Waxing Theological

You know, there's a lot they don't teach you in seminary.  A lot of it is minor - the kind of stuff you could waste an entire year of seminary covering and still either not be prepared for or think that it was splitting hairs while you are still a student.  Stuff like "how to compile an annual report," or "why the church directory should be handled by a full committee," and "how to respond to the person at the grocery store who saw your picture in the paper and so knows who you are and acts like they've known you since high school, but you don't have the foggiest idea who they  are and you're too embarrassed to admit it" would be topics eagerly covered, but readily dismissed by many seminarians. But one thing that perhaps it would have benefitted us to spend some more (or any) time on is "how to be true to yourself and still be the pastor of a church you care about."  This is the one that's getting me more than any other...

As a pastor, and particularly in my official role as a pastor, I've made a very concerted attempt to moderate myself and be conscientious about the things I say about politics and this year's election cycle.  Folks in my church can tell you (and I hope you can see in many of the sermons that have been posted on my blog) that, while I'll definitely address issues that are political in nature, I have never endorsed any candidate from the pulpit, nor would I ever  do that.  I have even done as much as possible to avoid even speaking  about any candidate, either positively or  negatively , in my preaching. Take note: I'm stepping out of the pulpit for this post.  This is not  a sermon post.  It is not  a pulpit post.  I do  speak as a pastor and out of my own time spent studying scripture and engaging in prayer. That said... There's been a lot  of people throwing around the Bible in this election - candidates and supporters a...

In the last week since the attacks that devastated Paris and the subsequent discussion of terrorism, refugees, and ISIS, I've seen a lot of different things. A lot of it has been, quite frankly, disturbing. Some of the attitudes and opinions I've seen flung across social media have been nothing short of direct historical echoes to the 1940's as we battled Germany in the second World War - politicians are seriously suggesting we completely close our borders, refuse asylum to Syrian refugees, and even go so far as to deport those refugees that are already in the country. Others have even gone so far to suggest that Muslim mosques should be placed under government surveillance and that Muslim adherents themselves should even be registered, possibly even being asked to carry a special form of identification to assist in "national security."   On the other side, there are people posting a multitude of arguments that we should be even more welcoming than before to Syri...

I've had the incredible blessing today to be able to hold my own newborn daughter - just a little over 48 hours since watching her burst forth into this world.  She is beautiful and it's amazing this feeling of falling in love with a whole new human being, a young and somewhat alien child that I still can't believe is ours, who has blonde hair in a family of people with primarily dark hair, and yet is still most definitely ours .  And yet, even as I hold this child and marvel at her mystery, I can't help but reflect at the same time on the literally thousands of children who are currently being detained right now in various refugee centers throughout our country.  Children who have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles, being given up by their parents and smuggled into America illegally so that they can escape their home countries, torn apart by war, by abuse, by child sex trafficking and, as hard to believe as it is... things even worse than that.  I think...

First of all - I want to say that I'm sorry. As I've caught up with the decisions made this week during GA in Detroit, I've seen a mixed bag of responses from my fellow colleagues and friends. To those who feel betrayed, hurt, and discouraged by the GA's decision to amend the Directory of Worship and to give the Authoritative Interpretation - I'm sorry.  I respect you and honor you as members together in this body of Christ, and I pray that we can still find peace and fellowship through this body together.  I pray that we can still maintain unity in our denomination and that we can still work together always to the glory of God. To those who are celebrating this week - I'm sorry, too.  I'm sorry that it has taken our church so long to recognize and acknowledge the need for justice and inclusion among a community that has been ostracized over and over again.  I'm sorry that even as you celebrate this victory together, you still see the angry faces an...