Science Monday is still on vacation (sort of like when Cartalk puts the puzzler to bed for the summer…). I’ll trot it back out when I start Ethics next week…
Yesterday, Isaac Shaw of Delhi Bible Institute preached at my church. He asked a question that got me thinking: What is the mission of Christ? Continue reading
Filed under Biblical Reflection, missional, Missional Church
In your quiet moments (hey, it may only be the shower for some of you), where does your mind go? What topics, feelings, ideas show up when your mind has no place it has to be? What do you notice, turn over in your mind, “process”, etc.? What internal conversation do you have with yourself? As you take stock, just describe what is there: Continue reading
Filed under Anxiety, christian counseling, Desires, Insight, Mindfulness
I wrote the previous post during our staff meeting. After watching it, two more thoughts were shared in the group that I thought worth passing along.
1. Christian leaders (including counselors) may be tempted to see their evil thoughts and actions as small in comparison to that which they hear on a daily basis. The problem with this is that we are comparing ourselves to others and not to a Holy God.
2. It is interesting that two “Christian” nations (UK and US) are trying to defeat evil with power. Christ’s defeat of evil happens with the giving up of power. Where is that right spot between justice seeking and turning the other cheek/forgiving?
Filed under Uncategorized
In our clinical staff meeting we watched NT Wright’s DVD entitled, “Evil”. I commend this as well as his video on the resurrection (very good for those who are seeking God). He explores the biblical images of evil and God’s response to it (and therefore directions for us as well).
But back to evil. Wright makes mention of the popular usage of the term. It tends to be something we use to talk about really really bad stuff in others: pedophiles, rapists, murderers, terrorists, that sort of thing. We use it in ways to say we’ve encountered something that is definitely, “not us.” I was taken with one clip where an English man spoke of his work with offenders. He did not think they were born that way but developed a “blind spot” that gave them the confidence to keep going despite knowing at some level that what they were doing was wrong.
This process is rather mundane. We find a way to make okay what is not. We “share” instead of gossip. It feels good and we reassure ourselves that we are only seeking counsel. The spot grows bigger. We fantasize saying hateful things and rehearsing what we need to say to a co-worker who hurt our feelings. We do so to “prepare” for our encounter. We feel better because we help clarify that we are righteous and the co-worker is not. The spot grows bigger. Our self-confidence grows.
How ought we to respond to evil? Simple: name it and bear witness to it (and run from it) as it is–in ourselves first and also anywhere else it appears.
Near the end of the video, Desmond Tutu described evil as not something that defines us completely. We are not completely murders or the like. Forgiveness, he said, allows us to allow the sinner the freedom to have a new beginning.
Filed under Doctrine/Theology, sin, suffering
My apologies for those who are being assaulted by porn spam on this site. I’ve taken down 3 trackbacks that made it past the filter that were porn links. It is interesting that when I write posts (or received comments to) regarding s*x or homos*xuality or p*rn that I get a tremendous increase in spam attacks. Well over 150 in the last week…
Ugh.
Filed under Uncategorized
How can the answer to this question be anything but yes? Of course being united to Christ should trump everything else about us. In Christ there is no Jew nor Greek, male nor female. In Christ our differences are (should be) smaller than our unity in the Body.
But there is something very wrong with my initial question. Continue reading
Filed under church and culture, Cultural Anthropology, Doctrine/Theology, Race
Has anyone ever asked you to speak for a whole people group? If you represent a racial or cultural minority, you have undoubtedly been asked to explain, defend–even apologize for–your group’s ideas, thoughts, beliefs, practices. I suspect most Christians have had that experience some time in their life. Some well-known Christian blows up his life and you are asked to explain how someone could get up on Sunday and say Christian words but in private be having an affair. You are asked to explain why, “you evangelicals talk about grace but hate homosexuals” or something similar.
So how do you feel when you have to speak for a whole people group? Continue reading
Filed under church and culture, Cognitive biases, Cultural Anthropology, Identity, Race
I think it fair to say that there are significant similarities between the treatment of lepers 2000 years ago and sex offenders today. Just as there wasn’t much hope for change for those with serious infectious disease so today we have little human hope that sex offenders (especially those guilty of acting on pedophilic desires) can change and be safe around vulnerable people. So what’s a church to do if they have a member or potential member with a history of violating others? Continue reading
Filed under Abuse, Missional Church
Last Sunday night I attended a function at Epiphany Fellowship which meets at 16th and Diamond in N. Philly (a very economically depressed area near Temple U.). FYI, their web-page today was extremely slow in loading. Anyway, the function was a kick-off for the campaign to raise enough money to buy the building they now rent. This is a covenant community seeking to connect with the Hip Hop generation and reclaim every area of life for Christ by focusing on Christo-centrism, Commitment, Community, Communion, and Culturally Relevant Ministry.
Please consider giving your prayers and dollars to help them in their endeavor. Pray for co-pastors Eric Mason and Duce Branch (who is part of Cross Movement). Pray for their protection, courage, and commitment to the glory of God in all things.
In the context of things that make you go, “hmmmm,” I offer this observation. My youngest son is charged with taking things out to the recycling bin. More than a week ago he was taking an empty Coffeemate (French Vanilla) bottle to recycling. In good boy fashion he gave it a good shake and created this interesting patterns of drops of the substance that is Coffeemate. Now 10 days later and two significant heavy rainstorms later, those drops on the driveway are not changed. They appear to be permanent.
So, are we drinking coffeemate or paint? My wife, who is the one who defiles her coffee with the stuff has decided to stop using it and wonders what it her insides are like now…
Filed under Uncategorized
Musings on Faith and Psychology 