I had been learning to play bass guitar for two years when I was finally asked to be in a real band. The fact that I had a new Fender Jazz bass and an Acoustic 360 watt amp that I had worked and saved for the summer prior didn’t hurt my chances of being asked to be in the band. At 15 years old, I was anxious to show all the stuff that I knew, and as a singer I... Read more
consciousness has been the topic of conversation for philosophers for centuries. as in, what does it mean to be conscious, aware or enlightened? that last word, for some, conjures up pictures of bald buddhist monks lavished in red and yellow robes contemplating in a temple somewhere, not to mention most likely Asian in descent. this description of enlightenment which is based on our cultural assumptions and experience limits our experience ultimately, not to mention that it does not allow the... Read more
Some of my students have recently gotten into the book The Celebration of discipline by Richard Foster, a true classic. It brought me back to some posts I did a few years ago on the chapter that had the biggest impact on me, the chapter on simplicity. I’ll share those thoughts in the next couple posts. [As I was recently praying and reading on living a simplified life], I opened Richard Foster’s classic work The Celebration of Discipline, as I... Read more
On my radio show yesterday I talked with Phillip Clayton about Process Theology – the topic of the Emergent Village Theological Conversation taking place next week at Claremont School of Theology. I think many of you will find this conversation interesting. If you are interested in attending the event click here to Register for the event. Read more
The last two weeks has seen a new viral sensation take over our computer screens. A spoken word artist named Jefferson Bethke, who goes by the handle “Bball1989,” released a video on Youtube that has, in less than two weeks, received more than fifteen million hits called “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus.” So regardless of what any of us personally thinks about what he’s saying, it’s incumbent on us to listen up. For starters, there’s some really good... Read more
There once was a gay man, that everyone in the city knew, who was travelling from James Bay to Oak Bay. On the way he was attacked by thugs. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily a Pentecostal Pastor was on his way travelling down the same road, but when he saw him something popped into his head…and he quickly swerved to the other side of the road. Then a Baptist pastor showed up,... Read more
Improv is play – simple pretending. Think of what works best when kids are at play. Here are three examples of how little children tend to play together: Example 1: Girl: I’m a Princess! Boy: No, you’re a Wizard! Girl: No, I’m a Princess. You’re a Prince. Boy: You’re ugly and stupid! Girl leaves weeping. Example 2: Girl: I’m a Princess! Boy: Ok, I’m A Wizard. Girl: No. You’re a Prince. You have blonde hair and green eyes and you... Read more
Dedicated to Hawk (d. December 2011) These days I’ve been thinking a lot about friendship. Since the early days of Emergent Village it has been common for us to name this conversation a “generative friendship,” and for solid theological reasons, of course. In the Hebrew Scriptures we find countless examples of friendship. One of the reasons God creates Eve is for companionship, that he might not be alone. Job’s friends play a key role in that story. We have specific... Read more
One of my favorite theological sayings is “God in all things; all things in God.” This statement reflects the lively omnipresence of God, who can be experienced in everything from toddlers and fireflies to galaxies, soy burgers, mystery novels, and enchiladas. Every place is a divine center and although God doesn’t cause all things and cannot be identified with everything that happens (omnipotence or pantheism), you can find divine inspiration in joyful souls and cancer cells. This is the good... Read more
Sex has become something bourgeois. Not that the proletariat ever experience sex mind you, but the real act is saved for those who can afford to talk about it. In high school sex is a sort of perverse social currency whereby someone’s acceptance is measure and defined by the quantity of partners they have experienced intercourse with. To talk about sex in this context is not only anticipated but is also encouraged. But, what happens when sex becomes nothing more... Read more
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