Missional Finances

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​One of the classic debates in congregations and church organizations is the debate between the mission of the church and the money this particular expression of the church has. In a recent meeting, I was unexpectedly asked to talk about this relationship, which I did rather ineloquently. This TheoThru will therefore look at that debate and try to find a theological ground for the conversation--a conversation I have a feeling more than a few expressions of the church are having.

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The New Modern Public

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The central move of Modernity was to separate facts and values. Facts, which we can all agree on because they are provable, measurable, and repeatable, are fair game for public conversation. Values, which we cannot prove, should be kept for private moments. With this turn, events like the Thirty Years War and the Hundred Years War found ends through renegotiating the grounds for conversation.

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The Odd is Sea

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Part of specializing in any profession is the creation of particular vocabulary to more quickly express ideas that normal people would otherwise recognize. One such theological vocabulary word is "theodicy," which encapsulates for theologians the question of why God allows bad things to happen. Most people who believe in some kind of god usually end up asking this question at some point in their lives. The problem for theologians, however, is that its actually a pretty boring question.Read More

How Do You Get To Carnegie Hall?

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Given my mini-rant against self-chosen Lenten disciplines, I should probably spend some time doing what will seem like talking out of the other side of my mouth and reflect on practices. They are, after all, both how our communities are created and identified, and also how we are formed and equipped to live in the world. And of course... well... Do I really have to type it!?Read More

Lent Schment

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As we begin Lent, it seems appropriate to mention spiritual discipline, but not the one you decided to do this Lenten season. Chances are that unless you picked an actual spiritual discipline, what you do probably won't amount to much. And if you did pick a spiritual discipline, its probably a reflection of your desire to withdraw from the world to avoid its harsh realities. Its amazing how the old person in us distorts what would otherwise be reasonable to a self-serving goal.

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I'm An Old Man

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From my time serving congregations, I have a particular take on the idea of times of change, mainly that every time is a time of change. Even the smallest of congregations are filled with people in the midst of grief, joy, pain, comfort, etc. The challenge for those who plan and lead worship is as it has always been: to do so in a time of change.Read More