Tag Archives: conversion
Continuing Conversion
From the Bottom Up: Summary Continuing Conversion Tuesday, December 26, 2017 My friend Brian McLaren expertly maps the process of rebuilding Christianity in his book The Great Spiritual Migration. In the introduction, Brian explains how humans are people in motion, as evidenced by anthropology, the biblical Exodus, and Jesus’ disciples who were to “go into… Continue Reading Continuing Conversion
The Great Emergence
Emerging Church The Great Emergence Sunday, November 26, 2017 I have come to set fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already blazing. —Luke 12:49 Protestants and Catholics recently honored the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. In 1517, when Martin Luther posted his “95 Theses” or complaints to the church door in… Continue Reading The Great Emergence
Thomas Merton, Part I
Mysticism: Week 2 Thomas Merton, Part I Thursday, October 5, 2017 Thomas Merton (1915-1968) was born in France and lived most of his adult life as a Cistercian (Trappist) monk at the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Kentucky. He died tragically in Bangkok of accidental electrocution. Merton has been a primary teacher and… Continue Reading Thomas Merton, Part I
Being Your True Self
Sin: Symptom of Separation Being Your True Self Monday, August 21, 2017 It would be absurd to suggest that someone go into a room she is already in! —Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582) [1] “Sin” primarily describes a state of living outside of union, when the part poses as the Whole. It’s the loss of any… Continue Reading Being Your True Self
Life as Participation
The Apostle Paul Life as Participation Thursday, May 18, 2017 After conversion, you don’t look out at reality; you look out from reality. In other words, God is not “out there”: you are in God and God is in you. You are in the middle of Reality! You’re a part of it. It’s a mystery… Continue Reading Life as Participation
Paul’s Conversion Experience
The Apostle Paul Paul’s Conversion Experience Tuesday, May 16, 2017 All of Paul’s major themes are contained in seed form in his conversion experience, of which there are three descriptions in Acts written by Luke (chapters 9, 22, and 26). Paul’s own account is in the first chapter of Galatians: “The Gospel which I preach… Continue Reading Paul’s Conversion Experience
True Conversion Never Stops
Contemplation True Conversion Never Stops Friday, February 10, 2017 A consistent practice of contemplative prayer is essential for rebuilding Christianity from the bottom up. Over time, repeated, faithful practice sets us on a new foundation. Actually, it was always objectively there, but we were not awake to it and actively drawing upon it. Contemplation helps… Continue Reading True Conversion Never Stops
Unitive Consciousness
Paul: Week 1 Unitive Consciousness Tuesday, March 8, 2016 After conversion, self-consciousness (in the negative sense) slowly falls away and is replaced by what the mystics call pure consciousness or unitive consciousness—which is love. Self-consciousness implies a dualistic split. There is me over here, judging, analyzing, labeling that or me over there. The mind is… Continue Reading Unitive Consciousness
What Is Conversion?
Paul: Week 1 What Is Conversion? Monday, March 7, 2016 “Suddenly, while he was traveling to Damascus and just before he reached the city, there came a light from heaven all around him. He fell to the ground and then he heard a voice saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ ‘Who are you,… Continue Reading What Is Conversion?
