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Category Archives: Faith
Losing by Winning
While I don’t leap or land in all the same places with Andrew Root, there are a number of things he writes about in The Relational Pastor that confirms some of my own experience and emboldens me with some hope … Continue reading
A Way Back In (When You’re Not Outside)
In yesterday’s post, I pivoted from Yuval Levin’s discussion of institutional renewal to a question about renewal in the church. Levin spends a good bit of time talking about outsiders and insiders and how we need to see ourselves as … Continue reading
Devotion, Discontent, and Dissent
One of the reasons I enjoy reading books like Yuval Levin’s work on institutions is because I believe in them. I was formed by them. And I’ve been wounded by them (as have we all). While I live far from … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Faith, Notes for a World's End
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Saturday Morning Thoughts
Yesterday I posted a long lecture by Andrew Root about the shift that has changed in youth (ministry) culture over the last decade. I’ve read a decent chunk of Root’s most recent output the last few months (3 1/2 full … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Faith, Movies, Teaching
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The Thing and the Story
Mr. Root is onto something, I believe.
Posted in Faith, Teaching
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Gospel and Church, Mold and Platform
In his survey of failing institutions in American life, Yuval Levin writes about the church in the “close to home” section (which also includes the family and community organizations. While he writes about the loss of authority of the Catholic … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Faith, The Long Story
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Living with Loss
Last week America posted a short reflection by James K. A. Smith about how Christians handle loss. What begins with a nod to Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead takes a personal turn that I found difficult and brilliant. Smith writes: A number … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Faith, Friendship, Notes for a World's End, Television, The Long Story
Tagged James K A Smith
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Submitted for Your Approval?
I recently spoke for what will probably be “the last time” in chapel this quarter. If the timing goes well, it could be my last time for the year. We’ll see. Either way, in my head I had planned on … Continue reading
Posted in Faith, Scripture, Teaching
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The Story of a Vocation
This weekend I spent some time in my classroom getting ready for the end of the semester. When I do that kind of thing, I usually play sermons or lectures that I find on YouTube. This time I listened to … Continue reading
“A Truer, Better Anxiety”
Yesterday marked the beginning of the second week of Advent. Different churches mark the weeks differently, some leaning into themes like hope and love but in different orders, others revisiting key moments in the biblical story. I like the approach … Continue reading
