Thanks to the kindness and good work of Andrea Watson-Porter, I no longer have to live under the shame of being the only beardless one among my peers (not counting the ladies).

Leave a Comment

View Video

I’m looking forward to reading A.J. Jacobs latest book, Drop Dead Healthy: One Man’s Humble Quest For Bodily Perfection, which is the third work in his humorous and engaging trilogy of mind, spirit and body (see also The Know It All and The Year Of Living Biblically).  Here’s a short clip of him talking more about this at a TEDMed event last October.

Leave a Comment

And teaches us to say yes
And allows us to be both-and
And keeps us from either-or
And teaches us to be patient and long suffering
And is willing to wait for insight and integration
And keeps us from dualistic thinking
And does not divide the field of the moment
And helps us to live in the always imperfect now
And keeps us inclusive and compassionate toward everything
And demands that our contemplation become action
And insists that our action is also contemplative
And heals our racism, our sexism, heterosexism, and our classism
And keeps us from the false choice of liberal or conservative
And allows us to critique both sides of things
And allows us to enjoy both sides of things
And is far beyond any one nation or political party
And helps us face and accept our own dark side
And allows us to ask for forgiveness and to apologize
And is the mystery of paradox in all things
And is the way of mercy
And makes daily, practical love possible
And does not trust love if it is not also justice
And does not trust justice if it not also love
And is far beyond my religion versus your religion
And allows us to be both distinct and yet united
And is the very Mystery of Trinity…
Richard Rohr

This poem was originally posted on the website of  The Center For Action & Contemplation.  The final line reads “…and is why we are called the Center for Action AND Contemplation.”

Leave a Comment

Come, then, let us observe the Feast. Truly wondrous is the whole chronicle of the Nativity.  For this day the ancient slavery is ended, the devil confounded, the demons take to flight, the power of death is broken, paradise is unlocked, the curse is taken away, sin is removed from us, error driven out, truth has been brought back, the speech of kindliness diffused, and spreads on every side, a heavenly way of life has been ‘in planted on the earth, angels communicate with men without fear, and men now hold speech with angels. Why is this?  Because God is now on earth, and man in heaven; on every side all things commingle.

To Him, then, Who out of confusion has wrought a clear path, to Christ, to the Father, and to the Holy Ghost, we offer all praise, now and for ever.  Amen.
John Chrysostom, A Christmas Sermon (386 AD)

Leave a Comment

View Video

A track off of the recently released Valley Of Decision.  Filmed live at The Bing Crosby Theater.

Leave a Comment

For God so loved the world…
May we naturally follow suit.
That he gave his only son…
May we learn the wonder of sacrifice.
That all who believe…
May our love for one another be the crucial evidence.
May not perish…
May we work to halt the collapse of lives, of communities and of creation.
But have eternal life…
May we point to the hope you bring now and for the future.
Amen.

This prayer (written by Mark Berry and shared by Jonny Baker) was shared with Kaleo, the church community that I am a part of and serve as pastor, on Sunday November 6, 2011.

Leave a Comment