Wayward Son

Musician. Composer. Recovering perfectionist. Minister-in-transition. Lover of puns. Hijacker of rock song references. Questioner of the status quo. I'm not really a rebel. Just a sincere Christ-follower with a thirst for significance that gets me into trouble. My quest has taken me over the fence of institutional Christianity. Here are some of my random thoughts along the way. Read along, join in the conversation. Just be nice.

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The Oldest Church in Texas

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Categories: church, Meanderings (look it up)

I don’t know why this came to mind this morning…but I drifted back about 9 years to when I still lived in East Texas. As part of a project I was working on, I went to different towns to research some of the spiritual history of the area. One of the points of interest was a particular church near Palestine, TX that claimed to be the oldest Protestant church in Texas.

The oldest church in Texas was actually a bit difficult to find, because it was not in the usual place you expect to find a church, and wasn’t found on the maps. When I actually found it, its location was very interesting, and very telling.

This is a preview of The Oldest Church in Texas. Read the full post (313 words, 2 images, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)

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The In-Between

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Categories: changing mindsets, Meanderings (look it up)

I like to look at a thing from lots of different angles–both close-up and as part of the big picture.

As I’ve said in earlier posts…I believe that the church is on the cusp of a great shift. I think the growing number of individuals who are finding themselves detatching from institutional Christianity–although they often feel isolated and alone–are actually the beginning of a major structural re-shaping of the church.

This is a preview of The In-Between. Read the full post (684 words, 2 images, estimated 2:44 mins reading time)

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Lightening Up

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Categories: fun

So the last several posts have been so thick with thought that my brain hurts. I’m ready for a break. Not from blogging, mind you–that’s still fun–but from deeeeeep thiiiinnnking. So in an attempt to lighten up…here are some random thoughts.

I am pulling for David Cook to win American Idol (and not just because he’s from Tulsa). Yet, alas, I am too lazy to vote. Who do you like?

This is a preview of Lightening Up. Read the full post (240 words, 1 image, estimated 58 secs reading time)

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The Plumb Line…

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Categories: food for thought, theological questions

(NOTE FROM THE BLOG-MEISTER: I spent nearly three hours working on this post, and I’m still not completely satisfied with it–because it deals with some hot-button issues, and I’m concerned that some of my remarks could be misinterpreted. If you find Biblical error here, please know that I’m in the process of working some things out theologically even as I write this. If you disagree, feel free to comment and tell me what you think. If it makes you think–then I’ve done my job.)
Hot Question 1: Is the Bible the sum total of the revelation of God?
Hot Question 2: Is the Bible inerrant?

These are questions that I put on the table in our home group meeting a few weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised at the consensus of those gathered; I’ll share about that in a moment.

This is a preview of The Plumb Line…. Read the full post (1129 words, 2 images, estimated 4:31 mins reading time)

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Re-Defining vs. Rejecting

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Categories: changing mindsets, church, food for thought

There is a great deal of transition going on right now. More and more people are at different stages of re-thinking the institutional forms of church that we’ve had for centuries. That process can be admittedly a bit messy at times, even within our own souls. We may change opinions frequently as we try, with God’s help, to figure things out.

This is a preview of Re-Defining vs. Rejecting. Read the full post (925 words, 1 image, estimated 3:42 mins reading time)

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The Road

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Categories: Meanderings (look it up), My Story

Every so often I notice some small thing from my past that I can tell was speaking prophetically to where I am today. Little signposts here and there that God has been walking with me.

I wrote this song over 15 years ago. Every so often I dust it off and ponder the lyric, because it so speaks to me personally, even now. Thought I’d share it with you today.

THE ROAD
by Jeff McQuilkin

I’m looking down a long and dusty road
And it’s leading to a place I long to be
I’ve seen this place so many times before
In my dreams
Somehow I’ve known it is my destiny

This is a preview of The Road. Read the full post (368 words, 2 images, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

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What It’s All Going to Look Like

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Categories: Meanderings (look it up), Rantings

After the bajillion cards, letters and emails sent to me by inquiring minds all over the globe* with the pressing question, “What’s This All Going to Look Like? What Will This Re-shaping of the Church Look Like When It’s All Over???”….

I’m happy to say I am finally ready to give you the answer you’ve all been waiting to hear:

(drumroll…….)

I haven’t got a freaking clue.

This is a preview of What It’s All Going to Look Like. Read the full post (531 words, 1 image, estimated 2:07 mins reading time)

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Questions About House Churches

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Categories: changing mindsets, church, house church

In participating in Glenn’s synchroblog a couple of days ago, Tera Rose left a comment on my post sharing a negative experience she’d had in trying to do a home fellowship, and asked some excellent questions about house church. They were so good that I felt it was worth writing a post to respond to her. Below is an excerpt of what she wrote:

This is a preview of Questions About House Churches. Read the full post (1388 words, 1 image, estimated 5:33 mins reading time)
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