Summarizing what I have learned about “church” over the last forty five years is like trying to tame a hydra… as soon one head (topic) is addressed, two more pop up. This is my attempt to identify the most essential factors people should keep in mind … “Church Essentials”
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Deep truth transience the human ability systemize knowledge. God’s Spirit cannot be can’t be fully captured by human constructed theological assertions and orthodox creeds. I appreciate why people want to be sure their faith to rooted in the truth. Orthodox creeds provide comfort and a … “Love > Orthodoxy”
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The following is an integration of material from Life Model Works and what I have learn while coaching and mentoring people since the 1980s. TL;DR Love is the Measure and Goal We were made by God to experience love in the context of relationships. A … “Model of Maturity”
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The following is my highly opinionated list of churches that I would recommend (or than are on my list to check out at some point). I have a separate post above how to find the right church for you. Silicon Valley Churches I have had … “Recommended Churches”
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There are numerous reasons why you might be looking for a church. You could be being a journey to explore the Christian faith. You might have recently moved, or maybe you are dissatisfied with the church you previously attended. Whatever the reason you are looking for … “How to Find the “Right” Church for You”
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The Bible talks about a judgement that people who know Jesus will undergo (Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10, etc). This is often called the Bema seat judgement. I didn’t look forward to this judgement. It sounds like a…. Judgement. My expectation is that this would … “Bema Seat Judgement”
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In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity. Rupertus Meldenius Over the last 40 years I have often heard this quote. There is some confusion who actually penned this quote. I believe I found an answer in the article In Essentials Unity, In … “Unity, Freedom, Charity”
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Today I listened to a wonderful podcast with Sarah Clarkson about the importance of beauty. A quote that will stick with me: beauty is a tangible encounter with God’s goodness She is very interested in our embodied lives, something that I am coming to see is very important. … “Beauty”
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Unconditional love is the most powerful and important force in our world. Love is the heart of our connections and communities, possessing the remarkable power to mend fractured relationships and bridge gaps between people. Love not only opens our hearts to others but also serves … “Love: The Heart of Goodness”
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I attended a group prayer / worship meeting held in Bridgetown Church’s Prayer: Room. As I entered I felt overwhelmed, moved to tears. The space felt holy. Part of it was the candles and soft lighting. Near the top of the four walls was the … “Spirit of a Place”
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Snipped from The Tim Ferriss Show Transcripts: Jack Kornfield (#684). BoldItalic added by me for emphasis Jack Kornfield: In all these years, my understanding really is that it comes down to love. I’ve met [inaudible 01:05:26]. And lamas, and gurus, and lamas and everybody else in … “It All Comes Down to Love – Jack Kornfield”
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The story of the prodigal son is well know, even among people who haven’t read the Bible. The parable is found in the 15th chapter in the book of Luke. The conventional telling of the parable is about a young man who leaves home and … “Parable of the Prodigal Son(s)”
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The following is a list of the lessons I learned, beliefs that were strengthen, and/or topics which frequently came up in discussions with other while walking the Camino. Walking the Camino provided a wonderful opportunity to consider what makes a meaningful life. The book Walk … “Lessons from the Camino”
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TL;DR My three rethinking posts (part 1, part 2, and this one) were written at the end of December 2021, but I delayed posting until plans for my retirement had been settled. I think anyone reading this would realize I was transitioning and didn’t want … “Midlife Reset (Part III) ReThinking 10 Years Later”
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I am troubled by the increasingly polarized “discussions” I hear on many podcasts, in social media, and in person. I am not just talking about politics. I see the same sort of thing when people are discussing diets, system architectures, training programs, or child raising. … “Certainty”
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These days most western churches record their sermons and put them online. I expect that if a person dedicated all their waking time to listen to all the sermons preached on just one Sunday, they would died long before they listened to even half the … “Sermons and Other Christian Podcasts”
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I recently came across a wonderful interview which featured Eugene Peterson and Bono talking about the Psalms. I was touched by both mens’ humility, their genuine friendship, and their love for the Psalms. There is also a nice follow-up series of mini interviews between David … “In Appreciation of Bono”
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The following was extracted from the “preserve life” section of my make a difference post because a paragraph wasn’t enough. TL;DR I believe that we should do everything possible to compassionately discourage abortions. This starts with empathy for the mother. Abortions are rarely a flip … “Abortion – No Easy Answers”
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In the book A Praying Life, Paul Miller asserts that we shouldn’t focus on prayer (the method) but rather God (the object). Miller has a very high view of prayer. He expect prayer to accomplish things. Not because we are somehow manipulating God, but because … “Replace Prayer List with "Cards"”
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Truth is the only thing worth standing on. Lies, falsehoods, secrets, excuses, might seem expedient, but they are like quicksand. They will drown your life if you walk in them. Lies can only hurt people and will rot away your heart and conscience. Secrets limit your ability to share fully with others and hurt your inner life until exposed by the healing light of truth and honesty.
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