Author Archives: Richard Heyduck

Steve Sjogren’s seventh path, Inclusive, is inaptly named for us in the mainline churches. When we use the term “inclusive,” we’re usually talking about gender/racial/ethnic boundaries. Sjogren uses the term as synonymous with (or very similar to) what others call … Continue reading →

Sjogren’s seventh path on the way to becoming a “perfectly imperfect church” appears very rarely in church growth books. He says the church needs to be Safe. “Feeling ‘safe’ is the assurance that nothing is going to be forced upon … Continue reading →

In his prescription for struggling churches wishing to become “perfectly imperect,” Steve Sjogren has so far stuck with the usual fare. The next path he suggests breaks the mold – Fun. He says, “I have come to the conclusion that … Continue reading →

Within a long report by John Allen in the National Catholic Reporter, I found the following: In graduate school in the 1950s, Ratzinger found himself fishing around for a topic for his Habilitationsschrift, the book-length contribution to research a German … Continue reading →

This is the week when all the public schools in Texas are taking the TAKS Tests. These are the standardized tests by which we as a society allegedly judged the success of our schools as well as of our students. … Continue reading →

In addition to being Simple, looking Upward and Outward, Sjogren says the church that wishes to become “Perfectly Imperfect” should be Anointed. In my United Methodist tradition I’ve only heard that word used to describe Jesus as the Messiah – … Continue reading →

Listening to the live feed from Rome, it sounds like the Pope is Joseph Ratzinger. The feed must have heavy demand, so it keeps cutting out. UPDATE: The Washington Post’s article reports the opinion of an American Catholic: The Rev. … Continue reading →

Christian philosopher Gilbert Meilander discusses feeding tubes and their removal from patients. A good discussion of the issue.

Steve Sjogren advises struggling churches to get Simple, look Upward, and work Outward. Sjogren first came to my attention as the strategist behind Servant Evangelism, and reaching people for Jesus remains noe of his strongest suits. Worship and evangelism are … Continue reading →

My favorite NT scholars include N.T. Wright, Gordon Fee, Richard Bauckham, James Dunn & Ben Witherington. The last of these has a new website up.