Why Church? (Pt. 3) I didn't feel I had anything to contribute except to share my nagging question of why we do church in the first place. That's what this talk is about.
Communities of Reconciliation What I hope for in 2016 is that I might grow more into my ability to offer such space for reconciliation. What I hope for in 2016 is that my own St. Brigids Community Vancouver will continue to offer in Vancouver the profoundly needed ministry of reconciliation, especially for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Meeting The Shepherds I imagine him as one of the shepherds. Street smart and world weary, but ready for a fight if need be. I imagine the angels showing themselves to the shepherd and his pals with good news of great joy.
Why Church (Pt. 2) No church's story is a first person narrative. Even if that's what the talking heads on the conference circuit want to tell us.
Why Church? (Pt. 1) Every time the Why Church question flares up, it's because I'm in a situation with folks I'm convinced have forgotten why we are Church in the first place.
Coffee Shop Prayer Years ago, it became apparent that I could not pray the way I used to. And so I stopped praying. But this has been death. What I needed was not to give up on prayer, but to learn to pray anew.
Return to the Table On those panic-stricken days I wonder if Jesus has up and left, all I have to do is return to the table. It's there that I find him in the wafting, yeasty smell of bread. In the glutenous texture and taste of that broken fragment extended to me by a friend.
Canada’s Election: When Fear is Stronger than Facts and Figures This election campaign has me missing Jack Layton's spirit and presence on the trail. While the Conservatives deal in negative emotions and attacks, the other parties respond with Facts and Figures. The one controlling the emotional battle of this election is the one dealing in fear.
A Road to Peace For my own part, in the reality of my day to day life, I am often confounded by what it might actually mean that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. What do these prophetic poetics mean for us disciples walking the road with Jesus as his ministry unfolds?
Jesus is an Asshole The other day I sat down with a profoundly faithful Christian friend who hates Jesus. Why? He's got this nasty habit of coming across as a complete asshole.
Endless Struggle What if the purpose of the struggle is not so much to win or lose, but to come away better understanding the one with whom you struggle?
Room for Doubt There was simply no room for doubt amongst the true believers, which clearly put me on the outs.
Promise for the Middle Class Jesus didn’t give a shit about power. Or rather. Jesus didn’t give a shit about power in the way most of us would like to believe.
How Reconciliation Begins As Jesus invites us into his community of reconciliation, he offers a wide welcome to one and all, calling us to offer the same welcome that we received.
There’s More Healing to Be Done Jesus stops, disrupting the flow of blood from the one whose hemorrhages had not ceased to flow for 12 long years. Twelve years of suffering healed in an instant. And yet, there’s more healing to be done.