In the church leadership world, "Technique is emerging as the new idol." (Nate Bush) In a half-baked post the other day, I complained about how churches today prefer gimmicks and silver bullets to the slow, hard work of transformation by the Spirit. (Actually, I wish I’d said it that well the other day.) Lo & … Continue reading Making Technique an Idol

For years, I have been thinking about planting a church. Understand: I’ll be 60 years old before too long. NO ONE wants a 60 year old church planter. So this is probably nothing but a thought exercise. (I actually kinda-sorta planted a church once. It was perhaps my life’s greatest failure. It began as a … Continue reading If I Planted a Church … (pt 1?)

From Plough. A sermon preached by MLK Jr on November 17, 1957, Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, Montgomery, Alabama: You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in … Continue reading “The Most Excellent Way”

A progressive judge (a Clinton appointee) in a progressive court (in Oregon) upheld religious liberty. But a funny thing happened on the way to the fix. The Biden administration pledged to “vigorously” defend the religious exemption (angering some of its LGBT allies), and on Friday, the religious exemption won, at least for now. Judge Aiken … Continue reading Religious Liberty Wins. Again.

“We have utterly failed God,” she said. “We protected our own institutions and status more than his name or his people. What we have taught people is that the institution is what God loves, not the sheep.” https://religionnews.com/2023/01/12/diane-langberg-on-church-leaders-and-abuse-we-have-utterly-failed-god/

Churches today are on a constant search for silver bullets. What program …? What book …? What anointed, winsome, wise leader …? … will lead us to growth & wealth & success? We don’t seem to have the faith to pray & work humbly & wait for what can only be achieved by a move … Continue reading Churches Today

Here are three iPhone pics from the same window in my Air BNB, of the same view (not identical, obviously) from 10 am, 5.45 pm, and 8 pm today. The second picture is washed out; the camera was struggling to cope with the New Mexico sunset. And here are a few better sunset pictures, taken … Continue reading A Day in Albuquerque

I’m traveling today, from Nashville to Albuquerque. The memorial service for my dad is this coming Sunday, and my sisters & I have legal etc things to take care of. So (of course) today is the day that the FAA computers go crazy. And (of course) I’m flying Southwest. The delay isn’t too bad so … Continue reading Traveling …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0iXfnyAZhs I have always loved this song. Lovett and Robert Earl Keen wrote the lyrics about the porch of a house they shared in Austin when they were attending UT, I believe. The lyrics do an amazing job of evoking things that are so characteristically Texas; Tex-Mex; a lone bull, trying to hide from the … Continue reading Lyle Lovett, “This Old Porch”