The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live.
The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table.
So it has been since creation, and so it will go on.
“Perhaps the World Ends Here” – by Joy Harjo
Category Archives: Theology
Learning to Pray
Lately, I’ve been leaning into the riches of historical worship traditions and liturgies. The College Community I lead is a great place where I can try out some of these transitions and this is an example of a prayer I wrote to guide us into Worship:
[Leader] Loving God, there is nothing secret from you. You know what is on our minds and hearts.
[ALL] Teach us to be still from within. Help us to breathe.
[Leader] You God, know what we need from you, and you know what holds us back.
[ALL] Teach us how to receive you into our lives. Help us to worship.
[Leader] Present God, there is no place in this world where you are not. Your presence is real in this room.
[ALL] Teach us, O God, and help us to experience you tonight. Help us open up to you.
Amen.
Limp
Psalm 46: 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God
This verse came up earlier last week while I was conversing with my good friend, mentor, and brother Scott Rolff. He’s been a powerful voice at very unique and needed times in my life – such was the case last week. I mentioned to Scott that I once heard this verse explained by a bible teacher who said that the key to understanding the whole passage lies in understanding the word “still.”Continue reading
Perhaps an industry of homelessness and an economy of “looks”…
After last week’s ironic mishap with the City of Chicago Traffic Authority I returned to the city humbled; not only spiritually but financially as well. Regardless, my empty stomach was starting to feel the pains of hunger at 12:30 in the afternoon just as Ho’Jo’s caught my peripheral. A quick diner-dash was in order as I settled for a $4.99 “double-duces” breakfast. Given my increased state of semiotic awareness it was the perfect opportunity to actually learn my waitress’s name and ask about her day.Continue reading
My Cost of Paying Attention
Some time ago I picked up a book called “Nudge” by Leonard Sweet. It’s an irritating read. Its one of those books that you can’t read more than a few paragraphs without shifting in your seat because if feels like the very words are crawling beneath your skin. To be candid and crude, the book insults me in all of the best ways. It’s made me ask questions and forced me to give an answer for so many ways that I have lived life passively.Continue reading
A Grace Awakening
Below is a re-post of an experience I walked through several months ago. Just last night I was reminded again of this occurrence as 1,600 people filled the Grand Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency O’hare. It was to be the annual Breakthrough Urban Ministries Benefit – a beautiful celebration to be sure! The ambiance in the room was a profoundly common bond of doing justice and loving mercy. I can think of no other affair to equate the level of deep-hearted emotion and subsequent pulsing call to action that marked the evening. Arloa Sutter reminded us that Christ called the church to be his body. Truly, Christ has no body but ours – so where we do not go, neither does Christ. Breakthrough is a place where Christ is, and is going.
[….There are grand and splendid productions happening at every moment, but beyond what a passive eye will see, a production has many simple elements waiting to be experienced apart from the unabridged.Continue reading