Gary Neal Hansen's Blog, page 51
June 30, 2015
Whats the Big Deal About Pontius Pilate? (Heidelberg Catechism Q38)
When you set out to comment on a centuries-old document, sometimes your topic is at the heart of your passions. Sometimes, not so much. You just have to deal with each bit, even if it is outside the range of your interests. Or your confidence. Or whatever. I know this: I’ve been blogging my way through […]
June 25, 2015
Letters to a Young Pastor: Get Ready. Get Set. THEN Go.
Dear ______: Thanks for writing back. I’m very glad to be able to talk more about your growing sense of being called to ministry. You had a great insight when you said that you are actually feeling called to seminary. You are right: you still have plenty of time to think about whether you want to […]
June 22, 2015
Cooking, Wrath, and the Suffering of Christ (Heidelberg Catechism Q37)
Yesterday I made a batch of strawberry jam. (Those who follow me on Facebook know jam making is something of an obsession.) Well, I walked away at the wrong moment and the jam burned. The bottom layer went beyond “carmelized” to “carbonized.” Charred black, fused to the stainless steel bottom of the pan. I just hate […]
June 18, 2015
Letters to a Young Pastor: Are You Called to Ministry?
Dear _______: I was so glad to get your email. Seeing your faith develop has been a highlight of these last two years. It has been a great privilege, actually. And now you tell me that you are feeling called to the ministry, or wondering if you are. You ask whether I think this could possibly […]
June 16, 2015
Knowing Christ, Knowing Mystery: (Heidelberg Catechism Q35)
Listen to what Christians say about Jesus and we often fall into two groups: Some want to focus on his humanity, encouraged that God sent us someone who can really identify with our problems — like by being one of us. Others want to focus on his divinity, encouraged that he is big enough to help in […]
June 11, 2015
St. Barnabas: Role Model for Christian Leadership
June 11 is the day Christians East and West commemorate someone who deserves a great deal more attention: St Barnabas. “Barnabas” was actually his nickname: it means “son of encouragement.” That captures his ministry quite nicely. Barnabas encouraged other people to grow to their full potential. People like the Apostle Paul. I’d read the Bible […]
June 8, 2015
Vocabulary Lesson: “Lord”
Close your eyes. Picture yourself walking up to someone and addressing him as “my Lord.” Okay, how did your imagination fill in the scene? What was around you? I’m thinking there had to be fancy clothes, maybe a throne. Had to be some shining armor. The word was more at home at least a few […]
May 22, 2015
Interview on Deepening Our Theological Conversations
Some of the good folks in the denomination’s Theology, Worship & Education office saw my post comparing the pastor’s study group of the Presbytery de Cristo to the “Congregation” of Calvin’s Venerable Company of Pastors in 16th century Geneva. They sensed a connection to one of their own initiatives to spark and deepen theological conversation among sessions […]
May 1, 2015
Interview with Chris Keating on the St. Louis Post-Dispach Blog
This week Chris Keating interviewed me on his blog on the St. Louis Post-Dispach website! He asked some great questions on the background and potential impact of my new book, Love Your Bible: Finding Your Way to the Presence of God with a 12th Century Monk. Here’s how it starts. Hope you’ll click through for the […]
April 27, 2015
How to Keep Unity in Times of Division
I took a trip through a time machine last week, all the way back to Calvin’s Geneva. Okay, not really. Actually it was a Delta flight to Tucson. I got to lead a retreat for the pastors’ study group of the Presbytery de Cristo. Over twenty of them meet every month to study theology together. I […]
