Over the next few weeks, I'll be walking in the places where the influence of departed saints remains strong. Capernwray Hall was founded by Major Ian Thomas, who died a few years ago in his nineties. With a vision of creating a space where young people could gather and learn about the sufficiency and power of Christ for daily living, he purchased a castle at auction. The result has been an entire global movement of people committed to sharing the simple and profound truth that Christ is … [Read more...]
Hubris and the Importance of “Memorial”
May 27, 2013 By 2 Comments
Remembering has never been more important, and yet forgetting has never been easier, especially for those distanced from the violence of war by time or geography. Here's why remembering matters: In Judges chapter two we read about who came after Joshua and his troops fought: "...there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel. Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of Lord" (Judges 2:10,11) This is why, before … [Read more...]
Ordinary Time – the Days that Matter the Most
May 20, 2013 By 2 Comments
People who follow the "Christian Year" know that the Bible readings from December through Pentecost are designed to cover the story of God's restorative plan for the cosmos revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Today begins the long stretch in that same calendar called "Ordinary Time". Ordinary is a word we don't use much at all, and nearly never in a flattering way. "It was an ordinary day" means that nothing exciting happened. "Just another day..." we say, to describe the … [Read more...]
Letters to the Three Moms in my life: I can’t thank you enough
May 11, 2013 By 1 Comment
In honor of mother's day, I wanted to write some notes to each of the three moms in my life. Of course, none of them were or are, perfect. But I'm fortunate, in that each of them are easy to honor. My mother-in-law is equally wonderful, but this blog's already too long to add a fourth mom, so I'll just say thanks here. In the comments feel free to share how your mom has been a gift to you. To my mom by adoption: Happy Mothers day to the one who was, in nearly every sense of … [Read more...]
The Best Version of Myself… What’s the recipe?
April 24, 2013 By 1 Comment
With vacation, a planned hike to the summit of St. Helen's, and a climbing project brewing that I'm excited about sharing later, I recently reread a book called "Bone Games: Extreme Sports, Shaminism, Zen, and the Search for Transcendence". Rob opens with the story of his most desperate moment. He's fallen, is seriously injured and stranded on a small ledge with hundreds of vertical feet below waiting to devour him when he tries to down climb - with his injury - in the dark - in the snow. … [Read more...]
Weekend Links – Sexual Ethics and Practice for Christ Followers
February 2, 2013 By 4 Comments
For those interested in the ongoing conversation that's unfolding on this blog about sexual ethics, here are some links to other articles that you'll find helpful. As God's people, our calling is to bring light into dark places, and there's perhaps no arena where we've done that more poorly throughout our history than the realm of sexuality and sexual ethics. What I offer here isn't a set of answers, but a bringing of the conversation into the light. Why the term "Gay Christian" is … [Read more...]
Covenant and Mutuality: Basis for intimacy – foundation of sexuality
January 11, 2013 By 2 Comments
The belief that God exists as "three in one" (trinity doctrine) is central to developing a healthy sexual ethic. Here's why: 1. God exists in perfect unity and fellowship within Godself. Think about how Jesus submits himself to the will of the Father continuously during his human life. "My teaching is not my own. My will is not my own. My judgement is not my own. My authority is not my own." Jesus is the expression of the will of the Father - perfectly - from birth to death. … [Read more...]
Starting Assumptions for Sexual Ethics
January 3, 2013 By 9 Comments
This winter I'll be teaching about sexual ethics and intimacy in the church I lead in Seattle. The sermons and study questions will be available the church website here. It's an important series for our time and place because cultural factors, both in and outside the church, have conspired to create a sense of what might best be described as sexual and relational anarchy. Churches that offer a clear ethic for sexuality are often more gnostic than Christian, with the result that young … [Read more...]
Instead of new goals for a new year…try this
December 28, 2012 By 3 Comments
I like goals that are measurable and have lots of them: Ski 100k vertical feet in January (now objectively measurable courtesy of a nifty phone app), trim 15 seconds off jogging "per mile" time by the end of February, eat 5 servings of veggies per day (by far the hardest), be consistent in my reading, praying, journaling, blog at least once a week, finish book proposal. I'm close to throwing all these in the trash though, because I keep adding more and more goals to my life, and the end … [Read more...]
Words for Advent: Light – a timely word for dark days
December 21, 2012 By 2 Comments
It's cold; and darkness has swallowed the last light of the day. I'm walking up a remote snow covered road in the Austrian Alps with my daughter and lots of friends. A snowmobile rushes past carrying children headed to the same destination as us. As the sound and light of it disappears, we are enveloped once again by winter's dark night, and the sporadic silence that comes when people are hiking uphill. We can look back, or down into the valley, and see the lights that represent shelter … [Read more...]
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