Program Opening Comments Avoiding work is an art form. When I delivered pizza and things were slow, I might take the long way back to the store. When I worked in a warehouse, I was taught to “ghost,” which means to carry a clipboard and a pen and look purposeful. But I really honed my craft in the business world …
The Demons’ Power: Fear
This is our final stop on our journey with 4th century mystic Evagrius Ponticus. On our travels, we have encountered Evagrius’ bestiary of demons – demons of desire: gluttony, lust, and avarice; demons of resistance: sadness, anger, and acedia; and demons of reason: vainglory and vanity. We also added shame to Evagrius’ list. I hope that this helped name the …
Demons of Reason (Sermon and Program)
Some have requested that I make the opening and closing comments to our conversations available as well as our programs. Bear in mind that the conversation is a conversation, so the middle part is just questions that may or may not have been asked on Sunday. I hope they are questions readers will find fruitful to consider. Program Opening Comments …
Demons of Reason: Pride and Shame
This week we continue our pilgrimage home to the self and to God through the eyes of 4th century mystic Evagrius Ponticus. The past two weeks, we have discussed demons that attack through the body and the passions. Now we arrive at the reasonable demons: vainglory and vanity, later known together as pride. I say reasonable demons because, according to …
CitC folk out and about
Always nice to see our people pursuing their passions and working for a better world. Jann Aldredge-Clanton was awarded an honorable mention in a hymn writing contest with the Alliance of Baptists, the organization to which our church belongs. The hymns were written to celebrate 25 years of ministry and mission by the Alliance and were intended to give voice …
Demons of Resistance (Sermon and Program)
Some have requested that I make the opening and closing comments to our conversations available as well as our programs. Bear in mind that the conversation is a conversation, so the middle part is just questions that may or may not have been asked on Sunday. I hope they are questions readers will find fruitful to consider. Program Opening Comments …
Demons of Desire (Sermon and Program)
Some have requested that I make the opening and closing comments to our conversations available as well as our programs. Bear in mind that the conversation is a conversation, so the middle part is just questions that may or may not have been asked on Sunday. I hope they are questions readers will find fruitful to consider. Program Opening Comments …
Demons of Resistance: Sadness, Anger, and Acedia
One of my Lenten practices this time is to fast on Mondays. The hunger is not the worst part. Rather, I find myself watching the clock and wondering when dinner is. When I realize that I’m not going to eat dinner, it is devastating, not because I want the food, but because I want to get away from what I’m …
Demons of Desire: Gluttony, Lust, and Avarice
As I’m sure you all remember, dear readers, we are spending Lent with 4th century mystic Evagrius Ponticus, taking a pilgrimage back to the self and God. Sadly, our journey is thwarted by adversaries, demons that seek to distract us from our task. This past Sunday, we met our first adversary in the story of Jacob wrestling in the night. …
When Demons Attack
I struggle with sin. Not so much the doing of it, though I do my fair share, but the naming of it. I struggle with how to talk about sin or think about sin. Like many of us, I grew up in a church that used guilt and shame to win conversions. And, after the conversion, the guilt and shame …