There must have been a time when life was simpler. There must have been a time when there were conservatives, moderates, and liberals, and these categories were largely unconfused. And in this time of categorical clarity, it must have been possible to identify conservatives with the right side of the spectrum, moderates with the middle, and…
Earlier this month I had the privilege of traveling to Cuba with a group from United Theological Seminary. We accompanied a mission team from Trinity Family Life Center, a United Methodist Congregation in Pickerington, Ohio, led by Rev. Tim Burden. There aren’t sufficient words to describe what is happening there. On almost any night of the…
When I was a grad student, I was asked to pick up a world-famous author and professor from the airport, chauffer him back to campus, and make sure he had everything he needed during his visit to SMU. Of course, I knew who Marcus Borg was. I was a PhD student in New Testament. I…
I have a new post on the website for United Methodist Scholars for Christian Orthodoxy, a reflection on Christmas. I hope you find it meaningful: Christmas is about many things to many people. For some people, it is about shopping and presents. For others, it is about spending time with family. For the orthodox believer,…
Hypocrisy is a charge often leveled at Christians. Sometimes this is a charge made by people who simply don’t like Christians, but, at other times, this charge is made because… well… we’ve been hypocritical. If you read this and say to yourself, “I’m never hypocritical,” please think long and hard about that statement. Exactly what constitutes hypocrisy,…
I don’t normally write on race, but I don’t think I can or should be quiet about this matter anymore. Our country is quickly reaching a state of emergency. We are seeing again and again a great travesty–the killing of African-American men without consequence. If we as Christians don’t call this out and commit ourselves to…
Every now and again, the UMC or some group within it, such as the Council of Bishops, engages in a service of repentance. Although I don’t have a list of such services in front of me, it seems that most of these services relate to matters of race and culture. From a Christian perspective, repentance…
I once heard my seminary preaching professor, John Holbert, say, “There’s no such thing as a cynical Christian.” That claim has really stuck with me over the years because I do consider myself a Christian, and yet if I’m honest I know I can be pretty cynical, too. At one level, I believe that Holbert was right,…
Some time back I posted a piece called “The Slow Death of Intellectual Virtue.” In this piece, I argued that the way in which we argue is as important as what we argue. I still believe that. Intellectual virtue is one of my core commitments as an educator and as one who engages in public…
Recently I was invited to preach at worship during our master’s intensive at United. The theme for the week was Wisdom. Prov 24:1-14 Do not envy the wicked, nor desire to be with them; 2for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of mischief. 3By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding…
Pursuing Jesus
These are the thoughts, prayers, stories, sermons, and devotions from a simple pastor. May you be blessed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as you read...
Musings and whatnot....
Finding the humor, beauty, and purpose in the mess of motherhood
Doctrine Matters
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Reflections from Jacob J. Prahlow
humor | musings | fiction
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work and prayer of a jesus follower
Who is my ideal reader? Well, ideal means non-existent. I have no notion of whom I’m writing for. Guy Davenport
'An arrow through the air' - Notes of a Methodist pastor
Holiness, Sustainability, and Tending Good Soil
two of us are tall and the other one of us is short and has Down syndrome
Comments on the New Testament and Early Christianity (and related matters)
David F. Watson 