The first week we attended church in Bozeman, MT as newlyweds, we were invited to supper with 3 different families. Those invitations continued to be extended and accepted for months as Jen and I were settling into a new community, starting a new life together, and trying to figure out what it meant to leave…

A Thought experiment Imagine a group of people where no one ever talked to each other, or hung out together, or was aware of the happenings in each other’s lives.  Now imagine the same group but instead of never talking, these folks never stopped talking; instead of never hanging out, these people are always together;…

Imagine a group of people where no one ever talked to each other, or hung out together, or was aware of the happenings in each other’s lives. Now imagine the same group but instead of never talking, these folks never stopped talking; instead of never hanging out, these people are always together; and instead of…

Imagine a group of people who knew of the needs of others, but then never acted to meet those needs. Would such a group be deserving of the noun community?  Now imagine a group of people who learned of the needs of others, either because those needs were shared or because someone noticed that a…

What are the marks of a true community?  This question has been swirling around in my mind the past few days. As we reflected upon the coming of a new associate pastor, the flood relief work we have engaged in, the growing number of teens and young adults, and the struggle with some people not…

Last month we explored how to forgive when issues just seem to keep popping up.  A related topic is how to apologize.  Many people think they know how to apologize, but they do not in fact recognize that merely stating the words, “I apologize,” or “I am sorry,” is an incomplete apology.  These words begin…

Here is a short 4 minute comparisons between the two:

Forgiveness The statement, “You have to forgive,” sounds so wise, but it isn’t always easy.  How does one forgive when there is no remorse, no apology, not even an awareness or acceptance of the fact that someone has hurt you?  And why is it that some pains seem to linger even when we think we…

Excerpt from “Critical Theory” by Paula Rodriguez What are human beings? Christianity: Human beings are created in the image of a good and loving Creator Critical Theory: We are members of social groups locked in a struggle for power. What is necessary to change the world? Christianity: God sent Jesus Christ to die on a…