Henri Nouwen makes an important distinction about pastoral ministry. A contemplative is able to live fully in the moment, but not be ruled by, and reacting to, the anxiety of that moment. In that he is able to help others to look beyond their present ‘panic-stricken convulsions’ to responses that resonate with the character of …
In a brief article at Christian Century, Craig Barnes writes about the disposition of wanting to protect people from their own hurt feelings, and how the life in the church is not meant to be place where flawed people grow in Christ likeness by experiencing the imperfections that remain within us: Congregations are filled with …
Tomorrow is a day when many many Christian Churches take time to remember faithful disciples of Jesus who have departed the Church on earth and have joined the Church in eternity. We will do so in prayer and song. Some will have departed during the last year, some will have departed during our lifetimes, some …
When Jesus restores Peter after his denial he does so not by questioning Peter’s knowledge, but Peter’s heart. From Winn Collier: Warming by the enemy’s fire, three critics posed Peter the most straightforward query: “Are you a follower of Jesus?” They did not ask what Peter thought of the Galilean’s theology. They did not quiz …
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