markpowellwired's blog

Worms in the Heart

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:04:00 +0000

Of late I have been grappling with God’s providence and the worms that evil and meanness leave in the heart. First, God does not do or cause evil. (I say this as a belief statement -- one that cannot...

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New Mercies Everyday

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:07:00 +0000

In 1993 theologian George Lindbeck offered his reminiscences of Vatican II. Lindbeck, a Lutheran, was one of 60 "delegated observers" to the proceedings. (see The Church In A Postliberal Age) He...

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That We All May Be One

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:10:00 +0000

"I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in...

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Taking Responsibility

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:26:00 +0000

The Catholic Worker cofounder Peter Maurin said, "The future will be different if we make the present different." I like this quote because it reminds us that we, you and I, are responsible for the...

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Linking to Bonhoefer

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:38:00 +0000

"To endure the cross is not tragedy, it is suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ." -- Dietrich Bonhoeffer If the examples of the saints help keep us to the narrow...

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Change As Loss & Gain

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:39:00 +0000

I was unable to discover who said, "All change is experienced as loss." I wanted to offer the name because I think someone this smart should be acknowledged. This axiom is especially true in...

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The Prayer of Discouragement

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:27:00 +0000

"It is impossible for a person who prays regularly to remain in serious sin; because the two are incompatible, one or the other will have to be given up." -- St Teresa of Avila Is this...

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Pentecost Sunday Posts

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:13:00 +0000

Many of the bloggers who are part of the Christian Century blogging group created posts for Pentecost Sunday. Go here for the link.

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The Liturgical Moment

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:47:00 +0000

I came across a statement on the web today that genuinely both troubled and resonated with me: "All liturgy is pastoral." Really? This caused me to ask: Is the liturgy for me (and the ones for whom...

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Kenneth Allen, RIP

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:17:00 +0000

Recently, The Christian Century advertised this book: God Does Not...: Entertain, Play Matchmaker, Hurry, Demand Blood, Cure Every Illness. It is edited by D. Brent Laytham. The title grabbed me (I...

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Patrick Henry Hughes

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:56:00 +0000

Our preaching theme for the Easter Season has been gratitude. I found this video on Patrick Henry Hughes while researching the final installment and had to share it.

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Funny Baptism

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:10:00 +0000

enjoy:

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Confessing Hitchens & Camus

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Hitchens Brian Lamb, from C-Span, interviewed Christopher Hitchens last night on the television program, Q&A. I generally watch this discussion every Sunday evening; I enjoy Mr. Lamb's demeanor,...

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Holding Hands in Church

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:10:00 +0000

As in most urban settings, people with addiction and mental issues tend to gravitate toward the church. This is true for us because of our location, and it is true because so many with these...

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Work Of The People @ Yale

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:40:00 +0000

Steve Frost, from Work Of The People, made a presentation at Yale on the arts, the media, the liturgy and grace. This is must see. I use their work for many of our visuals and thirdspeople. TWOTP...

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The Liturgy as Discipleship

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:04:00 +0000

What is increasingly a challenge in pastoral ministry is the crunch of time experienced by our parishioners, or what Alexander Schmemann calls the, "nightmarish alteration between rush and...

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Saturday's Gift

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:21:00 +0000

All The Things You Are - Art Tatum

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Food for Thought

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 16:07:00 +0000

Those of us involved in direct church ministry (feet on the ground as opposed to thoughts from the tower) realize the almost constant movement of those in need to our doors. And now, what with the...

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Pagan Christianity

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:14:00 +0000

Frank Viola and George Barna collaborated on a book in 2008 entitled Pagan Christianity, and it may mark the final nail in the coffin of a deconstructed Christendom. Essentially, the book recites in...

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Saturday's Gift

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:43:00 +0000

a little traveling music for saturday... Leap Frog - Dizzy Gillespie

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Pastors Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:57:00 +0000

Once a month I am fortunate enough to meet with three other like-minded pastors. I drive about 40 minutes to meet with them; it is well worth the trip. As you might expect, I find these two hours a...

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The True Self

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:38:00 +0000

It seems more clear all the time that who I really am has been encrusted over the years by layers and layers of self-protection. This is what the contemplatives call the artificial self or the false...

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The Last Generation

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:00:00 +0000

On this Sunday past I presented to our church what I see as our challenges and our future. I did this as part of our Lenten journey, which theme this year is emphasizing taking responsibility, and...

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Finding Faith

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:00:00 +0000

In the March 24 edition of The Christian Century, the Reverend Jeffery Johnson offers a personal essay on the late John Updike. I have already shared my thoughts about this great man of letters when...

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Seeking the Lost

noreply@blogger.com (markpowellwired) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:20:00 +0000

During afternoon prayer yesterday I was reminded of the Zacchaeus story in St. Luke's Gospel, chapter 19. You know the account. It's the story of a tax collector behaving badly, running amok with...

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