The Edge of the Inside
The first iteration of the blog was, Just Todd, written on the old Blogger platform. I moved from there to Typead. After reading a piece by Father Richard Rohr, I adopted the blog title, The Edge of the Inside and moved to WordPress. Fr. Roher describes the prophetic position as, the edge of the inside. The location in the analogy provides an opportunity to welcome those who are coming and to engage those who are leaving. One may also utter a call to those just outside to consider Jesus is Lord while at the same time calling out the seat of power at the center of whatever group with which one may identify or what category accompany existing relationships.
The new iteration of the website combines my interest in writing, though not as often as I like, with the opportunity to host a podcast. Here you will find newer and older posts. Over time we change. It is possible you may discover some of those changes if you care to read the older posts.
Thank you for stopping by.
Katy’s Long Obedience In the Same Direction
Sister Mary Katherine. No, not Sister Mary Clarence. Katy was no Sister Act, not an undercover nun. She was my first grade Sunday School teacher. Only in more traditional Baptist churches did you hear women referred to as sister. Don’t let we Baptists know that Roman Catholic women, given to simple vows, have been referred...
Falling Into Our Own Pit
My friends over at Crackers & Grape Juice are providing daily Advent Devotionals. Last week I offered some reflections on Isaiah 5:13-25. Even though we are half way through the Season, it is not too late to get in on some very good writing based on the title of Fleming Rutledge’s newest book, Advent: The...
The Witness Accuses and Rectifies
Pastoral Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that these peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with...
He Threw Off His Coat – Seeing with His
Mark 10:46-52 (Job 42:1-6, 10-17; Hebrews 7:23-28) Pastoral Prayer: Lord God, help us to see. Give us ears to hear what our eyes cannot see. As we see, by your Spirit, may your, “Go”, be met with our, “Follow.” And all God’s people say . . . Amen. Saint Augustine wrote, The wretched helplessness of...
Voices of Hope
Some of us grew up acquainted with choirs. Recently I saw the Voices of Hope Choir on American’s Got Talent. I could not help but think there was a metaphor that would help explicate something Paul was aiming for in what I think is his four-part harmony at work. Voices of Hope Ephesians 4:1-16 Pastoral...
Did You Know You Were Full?
Following the Lectionary means that sometimes you must include or reference passages that are not part of the given readings. It points to the value of the habit of reading around the Text under consideration. Related posts: You Won’t Hear Pastor Pedro from the Big Stage An Uneasy Agent of the State – Epilogue, The...
Baptism: Jesus Burns His Draft Card
(Epiphany/Baptism of Jesus Sunday) Mark 4:4-11; On October 15, 1965 . . . In a demonstration staged by the student-run National Coordinating Committee to End the War in Vietnam, the first public burning of a draft card in the United States takes place. These demonstrations drew 100,000 people in 40 cities across the country. In...
Reformation Day Giveaway – Martin Luther: A Spiritual Biography
Weighing in on the Reformation reveals opinions as diverse as what to make of the recent indictments handed down by Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Team. Related posts: Natural Anger, Natural Fear – Boston and Beyond Don’t Blame Musburger We Need a Revival of/in the Fourth Estate or, Stop Blinging the News You’re No Billy Graham...
I’ll Push You . . . To Go See the Movie
Finally, a movie that gets the church right. You only get one night to see it in a theater. This Thursday. Related posts: Learning from the “Formerly Scary Other,” Or Difference Brings Clarity Marvel(ing) Over The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Shelved the Church Fathers or, Bittersweet Acquisition from a Friend Join the Protest, “Christ Is Risen”...
Freedom from the Tyranny of the Self or, You Are the Body
Often I take a manuscript into the pulpit. The preached sermon will vary. Below the post will be a link to the preached sermon. Pastoral Prayer: Holy One, by the power of the Spirit Jesus came with the Good News. We risk missing it for we only hear the Law. Forgive us for taking the...