When Horace Mann (1792-1859), in his design for U.S. public schools, stated that they should teach morals without being "religiously sectarian," most of the U.S. was Protestant. In effect, for decades, the public school functioned as a type of "Protestant parochial school." Now, w/ increasing religious diversity, it's hard to hold the moral center together. We can appeal to our Greco-Roman values, where education was viewed as a humanizing and moral force, but I don't think we can ever go back to the good old days of Horace Mann.

When Mary was filled with the Spirit and conceived the Son of God, her body became the inner court of the Holy of Holies. Never before had a woman entered this sacred space, but in the incarnation, the Holy of Holies came into her space. The incarnation paved the way for Eve's daughters to enter as priests into the sacred zone of the Triune life. In Mary's priestly body, she carried the Great High Priest and the Lamb of God.

In the spring of 2010, I spent weeks in the library at Union Theological Seminary going through the private papers of Wilbert W. White, founder of the Inductive Method of Bible Study. I was concerned that in the hands of Evangelicals, Inductive Bible Study had become too rational 2/ too "scientific," and wondered if such was the case with White's original intent. What I found in his papers was a treasure trove of integration of Spirit and Word. Writing around 1900, White said the following: "Thus we find that in a real sense the author of the Bible is

We are entering the season of Pentecost. I've said for a while that "our vision of Pentecost is too small." We fail to realize that Pentecost is a cosmic event, uniting heaven and earth & bringing creation into harmony. Hildegard of Bingen believed that at creation, there was harmony: “Fire has flames and sings in praise of God. Wind whistles a hymn to God as it fans the flames. And the human voice consists of words to sing paeans of praise. All creation is a single hymn in praise to God.”

In the midst of grief over the recent report on abuse in the SBC, I'm writing a paper for a "Receptive Ecumenism" conference held in Stockholm next month. In my research, I came across a beautiful line from Paul Murray, on the "ecumenism of wounded hands." Murray said, "We show our wounded hands to the other in the hope that the other can minister to us from their strength." Years ago I sat at a table where several religious traditions were gathered.

A few words about deconstruction. In order to move out of toxic environments it is often necessary to exert the power of “I” & stake one’s claim over against repressive system. Once the power of “I” is gained it is especially hard to let go of it, esp. when the “I” is wounded. We can become trapped in our power of deconstruction,& find ourselves in what Mark Taylor calls, “mazing grace”-Endless possibilities & no closures. A life of mutual display, but one fearful of common values, common stories. Longing for community, but afraid it may harm us.

Many years ago, when I was toying w/ the idea of being an Evangelical,I interviewed at a leading Evan. Seminary. At that time, a group of guys, known as “the Gang of Four,” dominated the discussion regarding Scripture. They were suspicious of my Pentecostal faith. On the last day of the interviews, they put me in a large auditorium, with the faculty sitting above me, I sat on the main floor. Then came the questions: “Wouldn’t you say that your movement, with its emphasis on experience, has a low view of Scripture?”

Re-reading the first chapters of Luke in light of the reversal of the curse in Genesis 3. After the Fall, Adam assumes the right to name his wife, "Eve." Patriarchy grows; men continue to speak. But, for the most part, women fall silent. A long silence awaiting Eve's promise. Luke opens with story of Zechariah, who falls silent as a response to his unbelief of angel's message. In the meantime, Gabriel visits Mary. She believes, and is given the power to name: "You will call him Jesus." The next scene narrates meeting between Mary & Elizabeth.

A brief, vulnerable testimony. At the age of 68, I continue to struggle with imposter syndrome. A couple of weeks ago I was invited to participate in the installation of a Bishop of another denomination. I purchased a robe for the occasion picked out the perfect stole. In the end, I did not participate in the processional, nor did I wear the vestments. I sat among the clergy, but without the external trappings. Part of my decision to do so related to my inherent anti- clericalism

A word for those women who have read "Jesus & John Wayne" and/or "The Making of Biblical Womanhood" & are tempted to be angry about their own complicity in toxic systems. When we reach puberty our bodies are flooded with hormonal changes that shape us into "relational selves." Couple this hormonal rush w/ cultural pressures to conform and to "know our biblical place," & you get young adult women eager to please, & willing to let a lot of things go for sake of relational harmony. The "we."

The thing about being an academic is a need to research or find out more. Listening to a podcast can lead to reading several books and articles. You have to watch yourself or your attention becomes hyper-focused on an unplanned "project." My latest inquiry began with an interview I listened to on NPR that talked about the number of women involved in white nationalism. npr.org/2021/01/09/955…

1/ A few weeks ago, the only male student in my preaching class, @rickbradley_ , preached a sermon that was brimming with truth and empowerment. For his preaching practicum, he spoke as a seasoned pastor giving advice to young women- who made up most of the class. 2) His sermon, "When Eliab Speaks to Me," was grounded in 1 Samuel 17, a story of David's brother, Eliab shaming and rebuking David for being on the battlefield where the army was facing Goliath. Rick began his sermon w/ Virginia Woolf's image of "Killing The Angel in the House."

1/ Regarding what I said yesterday about the emphasis on leadership above discipleship, some folk mentioned the influence of secular, corporate models of leadership. This emphasis began early in the 20th-century w/ publication of Gaines Dobbins, "The Efficient Church" (1923). 2/ Dobbins was Professor of Sunday School Pedagogy and Church Efficiency at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Writing in the heyday of big business, Dobbins lamented that the church was backward & inefficient. It needed to enter the modern world.

Thinking about @seanfeucht's plans for a large gathering at Azusa Street. The contrasts between Feught's gathering and the original revival that occurred there in 1906 are striking. William Seymour, leader of the 1906 meetings, was so overwhelmed by the presence of God that he conducted the meetings sitting behind a large wooden shoe crate. He did not want the meetings to be about him; he wanted to give God the glory.

Today, Biden's attendance at church included a visit to his son's grave. A great many Christians do not worship near their ancestors, which is something new in history. We once worshipped with the dead buried in crypts under our feet, or in graveyards next to the church. Modern worship is focused on the here and now, with little regard to the past or the future. Worshipping near the bones of our ancestors keeps us grounded in the past and reminds us of our future.

I recently saw a Facebook post written by an older woman minister in my tradition. For decades she was on the "safe list," meaning it was OK to have her preach because she did not challenge the patriarchy. (Every tradition has "the list.") I remember her reminding us women that our first duty was to our home and husbands. She illustrated by saying that before she left home to preach a revival she made sure all her husband's shirts were ironed and meals were cooked and frozen. No wonder the guys loved her!

If you celebrate Pentecost this coming Sunday as primarily an event wherein individuals are filled with the Spirit, you are missing the whole meaning of what the Orthodox call "The Great High Feast of the Church." Pentecost is not just about me or about you. It's about everything Pentecost is eschatological. To be filled with the Spirit is to be a sign of The End when the whole cosmos shall be filled with the glory of God.
Pentecost is not about a "Holy Ghost Good Time." It is about The Time. The Awesome and terrible Day of the Lord.