By most popular North American accounts, the European church is dying. Old, tired and running out of energy. Soon the last generation will turn off the lights. It is also possible to look at the European church as going ahead of us into fresh territory, pioneers of a new age, being the first of the Christian family to face a situation the U.S. will face in a generation or two: that of a post-Christian world. Throughout the history of Christianity, churches have come and gone. Cultures that once were Christianized have put their alliances elsewhere — think of northern Africa. But never before in the history of Christianity has a culture that was Christianized consciously turned its back not just to the church, but to religion and spirituality in general. That is what is happening in Europe right now. The Netherlands is a case in point. According to the 2016 results of “God in the Netherlands,” a decennial sociological report on the state of religion in the Netherlands, … [Read more...]
A prayer for divided times
Reconciling God, we come to you grief stricken by the rancor and division among us, the hurt and pain rampant in our land. We lament our inability to speak the truth in love. We lament our addiction to power and political tribalism. We lament our propensity to dehumanize those with whom we disagree. We cry to you for an infusion of the Holy Spirit that brings the wind of perfect love that casts out fear, honest repentance that compels healing actions, justice that brings wholeness for all people, mercy that makes space for caring relationships and goodness that overwhelms our hard-heartedness. We come to you, Lord of all, exhausted by the current state of our life together, uncertain how to make it better, utterly dependent on your grace to show us the way. Grant us the vision of your promised future and give us the courage to take hold of it, no matter what we must do to be the witnesses to Jesus Christ we are, bearers of light and life and peace. We trust the One who has called … [Read more...]
Bivocational exhaustion blessings
It started simply enough: I would take a couple of seminary classes and if I liked them, I’d take a couple more. I already had a full-time job as a vice president of finance and operations, was parenting three children who were seven, five and two — plus I was serving on our church’s governing board, was a youth group leader and coached my daughter’s softball team. The timing could not have been better. Thus began my journey toward bivocational ministry and perpetual exhaustion. I continued to work full-time throughout seminary and, obviously, I continued to parent. Eventually I had to give up my church board and youth group work. While I’ve always arranged a jam-packed schedule, seminary taught me to squeeze even more productive time into my days. I became masterful at 4:30 a.m. study sessions. I read textbooks as I commuted to my job downtown (by train — not while driving) and I figured out how to memorize Greek vocabulary words between innings of my son’s baseball games. There … [Read more...]
In an adult Bible study class …
In an adult Bible study class with Presbyterian women, a discussion was held on what they thought the greatest sin to be. They tentatively arrived at “murder.” Then one woman said in relief, “I have never killed anyone, but I have read many obituaries with great happiness.” … [Read more...]
Waynesburg University
The Presbyterian-related Waynesburg University in Pennsylvania was recently named a national “College of Distinction” for the third consecutive year in recognition for its educational practices. The university requires that all students are active in community activities as well as academics to receive a degree. … [Read more...]
The challenge of migration to the Christian conscience (10 years ago)
10 years ago — October 6, 2008 “The Bible offers a whole spectrum of migration examples … . Migration is frequently portrayed as an act of faith of the people of God. Adam and Eve are forced to migrate as a result of their disobedience. Cain was condemned to migrate and be a foreigner and a wanderer … . Abraham was called to migrate … . The Jews migrated to Egypt looking for economic prosperity and survival. Joseph in Egypt was an immigrant … .” Daniel was an immigrant in Babylon and Esther in Persia. Moses returned to Egypt to lead a great migration. Some of the prophets were political refugees migrating to flee persecution from political and religious powers. Jesus experienced “the painful process of migration. Immediately after his birth his family migrated to Egypt fleeing from Herod’s persecution. During his life, Samaritans criticized him because he was a Jew and Jews criticized him because he was Galilean. His situation was the same experience as immigrants’ today in many … [Read more...]
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