Author: Doug Harrison

Reasons for my Faith. …from someone who has nothing to prove

Published April 23, 2012 by Doug Harrison

J. Douglas Harrison. The Patient

In the next few weeks I will occasionally be posting some reflections on what it can mean to have faith in a time when the Christian faith may seem, at least to many people, quite unreasonable.

I won’t try to provide irrefutable evidence in favor of the Christian faith. I will not be presenting argumentative ‘facts’ or try to show that Christianity is obviously intellectually superior to everything else as others may have tried to do. I have nothing here to prove. I have nothing here to buy or sell. Instead, I believe there are different genres by which we come to see what moves people to live as they do.

Faith for Reasons.

apologetics Christ Christian Christianity Evangelism faith God grace jesus Religion & Spirituality

“Put a Sock-Puppet in It,” Ancient wisdom that it is better to make a sock puppet than to be one.

Published April 18, 2012 by Doug Harrison

This is a guest post of mine on an otherwise lovley and insightful blog, “Knitting Benedict: The Rule…by hand.” This is one of my favorite blogs to regular. There is hardly a better way, than I can imgaine, to glean wisdom an ancient book of instruction than by taking small bites of it and chewing slowly while working with your hands on small stuff. “Work and pray,” says saint Benedict.

I am in the middle of forging a batch of sock puppets. As I do I cannot help but see the contrasts between the kinds of toys I am fashioning and a stern bit of advice from Benedict’s rule: don’t speak unless spoken to.

Tohu-Bohu

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“No Wonder the Door Won’t Open, Silly. I am Already Inside.” -Three things about being a misfit in communities of grace that I keep having to re-learn.

Published April 13, 2012 by Doug Harrison

Clearly I write from a position of someone who sits near the exit. I love church, but sometimes I find it exhausting. I love my weirdo burner friends, and sometimes they can be a little harsh on my faith. I long to be in Christian community, yet, depending on the community, I find myself itching to get out. I am finding that there are hidden moments of grace ready for the taking in all kinds of communities. And when I am willing to exercise a little humility and receive it, I find that that grace goes further than the edges of my life, and often finds its way into the open wild.

The Impossible Will Take A little While.

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Five Un-truths of Easter

Published April 9, 2012 by Doug Harrison

There are somethings we can mistakenly embrace about Easter that distract us from the real hope that can help shape our lives. These things are worth evaluating, not to deflate us, but to focus us on where the real hope lies.

Living in Easter

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The Impossible Will Take A Little While.

Published April 9, 2012 by Doug Harrison

It is harder than it looks to know how to take Easter. On the one hand it feels like an easy home run, a touchdown, a triumphal entry. But those were the kinds of thing we were celebrating last week. How then is this week different? For one thing it amazes how few people to whom Jesus appeared after the resurrection.

One would think he would be taking out billboards all over town that said, “I told you so!” but he doesn’t. The first to see Jesus would be the last we would expect. It was not the disciples, not even his family, but one of the worst outcasts of all of his company: Mary Magdalene.

"Disappointed with God"

Christian Easter God heart Holy Week hope Jesu jesus Joy kingdom of God lent Mary Mary Magdalene palm sunday repentance trust violence

“Unless our Hopes Fall to the Ground and Die” — We have some grieving to do, but not for Jesus.

Published April 6, 2012 by Doug Harrison

The Gospel of Mark is my favorite. I especifically love the eighth chapter. It is hysterical. I still find myself being caught off guard and LOL-ing sometimes.

The disciples are dolts. They have the hardest time learning the most obvious lessons. Jesus goes and feeds several thousand, gets on a boat with them, and suddenly they are afraid Jesus will be mad because the didn’t pack a lunch. Zheesh. In that same chapter Jesus heals this man in a most unusual way and he has to do it twice. Either Jesus is losing his touch or Mark is writing to try to be be obvious: We don’t see clearly yet. The first time Jesus touches the blind man he sees part way. ” I see people, like trees walking around.” I get that. That makes sense to me. If he is still half blind, then he is not wrong. But there is more to be seen and it will be a shocker. So don’t stop now…

"Disappointed with God"

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“How many hands does it take to wash two feet? All of ours”: One of the defining moments of my life.

Published April 5, 2012 by Doug Harrison

John’s body was less like mine than anyone else’s in the room. In that room full of people with some very unique bodies and abilities, that was saying a lot. Everything in this particular prayer service was going to have a lot to do with what bodies can and cannot do, and how we live with that. It was this night I found and answered a new question:, “How many bodies it take to wash two feet?” Answer: All of ours.

"Disappointed with God"

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Spies Like Us: This is how we are like Judas, and why that isn’t all bad news.

Published April 4, 2012 by Doug Harrison

Throughout the western world the Wednesday before Easter is called,”Spy Wednesday.” It is a reference to the night Judas’ sold-out Jesus to the Roman authorities. It was the night that set the crucifixion into motion. For that he will always be remembered as one of the most evil figures of history. In some parts of the world on this night an effigy of Judas is thrown from high buildings or dragged through town while people throw sticks at it. He is blame worthy, cruel, and the farthest thing from our imagination we would ever want to be. Which is why it is so important for us to see where we relate to him.

Uncategorized

Oil Spill: How much should I be worried about whether God will forgive me?

Published April 4, 2012 by Doug Harrison

In my church we most often confirm people on Easter Sunday. It was the tradition in the area I lived at that time to have a special service on the Tuesday before Easter when members of individual congregations would come to pick up oils blessed by the Bishop to bring back to their individual congregations. I eagerly volunteered and was selected to go and represent our congregation to get the oils. This particular service had a lot of meaning for me and I had been looking forward to actually participating in it for days.

When it came to the big day, I slept through it. I forgot it entirely.

"Disappointed with God"

Disappointment with God: We are in over our heads.

Published March 31, 2012 by Doug Harrison

Disappointment with God: We are in over our heads.

I have come to believe that there can be no mature spiritual life without experiencing disappointment with God. When I was younger I would have cringed at the idea because so much of my faith hinged on my sincerity and certainty of my own convictions. Today my faith requires no less sincerity, but it does ask me to move beyond my own convictions to a place where I can be sure of what I hope for and certain of what I can not see.

"Disappointed with God"