On Vesting

Yes, that's a verb. I've worn a clerical collar for the past three days in a row. Aside from the fact that my neck itches, I'm thinking about clerical garb and its significance or lack thereof. First, let me clarify that I'm not trying to fit in with my Lutheran and Catholic sisters and brothers…

Ouch.

But nothing we didn't already know. Nearly half of Americans have switched religious affiliation/denomination. Oh, and that's not good news for the UMC. With respect to my earlier thoughts about Easter, I read this in Borg and Crossan's The Last Week, which, about three pages from the end now, I highly recommend: "Both parts of…

I Have a Dream. Again.

As I've said before, I feel most passionate about my ministry when I'm building something. Whether it's a worship idea or a bible study or a small group ministry or a new church start, I'm not about maintaining what is but about building anew. My church is one of five in town involved in an…

Back on the Horse

I've been dragging my feet, sermon wise, for the past few weeks, just not feeling it. I was worried that this, the last sermon before a week's much-needed vacation, would be another disappointment. I had switched to next week's lectionary to make it easier on myself, and still was having difficulty with the text. Too…

Sermon: Wellspring Witness

"Wellspring Witness" ( Feb 17, 2008 ) As the church, are we the place of encounter, where lonely, tired, dried-up people encounter Living Water? (John 4:5-42)

Sermon process

Despite working on it most of the evening, my sermon is pretty much nonexistent. We think that sin/making wrong choices/death/separation from God is inevitable. But Jesus is the great second-chance. He shows us that there is another way; we always have another choice. Yeah, so that'll eat up about ten seconds. That's all I've got.…

Because gimmicks are fun

I have posted my sermon from 1/28 over at my Google Archive. It was a fun little number on Jesus'call of the disciples, and got people's attention with a shameless gimmick. I didn't preach last week (a congregant talked about his mission trip), and this week's sermon is still up in the air as to…

Wherein I become a Fundie

So my thoughts on Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, which includes The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass. First, I can't believe this, but it's true: I've finally found a series of books that I would recommend people not read for religious reasons. I don't mean like Narnia and Left Behind,…