Tag: theology

Education For Ministry – Year Four #Episcopal #Anglican

Tonight, I begin the fourth and final year of my religious studies course Education for Ministry. I have surveyed the old and new testaments; church history and this year is theology. This promises to be my favorite year, but I know it will be challenging. This gets into the mechanics of faith, and I am ready for it.

The course is produced by The University of The South which is an Episcopal University in Sewanee, Tennessee. I have learned a lot studying with others and I am grateful for the experience.

Sunday Reflection: Love Over Politics

My friends my butt was kicked spiritually today. At church, this morning my priest admonished/encouraged our congregation to put brother/sisterhood above politics. Everyone was called out in his homily/sermon. I know he is right that my love for my brothers and sisters in humanity is more important than politics. That is truth.

Also, truth is that my faith informs my politics as to what makes me, me. Right now, too many people are suffering and there is so much injustice that you cannot ignore it. Righteousness sometimes means disagreeing with your brothers and sisters in a profound way.

It is my hope that I can learn to be more loving and caring for those who disagree with my personal brand of theology and politics. When it comes to the ones you love the most you must make that personal decision how you will react to what they have to say as it comes to their own politics and philosophy.

I suppose this is what reconciliation is about. That word is about action and challenging work. It’s what the world needs more of these days. Good luck to all of us in all that.

What my priest said is something that I hope to apply to my life. However, it won’t be easy. We are human, tribal, and very stubborn. Let’s see how it all goes.

The Thing About The Changing Us

Everyone has some sort of rule of life, philosophy, personal theology or another guide that helps them through life. All of it should be fluid and flexible. Perhaps it should evolve as you change and as the world changes. Yes, circumstances and life changes that are unavoidable. The more that we approach life from an open mind the better off we are. If we do this more people can come into the big tent which is a good thing, right? The thing about us is that we can change how we do things and commune with nature and our fellow human beings.

More to follow as I adapt and change and all that jazz.

Quote Of The Day

The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.

Thomas Merton