A Gracious Christianity by Jacobsen and Sawatsky
A deep quote from Gracious Christianity by Messiah College (Brethren in Christ College) professor Douglas Jacobsen and former Messiah president Rodney J. Sawatsky: “The biblical scholar Walter Brueggemann makes the case that genuinely prophetic action on the part of the church - action that calls the kingdom of God into existence in a given society - will almost always spring from sorrow rather than from anger. What moves us to civic action should be what makes us cry; our aching hearts should direct our concerns as Christians in the public sphere.“
House Church, Lectio Divina, and Markan Sandwiches
Our weekly house church gathering is built around the practice of Lectio Divina. Yes, house churches can take many, many shapes, forms, and identities; many methodologies can be tracked in these intimate and sacred gatherings. House churches are as diverse as the communities from which they spring. This is a good thing! Our gathering centers upon group Lectio Divina, or the spiritual reading/praying of scripture. This particular spiritual practice is an ancient one. It is a spiritual practice dedicated to silence, prayer, scripture, and the individual engagement of God, in a group setting. It offers participants a time wherein they chatter less about God, and instead actually listen for God in extended periods of reading, re-reading, and silence. It is an awesome group experience. Read More »
An Open Confession
Sometimes I write before I think. Forgive me. Being a part of the solution is much more difficult than being part of the problem. We all have much toward which we need to humbly strive.
My Favorite Song: Pearl Jam’s Yellow Ledbetter
“I said, I don’t know whether I was the boxer or the bag” - Lyric from Pearl Jam’s Yellow Ledbetter. For the record, I want this song played at my funeral (in 90+ years, hopefully!) … no cliché preacher, no words … just Yellow Ledbetter, set on repeat. More lyrics: “Can you see them out on the porch. But they don’t wave. I see them round the front way, yeah. And I know I don’t want to stay. I don’t wanna stay.”
God is in the Details
This church planting thing is full of excitement, fear, joy, tears, celebration, disappointment and … God. If you want to really experience God, get to work and participate in the Kingdom. I promise you will experience more of the Spirit than you can probably comprehend. I am so thankful and humbled to be surrounded by such incredible people already. The specifics of the IMG model are slowly materializing. More on that soon …
A Tired, Worn, and Travel-wearied Leather Rita Botta
Filip loved his religion. He was the kind of man who needed tangible boundaries, real rules to live by.
His was a life lifted directly from the pages of his daily planner. His was no ordinary daily planner! It was a Small Italian Genuine Leather Rita Botta, and it was bursting at the seams as it valiantly attempted to envelop all the oddities Filip had shoved into it during his daily travels between home and office. The Rita Botta could have handled all of the expected norms: a notepad, calendar insert, contact page, and the occasional business and/or credit card flap. Its most formidable challenges, however, came in the form of an oversized black comb, TI 30XA, zip-disk, 7′ wooden crucifix, and 10 - 15 paper-clipped pages torn from “The Screwtape Letters.” Read More »
Graffiti as Social Commentary and Prophetic Impetus
Bansky is still my favorite freehand-graffiti artist. His street work is awesome and socially potent. Well, at least for those looking & listening. Spend some time checking out the pseudo-anonymous Bansky and his artistic subversions.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving for Times of Thanksgiving
This prayer is a prayer for small groups seeking intentional times of collective thanksgiving. It is meant to be read in unison, by all present in the group. Let all partaking in this thanksgiving prayer agree: family, community, and God are blessings with which none of us could live very long without. Praise God! Read More »
A Mennonite Central Committee Chapel Speaking Date
August 30 (8:30 to 9AM): I’ll be speaking at Mennonite Central Committee Chapel (MCC & MCCC???) re: Inner Metro Green, “Emerging Church,” and our burgeoning mission in Lancaster City.
Bottled Water, Plastic Garbage, Sustainability, and You
I’m still learning: Those of us pushing for ecological stewardship and sustainability should dump bottled water and drink straight from the tap. Push for clean water at the local municipal level, install tap-filters, and solve the problem at the source. Bottled water actually costs upwards of $1.27 per gallon and produces tons and tons of new plastic garbage.
