If nutrition is a hobby of yours, then you know that something as simple and straightforward as eating food has dozens of conflicting schools of thought. Macrobiotic people swear by rice and seaweed. Paleolithic people think rice, and most agriculture for that matter, is from the devil himself. Vegetarians think meat eaters are cruelly killing [...]
Archive for the ‘Inhaling’ Category
28 May
Messiah complex and conventional wisdom: a marriage made in hell
Two books found their way into my world this spring, and their convergence has helped me understand why so many pastors are suffering short tenures (3-5 year average) and physical problems, and the battle each of us in professional ministry must face. The books are The Time Bomb in the Church and Ignore Everybody. The [...]
14 May
Weekend: Lessons from backyard and bible
This past week has included what, on the surface, appear to be two radically divergent investments of my time. It included some passionate visioning conversations at the church I lead, and important reading in preparation for my upcoming week at conference addressing the intersection of science and faith. While on the surface, they appear [...]
13 May
Quiet…an endangered species
I don’t eat margarine anymore because somewhere along the way chemists (who invented the stuff in the first place) discovered that the hydrogenated oils in it are horrible for your body. I try to ride my bike to work more than my car because we’ve also learned that the big behemoth of a convenience that [...]
6 May
Slow down, breathe deep, pay attention
Spring is the season for micro-vistas. In the winter I re-create by getting outside, in the snow, and on the best days I’m swishing down a hill paying nothing other than split second attention to the ground beneath my feet. Then, on the way back up I’ll look out…out…out: to the ridge across the canyon [...]
19 Apr
Insanity antidote: simplicity
If you’re reading these words, you’re likely among the top 10% of wealthiest people in the world. You’re probably not spending much time thinking about how you’ll get water to drink, or whether you’ll have a place of shelter tonight. Though it may come at steep price (depending on where you live) you have access [...]
13 Apr
Thanks Dietrich…words for the ages
Last night I was privileged to participate in a panel discussion about the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer because Taproot Theatre here in Seattle is running a play about his life right now. Four of us came prepared to share with the audience some of the ways Bonhoeffer has influenced our lives, along with favorite quotes. [...]
7 Apr
An example of “coffee with God”
In the church I lead, I’ve been teaching from II Corinthians 3 and 4 these past weeks, and have been struck once again by the active verbs of 3:16,18 – which are “turn” and “behold.” The promise that our transformation comes from our ongoing growth in intimacy with Christ. We turn to Christ; He transforms [...]
31 Mar
Appropriation: What it means, how it works, why it matters:
Have you ever woken in the middle of the night with your head swirling around ideas, obligations, unresolved questions, to-do lists, the previous day’s failures, possible opportunities, possible meltdowns, etc. etc? Me too. It happened last night around 1am, four hours into my sleep (yes–I go to bed early, with the elderly). Suddenly I’m wide [...]
21 Mar
Crazy Confidence in a Shaky World
It’s available for all of us. It’s not contingent (thank God) on circumstances. It’s able to move us, faster than a glacier, but slower than jet, towards a quietness and confidence that enables us to be people of hope. Every. Single. Day. I’m talking about the new covenant, which is the topic of our present [...]
Recent Comments