The Little Friar

Tikkun Olam is the humane and humanizing Hebrew phrase.  It is also a moral principle to inspire, guide and enable gestures of redemption, acts of mercy, plans for constructive renewal, commitment to the common good, and much, much more. It is a rich, fertile, flexible but focused phrase.  The popular translation is "to repair the world". The current political divisions tearing through the political and cultural landscape of Western democracies have not become fissures overnight.  The subterranean pressures and forces have been building for a long time, weakening the protective layers of decency, trust, the common good, love of freedom, mercy and care for the vulnerable, inter-cultural co-operation and understanding. In the past few years those fissures have opened and out of them have poured some of the most damaging substances for our human future.  The normalization of lying; the prevalence of divisive speech; building cruelty into systems of assessment for so...

I've been training as a theologian for 30 years now.  Of course that's on a fairly generous definition of what a theologian is, and what theology is.  Still, it's true enough that for all of that time I've thought about God, spoken to and with God, praised God and been mad at God, trusted God and been troubled by God.  All of which makes me a theologian even if I had never opened a book. But I have opened books.  Hundreds of them.  I've learned theology and taught theology; I've read it, written it, preached it, prayed it, sung it and most times have loved it.  Because theology is just what the word says:  God-talk.  Words about God and words spoken to God -- and words and the Word spoken by God.  My faith has deep roots in my own experience, but that experience is in turn embodied in a community, and that community is sourced and resourced from within its own story, traditions and convictions, going back to where that story started, in the...

John Perkins' He Calls Me Friend:  The Healing Power of Friendship in a Lonely World argues that forging relationships is the antidote for the poison of racism.  "We are living in historic times", he writes.  "Not since the civil rights movement of the '60s has our country been this vigorously engaged in the reconciliation conversation.   There is a great opportunity right now for culture to change, to be a more perfect union."  Perkins' book is part of Moody Publishers' Salt + Light initiative, which creates church resources linked to its books about racial reconciliation.   The book is a retrospective of Perkins' life as a civil rights leader, and explores the importance of friendship in overcoming the divisions that mark our world -- particularly divisions along racial and social lines. Ever the leader, Perkins calls us to task.  This is an important book that really should not be missed. ____________________ I receiv...

Robert Waligurski's Beware of Hypocrisy:  Who Is Teaching Us What? is a brief book that intends to explore what difference reading the Bible makes for doctrinal formulation.  Unfortunately, though, the book is based on some shoddy historical understanding of the way Christians have thought about the Bible in order to explore doctrine in the Church's history.  Upon that shoddy foundation Waligurski then constructs a paper house that he then tears down. Waligurski goes on a postmodern crusade of his own, to demonstrate that hypocritical nature of the Catholic Church in a variety of ways -- from the priesthood and other sacraments to the nature of doctrinal infallibility.  In the end, the book is a warped theological exposition of a false and warped misunderstanding of Church history. I had such high hopes for this book based on its title and description.  In the end, I was seriously let down by both the shoddy arguments but also the poor theological exegesis ...

Brian Smith's Grief 2 Growth:  Planted, Not Buried explores one topic that none of us can avoid but nearly no one feels equipped to address:  Grief.  Grief that ranges from the expected death of an elderly parent to the raw shocking grief of the death of a child.  Whether we are the griever or the one trying to provide comfort, this is now my go-to resource.  The author, Brian Smith, writes from experience and from the heart.  He doesn't waste time with flowery descriptions, or "filler".  He knows -- first-hand -- what works for a person deep in grief and best practices for those who want to provide comfort.   Most of us can not sit down and focus on reading a lengthy book when in the throes of grief.  Smith knows this and has provided direct, precise, guidance and hope in a book easily read within an hour.  It's a must-read. _____________________ I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange fo...

Brandon O'Brien's Not From Around Here:  What Unites Us, What Divides Us, and How We Can Move Forward brings a pastoral heart together with a keen sociological mind to explore the influence our backgrounds (where we're from) can have on how we relate to one another, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ.  A highly relevant book, difficult to put down, written by a gifted storyteller.  He does this by telling his own story which is the majority of the book.  He gives some facts and figures but concentrates on his own story hoping it will help readers understand rural and urban areas.  He grew up in Bentonville, Arkansas (a dry county).  He studied and worked in suburban Wheaton, Illinois (where Christians served beer and wine at every gathering).  He is now in Manhatten.  While I appreciate learning the best way to catch crawfish and the right way to board a Manhatten bus, I would have preferred stories from a variety of peo...

Jerome Lubbe's Whole-Identity:  A Brain-Based Enneagram Model for (W)holistic Human Thriving is a creative look at the popular Enneagram from the perspective of neuroscience.   Lubbe introduces an unparalleled, science-based method to view our identity through a truly unique model -- "The Brain-Based Enneagram". I was first introduced to the Enneagram as a seminary student and have taken the "type" testing several times in a variety of contexts since.  Lubbe's approach is the most creative and attempts to look beyond one's "type" toward a more wholistic approach, including the role that neuroscience plays in each aspect measured by the Enneagram. For those looking for a richer approach to the Enneagram, I whole-heartedly recommend this workbook. ______________________ I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review here.  

Why Do We Say Goodnight? is an imaginatively beautifully illustrated picture book for children about why we can rest easy at night knowing that God is always there. This book follows a little girl and her mother at bedtime, as the mother comforts her daughter by telling her of the Great Shepherd who never leaves our sides -- even when we sleep.  The little girl is afraid of nighttime and the dark, but she soon learns that God is not limited by the dark, since he made both light and dark, she can trust him to keep her safe.  Original, simple, yet so powerful, with excellent presentation opening up a great conversation about God and how he watches over us, and we can put our trust in him.  This is a book bound to become a nightly tradition for families. ____________________ I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review here.

Henry Says Good-Bye tells the important spiritual lesson of Henry the Hedgehog.  Henry has a ladybug for a friend, and eventually the ladybug dies, leaving Henry very sad.  This book is about dealing with loss and sadness.  This book is based on the model of biblical counseling utilized by the Christian Counseling Education Foundation (CCEF).  It is centered upon Christ and His Word, and this children's story is a fine example of it.  Parents and children will certainly benefit from this book as it teaches how the Lord Jesus provides help and hope in the midst of sadness and loss. The illustrations are phenomenal.  The story is wonderful and a great tool for parents in teaching their little ones how to deal with loss. I highly recommend this book to every parent for every child.  There's no doubt that both parents and children will benefit greatly from this story and the tools that are included in the book.  Buy this book and disciple your ...

Gus Loses His Grip is an important book to help Christian comprehend and practice perspective on the important things in life. Gus the raccoon loves everything sweet.  But instead of being satisfied when he gets a sweet treat, he keeps wanting more and more.  Even when his family reads the Easter story from the Great Book, Gus is distracted by the sweets he craves.  Gus has lost his grip on what’s really important in life. With the help of his family, Gus is able to trade his sweet tooth for something even sweeter -- an appreciation of the sweet things he has in life. Bible verses are used within this cute story and feel a little forced at times, but are still effective.  Adorable characters and vivid illustrations enhance the experience.  Helpful tips for a child who's stuck in the "I Wantsies" is included at the end of the book. This is a must-have for parents and Sunday School teachers! ____________________ I received a free copy of this book from th...

After Christianity Today 's call for the removal of Donald Trump from office a number of evangelical leaders have rushed to Trump's defense including Franklin Graham and now theologian Wayne Grudem . I've met Grudem before.  And he's so well-known in evangelical circles -- having written that popular textbook on evangelical theology and having founded the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.  I have little good to say about his textbook, because I feel it's historically just vacuous.  His approach is undeniably thoroughly "biblical", but it's more like a theological commentary on the concordance than a genuine, exegetically-astute biblical theology.  He basically presents God in the image of the Republican Party and not necessarily the best part of that party in another of his books -- something that, sadly, is just beneath the surface in his textbook.  It's why guys like him ignore Karl Barth to their own peril.  Barth knew first-hand t...

Childermas.  Feast of the holy innocents.  Today goes by a variety of names.  When it's observed -- if it's ever observed -- it names those little children, specifically boys, in and around Bethlehem, who by the accident of birth had the unfortunate luck to be born when Jesus was born.  Herod had them massacred in order to kill Jesus. It's odd to have their deaths mark a day so close to Christmas -- which is why, I suppose, so few of us really even remember today.  But if we're honest, all the haze around Christmas day has already lifted.  The peace and tranquility that names the holy day is shattered so quickly in a world such as ours. Violence, you see, is the way the world is supposed to work.  And threats to power cannot be tolerated, particularly when that power supports the state.  Where does that kind of cruelty come from?  In grew in Herod in stages (as is true for all of us), because it's bequeathed in us from others.  H...

It is no real secret to those closest to me that my Christian community is now fragmented.  I haven't been to eucharist in months my spiritual life has been, as Bonhoeffer once observed about Advent as a whole, lived in a prison cell -- where I wait and hope, believing that at some point God will open the door from the outside. During Advent this year, I began praying my way through the Lord's Prayer.  Again.  This time in the cultural context of the chaotic and at times toxic political climate of this past year.  Whose kingdom counts most?  Whose will to power should we support?  What political leader is the least worst choice when politics itself is losing its capacity for constructive dialogue, civil discourse, a shared commitment to the common good.  Is the Lord's Prayer too heavenly minded to be any use in countering the hard-edged cynicism and divisive rhetoric of life online? And then there's that awkwardly ordinary request for bread.  If J...

Christmas is a celebration that God is for us, near us, because God is one of us.  God comes to us, in the vulnerability of child, to save us from our sins, and to rescue us from the evil forces that oppress us. Christmas promises us that the despots of this age, political or spiritual, are living on borrowed time.  The Christmas story is God's answer to all the evil, injustice, brutality, suffering and death that we see around us. Christmas is the annual reminder that God's liberating love will always find us in the darkest corners of the world.

I was reading through the Annunciation text in the gospel of Luke (1.26-30) this morning.  Specifically, my attention was caught by Mary's reaction to Gabriel's famous "Hail Mary" greeting: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one!  The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." Here's what struck me.  Notice what perplexes Mary.  It's not the angel , it's the greeting .  Mary "pondered what sort of greeting this might be". Ponder that.  An angel has just appeared to Mary.  You'd think that would be the big shocker.  But it's not; it's what ...

Your brightness is my darkness. I know nothing of You and, by myself, I cannot even imagine how to go about knowing You. If I imagine You, I am mistaken. If I understand You, I am deluded. If I am conscious and certain I know You, I am crazy. The darkness is enough. -- Thomas Merton, prayer before midnight mass at Christmas, 1941.

Promises made and kept, but not the way we thought. Prophets foretelling and forth-telling the truth as they saw it. Empires on the make and populations on the move. Mary and Joseph, angels and shepherds performing the first scratch nativity. A baby born in underprivileged circumstances. A refugee family fleeing the slaughter of the innocents looking for a safe home. All told, not the greatest story ever told. Every day the story is retold in Syria, Myanmar on the Mediterranean. Advent is when Eternal love intersects with human history, when reconciliation, peace, justice and hope came gift-wrapped in swaddling cloths.

Winter sunrise at Cades Cove, GSMNP, 2019 Advent joy is the powerful undercurrent which drives forward the history of God's love affair with the world. Advent joy arises from the deep conviction that God is for us, and with us. The Emmanuel promise refuels our hopes,transforms our worldview, and opens us to the risk of trusting God. Advent joy is the default setting of the Christian heart towards Christ, the Prince of Peace. Advent joy has an air of defiance, teaching us to look on life at its darkest, knowing that out of the darkest hours in the life of God, came resurrection and new creation.

Well, it happened.  The final installment of the Star Wars 42-year cinematic saga.  I thought I'd enjoy the film, maybe even write about it. But here's the deal.  It's bad.  It's so, so bad.  There are multiple levels of bad here.  But, since I don't want to ruin the story for those who've yet to see it, I'll place the rest beneath a fold.  Read on, only if spoilers be damned.

I haven't said much about the impeachment process, because there hasn't been much to say.  Impeachment itself is just bringing charges; the charges that were eventually made were, I'm very sure, much more vague and less serious than Democrats were hoping.  To be honest, I had hoped for something with much more teeth -- reflecting any number of what I would personally call "high crimes and misdemeanors".  But I get why that never happened. In principle, of course, since the point of impeachment is to give primacy to the legislature, the House can impeach any civil officer of the United States for anything whatsoever that it regards as misconduct; it is the sole authority on what counts as 'high crimes and misdemeanors', and the power has never been understood to require a legally defined crime at all.  (In the first impeachment that went to conviction, that of John Pickering , it was universally recognized that there was no crime committed in a ...