“What we hunger for perhaps more than anything else is to be known in our full humanness, and yet that is often just what we also fear more than anything else. It is important to tell at least from time to time the secret of who we truly and fully are . . . because … Continue reading Why Telling Our Stories Matters | Leaving Egypt Bonus Track
Men, Women, and the Way of the Cross
Some pastors have been asking me to blog a bit on my thoughts re: complementarianism, egalitarianism, male/female roles, why it's become such a polarizing topic, and perhaps even why it's become a new litmus test of fidelity to the Gospel. I'm hesitant to address such a big subject. It's so polarizing. And it's sad to … Continue reading Men, Women, and the Way of the Cross
Moving Beyond Polarization into Mission
I'm moving on. I've spent the last decade-plus in the midst of a sad and frustrating polarization. In other posts, I've talked about it as the Emergent-Resurgence polarization. It's the newest episode in a long series of polarization-episodes. We, Christians, are Academy Award winners in the Polarization Genre. Best debates. Best books. Best blogs. Best … Continue reading Moving Beyond Polarization into Mission
(Christian) Family Dynamics
We all know Newton's third law: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Or, at the least, we know it in our relationships. Family Systems theorists have argued for decades that a principle of polarization exists in families. When one person acts extremely, another generally reacts to the opposite extreme. Let's take … Continue reading (Christian) Family Dynamics
on self-compassion, inner critics, and becoming the beloved | 3
I heard an interview with a struggling baseball player the other day. The radio personality interviewing him said, "It must be tough right now." The player said, "It's always tough. We work in a profession where succeeding 3 out of every 10 times is success. We've got to learn to deal with frequent failure." The … Continue reading on self-compassion, inner critics, and becoming the beloved | 3
On Self-Compassion, Inner Critics, and Becoming the Beloved – Part 2
I love this poem by Fleur Adcock. Take your time and read it. I'll share some thoughts after it... Weathering My face catches the wind from the snow line and flushes with a flush that will never wholly settle. Well, that was a metropolitan vanity, wanting to look young forever, to pass. I was never … Continue reading On Self-Compassion, Inner Critics, and Becoming the Beloved – Part 2
On Self-Compassion, Inner Critics, and Becoming the Beloved – Part 1
I'm beginning a new series of blog posts on self-compassion, recently requested by some friends and clients. It's an odd concept, particularly if you're a Christian. In fact, it may ring of a kind of secularized bastardization of God's love. I'm not going to spend a whole lot of time arguing with those who'd desire … Continue reading On Self-Compassion, Inner Critics, and Becoming the Beloved – Part 1
Pastors and Depression
In just the past month, I've spoken with three depressed pastors. Consider this startling data from Barna, Focus on the Family, and Fuller Seminary: Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches. Fifty percent of pastors' marriages will end in divorce. Eighty percent of … Continue reading Pastors and Depression
Practicing Wholeheartedness
A personal theme for the past 2 years or so has been living with wholeheartedness. If you've read my blog, you've probably noticed the theme coming up time and again in different contexts. The launching point for it, of course, has been David Whyte's excellent thought that "the antidote to exhaustion is not rest, but … Continue reading Practicing Wholeheartedness
what’s love got to do with it?
As Pentecost Sunday approaches, I'm reminded again that Jesus had to leave for us to experience the more intimate, the more intense, and more personal union with the Spirit that God promised and that, perhaps more important, that God knew we needed. Yes, God knew we needed the Spirit. We needed close, intimate communion. A … Continue reading what’s love got to do with it?