Author Archives: Richard Heyduck

About Richard Heyduck

Pastor of Hardy Memorial Methodist Church, a Global Methodist Congregation. PhD Fuller Seminary MDiv Asbury Seminary BA Southwestern University

Try Harder

Posted on December 10, 2011 by Richard Heyduck

I looked at Martin Heidegger a few times over the years and never got much out of him. Most of what I found there seemed like gibberish. Then I found the podcast of Hubert Dreyfus on Heidegger I thought I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Ecclesiology, Max Weber, Nihilism | 1 Comment

New Mission Field

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Richard Heyduck

In case you haven’t heard, I am entering a new mission field in January. At that time I will join the faculty of Wiley College, a United Methodist school in Marshall, full time. Many have asked, “Why are you quitting … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Growth Drivers

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Richard Heyduck

We United Methodists have been rather obsessed with growth of late. Unfortunately, our obsession seems to be often driven by a fear of decline. We know the reality of decline too well. Many of our churches are shrinking, many are … Continue reading →

Posted in church growth, Discipleship, Perry Noble, United Methodism | 1 Comment

Church and Seminary

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Richard Heyduck

There’s a discussion about the “Future of Seminary Education” going on at Patheos. One of the responses to a post by Fred Schmidt led me to make a comment. It ran a bit long, so I thought I’d post it … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Ecclesiology, Education, United Methodism | 2 Comments

Discipleship Teeth

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Richard Heyduck

From Gil Rendle’s newest book, Journey in the Wilderness: Part of the current challenge for leaders in our mainline churches is the dual task of not only knowing what to do but also knowing what not to do, what to … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Ecclesiology, United Methodism | Leave a comment

Will Willimon on the 9/11 Decennial

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Richard Heyduck

Christianity Today’s latest issue features responses to the tenth anniversary of 9/11 from several Christian leaders. Will Willimon’s is the sharpest. Just consider this one line: The criminals who perpetrated 9/11 and the flag-waving boosters of our almost exclusively martial … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Gil Rendle – Journey in the Wilderness

Posted on August 27, 2011 by Richard Heyduck

We will be reading Gil Rendle’s book Journey in the Wilderness: New Life for Mainline Churches here in the North District next month. It is well worth reading for all of us in the United Methodist Church who desire to … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, church growth, Culture, United Methodism | Leave a comment

Join the Conspiracy

Posted on August 22, 2011 by Richard Heyduck

In his book The Divine Conspiracy Dallas Willard says that when people are connected with Jesus through faith, “their union with Jesus allows them now to be a part of his conspiracy to undermine the structures of evil, which continue … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Spirituality | Leave a comment

Christian Perfection

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Richard Heyduck

Christian Perfection is something John Wesley taught. It has been retained in the current United Methodist Church in the question asked of those being ordained Elder: “Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life?” The expected … Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Perfectionism, Sin, Spirituality | 1 Comment

Eternal Truth

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Richard Heyduck

I read in the preface of a book I just picked up: “We know that truth is eternal and unchanging.” My problem is that I don’t know that. Sure, if I were convinced that Plato got it right, I’d think … Continue reading →

Posted in Epistemology | Leave a comment