A Pastor in the Parish

Are you familiar with the traditional Catholic web...

2012-05-25T14:36:52.024-04:00

Are you familiar with the traditional Catholic website and YouTube channel of Most Holy Family Monastery?

www.vaticancatholic.com

www.youtube.com/user/mhfm1

Lots of eye-openers there! Would warmly recommend.

Heston, I used to manage a camera store and sold ...

2012-05-18T10:05:19.564-04:00

Heston,
I used to manage a camera store and sold cameras well. Mainly because I did exactly what you describe. I asked a whole lot of questions and found out what the customer was planning on using the camera for. That was not the same as a sales pitch where I try to talk someone into buying something that might not fit his/her needs and only sought to unload merchandise. I am thinking here of the in-home exhibitions of vacuum cleaners who made sales pitches but could care less about me. I think that is very often our model of what sharing faith is supposed to look like. "What's it going to take to get you behind the wheel of this shiny-looking faith?"

My simple point is that the notion of "reaching" people is inherently one-sided. "Let me give you this stuff you need" without any connection or relationship or real knowledge of the other.

Brian, my view of sales has changed drastically af...

2012-05-18T01:35:08.082-04:00

Brian, my view of sales has changed drastically after reading a few books on the subject recently. The best sales people apparently don't try to "sell" in the stereotypical sense. They become "assistant buyers." They seek to know the needs of the person they're in front of so well, that they can make the most relevant of suggestions.

God is so big, and has so many facets, that trying to ramrod any particular facet is like taking shots in the dark. What if we sought to know those around us so intimately that we could recommend to them the very thing they're looking for?

Shelley, Thanks for writing. I received comments...

2012-05-17T16:07:53.094-04:00

Shelley,

Thanks for writing. I received comments all through Holy Week. They were in three general types. Attempts at humor, anti-religion, and in the spirit of the question asked. The third type increased as the week rolled on.

I won't be in New Haven this June. My family and I will have just (hopefully) completed a move and we will all need some time adjusting to our new surroundings.

I look forward to meeting you at some other time... maybe next year.

Peace.

Hi, I'm the Lutheran campus pastor at Eastern ...

2012-05-17T15:42:09.660-04:00

Hi, I'm the Lutheran campus pastor at Eastern Washington University. I'm curious how your cross and nails continued to work. Did you get any more "hits"? Somehow I found your site as I was poking around the internet. Thanks for your observations. Hope to see you at Yale in June. Shelley Bryan Wee

Yes,The body of the Christ given for you.your time...

2012-04-04T02:20:42.106-04:00

Yes,The body of the Christ given for you.your time will be okay.sell my house

2012-04-04T02:08:22.130-04:00

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

That's why I said, check back with me in a cou...

2012-04-03T15:09:06.702-04:00

That's why I said, check back with me in a couple of weeks. See if I succumb or not. :)

Great post and good luck selling your house. Anec...

2012-04-03T15:07:49.105-04:00

Great post and good luck selling your house.

Anecdotally, a friend of mine had his house on the market for almost a year and they kept getting the same advice. His wife buried St. Joseph in the yard and they got an offer in under a week!

Welcome to my blog http://my-way-here.blogspot.c...

2012-02-14T11:24:36.749-05:00

Welcome to my blog

http://my-way-here.blogspot.com

Interesting indeed. I do not think it necessary to...

2012-01-24T16:59:26.650-05:00

Interesting indeed. I do not think it necessary to be a Lutheran based upon this translation. In fact it is not even necessary to be a Christian. Moreover, it is no longer necessary believe in Jesus or know Him for that matter based upon this tranlation. Who cares about hermenutics? The authors (not translators)take matters into their own hands with interpretations and distortions. The great commission is no longer necessary. Atheism appears more attractive based upon this insight. As for me, I believe that everyone who believes in Jesus will be saved. See Matthew 28:18-20. Footnotes page 1658. Darrell Heun

It is my understanding that the Nazi's did suc...

2011-12-31T15:02:32.316-05:00

It is my understanding that the Nazi's did succeed in creating a German Protestant church devoid of the Christian tradition it once had, and that is precisely what led to the creation of the Confessing Church movement, which was supported and sustained by Lutheran churches across western Europe and England. Given the first comment, it would seem as though more remains of the Nazi's church than Bonhoeffer and his Confessing Church advocates would have ever dreamed Germany would accommodate, 60 years after the Nazi's demise - a telling fact to observe.

I have long admired Bonhoeffer's work, trying to save the Lutheran Christian church in 20th century Germany, but, as an American and a person who admires Jesus for his philosophical and spiritual teachings, I am dismayed that today, here in America, we live in a police state that has accreted over the last 50 years, which has waged covert warfare against law-abiding citizens illegally until 2002, when George Bush legalized it, which has given us millions more citizens who are civilly - and actually - murdered (that is to say, they have NO civil rights), in effect creating a secret army which would have been a dream-come-true for the SS and yet, no church has batted an eye at the MILLIONS of innocent lives that are destroyed by this government.

What difference does it make, Brian, if you idolize Bonhoeffer but are unwilling to act as he did?

http://www.dontfearyourfreedom.blogspot.com/2010/10/you-are-not-free_23.html

Chris Sim’s intriguing article crossed my path - i...

2011-12-02T21:31:57.829-05:00

Chris Sim’s intriguing article crossed my path - if by accident or design would be begging the question. What I found intriguing is that it is written from a secular humanist’s worldview drawing the conclusion we as Christians should have – seek the truth.

“…(I)f the supernatural does exist, then suddenly (Shaggy and Scooby a)re not cowards anymore. They're perfectly reasonable people (well, person and dog, but you know what I mean) who have come to a rational, logical conclusion that there are things out there beyond their mortal understanding.”

The secular humanist presupposes the supernatural doesn’t exist. From this POV the supernatural is nothing but malevolent monsters.

“The bad guys in Scooby-Doo prey on superstition, because that's the one thing that an otherwise rational person doesn't really think through. It's based on belief, not evidence, which is a crucial element for the show.”

You contrast faith as being the answer as opposed to fear. Yet from Sim’s worldview, “ Scooby-Doo is a cartoon about kids looking for truth.” When the secular humanist hears faith, all he thinks is blind faith without evidence. They just as well have faith in fairies.

Trust is a better word to use. As Christians we are charged to always be prepared to give an answer for the reason of the faith that we have. I Peter 3:15. We need to be prepared to give evidences that Christianity is true. Frank Turek’s “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist” or one of Lee Strobel’s books “Case for the Creator” would be a good start.

Brian, very moving. Thanks for sharing this and ...

2011-11-17T11:33:01.041-05:00

Brian, very moving.

Thanks for sharing this and giving such a good example of how to leave well. God bless you in your new call, you'll be in my prayers.

Hi Brian, That is an odd assortment of adverts. I...

2011-11-03T15:41:24.571-04:00

Hi Brian,
That is an odd assortment of adverts. I normally get one's that are for schools or games. I assume that the formula Facebook uses is based on your profile information and what advertisers pay for. My guess is that "dating" services pay for any male (married or not). So that probably is simply enough to get those throw at you. I've switched to the Timeline format for FB. For me there is an option to hide individual advertisements. I think this allows FB to get more specific in what it offers. That might be the best option for you.

Peace,
Noah

I am hesitant to use the word "requirement.&q...

2011-10-03T13:44:40.657-04:00

I am hesitant to use the word "requirement." The promise is precisely free. But I am also keen on discipleship. The commitment that Christ shows to and for us is the seminal event that moves and enables us to follow him. The suffering that we experience with the promise is, I think, two-fold. First there is the suffering brought on by the world as it reacts against the witness of Christians.

The other is internal to us. Perhaps it is a subset of that first. Our old sinful self, knowing that it is dying, reacts against the life that Christ brings to the new life. And we can suffer as that inner turmoil rages.

There is perhaps a third kind of suffering. Suffering through the transformation of our lives. If Christ transforms us, and I think he does, we are likely to feel discomfort, in much the same way the athlete feels discomfort as her body is strengthened and prepared for her competition. Muscles are sore. Body parts can hurt. But it is a good hurt.

My lay leaders are always welcome to write prayers. None have yet taken me up on the invitation to write prayers for Sunday morning. I get them prayers usually on Thursday, but they can write more for Sunday.

I think that in a way we do suffer with the promis...

2011-10-03T11:58:58.250-04:00

I think that in a way we do suffer with the promise of new life. The promise isn't free and there are requirements put upon as a result of that. Of course, good Lutherans don't put as much emphasis on the works side of the equation as we are all justified by grace, but I feel there is more to it than that. There is suffering that we should all experience. Too often we think that our salvation should be easy, but I don't think so, there is work here for us. The results may be joyful in the end, but life isn't all fun and games.

On another note, have you considered having the liturgist help write the prayers of the people? It would take some training, but I think that it's a great idea, especially if you have the liturgist say them. It helps enforce that they are the prayers of the people, and not just of the pastor. One of the courses I've had at seminary was Worship Prep for Lay Leaders and we had a section on writing the prayers that explained it in a way that most people would feel comfortable with doing it.

Great thoughts. I like that you refrained from rev...

2011-09-16T04:54:06.808-04:00

Great thoughts. I like that you refrained from reveling in the demise of Robertson as well as the high-pitched hateful shrieking of righteous indignation. So many fall into one of those categories when faced with such callousness. In fact, your demeanor demonstrated as much Christian love as your comments.

Thanks Jonathan... the "mean Jesus"... L...

2011-08-18T23:19:02.285-04:00

Thanks Jonathan... the "mean Jesus"... Love it! certainly not to be confused with Buddy Jesus.

Great sermon! My Mom served as lay preacher at he...

2011-08-18T23:15:57.006-04:00

Great sermon! My Mom served as lay preacher at her church last week while we were visiting, and had to tackle the "mean Jesus" passage as well. She pointed out that the story of the Canaanite woman immediately follows Jesus teaching the disciples that nothing from outside can make one unclean, and when he asks them if they understand, they reply "yes." Then, here they are a verse later being annoyed by this "unclean" woman who they would rather get rid of -- "send her away!"

Thanks Eric. I am glad you found it and enjoyed i...

2011-07-18T10:17:46.618-04:00

Thanks Eric. I am glad you found it and enjoyed it.

Pastor, I found you via Lutheran Chronicle - I rea...

2011-07-18T10:14:08.780-04:00

Pastor,
I found you via Lutheran Chronicle - I really enjoyed your sermon.

I have also found this "loyalty" to be t...

2011-02-27T08:00:35.169-05:00

I have also found this "loyalty" to be true. This age group comes off as appearing more conservative in their religious views than older parishioners.

Steve

Hello, the main aim of Bonhoeffer was not the res...

2011-02-13T14:34:04.586-05:00

Hello,

the main aim of Bonhoeffer was not the resistance but the renewal of the German Evangelical Church (former DEK, today EKD). In Germany there are evil powers trying to turn and to fix publics gaze on Bonhoeffers resistance activity. Everybody must admit that the Third Reich is over and the EKD sill exists with her problems. It is high time to turn the gaze away from Bonhoeffers resistance activity to his activity as reformer of the Church. Assumed Bonhoeffer would be recognized as very gifted theologian and assumed his theology would be applyed the EKD had to change totally.

I have just started a website concerning this issue:
http://www.confessingchurch.wordpress.com

Kind regards,
Rainer Braendlein (Munich, Germany)

The best book of Bonhoeffer: "The Cost of Discipleship" Buy it now!

It's not about liberal or conservative. Remem...

2010-11-02T15:50:55.904-04:00

It's not about liberal or conservative. Remember they stand across the divide of most liberal and conservative splits. They do not find homosexuality objectionable but they have problems with abortion. For the main part, Mainline churches are divided but in the opposite direction. These issues often for a litmus test in both areas... to an extent.