I have not done this in a while, but I thought I’d just reflect on several things in small doses. Donald Miller says that he doesn’t “go to” church very often and it creates a firestorm of protest from Evangelicals who are kind of freaking out. But, in his response to the first article,… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Random Thinking
You Have Put Gladness In My Heart
As I have traveled around the world this past month, I have thought a lot about the human condition and what people are looking for. From airports to cafes, from sprawling third world cities to the center of political power in the world, from spiritual holy cities to rural villages to schools and orphanages and… Continue Reading
Bonhoeffer on the Kingdom of God and Self
Doing research tonight and I was reading about the German Confessing Church during the Nazi regime of the 1930's and 40's. Of course, I ran across Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German Christian, Pastor, and philosopher who opposed the Nazi regime on the basis of Christian fidelity. Here are some quotes that challenged me deeply: “Jesus Christ… Continue Reading
The Deadly Danger of Being Hard to Impress
We live in a world that gets bored easily. We keep looking for the next big thing – for something spectacular. At any moment with a click, we can watch the greatest singers and athletes in the world. We can see every beautiful spot on the planet. We can hear the best music, read the… Continue Reading
The Five Books In My Bag This Week
Some pertinent quotes from the five books that are in my bag this week. This might become a regular feature on Downshoredrift. I read a lot and I tend to study in according to themes and movements. This is what I've been reading and working through this week, personally and for our church. Maybe you will find… Continue Reading
I Am Haunted By Waters
"Like many fly fishermen in western Montana where the summer days are almost Arctic in length, I often do not start fishing until the cool of the evening. Then in the Arctic half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River… Continue Reading
Notes, Quotes, and Links: Pentecost and World-Change
Sometimes, I link to stuff on Facebook just as a placeholder for things that I find interesting or thought-provoking so that I can go back to it later. Not all of it makes it to Facebook, however, because I realize that I am junking up all of my FB friend's feeds with stuff that they… Continue Reading
I am thankful to God for . . .
His grace, love, and mercy. My amazing, talented, beautiful wife. My children. They are my heart. My church. What a privilege it is to pastor at Gateway. My mother, father, sister, and extended family. Friends. Daily bread and provision. Good memories. Beauty all around me. Hope. The times we live in. Redemption. Good coffee and… Continue Reading
Downshoredrift Twitter Updates for Last Week or Two
I use Twitter a lot for updates and links to interesting articles that I find. I recently disconnected my Facebook from my Twitter, so if you don't follow me on Twitter, you might want to check out what I've been linking and tweeting over the past week or so. "@PastorTullian: Suffering Does Not Rob You… Continue Reading
How Republicans Can Win the 2012 Elections
With the sweeping victory by Republicans over Democrats yesterday in the congressional races, all eyes now turn to 2012 and the presidential and congressional elections. Don't you wish that political parties would actually focus on governing instead of just positioning themselves to win elections and amass more power for themselves? But, everything is about power… Continue Reading