If you follow my blog at all, then you know that I am passionate about helping realize the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I often say that the 17 SDGs are as audacious as they are beautiful and are a
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein Happy Earth Day! You and I live somewhere. Faithful presence invites us to discover a way of living in harmony with all of life… people, animals, ourselves, and the earth. The acceleration
Today is Ash Wednesday; the first day of Lent. My school’s Scared Space, Office of Students & Alumni, and my Life Together class sent out Lenten observation kits to any current students, staff or faculty who wanted one. Today’s chapel
The Right Reverend Richard Bott is the current Moderator of the United Church of Canada. He composed this beautiful prayer for when we put our masks on, and has given permission for it to be shared (asking only that we attribute it
In this pandemic era many of us find ourselves walking our neighborhoods more than ever. Many are also experiencing limitations in terms of gathering together with others. So doing things with your group or your church may not be available.
Recently watched The World Before Your Feet, it’s a documentary film directed by Jeremy Workman and executive produced by Jesse Eisenberg . The film follows Matthew Green on his quest to walk every street, park, and beach in the five
I find the metaphor of a gardener to be a fertile one in helping me feel and think my way into my work as a formational educator. Rather than tending to fruits, vegetables, and flowers, I picture my formational role
Between the “Leadership in the New Parish” think tanks and the hundreds of parish walkabout Tim Soerens, Paul Sparks, and I have lucky enough to have engage over the last few years, we’ve identified 2 vital questions, and 10 practices
A lot of folks have talked about, and even more of us have felt the paradox of loneliness while simultaneously being so well connected. The combination of text messaging, IM’ing, blogs, cell phones, email, even the speed of our snail-mail
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg and I met through Synagogue 3000, he and I will be team teaching a Hillel Foundation class in May at University of Washington and Panim Hadashot sponsored by JConnect. We titled our class: Seeking Common Ground: A
I have always enjoyed reading Ray Anderson (Fuller). Recently I was rereading, The Shape of Practical Theology and his one of his phrases in chapter eight gripped me and I have been sitting with it ever since. “Obedience by itself
“The imagination plays a great role in the spiritual development of the soul.” St. John of the Cross Do you wish to form an intentional relationship with a person who could provide mentoring, companionship, and gentle guidance for you as you
Jim Henderson, Seattle-area evangelism guru, friend and director of Off-the-Map (not the Muppet guy – that was “Henson”) has a new book coming out on June 21st: a. k. a. “Lost”: discovering ways to connect with the people Jesus misses
I’ve been keeping my eyes open for online advent calendars. I been using the one created by the Episcopal Diocese of Washington; I bet many artists, spiritual directors, liturgists, and faith communities are making some interactive advent calendars. If you
To say that the internet is changing web of life in an understatement. The once, assumed claim that Americans are largely isolated individuals is certainly being emailed, IM’ed, live-journaled, blogged, gamed, webbed, surfed into new territory. Tim Bedner’s “We Know
The return of the parish appears to be an ecclesial movement sweeping Western Christ-communities. I’ve been thinking of it as the parish corrective. I would characterize this corrective as a local church move to embody “full life” or embody the
Howard S. Becker once said, “Methodology is too important to be left to methodologists.” And designer Bruce Mau is quoted saying, “Avoid fields. Jump fences: disciplinary boundaries and regulatory regimes are attempts to control the wilding of creative life.” I’m
The spiritual directors who have walked alongside me throughout my life journey are one of the greatest gifts I have ever received. These unique people play a particular role our lives. Within the swath of Christian traditions we generally speak
Michael Polanyi writes, “Since rules of rightness cannot account for failures, and reasons for doing something can only be given within the context of rules of rightness, it follows that there can be no reasons (in this sense) for a
Prayer is talking with God, it is a dialogue of the soul. But prayer is much more than words. It is an expression of your heart, mind and emotions toward God. It’s an experience, a relationship, not merely an activity.
In your quest to make sense of your life and foster an authentic spirituality you’ve found some resonance with the story of Jesus the Christ. You’re on a journey… a pilgrim. Well, look out because you’re in for the adventure
I have a working document, that I began as a seminarian, outlining my current understanding of the process of discipleship as seen through a church or community of faith. I was heavily influenced in the creation of this by a
