A couple of months ago I met with a retiring pastor, just to get caught up with one another. At one point as he was talking about wanting to help develop and form new ministers he said one of the simplest and perhaps most profound statements about being a pastor […]
Christianity
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Today, in an effort to escape the 100º heat in Freiburg we drove up to Schluchsee, a beautiful lake in the Schwarzwald. What I did not expect was the Pfarrkirche St. Nikolaus. From the outside it appears a fairly traditional looking church, with a large wooden structure. The first hint […]
The following is the homily I shared for Jake’s funeral this past Saturday. It is shared here with the blessing and permission of his family. Jake Correll We came here today to share our grief and sadness, to give thanks for the life of Jake Correll and to hear God’s word […]
We have lost a young member of our community this week and as I prepare for the service I am drawn to this particular reading. I have thought often of it with regards to those who die from debilitating illness, whether physical or mental. Like the plant we are sown in […]
We are in Rehoboth Beach for Father’s Day and I was invited by my mentor and friend to preach at St. Peter’s in Lewes, DE. Proper 7 (12) (June 21, 2015) 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49 Psalm 9:9-20 2 Corinthians 6:1-13 Mark 4:35-41 I wish all fathers, biological and […]
We recently had a clergy conference for our diocese and it was hosted in our local parish. The lectures were given in the sanctuary and our topic was alcoholism and addiction. As the speaker described St. Augustine’s own moment of release from his own sins, the saint, lying prostrate on the […]
On what is fast becoming a theme for this blog, here is another quote by Brunner on the resurrection. The being with Christ is not the moment immediately after death. For in the eternal world there is no next moment. In death the world of space and time disappears and […]
Concluding the text of the talk I presented at Cornell on 11 April 2015, “My God, my God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? A Biblical Response to Loss and Catastrophe.” I did not touch much upon NT texts for reasons stated (they related to a difference context than the one most of us […]
Continuing the text of the talk I presented at Cornell on 11 April 2015, “My God, my God, Why Have You Forsaken Me? A Biblical Response to Loss and Catastrophe.” There [Lamentations] we have what would seem to be a clear-cut argument: we sin and we suffer as God punishes us. […]
The last two portions of my Cornell lecture will be coming soon. But this past week I received an email from one of those in attendance asking for some clarification of my use of the terms “God’s will” and “God’s plan.” It seems appropriate to post my response now. Chris, Might be helpful to define […]