St. Patrick: More Than Green Beer & Four Leaf Clovers

There have been few historical Christian communities that have had a more significant role in shaping our community’s postures of life and mission than that of St. Patrick and the Celtic Christians.  Living as a “sent” people who were committed to rhythms of common life, this band of early Christians embodied missional-monastic community in a context …

When Dreams Meet Reality: Life in Intentional Community

After years of being a youth pastor, I remember the time I came home from yet another event that required endless administration, energy and resources and asked myself, “Is this what it means to be the Church?  And if so, there have to be better ways to embody the supposed life-giving, relational aspects of Jesus …

Sitting at the Unlikely Kingdom Banquet

As I scanned the room electric with people from such vastly different backgrounds, yet interacting in such dynamic ways, I couldn’t help but seeing this as a snapshot of the Kingdom Banquet Jesus describes in Luke 14.  All having been invited because of some personal connection with someone in our community, I talked with a …

The Real Santa Claus and a Homeless Jesus

As I read this reflection on St. Nick in the Common Prayer liturgy the other day, I was stirred at the contrast between the selfless generosity of this saint and the consumerist wish lists we now associate to the modern Santa Claus. While, there is almost no chance Jesus was born in December and Christmas …

Stories Behind Our Gifts (Re-Posted)

This is a post I wrote last year around this time.  It seems quite timely on the eve of Black Friday. This is a great season to allow our values to be reflected in the way we spend our money.  It is so important for those of us who have endless products at our disposal …