This is the Real Magic

Brent said, “Hey–you’re always interpreting your dreams.  Here’s an idea–why not try something else. Why not interpret your everyday life as though IT were a dream, instead.  Say to yourself, ‘A plane’s flying overhead now–what does this mean?’ Say to yourself, ‘It’s raining so much lately–what does this mean?’ Say to yourself, ‘Today I though [...]

The Calling Card of Jesus (& Clarifications)

Several posts later…and a slough of comments…
Was Jesus political?  Was his message, in his day–to his disciples and the earliest communities of his apprentices–one that took him and them into radical collision with the Empire of their day?  Conversely, will that same message, if taken seriously by his friends and followers today, lead us into [...]

Love Coming Home

–a poem from George MacDonald–
LOVE’S HISTORY.
    Love, the baby, 
      Toddled out to pluck a flower; 
    One said, “No, sir;” one said, “Maybe, 
      At the evening hour!”
    Love, the boy, 
      Joined the boys and girls at play; 
    But he left them half his joy 
      Ere the close of day.
    Love, the youth, 
      Roamed the country, lightning-laden; 
    [...]

Taking the Leap

Simone de Beauvoire, the famous French existentialist, described a series of human reactions to “the anguish of freedom”.  What she means is that when faced by a panorama of choice, overwhelming option, humans have a tendency towards certain actions, because this is a very confusing place to be.  Without getting into detail she isolates five [...]

When I think of planting a new church…

Have you ever heard a three year old kid freak out because they want to put the star or the angel on top of the Christmas tree?  They whine and cry and whimper and demand to anoint the tree with a topper.
But, what if that obnoxious call to action came in July, long before December, [...]

The New Conspirators…

I got a call from Tom Sine today…he wrote this amazing book called “The New Conspirators“…several months ago Jessie and I had gone to the conference of the same name. What’s interesting is that this conference and the connections made there have set events into motion in our life together that are hugely impacting (and [...]

A junkie’s greatest hits (part 2)

And the completed countdown…
Number 4: God’s Goal: Christ As All in All by Manfred Haller–There was a time when this would have dominated this list…it is still incredibly good; striking a tension between visionary Christology and prophetic criticism of current religious practices. Some of the most memorable quotes I know ring from this [...]