In my morning reading....I came across this:Often we hear the remark that we have live in the world without being of the world. But it may be more difficult to be in the Church without being of the Church. Being of the Church means being so preoccupied by and involved in the many ecclesial affairs … Continue reading Henri Gets It Right

After the post Friday on Things Emergent for John, I have been doing just a small bit of fishing around on this topic, and I have a (middle aged white guy in the suburbs) confession to make. I confess that I have been secretly harboring conspiratorial Republican patronizing thoughts about The Emergents (nice name for … Continue reading What If Its Not Like I Think Its Supposed To Be?

At last, my struggles are over. I have found the perfect church. Robert Schullers' I & II would be so proud. Only problem, if you look closely, the people are, well, sort of shallow. What is the right way to say this? They are, still, hollow, and, well, plastic. In short, they are Leggo People, … Continue reading At Last…The Perfect Church Is Found

This photograph is about 13 years old. That fine fellow there with the lovely young lady (our daughter Kelly - now 14 years old) at the piano is one of my best friends in the whole world, John. John and I had a fine Mexican lunch today, and talked over life. One of the things … Continue reading For Good Old John

In light of this, words from Henri Nouwen:Our faith in God who sent his Son to become God-with-us and who, with his Son, sent his Spirit to become God-within-us cannot be real without our faith in the Church. The Church is that unlikely body of people through whom God chooses to reveal God's love for … Continue reading Is The Church Important?

The picture at left comes from my friend Mark Roberts, who was a speaker at GodBlogCon this past weekend. I am sorry, but one look at this caused me to think - this looks like a convention of white guys who were all in the AV Club in their local high schools in 1975. And … Continue reading I Couldn't Go To the Geek Fest

As I noted here, this past weekend was our annual church retreat. I was not excited to go, given all the pain and frustration so many have felt over the past year. Our family did not go last year to this same event, as we were not even sure if we would be able to … Continue reading The Formula

Parents beware! You can spot the beginings of development problems early - before your kids become delinquent adults.

Yesterday I mentioned my "freeway epiphany". To be truthful, it was a "double epiphany" (which might make a good name for a jazz combo, I will sell the rights cheaply).I again have Sara Groves to thank. Go ahead, buy anything she has recorded, you will be very happy.Now remember, we have just watched a completely … Continue reading Taking Our Church to The Moon

For the better part of the last year, our church has been confused, angry, bewildered, lost, wondering, adrift. This has been nearly a classic church split. In the spring the senior pastor and a key associate pastor were asked by the regional church governing body to resign - due to a litany of poor management, … Continue reading Rebuilding the Breach