Monthly Archives: February 2009

Divine Conspiracy 1

Posted on February 27, 2009 by

Dallas Willard begins The Divine Conspiracy with a story about a jet fighter that crashed.  The pilot was flying upside-down without knowing it, and when she made an ascent maneuver the plane flew into the ground. He uses this image throughout … Continue reading →

Posted in Read | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Artificial Lent

Posted on February 25, 2009 by

Lent begins forty days, minus Sundays, before the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox.  (Vernal in the northern hemisphere, that is.)  For the mathematically challenged, Lent begins the week after Wendy’s and Arby’s start advertising … Continue reading →

Posted in Practice | Tagged , | 6 Comments

The Restless God

Posted on February 23, 2009 by

Sermon themes in Lent will come from Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations by United Methodist Bishop Robert Schnase.  The first practice he advocates is radical hospitality: Churches characterized by Radical Hospitality are not just friendly and courteous, passively receiving visitors … Continue reading →

Posted in Preach | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

When Faith Has the Flu

Posted on February 20, 2009 by

A bad cold has come over me this week.  Ever since a bout with pneumonia two years ago, colds settle in my chest and lungs and lower my voice.  I am a bass today rather than a baritone.  When I … Continue reading →

Posted in Believe | Tagged , | 5 Comments

To Ordain Or Not To Ordain

Posted on February 18, 2009 by

On Tuesday in Bowling Green, Ohio, Maumee Valley Presbytery voted on an amendment to remove language barring gay ordination from the Presbyterian Church’s constitution and replace it with new language giving local sessions and presbyteries wider latitude in ordaining deacons, … Continue reading →

Posted in Believe | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The Charm of Old Barns

Posted on February 17, 2009 by

This old weather-beaten barn sits on a farm south of Hudson, Michigan, where we take our dog Jazz when we leave town.  The owner, an elderly widow, operates a kennel that houses up to 48 dogs.  Jazz sleeps on a … Continue reading →

Posted in Photos | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Paul Blart and the Dignity of Work

Posted on February 15, 2009 by

The movie Paul Blart — Mall Cop recycles the plot from Die Hard, only with comic actor Kevin James playing the Bruce Willis role, and it offers stock characters in the Merciless Thug, the Damsel in Distress, and the Unexpected Hero. Maybe … Continue reading →

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Wedding Ring

Posted on February 13, 2009 by

Valentine’s Day marks my tenth wedding anniversary.  This gold ring, and all it represents, has stayed on my finger for ten years.  My wife has a matching one, which she wears constantly; I take mine off each night before bed.  Sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Feel | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Darwin On the Brain

Posted on February 12, 2009 by

Today is the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin, born February 12, 1809.  It’s also the Lincoln bicentennial today, but I have Darwin on the brain.  Religious people tend toward two sides on Darwin. The Religious Right demonizes him.  In worship one … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflect | Tagged | 2 Comments

Church Without Property

Posted on February 10, 2009 by

Christians in Qatar have built the first church there since Islam swept over the region in the seventh century.  Our Lady of the Rosary Church seats 2700 and serves expatriate Roman Catholics from India and the Philippines.  An Anglican church … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflect | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Dead Cars and Holy Saturday

Posted on February 9, 2009 by

The coldest winter in years has afflicted us for the last six weeks.  Montana’s weather has migrated to southeastern Michigan, and we’re not accustomed to it.  I don’t know how people endure this kind of weather year after year. One … Continue reading →

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How I Lost the Bible and Found God

Posted on February 7, 2009 by

I once loved the Bible.  It guided my steps like a lantern in a dark tunnel.  In college I would take breaks from Thermodynamics, pull out my brown NIV hardcover and study whole books lectio continua using This Morning With … Continue reading →

Posted in Remember | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Why Men Hate Church

Posted on February 6, 2009 by

This morning on WBCL, a local Christian radio station, they interviewed David Murrow, author of Why Men Hate Going to Church.   He said men hunger for God and for spiritual purpose in their lives, but the programming, message and physical … Continue reading →

Posted in Dream, Learn | Tagged | 3 Comments

The Hungry Gap

Posted on February 4, 2009 by

This week I finished reading The Year 1000, by Richard Lacey and Danny Danziger, two journalists in the UK who interviewed dozens of historians and did extensive research themselves to see what life in Engla-lond was like at the turn … Continue reading →

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Emotional Churches

Posted on February 3, 2009 by

During Lent our church will explore Bishop Robert Schnase’s Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, one of the popular books on congregational life these days.  The book’s cover lists the five practices: Radical Hospitality Passionate Worship Intentional Faith Development Risk-Taking Mission … Continue reading →

Posted in Read | Tagged | 3 Comments

Garden Variety Glutton

Posted on February 1, 2009 by

I registered for a local ‘biggest loser’ competition, hoping to drop a few pounds.  The Herbalife program included lectures on nutrition and directed participants to limit daily calorie intake to 1200 for women and 1500 for men.  My resolve lasted … Continue reading →

Posted in Practice | Tagged , | 1 Comment