What does it mean to be justified by faith? This is an important point in the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Romans. Paul opens this chapter by stating, “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in... Read more
This topic has been sitting in my writing journal for a couple of weeks waiting to be written about and this week, I want to explore this in more depth. In a world of toxic Christianity, it is important to understand that evangelism and proselytizing does not have be intrusive and accusative. I recall an occasion during my time in the Army when a sergeant who identified as Pentecostal approached me. He felt it was necessary to share his... Read more
As I was on vacation last week, I made a pact with myself to not work more than I wanted to. I set a limit to my writing to one blog post and in doing so, I did not get to write about Father’s Day. In this post Father’s Day blog, I want to reflect and build on what I have written in past posts about masculinity and role a man must play for his community. I found two... Read more
This year for my annual backpacking trip, I am heading to Damascus, Virginia. This is a departure from my original plan to hike the Laurel Highlands Trail (LHT). After Hurricane Helene tore through Damascus and other southern towns, I canceled my trip to the LHT to allocate my tourist spending to the communities devastated by the hurricane. Travel On Friday, June 6, I traveled from my home to Damascus, Virginia. The drive was rather uneventful, and after seven hours, I... Read more
Faith and LGBTQ Exploring the intersection of faith and LGBTQ identity reveals a tapestry of complex experiences, where spirituality can serve both as a source of solace and as a challenge. For many, faith provides a grounding sense of purpose and belonging, yet the interpretation of religious doctrines can sometimes conflict with LGBTQ realities, impacting mental well-being. Striving for inclusivity, communities and leaders are increasingly fostering spaces for mutual understanding, honoring both spiritual journeys and diverse identities. As a disclaimer,... Read more
In the “High Priestly Prayer”, Jesus passionately pleads for unity among his believers, a sentiment that strongly resonates today. With themes of Trinity, Divine nature and hints about the nature of who Jesus was, we end up with a Trinitarian prayer that reveals God’s desire to draw humanity into the very heart of God’s divine communion. The unity among believers is a direct reflection of the unity within the Godhead, powered by the love that flows between the Father, Son,... Read more
Jesus, Justice, and the Fall of Christian Nationalism Recently, while preparing for an upcoming backpacking trip, I embarked on a hike that led me into deep contemplation. As an individual diagnosed with ADHD, walking or running has always served as a valuable method for sermon writing or for clearing my mind during challenging days. On this particular occasion, my thoughts were drawn to topics I have recently discussed in class over the past eight weeks, specifically the concepts of nationalism... Read more
Sitting with Mystery In a post I wrote in 2023 around the spiritual practice of Mystery; I offered these words: The spiritual practice that goes with accepting a mystical experience is the practice of mystery. When one engages in the acceptance of mystery, the word acceptance here is important. In my practice as a Christian pastor, I would often bump into people who would look down upon the idea of mystery because it felt too close to the supernatural or... Read more
On May 19, Richard Rohr examined the influence of experience in his morning meditation. Rohr introduces a concept where scripture and tradition represent the back wheels of faith, while experience serves as the front wheel driving it forward. This can be compared to the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, which integrates scripture, tradition, reason, and experience. The comparison highlights differences and similarities between ideas from the 17th Century and contemporary thought, exploring what can be learned from these perspectives. For Wesley, experience was... Read more
I have been reading through the Revised Common Lectionary recently and saw that the recent readings have been in the book of Ezekiel. The proceeding readings all sit in the prophets. A book full of prophetic witness, it stands as relevant today as it did for the Israelites of sixth century BCE. This week, I want to discuss the relevance of Ezekiel to 2025. The Babylonian Exile The Babylonian Exile, also known as the Babylonian captivity, was a period in... Read more
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