@AStratelates @suzania end\ But few are called to advanced, contemplative, psychospiritual rabbit holes. Most believers—and pastors—are simply trying to live faithfully and know scripture a little more deeply. However partial or flawed their efforts, there's immense dignity, grace and mercy there.
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When a kid is learning to drive, one of the first things to teach them is that they’ll go where they are looking. Eyes on the road. If you stare at the ditch, you’re likely to land in it. People don’t realize that this principle applies to all of life. We go with our attention.@nick_routledge Quoted you last night, around Philippians 4:8, and, at 'land in it,' the elder Baptist opposite me, a motorhead if there ever was one, yelled, 'YES!' Seems I finally aligned with the vehicle, guns, hunting, construction imagery saturating rural Oregon faith language! Yay!
@SherPoint 9/ "How can I announce the good news of reconciliation unless I am that?" (Nouwen) These days I’m wholly devoted to a small, rural, conservative congregation, the sublime Christian love of my church family and the supernal beauty of deeply prayerful, intensely corporate faith.
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Painted image of ‘tribal’ cross with calligraphy reading: Grace be with y’all. 1 Timothy 6:21 Hope in the Grove Baptist Church Cottage Grove, OR