thin space cowboy
“And these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work… this will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s son that we will be mature in the Lord.” (Ephesians 4:11-13)
Unity.
... See moreLast Supper feet washing. Peter “Wash my hands and face!” Jesus says, you’re actually mostly clean. I’m just here for your feet. Dignity. We’re not mostly bad. We have dirty feet, but Jesus isn’t trying to be dependent. God doesn’t want us to feel dirty to the core. Jesus sees us as full people.
When God made clothes for Adam and Eve in Genesis
Judges (in the sense that God calls bad bad), but God’s response is “how do we get you out of this?” (making clothes) God’s inclination seems to be about making new ways back to connection. Expanding the possibilities for our connection to God and one another.
If you need something new now, you got
... See moreUnited Church of Canada’s Creed (1968)
We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s
... See morePsalm 8 and praying in the name of God.
Name = nature. What is the name of God? That is the nature of God.
Praying in the name of God should never be exploitative. Never should be reductive.
God gave us “authority” so we could love creation like God. Not so we can exploit it, reduce it, destroy it, strip it.
So praying in the name of God should never
“When God clothed Adam and Eve – that’s the story of salvation to me.” Salvation isn’t something you earn. It isn’t something you become worthy of by being faithful to God. In fact, in this story, Adam & Eve did something God specifically said not to do. And yet, God met them exactly what they were. God didn’t say, get over it. God didn’t say, fix
... See moreTheologies of Salvation: On the first day of class, we spent a few minutes in silence, reflecting on our personal starting point when it comes to salvation. How would we define that word? Where does that understanding come from? Who taught us that? What fruit does it bear in the world – who does this understanding effect? Who is saved? How does one become saved?
Each person in the class briefly summarized their thoughts, and then I was struck blind by one classmate’s reflection
“Cultivate your ideas.” Take note of your thoughts to pull from, be willing to work and wrestle with things. Good comes from abandoning the sexy, flowy, entirely inspired mystical process.