*The following are journal reflections from Brendan’s visit to Israel. People Near to Me I grew up in a culture disengaged with the larger world. The sports page in the Sunday paper explored the outermost parts of my earth. The liturgies I grew into never included prayers of peace for … ∞
I (Josiah) have read from the Beatitudes many times. It seems to me to be a picture of God’s coming kingdom here on earth. The poor in spirit will inherit the kingdom. The earth will be given to the meek. Those who mourn will be comforted. It gives the reader … ∞
*Kintsukuroi: (n.) (v.phr.)“to repair with gold”; the art of repairing pottery with gold or silver lacquer and understanding that the piece is more beautiful for having been broken. Dear you, You of the fair skin and see-through eyes, You of the towering stature and dreams’ surprise, You from the … ∞
Yes, there is more to the Sermon on the Mount than just the Beatitudes! Jesus’ lengthy discourse, found in Matthew 5-7 and Luke 6:17-49, addresses several aspects and concerns of Christian life and ethics, from prayer to the problem of false prophets, which are applicable even for us, some 2000 … ∞
An important shift is being made about the study of theological education as regards hospitality. The shift is to a person centered and holistic education. When we think about it and the role of seminary by reason of practice, mission, and faith formation I think of the school in relationship … ∞
I was hired for a unique job at Hope CRC: Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator. I didn’t know what all that would entail, but I knew it involved being a part of the neighborhood youth program. I met with Pastor Dale when I was first hired to go over a few things. … ∞
When I was 20 years old, I became involved in several areas of ministry at my church. My pride flourished over all the good things I was doing for the Body of Christ; yet hypocritically, I was leading a double life. On the one hand, I was serving, teaching, preaching … ∞
Our seminary has recently taken some crucial steps toward illuminating whether or not the seminary is a safe and healthy environment for our female students: focus groups to bring forward the testimonies of women’s experience at the seminary; an executive statement summarizing the discoveries of these sessions for the wider … ∞
It would be nice if a review on a book about the events in Ferguson Missouri, which unfolded over a year ago, would be not be needed. Sadly, it is obvious that the events of Ferguson were not exceptional events. In America today, there is a great need for changes … ∞
In the past year there has been a renewal in the conversation about the experiences of women at the seminary. Last spring just over two dozen women participated in study groups to share their stories. The beginning of November brought the release of a summary of the report from those … ∞
Bees are industrious creatures. They quietly go about their short lives pollinating flowers and making honey. While we may not pay much attention to these little creatures, they provide a fundamental service to humanity. In fact, 1/3 of the food consumed by humans is thanks to bees pollinating flowers. Student … ∞
I did not go to seminary expecting to inherit a cause. No, I went to add some letters behind my name, learn a little Hebrew, and return to editing, a quiet job where I spend most of my time introducing and eliminating commas. I will not speak here of the … ∞
Have you ever considered the sound of darkness? Perhaps that is an odd question for you. Usually darkness is associated with color, not sound. Actually, darkness doesn’t really have a color. Darkness is probably best measured in the absence of light. When we see color, what we actually see is … ∞
What are the social implications of the gospel? This was the question that initially prompted our work on the November/December edition of the Kerux. The writers present a message that is rooted in the vision of never settling for what has been done. In ministry there is always progress to … ∞
At the end of this past summer, I found myself at a picnic bench having an interesting conversation with one of the student leaders from my youth ministry. We talked about the retreats she attended this past summer. Unfortunately, she wasn’t satisfied with any of them. They didn’t solve the … ∞
