In a culture that prizes speed, efficiency, and constant productivity, even the church can feel swept into the current. Calendars fill, programs multiply, and ministry begins to resemble a race rather than a pilgrimage. But what if the gospel calls us not to speed up but to slow down? The Slow Church movement offers a … Continue reading Rediscovering the Rhythm of Slow Church
Book
The Gentle Art of Letting Go: A Reflection on Impermanence, Interbeing, and Selflessness
There’s a quiet wisdom in pausing to breathe and smile. Gary Gach’s gentle nudge toward mindfulness reminds us that spirituality isn’t about grand revelations—it’s about tuning into the present with eyes, heart, and soul wide open. In his book Pause, Breathe, and Smile, Gach highlights three jewels of spiritual insight: impermanence, interbeing, and selflessness. Together, … Continue reading The Gentle Art of Letting Go: A Reflection on Impermanence, Interbeing, and Selflessness
No Shopping Carts at the Door of the Heart: Practicing Intention Without Expectation
In Pause, Breathe, Smile, Gary Gach challenges us with a radical invitation: to live with pure intention, without bargaining for results. He asks, “How can we protect our seed intention of awakening from being tainted by our inclination of predicting profit, calculating our gains?” The imagery is vivid — the moment we act with expectation, … Continue reading No Shopping Carts at the Door of the Heart: Practicing Intention Without Expectation
Salvation Beyond the Script – Jesus Meets People Where They Are
In traditional settings, we’ve often reduced salvation to a moment: a prayer, a decision, a confession. But in The Dinner Church, Verlon Fosner reminds us that Jesus saw things differently. His way of welcoming people into grace was relational, patient, and wide. Fosner writes, “The only problem is that Jesus embraced many people who did … Continue reading Salvation Beyond the Script – Jesus Meets People Where They Are
Reflection: Salvation, Stigma, and the Search for Wholeness – After reading Garth Mullins’ Crackdown –
I have not finished reading Crackdown by Garth Mullins. I am still on the journey. I am reading, listening, feeling, and trying to understand. This is not the kind of book to read quickly. It is not a story that ends in neat resolution. It is a living testimony, deeply personal and painfully honest. It … Continue reading Reflection: Salvation, Stigma, and the Search for Wholeness – After reading Garth Mullins’ Crackdown –
Embracing “Always Here, Always Now”: Gary Gach’s Path to Presence
Gary Gach's book, Pause, Breathe, Smile, offers a profound yet accessible approach to mindfulness, centered on the idea that "Wherever we go, we’re always here. Whenever we’re there, it’s always now." This statement underscores the core of his teachings: the essence of presence. The Power of Being Present Gach's philosophy emphasizes that our experience of … Continue reading Embracing “Always Here, Always Now”: Gary Gach’s Path to Presence
Embracing the Mess – Grace at the Table
When we think about starting a new ministry or inviting people to church, many of us imagine neat, orderly gatherings filled with polite conversations and familiar faces. But what happens when those who come to the table bring not just hunger for food, but hunger for healing—along with trauma, raw emotions, and messy stories? In … Continue reading Embracing the Mess – Grace at the Table
From Pulpit to Table – A New Way of Being Church
In The Dinner Church: Building Bridges by Breaking Bread, Verlon Fosner presents a vision of church that moves away from the pulpit and toward the dinner table. He challenges traditional methods of ministry and invites us to rediscover how the early church gathered—around food, fellowship, and the simple telling of Christ’s story. He writes, “Pastors … Continue reading From Pulpit to Table – A New Way of Being Church
When the Light Is Hidden: Reflections on the “Darkness” Chapter in Framing Faith
Darkness has always unsettled us. It disrupts clarity, confronts control, and forces us to face what we often avoid—grief, doubt, brokenness, and vulnerability. But in his chapter titled “Darkness” from Framing Faith, Matt Knisely offers a grace-filled invitation: to see the dark not as absence, but as a place where God is deeply present and … Continue reading When the Light Is Hidden: Reflections on the “Darkness” Chapter in Framing Faith
Framing Faith: Learning to See the Sacred in Everyday Moments
In our fast-paced, hyperconnected world, moments often slip by unnoticed. We rush from one thing to another, rarely pausing long enough to reflect, let alone truly see. Matt Knisely’s book Framing Faith is a soulful invitation to resist this hurried way of living. With the heart of a seeker and the eye of a photojournalist, … Continue reading Framing Faith: Learning to See the Sacred in Everyday Moments
Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary: A Reflection on Matt Knisely’s Words
"Ordinary moments are the pages in our life's story. But the reality is, there is nothing ordinary about our lives." — Matt Knisely, Framing Faith When I first encountered these words, they stirred something deep within me. We often focus too much on chasing big achievements and forget to appreciate the simple beauty in our … Continue reading Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary: A Reflection on Matt Knisely’s Words
Happiness: Insights from Gary Gach.
In "Pause, Breathe, Smile: Awakening Mindfulness When Meditation Is Not Enough," Gary Gach offers valuable insights on happiness: "The happiness and suffering of others are not separate from my own happiness and suffering; that true happiness is not possible without understanding and compassion; and that running after wealth, fame, power, and sensual pleasures can bring … Continue reading Happiness: Insights from Gary Gach.
The Intersection of Christianity, Zen, and Tao: A Path to Universal Spirituality
Humanity's quest for meaning has inspired a rich tapestry of spiritual traditions that address profound questions about the divine, the self, and the universe. Christianity, Zen Buddhism, and Taoism each reveal unique yet harmonious perspectives on truth, life, and the sacred. These traditions are further illuminated by the wisdom of contemporary thinkers and spiritual leaders, … Continue reading The Intersection of Christianity, Zen, and Tao: A Path to Universal Spirituality
Let the Power of Love Change the World
In a world filled with challenges, chaos, and constant change, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the problems around us. Yet, amidst it all, there is one force that has the potential to transform everything: love. As Debasish Mridha, an Indian-American physician, philosopher, and author, beautifully reminds us: "Let the power of your love change … Continue reading Let the Power of Love Change the World
Reclaiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World: A Thoughtful Provocation by John Shelby Spong
John Shelby Spong’s Re-Claiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World challenges traditional understandings of scripture, offering a reinterpretation that invites readers to engage with the Bible as a dynamic and transformative text. Spong’s work addresses a pressing question for modern believers and skeptics alike: How can we approach the Bible in a way that honors … Continue reading Reclaiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World: A Thoughtful Provocation by John Shelby Spong
Creating Spaces of Love and Communion: Lessons from Counseling Lesbian Partners
Joretta L. Marshall’s Counseling Lesbian Partners is a profound and inspiring resource that sheds light on the unique psychological, social, and relational challenges faced by lesbian couples. Through a pastoral theological lens, Marshall bridges faith and psychological care, offering a compassionate and affirming approach that invites readers to re-examine traditional perspectives that have often excluded … Continue reading Creating Spaces of Love and Communion: Lessons from Counseling Lesbian Partners
Walking the Third Way: Embracing Unity and Inclusion in LGBTQ+ Conversations Within the Church
In his book, A Letter to My Congregation: An Evangelical Pastor’s Path to Embracing Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender People into the Company of Jesus, Ken Wilson insightfully offers us “The Third Way,” a new approach to inclusion. This framework challenges the traditional binary of affirming or rejecting and instead calls for a radical form … Continue reading Walking the Third Way: Embracing Unity and Inclusion in LGBTQ+ Conversations Within the Church
David Giffen’s “Redemptive Trauma” is a good reminder not to define people by their behavior.
Four years ago, I purchased a book titled "Redemptive Trauma: Confessions of a Defrocked Priest" by David Giffen, my colleague in Toronto. This memoir chronicles the significant events in David's life. It delves into his reflections on past errors and his path to self-discovery and healing. Although David and I have different life backgrounds and … Continue reading David Giffen’s “Redemptive Trauma” is a good reminder not to define people by their behavior.
The beginning of the way
The Tao Te Ching, also known as Laozi, is a Chinese classic considered the foundational work of Taoism and traditionally credited to the sage Laozi. It is an essential text for Taoism and has significantly impacted Chinese philosophy and spiritual practice. At the beginning of The Tao Te Ching, the author says, "The expressive Tao … Continue reading The beginning of the way
The gift of “pausing”
In Gary Gach's book, "Pause, Breathe, Smile: awakening mindfulness when meditation is not enough," Gach wrote: "Pause and look within. Is our goal in life only to satisfy our immediate desires? Is it all just entertainment? Are we here only to cultivate an image? Are we only sleepwalking through it all, or are we awake? … Continue reading The gift of “pausing”