One of the arguments of our new book,The Blue Parakeet, is that any church that calls itself biblical must permit women to do now what they did in the New Testament, and that includes prophesying, teaching, praying and founding churches. I was encouraged by the following letter. We want to hear today from those folks who are working at opening ministries to women … what are you struggling about? what gains are you finding? what strategies are helping? why the... Read more
I receive a letter like this two or three times a month and thought it might be a good idea to jot down a brief response. First, the letter; then, the response. Hello Scot, My name is [Kip]. I’m a recent graduate of [America’s Finest University]. I’ve been thinking a lot about going to graduate school or seminary in the next couple of years and I’m wondering where to start the search. I’ve heard interesting stuff about Biblical Seminary, where... Read more
This year’s series on Advent will focus on the acts of Advent: adoration, activism, community, and expansion. Each week will be dedicated to one of these themes, and this week — the first week of Advent — we will focus on adoration. (more…) Read more
This weekend we saw Buffleheads and Golden Eyes at Independence Grove… We really enjoy the Fall migrations. Read more
Here is a liturgy for the first candle: Today we light the first candle of the Advent wreath. This is the candle of HOPE. With Christians around the world, we use this light to help us prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of God’s Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. May we receive God’s light as we hear the words of the prophet Isaiah: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in... Read more
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy... Read more
Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain (more…) Read more
The first section of chp 7 in Kathleen Norris’ Acedia & Me: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer’s Life is relentlessly profound. Today I want to clip a few lines of hers about human nature and apathy (acedia) and ask for your response. “If the Church has made too much of the sin of pride, which seduces us into thinking too highly of ourselves, it has not made enough of the sin of sloth, which allows us to settle for... Read more
Since I was a high schooler I’ve been bugged by what is commonly called “pick and choose” when it comes to the Bible. 30 years later convinces me that (1) we all do this and (2) we need to talk about something underneath it all: HOW we pick and choose. I believe that Christians have always read the Bible carefully and have “discerned” how to live the Bible out in the world today. But this runs smack-dab into the face... Read more
A few years ago I discovered the ruled Moleskine: Moleskine Ruled Notebook Large and Moleskine Ruled Notebook Pocket . They have a cool elastic string that keeps it closed and a fantastic pocket at the back for storage. For two years I have kept all my notes and sermon outlines in such a notebook, and I carry the little pocket Moleskine to jot down ideas and books to read and posts to write and anything else that comes to mind.... Read more
Jesus Creed
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