwork Pastor 