Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me!” He didn’t say take up everyone’s. This is the danger every care-giver faces, including pastors. They either take up other people’s crosses, or some people are very pleased to burden you with their own. Many care-givers can’t resist the temptation to take on other people’s problems. In 1977 I read a line in a book by Easum and Bandy called, Growing Spiritual Redwoods: We found that thriving churches shun codependent relationships.... Read more
Yup. The four views. The first view is “approved”. That is, we are all okay. Just as we are. Perfect. The second is “recycle”. In Canada we actually call the places where we recycle “redemption centers”. The third is “compost”. From the earth and back again. That’s it. The last is “garbage”. No explanation necessary. I wonder if we can actually divide people up into these four perspectives on the human race? Or maybe we could assign percentages to each... Read more
I had an interesting and enjoyable conversation with a young man today. He wanted to talk with me about building a community based church. He said that there are all kinds of materials out there on traditional models of doing church. But there is hardly anything out there concerned with building a church that emphasizes relationship and community. Almost all material out there is on how to tweak style, not substance. He asked me if I knew of any. No,... Read more
I always thought I didn’t like cats. I’ve always had a dog. Last year when Jesse moved to another city to go to University, he got a cat. Oh no! We went to visit. I fell in love with the cat. Bongo was his name oh. Did you know people are divided into camps as dog-lovers or cat-lovers? Now I’m confused. Can’t I love both equally? Do I have to be ashamed to say I love cats to dog-people? Or... Read more
I remember this hymn from the earliest years of my life. It’s always been one of my favorites. Some years ago I realized it must be because it is in nature that I have the strongest sense of the Blessed. Especially at night with a clear sky and all the stars are shining. The atmosphere is absolutely full of Benediction. Last night Lisa and I dug out a bottle of wine we were keeping for a special time. It was... Read more
I entered all the names into my online numbers generator and the winner of yesterday’s FREEBIE FRIDAY giveaway contest is Rick Penner from western Canada! Congratulations Rick! I’ll have something new for next Friday. Please join my newsletter. Later today I’m going to provide a free high resolution downloadable print of an original piece of my art only to those who have joined my newsletter. So if you haven’t joined yet, do so right away to get your free print! Read more
Welcome to another FREEBIE FRIDAY giveaway contest. This time it is an original, one of a kind greeting card done with pen and ink on a fine watercolor paper card, envelope included, as in the picture. This is not a printed card, but an original pen and ink drawing. It took thousands of strokes and dots. Just for you! The image dimensions are 4″x6″ (10cm x 15cm). Click on any image for a larger picture of it. You can send... Read more
This post is a continuation of yesterday’s post, Fundamentalism & Dialog. One of the most frustrating things that can happen in a conversation is when someone employs what I’d like to call the Future Fail Fallacy. Let’s take a scenario that has happened on this blog often: I say that unity with others is very important and that we should make every effort to achieve it. Some believe that unity with someone with a different belief is impossible, mute. The... Read more
This guy has just come into the awareness that love is in the air. He’s realized that he is surrounded and sustained by love. He hears love. He thinks love. He speaks love. He breathes love. No, he hasn’t subscribed to any creed. He has just come to know, deep within, that Love, the Blessed, the Beautiful Benediction, is above all, through all, and in all things. It is That from which all things come and That to which all... Read more
The most important conversation is with fundamentalists. I’m not just talking about Christian fundamentalists, but fundamentalists of every persuasion. Conversation between the moderates and liberals and even some conservatives of every persuasion already happens. Where the conversation is the most difficult and challenging is with fundamentalism. Of course, the assumption I’m making is that I think the conversation is more important than the conclusion. Not everyone believes this. To many (and I think this is a fundamentalist value), knowledge of... Read more
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