Topics
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anthropology as a guide to faith
In my spiritual background there was little room for creativity, understanding, or messaging outside of a straight and narrow understanding of faith. Christian worldview embodies a clear message, points us to God, is based in the Bible, is mostly black and white, and contains the “truth” of our beliefs, actions, and ways of being in… Continue reading
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experiencing the other
I’m going to begin touching on topics (or beliefs or doctrines) I have personally wrestled with, or am still wrestling through. This is not a theological examination; I am not a trained theologian or pastor or biblical scholar. Nor are solutions and answers presented. My aim is to stir questions, propel reflection, and honor experience.… Continue reading
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“On Creating” – Part 2: worth doing (badly)
by Anthony Martin “To serve a work of art, great or small, is to die, to die to self.” – Madeleine L’Engle On a hill overlooking a wide meadow next door to the house where I grew up is an oak tree with a few rotting boards nailed into its trunk. These misaligned memorials… Continue reading
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“On Creating” – Part 1: some thing
by Nielsen Greiner “We must work every day, whether we feel like it or not, otherwise when it comes time to get out of the way and listen to the work, we will not be able to heed it.” – Madeleine L’Engle Procrastination. Excuses. Apathy. Passivity. Lack of time. No inspiration. These are… Continue reading
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Turn around
“Trifles make the sum of life.” – David Copperfield I almost didn’t turn around. I was about to enter the infamous “canyon road” (Rt. 191) that follows the Gallatin River and would take me home to Big Sky from Bozeman, and where I would lose cell reception. I was already at least 20 minutes and quite… Continue reading
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new (and untold)
For most of us, trying and attempting new things is usually scary and intimidating. It’s uncomfortable, sometimes awkward, and maybe even a little embarrassing…Even though the same position we find ourselves in may come easily and without discomfort to many others, we may have to face fears and apprehensions of our own that others won’t… Continue reading
Big Sky, Christianity, courage, Faith, fear, Just Do It, Life, Montana, New, Ski Instructor, Ski School, Skiing, teaching, Trust, Try -
familiarity
…But when [Christianity’s] fundamentals are doubted, as at present, we must try to recover the candour and wonder of the child; the unspoilt realism and objectivity of innocence. Or if we cannot do that, we must try at least to shake off the cloud of mere custom and see the thing as new, if only by seeing it… Continue reading
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empty tombs, pt. 2: stories
What they were looking at was the first day of a new creation, with a new heaven and a new earth; and in a semblance of the gardener God walked again in the garden, in the cool not of the evening but the dawn. – G.K. Chesterton on the resurrection For almost two weeks, I traveled through Maine… Continue reading
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empty tombs, pt. 1
I’ve recently begun to reread the various gospel accounts of the resurrection, which just so happens to be around the time of Easter. Despite the familiarity of this story and all the cringeworthy “Christianese” cliches, often overdone Easter bunny and Easter egg decorations, and sometimes cheesy church services that accompany it, there has suddenly entered… Continue reading
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nearness
“How can a man remain what he was when he has gotten near God?” the nearness of God… “But as for me, the nearness of God is my good…” We’ve probably all heard the phrase, “Getting” or “becoming closer to God,” as if we bring ourselves near(er) to God through our own efforts, obedience, faith,… Continue reading
a kingdom built of seeds 