Nik P.'s Blog (15)

Breasts, Marketing and Christian Outrage

At midnight, someone logged in and created a fake profile picturing a woman that could have been a porn star. She had an exotic name and God's dispenser of nourishment for her child poked through the thin shirt she wore. She promised to lead me to a land of free ring-tones if I would follow her by clicking her link. The danger is obvious. I hope nobody followed the link to express their outrage. Who knows what viruses infest Free Ringtoneland? How many people fall for such traps, with such bait… Continue

Added by Nik P. on March 28, 2009 at 8:51am — 3 Comments

But I don't have time to prophesy . . .

I just completed writing our 2nd unit evals and now we have a mid-year consultation committee. More writing, more deadlines. In the midst of it, I hear the Lord speaking on various topics. None of His topics have to do with my little career or writing requirements for my job at the moment. I feel the fire shut up in my bones and I'm going mad without enough time to develop what He has placed on my heart. He is telling me to use the internet to explore local barter-economy options to help His pe… Continue

Added by Nik P. on March 6, 2009 at 6:47am — 1 Comment

God is Decorating my Home Church

When I first moved out of the house some 20 years ago, my dad asked what I wanted for my birthday. I asked for a set of 4 chairs that I'd found at Venture (remember that chain you mid-westerners?) I've been re-covering the seats since then, but the blond wood and straight-line Swedish look has gone way out of style. (for me anyway) I am happy to announce that these still-sturdy chairs are finally being donated to Goodwill! After I got the new couch, I knew in my heart of hearts that I wanted 2… Continue

Added by Nik P. on March 1, 2009 at 9:30am — 2 Comments

What is the difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven?

Question: "What is the difference between the Kingdom of God "and the Kingdom of Heaven?
Answer: While some believe that the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are referring to different things, it is clear that both phrases are referring to the same thing. The phrase “kingdom of God” occurs 68 times in 10 different New Testament books, while “kingdom of heaven” occurs only 32 times, and only in the Gospel of Matthew. In r… Continue

Added by Nik P. on February 23, 2009 at 9:01pm — 1 Comment

Furniture for a Cause

We just bought a love seat at Furniture for a Cause. It is run by SAMM Ministries here in San Antonio. I was amazed because it is like any huge discount warehouse store. They have a combination of new and donated furnishings for every room of your home. I am expecially excited because I never did finish re-upholstering the couch that our old neighbors gave to us. It served its purpose for the past year, but I don't need the pressure of seeing the unfinished project that no longer brings me joy.… Continue

Added by Nik P. on February 22, 2009 at 1:30pm — 1 Comment

What is . . . this about a new coffee shop?

The short survey that I posted last week showed that people want an information clearinghouse as well as a social gathering site. So, I started the new tab, "What is. . ?" to gather what we find about the simple church conversation. According to google analytics, which tells me how the site is being used, Rick's old coffee house has been the most popular social draw. We are going to make an open cafe group because many folks just never found Rick's. The second most popular social draw is Aida's… Continue

Added by Nik P. on January 19, 2009 at 11:02pm — 1 Comment

Like a Swarm of Locusts

As I have been thinking about Christian relationships, and how we get along with each other, I have been concerned about the little groups that seem to swarm up. My initial image was a circle of vultures, or a pack of wolves, tearing apart a victim. Why do we swarm up this way? Looking to the Bible for reflection, I recalled that their image was that of locusts, eating the crops. After Moses gives the commandments in Deut 27, I found Deuteronomy 28:38 “You will sow much seed in the field but yo… Continue

Added by Nik P. on January 17, 2009 at 9:47am — 1 Comment

Bible Story Theology

The way that I think about God (my theology) is based on some key Christ-centered images that I see in the Bible stories. • In the victory of the cross, Jesus overthrew violent powers with vulnerability rather than aggression. • By exalting the Lamb, God reached down to provide the divine sacrifice for us with forgiveness rather than vengeance. • Through election to servanthood, God’s chosen people were anointed to serve rather than be served. God’s ways are not like our ways, and He often use… Continue

Added by Nik P. on January 10, 2009 at 8:53pm — No Comments

Why 4 gospels?

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were the most popular tellings of Jesus’ life in the time when they realized they were still alive to tell it and it needed to be passed down. The different stories had slightly different views that reached different peoples in different times. Mark was straight forward, perhaps an early recording without embellishment. Matthew speaks to a Hebrew audience, drawing on Torah and messiah. Luke speaks to a gentile audience, cultured in Hellenism. John comes later with th… Continue

Added by Nik P. on December 29, 2008 at 7:46pm — No Comments

House Church; Missional or Emerging?

There are house churches that are part of the emerging movement. Emerging is a post-Chistendom search for relationship with God rather than a format. Therefore, there is no Christian theology or form that is not questioned and possibly jettisoned in emerging circles. It does not lend it… Continue

Added by Nik P. on December 27, 2008 at 8:36am — 1 Comment

Shalom, God's Wholeness

Originally Posted by Chaplain Nik on October 27, 2008 at 7:34pm I’ve had some interesting conversations lately about my relationship with God. I’ve found myself explaining my postmodern perspective to more than one person, so I decided to just blog it. In the future, I can say, “See the blog entry about Shalom.” Thank you to those who engaged me in dialogue about this; this will sound like a repeat to you. Brief history: I guess it started once Christianity converted gentiles, with thei… Continue

Added by Nik P. on December 19, 2008 at 10:39pm — No Comments

Christian Ministry in a Hospital- Part 3

Living Community, cont. Being a transformational community reminds us that God receives our offerings and reassembles them in new ways. When we offer our praise in worship, service in the kingdom or time in sharing the scripture, we are transformed. God is gathering us as a people, so we journey together like a supportive family. We break bread together, sharing our stories. Our practice of communion was originally a communal meal that deepened relationship; People mostly talk about other peopl… Continue

Added by Nik P. on December 13, 2008 at 11:24pm — No Comments

Christian Ministry in a Hospital- Part 2

LIVING COMMUNITY How do hospital-based clergy practice an open community of witness working in an institutional setting based in modernism rather than a church community based in faith? How is community defined in the open community of witness? The community brought together by the Lamb of God should reflect the character of the Lamb. So, we return to the image of the Exalted Lamb, who reconciles the world. “God’s new creation is by way of the politics of the Lamb. In it, without denying the va… Continue

Added by Nik P. on December 13, 2008 at 11:22pm — No Comments

Christian Ministry in a Hospital- Part 4

Missional and Witnessing Being a missional community reminds us that boundaries are meant to be crossed and wrongs are meant to be forgiven. These are qualities of the Exalted Lamb, reflected in the brazen boundary-crossing of the open community of witness with its radical hospitality and radical vulnerability. Recalling that “the biblical story is always two stories- God’s and ours- told together. To grasp the mystery of God at work . . . [we] must learn to construe divine election as election… Continue

Added by Nik P. on December 13, 2008 at 11:14pm — No Comments

Christian Ministry in a Hospital Setting

My theology of the practice of ministry in an institution is informed by some key Christ-centered images. •In the victory of the cross, Jesus overthrew violent powers with vulnerability rather than aggression. •By exalting the Lamb, God reached down to provide the divine sacrifice for us with forgiveness rather than vengeance. •Through election to servanthood, God’s chosen people were anointed to serve rather than be served. When Christ’s people are elected to serve, by the politics of the cro… Continue

Added by Nik P. on December 12, 2008 at 7:04pm — No Comments

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Faith, Community, Mission

We may live far apart, but we are a community built in, through, and with the indwelling Christ. Our worship is a sacrifice of time, given to know Him intimately. We each serve, minister, and express our Lord Jesus, who is the only Head. Let us be known simply by our love for each other, in anticipation of when every knee will be bent in His Kingdom. And, let us follow the earthly mission Jesus began and passed to His followers to “preach goods news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, recover sight to the blind, let the oppressed go free, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
We are here to support, confront and clarify each other's place as aliens in the world but not of the world. Est: Nov, 2008.

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