One of the critiques of the mainline liturgical tradition that I hang with is that the creeds, prayers, recitations, etc. are dead and lifeless, bereft of meaning. Again and again I hear folks from non-liturgical traditions suggest that saying written prayers or reciting creeds is not spontaneous and not from the heart. Author's note: I … Continue reading ::Liturgical Connections #1:: →

In January of 2003 I set up this blog as a means of "accountable journaling." I had always wanted to journal, but usually failed miserably. So I thought I would do this with the belief that knowing it might be read by others would make me likely to write. That hasn't always been the case, … Continue reading Explain Typepad To Me →

It's raining again in Nashville. Snow is on the way and we are looking at a couple of inches -- not much if you are Jordon Cooper in Saskatoon, but quite a bit in the land where folks don't know how to drive. I'm trying to decide whether we will cancel services tonight. My tendency … Continue reading Christmas Decorations →

Maybe it's a mid-life crisis, or maybe the holiday season is calling for changes in my life. Tonight I've spent some time tweaking my blog template, going with a "cooler" look (cooler as in color temperature, not in terms of fashion). I am also about a week into a new mustache and goatee, which of … Continue reading Changing My Look →

I jut finished reviewing Jenell's excellent review of Brian McLaren's "A Generous Orthodoxy." This review doesn't quibble with the content per se of Brian's writing, but evaluates the gender dynamics present in the work. Certainly Brian is moving forward in his relationships and respect of women, yet as Jenell points out, the work also has … Continue reading Overt and Covert Messages →

Bob Carlton keeps e-mailing and asking for my top five posts of 2004. I'm not really sure that there are five worth reading, but here are five that I like for various reasons: 1. Reflections on Community 2. What Does It Mean to be Emerging? 3. Confronting My Racism 4. Christians Make Me Angry 5. … Continue reading The Top Five For Bob →

I confess that I am resonating with Jen Lemen tonight. Not in that I avoid upper case letters, although there are times when I feel like throwing conventions to the wind and go into the Greek/Hebrew mode and omit all punctuation entirely. My connection to Soul Sister #2 isn't about some stream of consciousness love … Continue reading Being Jen Lemen →

Via Dave McIntyre: 1. Muslims do not recognize Judaism as a religion. 2. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. 3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as leader of the Christian faith. 4. Baptists do not recognize each other at Hooters.

My energy level is pretty well depleted. I'm supposed to teach a Bible study on the Beatitudes in a half hour or so, but I can't get motivated to prepare so I guess I will just wing it (that's why I went to seminary, wasn't it?) The woman who I wrote about earlier is in … Continue reading Pastoral Exhaustion →

I hate school fundraising projects. Why is it that we think we have to turn our kids into raving capitalists in the name of their education? Beyond the fact that most of these sales really have a poor point of return, it is a problem that we basically tell kids that they are responsible for … Continue reading A Parental Rant →

This afternoon I headed downtown to check out a member in the hospital. It's a bit of a drive from the South Nashville location where my church is, and I always spend that drive time listening to NPR and wondering what I might find when I get to the hospital. It's a hit or miss … Continue reading Intensive Care →

Jennifer Freeman said that she was going to stop blogging, but thank God she hasn't. Jennifer has been a great supporter of me through the past couple of years and I was glad to see that she was writing about her experiences. Today she offers an important reflection on her discomfort with folks who freely … Continue reading The Name of Jesus →

Liver Judgmental people The King James Bible Traffic My waistline Propaganda (liberal or conservative) Brussel Sprouts Post Nasal Drip (sniff, sniff) Cats (which give me post nasal drip) Professional Wrestling (unless I'm with a group of guys laughing over it) Boring theology books that use too many esoteric words Tiny airline seats (see #5 above) … Continue reading 20 Things That I Don’t Like →

Liver Judgmental people The King James Bible Traffic My waistline Propaganda (liberal or conservative) Brussel Sprouts Post Nasal Drip (sniff, sniff) Cats (which give me post nasal drip) Professional Wrestling (unless I'm with a group of guys laughing over it) Boring theology books that use too many esoteric words Tiny airline seats (see #5 above) … Continue reading 20 Things That I Don’t Like →

I purchased Madden 2003 on sale a few months back, but never got around to installing or playing it. However, knowing how life would be at my mother-in-law's house for Thanksgiving (daughters talking a mile a minute, kids playing GameCube in the den, etc.) I threw it in my briefcase to check it out while … Continue reading My Latest Addiction →

Happy New Year to all! Of course, this only makes sense if you are one of those who follow the church year and remember that the first Sunday in Advent is a new beginning. I talked about this during my Children's message this morning, and of course they all thought I was crazy. It's Advent … Continue reading Waiting →

I realized that I have been been behind in posting my sermons on the sermon site. I should be caught up through tomorrow if you are interested. http://jayssermons.blogspot.com/

I realized that I have been been behind in posting my sermons on the sermon site. I should be caught up through tomorrow if you are interested. http://jayssermons.blogspot.com/

Thanks be to God for: The energy of girls that both keeps me young and makes me old. A wife that puts up with my moodiness and depression and doesn't give up on me. A church that let's me be human. Wifi Green bean casserole "Emerging" friends all over the world who challenge me and … Continue reading 20 Things That I’m Thankful For →

Thanks be to God for: The energy of girls that both keeps me young and makes me old. A wife that puts up with my moodiness and depression and doesn't give up on me. A church that let's me be human. Wifi Green bean casserole "Emerging" friends all over the world who challenge me and … Continue reading 20 Things That I’m Thankful For →