Three is a Magic Number

At airport with Paul Raushenbush I was driving down Interstate 70 with Paul Raushenbush , senior religion editor at the Huffington Post, and Romal Tune , social advocate for at-risk youth.   Helping with a national conference called Christianity21 over the last week, I had the privilege of spending many hours airport-shuttling authors and organizers whom I admire.  Romal Tune at restaurant  I asked Paul if he would be writing about the event at Huffington, and he replied, “I’m not sure.   Maybe.   I’d have to think about the angle to write from.”   This launched the Romal, Paul, and I into a conversation about the different lens Christianity21 could be viewed from.   Paul has many really important topics to write about—like the Pope—so I don’t know if something will show up at Huffington or not, but here’s my stab at a reflection on the event. ----- At Christianity21, we didn’t agree.   Twenty-one authors, activi...

At the end of each seminary semester, I’ve written a reflection of my biggest learnings.   Here's the previous ones:   http://christensenshare.blogspot.com/2013/05/its-not-always-been-like-we-think-it-has.html http://christensenshare.blogspot.com/2013/01/end-of-semester-update.html http://christensenshare.blogspot.com/2012/05/view-from-rooftop.html http://christensenshare.blogspot.com/2011/12/so-how-is-seminary-going.html During this semester, I only had one class.   The course is linked to my internship, so I did a lot of examination of and reflection on my internship site, Solomon’s Porch in Minneapolis. Solomon’s Porch is an independent church plant.   Because it’s independent , the founders didn’t have to follow denominational requirements for functioning, organization, or doctrine.   And because it’s a church plant , the founders got to make it up as they went.   It’s a little bit like an open shop at an art studio.   You just go ...

When I explain psychological theory to students, I draw the analogy between theory and a computer’s operating system.   The operating system runs in the background, and for the most part, we are barely aware of it.   Yet, it influences everything we do on the computer.   Only when a PC user gets on a Mac machine (or vice-a-versa) does one become aware of the operating system.   I tell students, “You all have a theory—an operating system working in you.   You may or may not be aware of it, but you have beliefs/assumptions about why humans do what they do.   And these beliefs/assumptions affect how you approach and interact with others and how you make your way through your life.   My goal is to help you raise these assumptions to your awareness and maybe call some into question. My goal is to help you become aware of your operating system, maybe forcing you to try on another theory for a bit so you realize which one you are functioning under.”   Ho...

Today I'm thankful for... 1. These three people.  The little one reminds me I know how to play and reminds us all that life is about being present with each other.  The middle one is the most thoughtful person I know, and has incredible sense of herself, which I hope she holds onto forever.  And the oldest one has taught me that raising a child is a process, not destination, and has provided me with intense joy and pride in his new found maturity.  2. This guy.  He is a source of energy for me.  He makes me a better person, and helps me express who I am. 3. Teaching an online class this term, which has been an incredible challenge for me.  But I have learned a ton about my teaching style and pedagogy through this experiment.  I still don't buy into the model and think it is an incredibly inefficient method of teaching and learning, but I am learning from my younger colleagues who "get i...

Since I am at my internship site for worship on Sundays, I haven't been around my own church (NRUMC) very much.  Paul and the kids are still involved--Samuel is in Wednesday night youth group; Faith and Emilee are in Sunday school; Paul is leading a Sunday morning Rob Bell series for youth; and they all try to make it to worship most Sundays.  The view looking up. Last week, I got missing (longing for) NRUMC.  I had a lot going on in my life, and I just wanted to be around the people who have nurtured me--the people who make cookies for my kids, give me a National Geographic bag when I use a picture from the magazine in a sermon, write me notes of support, stand up for me in meetings, pick songs I like, ask my opinion on stuff that doesn't matter to me, randomly wonder about the Bible aloud in my presence, etc., etc., etc.  Mostly I just wanted someone to ask, "How's it going...

A graph I created for a class. Data from US Gallup Poll- . http://www.gallup.com/poll/1690/Religion.aspx Being at an ecumenical seminary, we talk about the mainline decline .  As bodies, the Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, UCCers, Unitarians, Baptists, and others have a certain amount of anxiety about what's happening to them.  No one can argue with the numbers, the mainline decline is real.  Some see it as a problem in need of a solution. I'm one of those people who believe that the trend is irreversible.  The ship has sailed.   Yet I still choose to stay in my denomination, knowing that God continues to work in these churches.  We still have lots of people to minister to and the finances to do it.  However, I refuse to live in fear of the inevitable collapse--I've given up on worrying about it.  Frankly, I've even stopped worrying about whether all of North American Ch...

 The view looking up the sidewalk from my office I love, love, love walking across college campuses during passing times, especially in the fall after a campus has been asleep for the summer.    Passing times look like a beehive—everyone has a place to go, something to do.   As an undergrad, I remember being in the midst of the hustle, bustle and realizing, “I’m actually a college student!”   During graduate school, I recall holding my head high as I headed to class thinking, “I can’t believe I’m a graduate student!’”   Okay, disclosure time…. After 10 years of teaching in higher education, I still find myself giddy as I walk across UW-Stout’s campus during passing times and marvel at the fact, “I’m a professor!” [Okay, technically I’m a lecturer, but this is a trifling point.]   And when I walk from class to class at seminary, I revel, “I’m a stinkin’ seminarian, for real!” Last night, I went to a book event by Nadia Bolz-Weber, a Luthe...