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 bothersome to... Continue Reading →
Sermon: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?
I preached this tonight at our Blue Christmas Service. “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?” Isaiah 49:14-16 and Matthew 2:1-23 Blue Christmas Service December 19, 2012 First Christian Church Minneapolis, MN It’s Christmastime! It’s the time of the year that we are supposed to be happy and we consider it “the most wonderful time... Continue Reading →
I’m Jack’s Banished Dog.
Recently, I wrote a post on how difficult friendships can be for me. I don't know if I explained it very well, but here's a taste: It’s not that I don’t want friends; the fact is I really desire friendships and there have been people that I really want to be good friends with. But... Continue Reading →
No One Is To Blame?
MACDUFF He has no children. All my pretty ones? Did you say all? O hell-kite! All? What, all my pretty chickens and their dam At one fell swoop? MALCOLM Dispute it like a man. MACDUFF I shall do so, But I must also feel it as a man. I cannot but remember such things were... Continue Reading →
Random Musings on a Random Act
The horrific shootings in Newtown, Connecticut has left a lot of people stunned. It wasn't simply the number of people who died, 27, that has left people speechless, nor was the fact that it took place in a school. What has stunned folks is the fact that this took place in an elementary school and... Continue Reading →
Stop Making Sense (Again)
I wrote this after the shootings in Arizona in 2011. Somehow it still makes sense after the events of today. Please continue to pray for the family and friends of the victims of the shootings in Connecticut. Lord, have mercy. The fallout from the shooting of US Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 12 others on Saturday... Continue Reading →
On Getting With the Program
Since I work for the Presbyterians, I spent some time this summer watching the live feed from the 220th General Assembly in Pittsburgh. On the penultimate day of the Assembly there was discussion on allowing ministers to be able to marry same-sex couples. It was not a surprise to see conservatives quoting scripture. In fact,... Continue Reading →
How Sunday School Made Us Biblical Dummies
Interesting read: One of the places where America began to become theologically illiterate was an odd one: Sunday school. I believe the introduction of Sunday schools truly has caused the American church to know less about what they believe. Read the whole thing. He's not saying we should junk Sunday School, but he shows how it... Continue Reading →
Sunday Sermon: Stir It Up!
This was a sermon I preached on the First Sunday of Advent 2006 in the waning days of Community of Grace, the new church plant I was a part of. “Stir It Up!” Luke 21:25-36 December 3, 2006 Community of Grace Christian Church Minneapolis, MN This week has been hell. Not a good way to... Continue Reading →
The Mysteries of Friendship
If there is one thing that has confounded me in my 43 years on this planet, it would have to be relationships. I've learned that when you are someone on the autistic spectrum, you encounter the enigma of relationships. It's not that I don't want relationships. It's just that I don't really know what... Continue Reading →