Musings on Faith, Culture and ADHD
As most of you know, I've been the head of a new church ministry in my Region. There have been some good and not so good developments in the area of church planting last year, though for the most part it was a down year in many ways. The good news is that our group... Continue Reading →
Since I don’t have children, I’ve never seen the actual birth of a baby. But I have had the blessing of seeing a child hours after having entered the world.
“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 →
A sermon for the First Sunday of Advent from 2010. “Unsafe at Any Speed” Matthew 24:36-44; Isaiah 2:1-5 November 28, 2010 Advent 1 First Christian Church Minneapolis, MN In the Spring of 1990, I was a junior at Michigan State University. For Spring Break that year, I went on a trip to retreat center... Continue Reading →
It had to happen sometime: I used a Sesame Street reference as a sermon title. “One of These Things Is Not Like the Other” Jeremiah 23:1-6 and Luke 23:33-43 Christ the King Sunday November 24, 2013 First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN If you are interested in politics, this was a week to remember. On Wednesday,... Continue Reading →
Luke 18:9-14 October 27, 2013 First Christian Church Mahtomedi, MN This parable reminds me of General Akbar from Star Wars. He’s the fish like guy from the Return of the Jedi who realizes the Rebel forces are in danger. He utters a line that most science fiction geeks know by heart: “It’s a trap!” The... Continue Reading →
There are folks who tend to focus on the "numbers" taking place in Mainline Protestantism with concern. One example is an article written in 1987 by William Willomon and Robert Wilson. They looked at the numbers and didn't like what they see: The Methodist and the Evangelical United Brethren Churches each began to experience a... Continue Reading →
I wrote this post back in 2006. A lot has changed since this post was written. Sadly, how Progressive Christians view church planting isn't one of them. I sometimes wonder if mainline Protestant churches really have a passion for new churches. I won't go into the nitty gritty of the situation with Community of... Continue Reading →
The longer I walk in church circles, the more I find pastors who are allergic to a certain turn of phrase: Bivocational clergy. The mere mention of this option curdles the face of most pastors I've known and read. It's certainly viewed in a less favorable light than full-time ministry. People look at you funny... Continue Reading →
Over and over again, I heard one phrase being used on my side of the same-sex marriage debate: "the right side of history." Yes, most of us who believe in marriage equality do think this is the right thing to do. We liken this current debate in the backdrop of the civil rights movement and... Continue Reading →
The Clockwork Pastor 