Nouwen on the Spiritual Life
October 27, 2008
The spiritual life can be lived in as many ways as there are people. What is new is that we have moved from the many things to the Kingdom of God. What is new is that we are set from from the compulsions of our world and have set our hears on the only necessary thing. What is new is that we no longer experience the many things, people, and events as endless causes for worry, but begin to experience them as the rich variety of ways in which God makes his presence known to us.
Indeed, living a spiritual life requires a change of heart, a conversion. Such a conversion may be marked by a sudden inner change, or it may take place through a long, quiet process of transformation. But ti always involves and inner experience of oneness.
Making All Things New, Henri Nouwen quoted in A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants
Coffehouse Theology Blog Tour Stops at The Edge
October 27, 2008
The word “theology” can be so intimidating. Most of the adults in my Sunday Bible study group practice theology all the time but rarely if ever use the word. Enter Ed Cyzewski. In a (dis) arming way Ed helps the reader work through the practice of theology for “every person.”
Coffeehouse Theology: Reflecting on God in Everyday Life presents the reader with what we may consider a missional theological method in the vernacular of the common person. Not just a book for those without theological education, but for those who understand the intersection of life and faith is not a matter of academics but practicality. Read more
Perspective
October 27, 2008
Bob called this morning. “Todd, I know you are often at your computer. Type in Patrick Henry Hughes. Call me after you watch the video if you want.” Perspective is everything.
Surprised at Dinner - Blessed
October 24, 2008
A few weeks ago Glenn planned to take our staff to dinner - he and Jeanene. We set the date and then discovered I would be out of town so we rescheduled to last evening. Glenn and Jeanene dabble in antiques. They often reserve booth space at Affair of the Heart each October in Oklahoma City. They told us they would meet us at Johnny Carino’s. We, our staff, met at our building and rode together. Read more
Public Holiness in a Personal World
October 24, 2008
Nouwen on Forgiveness
October 21, 2008
“Forgiving does not mean forgetting. When we forgive a
person, the memory of the wound might stay with us for a
long time, even throughout our lives. Sometimes we carry the
memory in our bodies as a visible sign. But forgiveness
changes the way we remember. It converts the curse into a
blessing. When we forgive our parents for their divorce, our
children for their lack of attention, our friends for their
unfaithfulness in crisis, our doctors for their ill advice,
we no longer have to experience ourselves as the victims of
events we had no control over.
Forgiveness allows us to claim our own power and not let
these events destroy us; it enables them to become events
that deepen the wisdom of our hearts. Forgiveness indeed
heals memories.”
(HT: Prodigal Kiwi)
What Would Judas Do? … The Fidelity of Betrayal
October 21, 2008
“Jesus Junk”is a euphemism for marketing crass Christian trinkets, dolls, t-shirts and items. One often wonders just what Jesus would think of this kind of stuff. It may be the idea of selling Jesus stuff is a betrayal of the message of Jesus; even more the person and character of Jesus.
The WWJD craze swept and in some ways still sweeps the Christian subculture. the interpretation of Charles Shelden’s In His Steps posed an ethical challenge to all who would consider the call of Jesus, “Follow me.” Jack Caputo takes Shelden’s work and offers the reader a way to understand a hermeneutic of deconstruction in his little book, What Would Jesus Deconstruct?
In similar fashion, Peter Rollins works WWJD into his theological proposal that flows from the Scriptures, postmodern theory, postmodern philosophy and hints of Barth’s dialectic. (Maybe more than hints.) Only for Rollins the question is, “What Would Judas Do?” Read more
When Your Book Goes Wrong … Life of the Beloved
October 21, 2008
Often I have thought of writing a book. I have a friend who owns a publishing company who prods me from time to time. Part of me longs for the time to give to writing. Other parts of me fear the outcome. After all, once your book is out there is is open to (mis)understanding.
You know, as a parent you invest in your child. For good or bad you help shape character and influence decisions. One day those children will step out of your shadow and make their own choices. People scrutinize these choices and look at the tree from which the apples have fallen. Judgments follow.
Reading the last chapter of Henri Nouwen’s Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World, left me feeling as though Henir got this same sense not from children but from his books. Read more
Round the Room Conversations - McLaren, Franke, McKnight, Guder and Keel
October 21, 2008
What would you like to ask? Shapevine co-founder Lance Ford proved a great interviewer for an “Around the Room Roundtable” recently at Biblical Theological Seminary. On campus for the Missional Christianity … Church Beyond Borders Conference at Biblical, Brian McLaren, John Franke, Scot McKnight, Darrell Guder, and Tim Keel fielded questions on subjects related to the church and the missional turn. John Franke selected the speakers for the conference for their diverse theological perspectives. Mainline (Guder), Evangelical (McKnight), and Emergent (McLaren and Keel) voices made for a great interview and conversations. Read more
You Are the Presence of Jesus in the World - Scot McKnight
October 20, 2008
