How can Billy Graham, a southern Baptist evangelist preacher, sit down with Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral, and say that he’s sensed the spirit of Jesus in Tibetan Buddhists, even though they didn’t know the name “Jesus”? How can N.T. Wright, an evangelical New Testament scholar, co-write a book with his friend Marcus Borg, a progressive, panentheist, and fellow of The Jesus Seminar? How can Thomas F. Torrance, a Scottish Presbyterian Reformed theologian, win the Templeton Prize for Progress... Read more

Here’s a little more meditation of my z-theory. I realize this offends some who would prefer that I stay within the narrow parameters of a specific doctrine, but I am pressed to attempt to articulate that which I’ve seen. Even some of my friends say I’ve lost it and need a sabbatical. I won’t deny that. I might be wrong. At least half wrong. But, as we all know, there are risks involved in straying from the herd. I want... Read more

I am in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, taking in Frank Viola’s Re-Imagining the Church conference. It also happens to be my home town, so I’m staying with my family and enjoying them. My nieces and nephews are a delight. My brother and sisters, mom and dad, everybody… it’s great to just hang out and laugh. Yesterday for lunch my son Joshua and I went down to Toronto and met Karen Padgett, a Fluevog director. We’d never met before but communicated online.... Read more

I want to make as clear as possible the motivations behind me trying to articulat the z-theory. The first is that I have struggled for years to create a structure for thinking about reality that is not offensive to my intellect. My intellectual, as well as spiritual struggle, is not new to anyone, including my family, friends, church, and readers. After having a dream a little over a month ago, I felt encouraged to pursue what it meant. Hence, the z-theory.... Read more

“Faith seeks understanding” (St. Anselm, 1033-1109). Mine is no different. I do not wish to adopt a belief system to satisfy those of the same belief system in circular self-affirmation. In an effort to find a suitable structure of thought to understand what I believe, I have come up with this z-theory. I am certain it is nothing new, but as old as the sun. However, it is a new way of thinking for me that has unlocked the shackles... Read more