Spirituality
Why I Don't Cry to Christians Anymore
I received this guest post anonymously, from a friend of a friend. I think it’s worth our time. May we learn to love better. -Micah content note: mentions of rape / assault Maybe I’ve got it all wrong. I’m sure if I do, and even if I don’t, you will be sure to tell me. But…
Read MoreA Roadtrip. A Tattoo. A Damn Good Story.
I want to tell you about my new tattoo. It’s a bold scrawl underlined in red, bleeding across my chest and onto my arm. It’s only a few days old. Today it feels like a sunburn. This week a layer of skin will peel and flake away as I heal and the ink becomes part of…
Read MoreFor They Shall See God
Blessed are the pure in heart (for they shall see God). And I always thought that to be pure in heart meant to have successfully wrangled my sinful impulses — stuffed my fleshly desires into cages like so many squawking, unruly chickens. To be pure in heart meant to follow all the rules. Sadly, to be…
Read MoreDear God, I Have a Few Complaints
Dear God, I have a few complaints. Don’t get me wrong – I like You. I believe in You. Generally speaking, I think You’re doing a decent job at this whole “being the God of the universe” gig. But still, there are a few things that I really just don’t get. First – Advent. Advent is…
Read MoreDo You Read the Bible With Your Conscience?
A few months ago, I got to sit at a table with Derek Flood – a guy whose work has helped shape my thinking on difficult aspects of theology for few years now. Derek has a new book out this month called Disarming Scripture, dealing with the problem of violence in Scripture. His book tackles all the tough stuff– from genocide in…
Read MoreA Prayer Into the Void
If this hole really is “God-shaped”… God must be vast indeed. If God can begin to touch (what feels like) the infinite depth of this chasm, God must be an infinite universe.
Read MoreSo That I Don't Forget
“What is saving your life right now?” Stephen asks me yesterday at church, and I say the first three things that come to mind: “Coldplay. Rohr. Hope.” The first two come and go — they’ll be different next month — but the third one has been close to my heart for a while: “For we…
Read MoreWhen We Throw Stones
“Let him who is without sin throw the first stone.” That’s what they say, when religious leaders are questioned about their abusive and manipulative actions. “We all make mistakes. Nobody’s perfect. You wouldn’t want somebody airing all your dirty laundry, would you?” As if building an multi-million-dollar “ministry” or “church” on the backs of vulnerable followers…
Read MoreLove Trumps Fear
“If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” (from I John 4) It’s one of my favorite passages in all…
Read MoreLast Sunday
At Renovatus Church, there’s this liturgy we say every week before Communion: “This is the Table, not of the Church, but of the Lord. It is made ready for those who love Him, and for those who want to love Him more. So come, you who have much faith and you who have little. You…
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