tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.comments2019-12-07T22:24:01.392-06:00The Feral PastorFeral Pastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02751771814051685510noreply@blogger.comBlogger279125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-27104649974347110042019-12-07T21:50:03.114-06:002019-12-07T21:50:03.114-06:00❤👍😎❤👍😎SethWThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10883978495955004005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-11410874585141130672018-01-11T13:50:39.748-06:002018-01-11T13:50:39.748-06:00It's interesting to ponder the concept of Trut...It's interesting to ponder the concept of Truth. I mean, which lens do you apply? From a Scientific approach, you use a methodology of testing theories until the results "prove" the hypothesis based on observable evidence.<br /><br />When it comes to religion, you can't observe the stories that have been passed down. However, you can look for archaeological evidence that might support those stories (e.g. multiple cultures having stories of a great flood). You also cannot observe the promises of the afterlife--typically. Of course, there are stories of people with what we call "near-death" experiences. <br /><br />Can those be qualified as scientific evidence? Evidence? Sure. But can someone else's testimony prove God's existence? Hardly.<br /><br />Yet, in your post, you put a spin on Truth as being knowable. Through my studies, I have come across what I'll call "themes". Whether in the Bible or the Tao Te Ching or even Humanist philosophies, the is a tendency to see much that point to altruism.<br /><br />What good are these themes? Well, if Truth is about gathering and "knowing" information, then Truth can't exist because there are too many contradicting philosophies (e.g. Ayn Rand's "Virtue of Selfishness). <br /><br />However, if Truth exists, as you suggest in relationship to God, well then we have a "Control" factor. God can be tested--not "once and for all humanity"--but tested to be Trustworthy in relationship: Your personal relationship.<br /><br />All of the other texts, scriptures, and testimonies then stand as theories that can be tested. Tested in relationship.<br /><br />And I guess that's what I'm doing with the idea of "Faith". I am trusting God. I am walking in faith based on the scriptures, texts, testimonies, and personal experiences. I keep relating to God. Relating to Truth.<br /><br />Thanks for the mental walk!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920531415927922185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-10035383025263012512017-10-07T14:08:34.605-05:002017-10-07T14:08:34.605-05:00Thanks Seth (and for the lovely prayer.)
That 500...Thanks Seth (and for the lovely prayer.)<br /><br />That 500 span has been noticed by others too. There's a book by Phyllis Tickle called The Great Emergence where she reviews that and argues that we are at another 500-mile marker. If I recall, she says it's as if every 500 years or so the Church holds a huge garage sale and reconsiders what it wants to keep and what it wants to let go. :)<br /><br />You can find the book here on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2y2geiIFeral Pastorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02751771814051685510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-21111380719087606892017-10-07T13:43:51.462-05:002017-10-07T13:43:51.462-05:00500 years may be about an appropriate gestation fo...500 years may be about an appropriate gestation for this sort of thing. It might be a bit early by historical Holy Spirit timing. But things do seem to be going faster these days... or am I just getting old? Yes, I Am. <br /><br />Have fun Bro.<br />I'm sure you will post video.<br /><br />As prayed daily; "Lord Jesus, open the doors you want open for Tim and Kisten and their family, close the doors you want closed for us, and place us in the center of your perfect will. Amen"SethWThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10883978495955004005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-83469045893092679552017-09-29T09:29:52.702-05:002017-09-29T09:29:52.702-05:00Hard to believe it's nearing 10 years since I ...Hard to believe it's nearing 10 years since I put up this post! but it continues to be a touchstone for me, which is why I'm excited to announce that I am hosting a conference to explore Luther's proposal on Saturday, November 18th, here in the Twin Cities!<br /><br />For more info and registration, visit www.bit.ly/UB-Registration or the Facebook page at www.bit.ly/UB-FBPageFeral Pastorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02751771814051685510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-67579920404359878152017-03-27T20:10:46.428-05:002017-03-27T20:10:46.428-05:00This is the first sermon from the pulpit that I ha...This is the first sermon from the pulpit that I have heard Pastor Tim preach. To take scripture and make it meaningful n today's world is so amazing. He ties in his sermon at the end with exactly where our society is at in this present day and time. I loved his ideas and his encouraging words for us . <br />Carol Coomernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-77802847791795907332015-09-23T09:19:23.555-05:002015-09-23T09:19:23.555-05:00Love this line of thinking!Love this line of thinking!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11013434348908726283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-67128254370310542172014-11-24T19:41:22.620-06:002014-11-24T19:41:22.620-06:00Tim that is an excellent reflection on this passag...Tim that is an excellent reflection on this passage from Ezekiel. Thank you for sharing.The Choral Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05232310225472548648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-30442181122978902792014-10-30T08:35:30.577-05:002014-10-30T08:35:30.577-05:00Love, Love the post. Just read the book "Cra...Love, Love the post. Just read the book "Crazy Busy". From the cover, "A (Mercifully) Short Book About A (Really) Big Problem"by Kevin DeYoung. Only 118 pages of more good food for living faith thought...<br />JB from CGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-73869632926365946062013-12-08T13:10:55.138-06:002013-12-08T13:10:55.138-06:00My thoughts float to a couple lyrics in the song A...My thoughts float to a couple lyrics in the song Amazing Grace. "I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see" Perhaps the psalmist had much more humility, than hubris, in that he understood and embraced his own blindness and weakness with his understanding of a loving God who had always given him bold council...from the depths of hiding in caves, to the height of his status as King.<br />JB from CGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-35316380514727519622013-09-25T22:03:58.279-05:002013-09-25T22:03:58.279-05:00That must have been some hotel to inspire a person...That must have been some hotel to inspire a person who's "no theologian" to put up a comment like that! ;)<br /><br />In terms of reconciling what I offered as "contradictory" I think you've got a good explanation going. I particularly liked the Heb 4:16 reference. But my actual interest wasn't in resolving the contradiction so much as letting the contradiction force me to embrace my intellectual limitations. Or maybe to put it a better way, to release my embrace on my beloved intellectual certainty and the sense of security it brings, so that I might embrace Jesus instead and let my security be entirely a matter of the strength of his grip on me as opposed to the strength of my grip on the facts.<br /><br />I haven't organized my thoughts much but I keep cycling back to some musings on things like conundrum and the limits of our rationality. Like... you know those "orange peel" maps of the world you get from trying to project a sphere onto a 2-dimensional plane? Imagine being *unable* to think about 3 dimensions and trying to navigate on the map. You'd get into situation where reality violates your conception ("mental map") of it. Conundrum. If you try to *force* reality into your map, you end up with some pretty odd theories that, I think, just get more and more Baroque as you go. Like a Rube Goldberg machine. Irresolvable conundrums are a clue to the existence of of aspects of reality that you are not *capable* of understanding.<br /><br />So in scripture, and really in the theologies we build to make sense of scripture, I think this is what we see, and should *expect* to see if we really are in touch with realities beyond our comprehension. <br /><br />(When I mull over the limitations of language as a tool for engaging reality, that also tends to leave me wandering off in this direction of intellectual humility.)<br /><br />Okay, now I'm starting to ramble!<br /><br />Towards the end of your first comment you moved into the topic of scripture which is also where I think this leads us. The more I sense the inherent limitations of language and rationality, the less I am inclined to see the *core* value of scripture in it's presentation of truth, facts, "Biblical principles," and articles of faith. That's not a *loss* of value for scripture, but a change in the way it has value. What, for me, emerges instead is the value of scripture as a kind of mosaic portrait that reveals Jesus to me, and ultimately, as an actual meeting place between Him and me.<br /><br />Let me know if any of that makes any kind of sense to you, my friend!Feral Pastorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02751771814051685510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-49949916941750218792013-09-24T23:54:55.651-05:002013-09-24T23:54:55.651-05:00BTW, in now way was I try to making an 'modal&...BTW, in now way was I try to making an 'modal' argument about the trinity. The God-head is indivisible. My illustration was about the roles of the trinity in our daily lives and how there is no separation between God and us. The Spirit is indeed at work within us communing with God the Father so that we are at one.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14051616805733804469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-23125406087121554962013-09-24T21:33:06.647-05:002013-09-24T21:33:06.647-05:00Here's my take, and of course I'm no theol...Here's my take, and of course I'm no theologian but I did sleep in a Holiday Inn Express last night:<br /><br />The three persons of the God-head each has a geographical/spatial role with God the father in heaven. God the Son, the Emmanuel, came down to us and returned to the Father's right hand in heaven; and, the Holy Spirit stays with us on Earth. <br /><br />The Greek word for "approach" used in 7:25 is also translated as "intercedes" but it is only used here in Hebrews 7:25 and can be translated as "intervention." Christ is our high priest who intercedes/intervenes on our behalf - in heaven. The Holy Spirit resides within us here on Earth and communicates the Father's will for us. He is always present, always listening to our thoughts and ”intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” There is therefore no separation between us and God the Father, either here on Earth via the Spirit or in heaven through Christ.<br /><br /> The only reason God is "approachable" at all is because we have been made righteous through Christ's blood. . Hebrews 4:16: "Let us then APPROACH God’s throne..." - in heaven, not the other way around.<br /><br />I probably missed your lecture or maybe the intent of your theology and thoughts on this.<br /><br />My personal take is that we have lost the "fear" of God and try too hard to make him chummy. That is why I "continue to work out salvation with fear and trembling." I know how far I was from God before I came to Christ and what awaited me without him. I'm glad Christ reached out to my via his Spirit, that I accepted him as savior, and that I can petition the Father directly through him as my high priest. I didn't need God the Father to come down, but I sure needed to look up!<br /><br />In regards to your other point about letting one theology contradict the other, it's supremely important to test all of our thoughts/beliefs against scripture. Didn't Luther say “Sola Scriptura?” and “The true rule is this: God's Word shall establish articles of faith, and no one else, not even an angel can do so.”<br /><br />Thank you for your post. It got me thinking. Much appreciated.<br /><br />CharlesUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14051616805733804469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-44774575402447959462013-09-23T09:48:36.346-05:002013-09-23T09:48:36.346-05:00Tim, Well said. We just can't seem to ever g...Tim, Well said. We just can't seem to ever give God enough credit for knitting us together in the womb,and to trust His longing to engage us as parents and sponsors to be used by him to surround all children with His love. Theology aside, the book "Heaven is for Real" gave me renewed hope that our early stage mis-carriage too, has grown up in heaven and is waiting to commune with us. If the water in the womb is not our first baptism, then perhaps our faith and trust in God is not complete. As a lay person I enjoyed this summary of denominational views on baptism. http://www.equip.org/articles/baptism-theology/ Specifically the likely trappings of self inflicted "...denominational heresy..."<br />JB from CGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-46866143700911793322013-09-22T18:52:42.656-05:002013-09-22T18:52:42.656-05:00This is why I'm a Lutheran. Amen.This is why I'm a Lutheran. Amen.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00428344837596341916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-80409304082995513952013-09-20T09:25:41.383-05:002013-09-20T09:25:41.383-05:00Richard - thank you for your thoughtful comment an...Richard - thank you for your thoughtful comment and I apologize for the delay in posting it and responding. There are several things I appreciate and agree with in what you said.<br /><br />As we move from modernity into postmodernity, a renewed desire for and appreciation of mystery and ritual is one of the things we are seeing. Nadia Bolz-Weber is a great example of this in the Lutheran tribe: self described as a "Postmodern gal" and leading a congregation that practices a full, traditional liturgy. (http://www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)<br /><br />I'm skeptical though that this will have very broad appeal, or that a focus on the centrality of the mass is going to address the core challenge. My own feeling is that the core issue has more to do with our habit of making the large group worship experience into the centerpiece of our faith and community life. Not that we should do away with it - by any means! But that we are dangerously out of balance in how we prioritize large and small group expressions of faith and community. I'm being pretty terse here so I don't know if the idea is getting across well. I've perhaps explained it better here: http://feralpastor.blogspot.com/2009/03/twin-peaks-resource-allocation-and.html, and in my inaugural post, particularly the part where I talk about the food pyramid: http://feralpastor.blogspot.com/2007/04/welcome.htmlFeral Pastorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02751771814051685510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-59437272906352295272013-09-15T21:12:49.154-05:002013-09-15T21:12:49.154-05:00I enjoyed reading your article - I wanted to think...I enjoyed reading your article - I wanted to think out loud and see what you think. I feel lost in my faith somewhat because of seeing the ELCA dwindle in numbers. I know the theme of the elca now is "always being made new". To me, there is nothing more important than the mass. Retracing our Lutheranism through our service and praying the liturgy of the hours is the answer, - I think. Our society will sit and watch a three hour movie called Lord of the Rings or read a trilogy of books about the same. Most of these folks have never been to a traditional service with the chanting of the psalms, a swinging smoking crucible, a ritual using bread and wine. The splendor of our traditional service - with all its elements of chanting the Psalms and the Holy Eucharist is incredibly entertaining. Our traditional mass is a service fit for a real Lord. I imagine sending out a Tweet, a text message, a email with a call to come to prayer. Calling, our entire body of Christ - that calling at these certain times of the day people feel they are not lost and alone, others are praying the very same prayer with them. I think the answer is taking the old and making it new again. I have been studying The Rule of Saint Benedict. There are Benedictine oblates - these are everyday folks that dedicate themselves to living by the Rule of Saint Benedict. You might be familiar with this. I could imagine training 12 lutheran oblates or more - having them process in and assisting with the communion and offering. Having them available to meet visitors at the end of the service. These could be your seeds to plant. There is another Lutheran pastor Jay Denne he has a excellent blog as well called the Benedictine Lutheran. My heart and prayers go out to the you clergy of the elca. I apologize if I have wasted your time - in the daily office I pray one of the prayers begin - Oh Lord open my lips and my mouth shall declare your praise. rccowart@aol.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08308604678406177391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-91521277915319115492013-06-01T06:17:35.147-05:002013-06-01T06:17:35.147-05:00I think you are dancing with the essence of 1 Cori...I think you are dancing with the essence of 1 Corinthians 13 and Romans 10:17. Living the Word through relationship and the power of the Holy Spirit creates "hearing", which is the timeless and proven form of evangelism established long before the Gutenberg press. Your personal stories,notes and blogs sustain our conversation and suffering with and for Jesus, who never wavered or failed to recognize Biblical Authority given by our Father.<br />JB from CGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-81099491350877218742013-05-31T16:32:39.977-05:002013-05-31T16:32:39.977-05:00Amen. The living Word is the true authority.Amen. The living Word is the true authority.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756603962925894681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-67876160502101778132013-04-22T19:55:27.774-05:002013-04-22T19:55:27.774-05:00Good thinking here Tim. Keep it coming. -MartyGood thinking here Tim. Keep it coming. -MartyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04555845431942607184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-83618571585272431572013-02-28T10:20:15.867-06:002013-02-28T10:20:15.867-06:00Perfect place to invoke the ever-popular "bot...Perfect place to invoke the ever-popular "both/and" meme. ;)Feral Pastorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02751771814051685510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-65322079646928727942013-02-27T13:24:28.976-06:002013-02-27T13:24:28.976-06:00I liked something I heard on Christian radio this ...I liked something I heard on Christian radio this morning might point to a useful time based "heart" measure. The quote was, "If you really want to help your church (of all forms and reflections)spend more time praying for it. If you really want to transform your life, spend more time in the Word. So for the sake of discussion, would you consider changing your last sentance a bit by replacing the word "people" with "God"?<br />JB from CGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-80904993080127672352013-02-25T08:51:37.031-06:002013-02-25T08:51:37.031-06:00Continuing...
"Some things can be assessed &...Continuing...<br /><br />"Some things can be assessed "from a distance": worship attendance, giving, hours of service, numbers in small groups. Other things require you to be close enough for conversation: how's your heart? Joyful? Peaceful? Generous? If our evaluations don't require us to interact with people directly, they are probably not very meaningful."Feral Pastorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02751771814051685510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-10389656070350109272013-02-22T20:33:40.057-06:002013-02-22T20:33:40.057-06:00Pointy steeples vs cushy bread... great imagery!Pointy steeples vs cushy bread... great imagery!Feral Pastorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02751771814051685510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8205446310920259756.post-54236651674032580952013-02-21T08:26:30.214-06:002013-02-21T08:26:30.214-06:00Just to lighten things up a bit, I have gotten thi...Just to lighten things up a bit, I have gotten this image lately of Jesus watching my life as I am in full view beneath his feet ("...the earth is my foot-stool...") Then I look at all the things in my life for which I have erected a steeple! What must Jesus feel, when all those steeples are poking at his feet! So what if Jesus saw this vision in action...an actual and metaphorically "bigger communion tent" by worshiping in lower cost public open spaces, homes,shelters, prisons,or perhaps one of the many many mega public, private, or corporate places that are abandoned from Friday night to Monday. Why not be a WORSHIP flash mob as famed YouTube H-Chorus video portrays? What if the world actually witnessed our communion. Got enough bread? Does it feel soft under Jesus feet? Perhaps it is time to push our boat away from the shore we feel so safe standing on. Agitation from God's propeller is a really good thing! Thanks Tim.<br />JB from CGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com