Category Archives: Uncategorized

Confirmation Class Syllabus

Posted on February 7, 2023 by Richard Heyduck

I’m developing content for our confirmation class. Here’s a draft of the syllabus. Any opinions? Confirmation Class Syllabus Purpose of the Class: Students will learn the basic content of the Christian faith and our Methodist tradition, learn how to practice … Continue reading →

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The Absolute Basics of the Wesleyan Way

Posted on July 28, 2022 by Richard Heyduck

The United Methodist Church is, after years of inner dissension, at the beginning of formally breaking up. In some places (like my own Texas Annual Conference), the monetary cost of disaffiliation is low. At the other extreme conferences like Baltimore … Continue reading →

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An Illustration of Why Latin Can Be Useful

Posted on July 27, 2022 by Richard Heyduck

Christian theology has often affirmed Si comprehendis, non est Deus. In English one might translate it as “If you understand it, it’s not God.” This statement gets at the basic idea of apophaticism: God is beyond us, not just quantitatively … Continue reading →

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The Problem of Perfection

Posted on October 5, 2020 by Richard Heyduck

One of the essays I ask my Ethics students to write is on Moral Expertise. They write on whether there is such a thing as Moral Expertise and, if there is, what it looks like and how it can be … Continue reading →

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Powell & Argue – Growing With

Posted on November 23, 2019 by Richard Heyduck

Note: A free copy of this book was sent to me by Baker Book Bloggers for purposes of review. Growing With: Every Parent’s Guide to Helping Teenagers and Young Adults Thrive in Their Faith, Family, and Future is a helpful … Continue reading →

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Psychiatry and Ministry (sort of)

Posted on February 25, 2018 by Richard Heyduck

Pretend this piece on Slate Star Codex isn’t about psychiatry but about ministry. Alexander describes two ways of understanding psychiatry: Attitude 1 says that patients know what they want but not necessarily how to get it, and psychiatrists are there … Continue reading →

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Everything (not) Going My Way?

Posted on February 13, 2018 by Richard Heyduck

Sunday morning while I was standing outside greeting people as they were entering church someone’s greeting (and I’ve heard this before from time to time) was, ‘Is everything going your way?’ They were trying to be nice & I know … Continue reading →

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Thinking about Immigration

Posted on January 19, 2018 by Richard Heyduck

Immigration has been a contentious topic in the USA for some time now. If one pays any attention to our political discourse, it’s hard to miss. Here are some of my thoughts and questions on the subject. Why do we … Continue reading →

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Controlling our Speech

Posted on October 3, 2017 by Richard Heyduck

One doesn’t have to read far in scripture to see that speech is powerful. In Genesis 1 God speaks creation into being. A couple chapters later the serpent’s speech leads Adam & Eve to their doom. In the New Testament … Continue reading →

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Heaven’s Flames & Hell’s Gates

Posted on July 18, 2017 by Richard Heyduck

For several years now, I’ve seen churches hosting a dramatic presentation called Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames. The one I went to focused on the horrors of hell, the uncertainty of life – we could die any moment, and the … Continue reading →

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