The Vital Importance of Prophetic Critique - Father Richard Rohr

Reflection and Renewal: When Miracles Don't Happen (based on John 12:24)

God, sometimes life blows storms across our paths - or across the paths of those we love. In these moments, when it feels like there’s no way out, or when hard times - or even death - is nearing for someone we love, we instinctively wish for some kind of supernatural intervention. And yet, we also know that nothing in this world completely avoids suffering or goes on living forever.

When difficulty, pain, and loss come into our lives, we experience grief. We often ask why it has to be this way and wonder why there aren't any easy answers for why good things come to an end. 

God, we need your help to remember that loss and pain also grieve you, precisely because your will is that all things thrive in abundant life, and suffering and death are violations of that.

You chose - in the form of Jesus - to suffer alongside of us.

So help us not to be afraid to communicate our disappointment, grief, and anger with you when there aren't easy answers or the kind of miraculous breakthroughs we wish for.  Help us to look for your grace in those who come alongside of us when we’re suffering or mourning.

Forgive us for when we've let our discomfort with uncertainty lead us to offer simplistic, unhelpful. and dismissive rationalizations to those who are hurting. Grace us with the ability to listen, to share in others’ pain so that we can mourn with those who mourn; and in that way be your hands and feet.

And help all of us to have our eyes and ears open for where new life is bursting forth where there once was only death.

 Amen.

It’s Time For New Church Music Metaphors - Craig Greenfield

I guess I'd like something more in church music; something grittier, something truer to my context.

There are a ton of nature metaphors we go back to time and time again in church music. Our Creator God made all this and it is definitely good.

However, it’s not a complete picture of my day to day reality. Nor does it reflect the day to day reality of most of my neighbors.

I guess I'd like something more in church music; something grittier, something truer to my context.

As Pete Rollins points out, a church that only knows how to celebrate can become like a spiritual crack house - a place we go to get our regular fix, our weekly high (which has to get more and more intense in order to give the same satisfaction).

I'd like to sing from the reality of the world I live in. I'd like to learn how to see and connect with God while surrounded by people, not just individualistically in nature.

And I'd like to sing through the tears I shed for the brokenness around me.

The full article is available here

The Center Of The Universe Is Infinite Love - Richard Rohr

Civic Religion = Greatest Obstacle to U.S. Christian Witness - Rich Villodas

Loving All Imagebearers Should Mean No Discrimination - Rev Jennifer Butler

The Church's Unconditional Obligation To The Marginalized - Dietrich Bonhoffer