I wonder if the stories of Jesus with children… especially the one where he said “of such is the kingdom of heaven”… suggest that the new world is made up of people who look before, beneath and beyond the distinctions. Or, better, look right at them with compassionate wonder. There are two ways to see distinctions. One way is to see them as flawed factors in the other necessitating division and separation. Another is to appreciate them as the beautifully... Read more
There is no center. There is no boundary. No one owns him. No one is without him. He is not cornered or kept. He is not bound or bottled. He can’t be released or freed for he already is. Who do these men have hostage? A figment of their imagination. They are safely within the walls of their church with their theological myopia, their demands falling on deaf ears, and their cookies. SHOP Read more
Some might argue that the church has gone through some pretty dramatic changes. I would agree: dramatic. In other words, all show. The significant change required is resisted to the death. The church would rather die than give you change. We are experts in tweaking. Rearranging the furniture on a sinking ship. Renovating. Redesigning. Remodeling. We’ve become makeup artists. Experts in the facade. The true transformation that beckons us is symbolized by our symbol, the cross. It means death to... Read more
“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” (Isaiah 42: 3). When I attended Bible College, one of the things I had to do in order to graduate was intern under a pastor of a pentecostal church for a summer. What an experience that was! I ended up in the deep south of Alabama in a pentecostal church that could be better described as a holiness pentecostal church. I experienced some pretty... Read more
The greatest mystics believed love is at the root of all things, the source of all things, fills all things, consumes all things. In fact, some give this love a capital “L”, as in “Love”, as if it personally loves us. It is only our paradigms and language that seems to separates us. Our thoughts. All is love. Except where it isn’t. And there it is confusion. Like this man in the cartoon, all we have to do is collapse... Read more
(Those receiving this in your inbox, click on either title “Blind and Deaf” and it will take you to the nakedpastor site.) I frequently get really sweet emails from really sweet people who say they’ve been in a perfect church their whole lives and have never seen anything I talk about, nor have they experienced it. They usually believe that what I talk about is a very rare occurrence and that I’m blowing it way out of proportion. Once in... Read more
You all know by now that the Pope has resigned. First time in hundreds of years. The time before that was hundreds of years earlier as well. This is a rare event. He credits it to ailing health and aging. Many are curious about what new developments will occur. I know I am. I’m interested in the church facing contemporary issues with wisdom and grace on a universal level. Women. Homosexuality. Birth control. Global justice. Transparent accountability of church leadership.... Read more
This really does happen. I know this for a fact. How do I know? Because as a pastor this is what I used to think of new churches I was sent to serve. And the people of the church have told me outright that this is exactly their attitude is towards new pastors coming in. What if there was the attitude that we accept each other as we are? Appreciate one another as we are? Love one another as we... Read more
It is scary. It is at times lonely. But it is honest and necessary. I’ve escaped herds many times. They’re everywhere. Anywhere there are people. There are even herds of people who refuse to be a part of a herd. The gravitational pull is always towards a herd mentality. But even though you will be warned that you are making a big mistake, you know deep within that your escape is the most important thing you can do. SHOP Read more
You know that a “bucket list” is a list of things you want to do before you die, i.e., “kick the bucket”. I posted this as a text post almost 2 years ago. Today I made it into a cartoon. Did you know that Mt. Everest grows about a half inch taller every year? The next time you climb it, you’ve climbed even higher! This is like my phucket list. I’ve marked these as “accomplished” many times. But they have to stay... Read more
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