Month: April 2020

The Murky Waters of Ministerial Restoration

On By missionmusingsIn Chaplaincy/CPE, Christian Ethics, Christian Leadership, Missions as VocationLeave a comment

I chose not to name names here, but as the stories/charges from my former school have multiplied since I first wrote this narrow somewhat even-handed post, I invite you to read more on your own... https://rightingamerica.net/rape-sexual-harassment-and-more-the-cedarville-stories-are-multiplying/?fbclid=IwAR3w4PvmDPtu5fcnddvHU_EtiR1P534Vdd3PsOu0NVUvx5ZfJlSsFNt5CUQ A Christian college I attended years ago has been in the news lately. It recently fired a professor (I …

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Subverting the Tropes in Christian Missions

On By missionmusingsIn Parables/Allegories, QuotesLeave a comment

The following is an excerpt from my new little book, "Missions in Samaria." This section seeks to look at one principle for missions that can be drawn from the history of missions work in Samaria and with Samaritans. This one is about Subverting the Tropes. Missions in Samaria Subvert the Tropes. Jesus did this in …

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Can You Do Good Pastoral Counseling With Bad Pastoral Theology?

On By missionmusingsIn Chaplaincy/CPE, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I decided to move some articles from an old blog of mine on Pastoral Theology. That is why some of my posts here are more about pastoral counseling and theology rather than "classic" missions. But since I am in missions and am an administrator at a pastoral counseling center, it is not NOT missions.  I …

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Empathy and Altruism

On By missionmusingsIn CommentaryLeave a comment

What is Empathy? "Empathy" was first used as a technical term in psychology by E. B. Titchener in the 1920s. It was developed from the Greek word "empatheia" meaning "feeling into." In practice it is commonly used to express a person's ability to "perceive the subjective experience of another." <Goleman, 98> A more technical (and rather …

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Jonah– a parable

On By missionmusingsIn Parables/AllegoriesLeave a comment

The Woodcarver saw it on the beach.  It was much larger than the normal pieces he would take to be turn into wooden utensils, statues, and a variety of tchotchkes for tourists. He liked pieces of wood that had character to them--- gnarled branches, hollow logs, and even stumps with roots. But this big one …

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Developing a Theological Thanatology

On By missionmusingsIn Chaplaincy/CPE4 Comments

Let's just face facts for a moment. EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH DEATH Isn't that a crazy thought? We embrace a future and hopeful orientation. How could such an outlook ignore perhaps the most important milestone that each of us go through in the path into the future-- death?  Let me give a few anecdotal evidences of …

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The Mumu in the Mirror

On By missionmusingsIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Some time ago, I was at a person's house. I don't know the person that well--- more of a friend of a friend. That person, I will call "Deb" for the purpose of this story, took me to a mirror in her house and asked me to pray. She had seen a "mumu" (one of …

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“Missions in Samaria” Published

On By missionmusingsIn Encounters in Mission, History in MissionsLeave a comment

I decided to publish my short book "Missions in Samaria." It seeks to address a simple question. Why does Jesus specifically mention Samaria in the Acts 1:8 version of the Great Commandment. The book looks at Samaria as both a historical place and a metaphor for places we may face today. At this time, I …

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Robert Alter Extended Quote

On By missionmusingsIn Quotes, storiesLeave a comment

I recently been reading Robert Alter's book, "The Art of Biblical Narrative" (Basic Books, 1981). A few years ago, I wrote a book, "Theo-storying: Reflections on God, Narrative, and Culture." A friend of mine, who has since passed away suggested that I might benefit from Robert Alter's work on narrative in the Hebrew Bible. I …

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“Idea Tribes” and “Pravda”

On By missionmusingsIn Commentary, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Maybe it has always been this way, but there seems to be an increase of intolerance in recent years. Yes, I know that in many things--- race (maybe), sexual orientation, and lifestyle choices--- there seems greater tolerance. But intolerance of divergent viewpoints seems greater. I could be wrong, but it makes sense. We are group-creating …

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