“As you have come to the end of this blog post, I hope that you, my friends, see yet again how fast and loose we can get with our biblical interpretations and assumptions.”
All in That's in the Bible?!
Fully Human
“I think I would rather have a savior who understands the full reality of what it means to try to navigate life in this body that gets tired and leaks from time to time, whether it is convenient or not. A savior who sometimes flips out and flips tables. Part of what is compelling to me about following Christ is that he did experience the pain we do.”
Temporarily Cained
“Pastors often bemoan how we struggle to get anyone to kneel at the altar and pray, and we know that at least in part that is because people don’t want to announce that they are weak and need help, or to start any rumors about their lives. Social media now exacerbates this pressure to always show a perfect selfie face and a Pinterest worthy house. But I would like to push against those false realities.”
Things that Aren't in the Bible: Saul/Paul Edition
“Over the Christmas holidays, I was inspired to return to that category, and brainstormed a whole series of editions of Things that Aren’t in the Bible that people would swear up and down are there. I have been in some pretty feisty arguments about these topics, in fact. I bet some of you have too.” It may surprise you to learn what is NOT in the Bible about Saul/Paul.
Seasons of Uselessness
“That mud is an awful place to be. To be stuck, immobile. But also to be dying of thirst and starvation. That is what it feels like when you know you can no longer make a difference with the people you are assigned to serve.”
Can I Argue with Alec Benjamin?
While my Sunday school theology wants to affirm that God is everywhere, both Scripture and experience bring that foundational “truth” into question. And honestly, I am more than a little uncomfortable. I have leaned on the idea that there is nowhere God would reject. That God would be present in everything and everywhere. And also, to return to the song that started this whole mess, I am certain that Jesus is present in LA. And again from stories of experiences of others, sometimes it is exactly at the bottom of bottle where Jesus is found, because that is sometimes the desperate place where someone finally turns and seeks their savior. And that is the rub. The question is not whether God would be present somewhere. The question is whether we want God to be present there or not.
Practicing What I Preach... While I Preach
“And yet, in the midst of such exciting work, I have been personally assailed. This past year has probably been my most difficult year ever, wracked with grief and guilt and loss and change, and so much more. It has threatened to derail my faith. It was such an ironic position to be in, to be going around teaching people how to grow in their discipleship at the same time as mine was so far off track. But just over a month ago, it occurred to me I could do something about it. I could practice what I preach.”