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Preparing in Advent is not about shopping or avoiding Hell
Those of us who live in the north are reminded this time of year to put together an emergency kit. We put in a flashlight, hand warmers, something to kneel on, jumper cables, and more into a box that we keep in the trunk for the next few months. Because we never know when…
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For My Son: Changing the Lord’s Prayer
Right off the bat. I have to confess that I am predisposed to the modern Lord’s Prayer. Even better are some of the rewrites I’ve heard in the last year or so. Some really good praying is happening. Tonight, I’m now all in. Here’s why. Praying with my son. I used to argue that we…
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David Henson on Marriage
As I prepare this week’s Eating Scripture, I read this piece on this week’s gospel by David R. Henson: Just Marriage: Jesus, Divorce and the Vulnerable. Do yourself a favor and read it.
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Fixing What We Got Wrong
My mentor during seminary, The Rev. Darren Elin once remarked that we get our two biggest holidays backwards: we celebrate Christmas the night before and Easter the morning after when it should be the other way around. Boy was he right. This is my first Christmas in 5 years in which I wasn’t one of…
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Church: Club, Community, or Neither?
Awhile back I wrote about how much I hate announcement time. Go back and take a look at it, because I feel justified in saying that. Announcement time, as I’ve experienced it in the several congregations I’ve served has, for the most part, been a horrible train wreck. This is mostly the case because it is…
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Sometimes They Do Equal 5
I do think that sometimes 1+1=5. That doesn’t make me crazy. It means that we ought to account for our own blind spots. To help me explain, I’ve recruited my own daughter. As you can see, she has written an interesting equation on the white board. She is so proud of it, she wrote it…
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Priorities
Where I live, people don’t think too highly of rules. If you don’t believe me, sit at any intersection and wait. It won’t take long to watch someone run a red light. It could also explain why the region is so conservative protestant. Hate on the rules and the government is the norm. But like…
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“First, imagine this is bread…”
“…everybody got it? OK, because you’re never going to believe what else it is.” I found this picture online and that is the first thing that popped into my head. Jonny Baker, in his blog, directed his readers to an article in the Church of England Newspaper entitled “The Eucharist re-examined“. You’ll find the picture…