Though I live in and love the mountains, I try each year to make at least one trip for a getaway to the ocean. This, for me, is the best of both worlds. The Colorado Rockies give me my hiking, deep wooded forests, refreshingly clean and thin mountain air and then – at their pinnacle – the feeling of standing on the top of the world. Theirs is the place of wildlife and plant life – of magnificent sunrises and sunsets. For me, the mountains are the true birthplace of serenity.

But then there’s the ocean. That mighty and massive body of water, never failing to communicate to me just how small I am and how large the Presence that is ‘in’ and yet ‘beyond’ me (and all things!) is. And to think that I can know such a Presence and even be a part of this One’s nature – there’s such power in owning this thought. Continue reading…

The other day I read a statement from a spiritual teacher who said that “The great teachers of humanity become streams of love.” As I believe that love is the greatest power in the universe, this statement obviously caught my attention. Of course, this echoes Jesus’ promise that those who trust in him (that is, the Way and path that he opens up into the Infinite) will flow “rivers of living water from your innermost being.” The more I reflected upon this, the better it seemed and the more it grew on me.

For one thing, this opens the door for all of us to become great teachers of humanity. Each of us, in our own ways (and within our own ‘gardens’) always has the option of being such a stream. The people who cross our paths are often in need of love – the ultimate ‘water of life’ for those parched souls not quite sure how best to find refreshment and quench their thirst. Continue reading…

For those who are familiar with the teachings of Jesus (also as repeated by his followers), there was a certain over-arching paradox to what he referred to as ‘the kingdom of heaven.’ While it’s fairly common to hear Christians today still speak in terms of a ‘kingdom,’ I think if Jesus were among us teaching in more contemporary terms he’d probably use a phrase like ‘the nature of oneness’ or ‘the ecology of God’ or some such metaphor. Not many of us, especially in the West, live in a priestly setting within occupied territories we hope to gain back – it made more sense in Jesus’ day than in ours.

At any rate, his focus was often on helping others see how he and the one he called ‘father’ were one. His famous prayer in John 17 was that all of his followers and even all who would come after his time here on earth would know that they were also one with the father. This was his revelatory message. Oneness was the revelation of Jesus the Christ. Continue reading…

As someone not confrontational by nature, I tend to avoid conflict. It certainly wouldn’t be a stretch to say that I’m tension averse. Ironically, because of this aversion, I can list any number of times that by avoiding entering into tension, the resulting outcome was much worse than if I had! And so I find it a bit ironic that my chosen occupation demands I confront the tension of not wanting to enter into tension by doing just that! I’m starting to sound like the apostle Paul – “that which I do not want to do I do…” Any psychologists out there who can help?

To some degree, I suppose all of us are in the peace and reconciliation business. For instance, who among us hasn’t faced the need to address the periodic tension that occurs in our familial relationships or at work or even play? It’s inevitable – where two or more are gathered together, eventually tension will arise. How we deal with it can bring life or death, healing or hurt, dignity or disaster. Continue reading…

My friend Brian McLaren wrote an excellent trilogy entitled A New Kind of Christian, the first installment releasing nearly a decade ago. Very soon, a very enlightening book entitled A New Kind of Christianity will hit bookstores. I think what resonates with me in all of these works is Brian’s unique ability to help the masses see the need to reframe the Jesus narrative in ways that are fresh, authentic and that put the idea of being ‘missional’ in a helpful, versus harmful, light.

I often speak of the need to employ a ‘contributing’ rather than a ‘conversionistic’ mindset – one that is more inclusive and servant-oriented rather than threatening, exclusive and fear-based. After all, if ‘God is love,’ then perhaps we who seek to represent such a God should invest some serious internal self-reflection asking whether our approach to others best represents such love. Continue reading…