Jesus calls followers to a lifelong journey that requires constant reflection upon theology and praxis. Honest theological reflection upon culture, the world, the church and the Scriptures results in the evolution of ideas and values. An intentional Christian embraces such discovery, understanding and transformation of basic convictions both individually and collectively. With new found convictions, this task requires a new orientation to life, specifically attitudes and actions, a desire to reflect new discoveries. Inevitably, certain core convictions treasured at one point in life may shift in light of reflection upon previously untapped information, thereby leading to subsequent understanding and new orientation. Finding a theology of peace, specifically pacifism, became one such shift in my life. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for the ‘Holistic Formation’ Category
Finding Peace: A Personal and Vocational Narrative
Monday, January 17th, 2011 by Martin MittelstadtFriendship, Spirituality, and Technology
Friday, January 7th, 2011 by Diane Chandler
French philosopher Rene Descartes’s famous statement, “I think, therefore I am” is being challenged in our digital age. A more contemporary mantra might be, “I Facebook, therefore I am.”
It is estimated that 41.6% of the U.S. population has a Facebook Account, with 500 million active users worldwide. Other social networking platforms, including Twitter and My Space, compete for networking share. We live in a world that wants to connect. Hands down…social networking is here to stay! Read the rest of this entry »
“At Least He’s Not Gay!”
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010 by Marc Santom
DayStar TV's Marcus Lamb
What makes this story even more interesting is that the timing of Rev. Lamb’s recent confession seemed to coincide with the timing of three alleged extortionists’ recent attempt to squeeze $7.5 million out of Lamb’s ministry. As long as the preacher paid up, these three would shut up about his affair. At the end of the day, Rev. Lamb “refused to use God’s money” to pay off the extortionists and decided to come clean instead.
But what really arrested my attention in this story was a statement made by Rev. Lamb’s marriage counselor, Fred Kendall. When asked to comment on Lamb’s affair, this is what he had to say to the Daystar CTV Network audience:
“He had one inappropriate period of misbehavior–with one person. And it wasn’t a man and it wasn’t a transvestite. It was with a woman—and she was a Christian woman.”
Well, that’s a relief! At least it was a Christian woman….and at least it wasn’t an affair with a gay man or cross dresser. For real, Mr. Kendall? That’s your comment to the world? You sound less like a marriage counselor and more like a politician’s press secretary trying to spin the facts to make your boss look good.
Not only does Mr. Kendall smugly mitigate the seriousness of this grievous act by drawing obvious comparisons to the fall of former evangelical heavyweight, Ted Haggard (which is quite the loving and respectful thing to do to a penitent brother in the Lord, don’t you think?), but he echoes an outrageous notion that is found in many evangelical circles. And here’s the notion: that heterosexual sin is somehow more acceptable in God’s eyes than homosexual sin.
The “Fleecing” of God
Monday, November 15th, 2010 by Marc Santom
Last week, I was speaking to a friend (whom I shall call “Keith”). Now Keith is a man who’s been walking with God for over 40 years and is highly respected by many people within the church. During our conversation, he mentioned that he was quite displeased with the leadership of his church—and that he was considering leaving because his differences with the leadership are seemingly irreconcilable.
Keith’s reasons for potentially leaving the church seemed understandable to me. He then, however, proceeded to tell me something that I didn’t understand so well.
“I should know within the month whether I will leave the church or not,” he said.
“Why’s that?” I inquired.
Sighing, Keith answered, “I am doing what I always do. I put out a fleece for God to respond to. I told Him that I needed to see something specific happen. And if it happens, I’m leaving the church. If not, I’ll be staying put.”
The Beauty of the Ordinary
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010 by Dale M. Coulter
The most rewarding part of traveling for me is the time to return home. No matter how visually stimulating the sights or how interesting the people I meet, usually around day seven something clicks, like an internal homing device, and I begin to yearn for the wonderfully familiar sights, sounds, and structures of home. While others may crave the excitement of the novel, I crave the ordinary. To hear the loud sounds of my children, whether they be the joys of laughter, the tears of pain, or the bursts of anger–these to me are full of life. More than that, they are the very ingredients of life, providing its texture and flavor. Read the rest of this entry »
Nutrition and Health
Friday, October 29th, 2010 by Diane Chandler
Every once in a while, I’m challenged to consider how I am taking care of my overall physical health and wellness. I need reminding because in our face-paced culture, it is so easy to skip meals, purchase fast food, give little thought to nutrition, and then end up selecting unhealthy food choices. Take a look at the Sugar Stacks website for how much sugar is in the beverages we consume.
Since I work in a university, I’m astounded by the amount of money that students (and others!) drop in vending machines. Healthy eating is a key to optimal health. Furthermore, healthy lifestyle behaviors contribute to our longevity (no surprise here!). Read the rest of this entry »
