• Love King? Live Kingdom.

    Love King? Live Kingdom.

    MLK was a visionary, not because he was a civil rights leader or because he was faith leader, but because he had vision: he understood Jesus’s vision. And he cast it out for us to see. A world in which we lived the Kingdom of GOD, not just paying it lip service. A vision in which he famously…

  • Drink Up!

    Drink Up!

    a Sermon for Epiphany 2C Text: John 2:1-11 first things first Jesus has been baptized by John in the Jordan. GOD has spoken. The Spirit has descended like a dove. Last week, we got the kickoff to Jesus’s ministry in the world with a big show. All three parts of the Trinity showing up in…

  • What I Heard Phyllis Say

    At the end of last week’s Emergence Christianity conference (#EC13) there was a confusion. Phyllis Tickle, the conference keynote speaker, who presented her work on Emergence Christianity throughout, made a couple of controversial statements. Julie Clawson makes a good accounting for them here. However, I heard her differently.   First, I will state that I…

  • A Ridiculously Basic Introduction to Emergence Christianity

    A Ridiculously Basic Introduction to Emergence Christianity

    Before I begin, I need to give a whole bunch of caveats. First, this is not only ridiculously basic, but inappropriately basic. The subject is too big to cast in just a few sentences. Second, you should probably just go out and buy Phyllis Tickle’s book of the same name and read it yourself. Third, I have…

  • Feeling the Movement

    Feeling the Movement

      Here in Memphis, I’ve joined together with many Christians to celebrate Phyllis Tickle at the Emergence Christianity conference (hash tag #EC13). We’re hearing presentations from Mrs. Tickle about the subject of the book of the same name (Emergence Christianity) and responses from dozens of people involved in emergence. I’m loving it! There is plenty…

  • The Incarnate Spirit

    a Sermon for Christmas Merry Christmas! We have joyously arrived at the eve of Christmas, that day in which we celebrate, not just the birthday of a special child, but the very incarnation of GOD: GOD’s incredible presence with us and in our world. It is one of our favorite feasts and holidays. One that…

  • Who He Will Be

    Who He Will Be

    a Sermon for Epiphany Text: Matthew 2:1-12 Mixed Origins Today we celebrate The Epiphany: a church holiday with two origin stories. A day that we know is important, but have trouble with understanding why. A day that pales in comparison to Christmas, and yet the church has historically understood as greater. In the Epiphany, we…

  • The Three Wise Guys (Eating Scripture)

    Eating Scripture took a holiday to fast for a few weeks, but returns today with a serious hunger, eager to devour Epiphany! In Epiphany, we are challenged by the fact that what the holiday is intending to deal with is nothing like what people feel on that day. It began as a celebration of Jesus’s…