Pope Francis passed away this week. While I am no longer Catholic, my early formational life was shaped by the Catholic Worker Movement and the type of ministry that Pope Francis brought to his church. He emphasized that a Christ centered life involves putting Jesus at the center of daily choices and actions, allowing His love to guide one’s life. He taught that true Christian living is about bearing witness to Christ through love and service to others. I celebrate... Read more
Introduction For my second post, I want to explore Wesely’s notions of inner and outer piety. As I dip my toes back into formal ministry, I am finding that while the younger people I talk to are very excited about the vast notions of how to be spiritual and religious, many established religious folks balk or even get intimidated when I use the many words and traditions associated with the contemplative traditions. Simply put, I am a bit rusty on... Read more
Echoes of Nietzche We would first come aware of the notion of the death of God from Fredrick Nietzche in 1882 in his Gay Science where the term appears three times. Here, Nietzche’s proclamation signifies the decline of traditional religious beliefs, and the moral framework built upon them, particularly in the context of the Enlightenment’s impact on society. He viewed this as both a crisis and an opportunity, warning that without a divine authority, humanity risks falling into nihilism and... Read more
Empathy Under Attack Recently, I have been observing a peculiar thought process among some Christians, in media and among people I talk to, there is a new view that looks down on empathy. This troubling trend seems to equate empathy with weakness, suggesting that by expressing empathy, one somehow diminishes their strength or capability. However, empathy is a fundamental aspect of humanity, and its significance cannot be understated, especially in the context of Christian values. To dismiss empathy is... Read more
Names are important in all societies. They can tell us about a person’s job and some names like Miller and Cooper speak to a family’s historical occupation. Other names represent a family history, all our girls are named after a past member of our family and a Christian attribute. This week, I want to look at the importance of of names and specifically look at the names of God found in the Abrahamic traditions as we consider the name that... Read more
Embracing Balance and Moderation Being a therapist and at one point, a pastor, I get to hear a lot of stories of suffering and despair. The reality it is all around us. When we tie in the impact of social media and armchair professionals, the exposure can be overwhelming. The Swedish concept of lagom, pronounced “lah-gom,” offers a refreshing alternative. Meaning “just the right amount” or “not too much, not too little,” lagom is about finding balance in every aspect of... Read more
Remembering Martin Luther King On April 4, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy announced the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. to a crowd in Indianapolis, delivering a heartfelt speech that called for peace and unity in the face of anger and grief. His remarks are considered one of the most significant speeches in American history, as they helped prevent riots in the city that night. He offers these words to the crowd that night: What we need in the United States... Read more
Bultmann’s Mythology of Jesus As we move towards Easter 2025 and we celebrate the life and ministry of Jesus and ultimately his death on the cross, we must consider who Jesus became after death. This week, I want to explore the life after Jesus and the theology and the religion that arose after his death. What I am going to discuss this week is very nuanced, controversial and needs more than 1000 words to cover. I am only going to... Read more
An Exploration of Wesleyan Tradition and Theology This week, in my analysis of Wesley’s Ordinances of God, I aim to reflect on Wesley’s perspectives regarding the Last Supper. As we approach the celebration of Easter, it is essential to contemplate the significance of the Last Supper. When I gather with my family around the kitchen table, I am not only present in their conversations and laughter but also reminded of past family dinners. These reminiscences include my grandfather’s jokes and... Read more
Lectio: Reading the Bible Reading the bible or any sacred text is an act of devotion and contributes to the spiritual practice of devotion. Reading sacred texts as a spiritual practice of devotion involves engaging deeply with the text through methods like lectio divina, which includes reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation. This practice helps individuals connect with the divine and fosters spiritual growth and transformation. As a practice devotion is a spiritual discipline that involves regular rituals or actions aimed... Read more
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