Radically Happy

  • Paleo-Evangelical Christianity

    I consider myself a “Paleo-Evangelical” Christian. Like my counterparts in the first century, I have had transformational encounters with the person of Jesus Christ and am devoted to making him known as the Risen Lord; but am still working through which of my inherited cultural understandings and religious teachings are…

  • Reclaiming Eden, Part II: Adam’s Weakness

    Continued from Part I. Man and Woman were walking by a range of hills. Suddenly, a gleam of light caught Woman’s eye.  She glanced up, and saw a beautiful blue sparkle high up on the side of a cliff.  “Oh my,” she said, “how lovely!  I wonder what that is?” Without…

  • Reclaiming Eden, Part I: Eve’s Triumph

    The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal GOD had made. He spoke to the Woman: “Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?” The Woman smiled and said to the serpent, “Not at all. Actually, God did not tell…

  • The Rule of Ernest the Sinner

    Spirituality for the Complexity of Adam Hat tip to St. Benedict The Three Imperatives Glorify God Make the Cross attractive by loving God, our Selves, and our Others as Jesus does Cultivate self-differentiating Relationships, Metrics, and Practices that help us further the First Imperative Write up your own Rule

  • AORTA Adolescence: The Perpetual Practice of Growing into Christ

    It may be too late to have a happy childhood, but it is never too late to have a turbulent adolescence! We as a society have lost sight of what it means to grow up. And that’s a good thing! The gift (and curse) of the Enlightenment is that each…

  • Scapegoat: A Love Song

    To the tune of Titanium (by David Guetta) Inspired by the example of Jesus. [Verse 1] I may have flaws, but not the ones you’re calling out You’re talking lots, not saying much I’m criticized, so you can cover up your pain You tear me down, I don’t fight back…

  • The San Jose Declaration: Ending the Abortion Wars

    April 1st, 2031 A.D. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the San Francisco Revival of the 2020s was an end to the politicization of abortion, in a way that seemed unimaginable to those who lived through the culture wars that peaked during the Trump presidency.  While extremists on both sides…

  • I Am Affirmations

    I am a child of God I am omnipotent within scope I am the One who brings the dawn I am Gandalf the White I am the super-father of Silicon Valley I am a Spiritual Entrepreneur I am the best thing that ever happened to you I am the one…

  • Broken Words: Lament of the Spiritual Entrepreneur

    Broken words and broken hearts, Broken lies keep us apart How can we speak a truth we’ve never heard? Broken words inside my heart, They are tearing me apart How can we save the world with broken words? Broken Words

  • The Universal Commandment

    Enjoy, Love & Glorify God, Ourselves & Others As Jesus Does Corollary: The Meaning of Life God, Us & Others Enjoying, Loving, & Glorifying, God, Ourselves, Others & the World

  • Spiritual Christianity Poster: Primitive Faith for a Postmodern World

    [Final version of Spiritual Christianity: Theology, Simplified] PassionTalks Poster Session, August 11, 2018 Convergence House of Prayer, Fremont, California https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1r85tCpqvFYNHYQAsp-F7XTtH1C-Yhzpj1NfBTrXRHOI/edit?usp=sharing PT18-SpiritualChristianity-d

  • Monk’s Redemption: A Psychological Allegory

    The Vision
I see a locked door. In a dark and scary place, like a monster movie. Big, iron, with crisscrossed chains and padlocks.
Natalie walks up holding a flashlight. Monk trails behind nervously.
Suddenly Stottlemeyer steps in front of them. His eyes are bloodshot, as if he has been drinking, crying, or…

  • The Sinners Prayer, 2.0

    Dear God, Thank you for creating me in Your image, and for loving us like Jesus. Make me more and more like Jesus as I listen to your Word, your Spirit, and your Body. Heal the wounds in my spirit that keep me from loving You, myself and others as…

  • Reconciling Theology and Spiritual Christianity

    When I was a student at Caltech in Pasadena, I used to visit the Fuller Seminary Bookstore.  One day, I saw a small shelf labelled “Practical Theology.”  I turned around and looked at the rows upon rows of bookshelves filling the small building and asked, “Then what in God’s name…

  • Spiritual Christianity: Theology, Simplified

    Update: Accepted as a Poster Session. Slides now available. Abstract submitted for PassionTalks 2018 on Saturday, August 11th at Convergence House of Prayer in Fremont, CA. Spiritual Christianity arose from a series of blog posts I wrote to prepare my seven-year-old daughter for baptism.  I wanted her to start out…

  • Anjali’s Catechism: A Childlike Invitation to Spiritual Christianity

    Are you ready to: Embrace the One who created the universe as your Heavenly Father who loves us like Jesus?

  • Lesson 6/6 Joy (Anjali’s Catechism)

    Spiritual Maturity: Thanks God made all of us on purpose. We are happy when we obey that purpose. We become happier the better we understand and live out that purpose. We share many purposes with other people, because God made us the same: Our bodies are happy when we eat…

  • Lesson 5/6 Courage (Anjali’s Catechism)

    Faith: Wise Risk It would be wonderful if everyone knew how to find real happiness, glory, and relationships by believing in the same God Jesus did. However, believing in God is not learning a fact, such as: 2 + 2 = 4 Grass is green I prefer berry pie to…

  • Lesson 4/6 True Love (Anjali’s Catechism)

    Worship: He’s Worth It The whole point of becoming a Christian is to know and love God, ourselves, and others the way Jesus did.  But what exactly is love? We use the word “love” whenever we strongly desire or value something.  But there are three very different kinds of love: Happiness:…

  • Lesson 3/6: The Wound (Anjali’s Catechism)

    Holiness: Open to God Lots of people admire Jesus.  Even those who aren’t Christians often consider him a  model for how human beings should treat each other. Last time we talked about skills that help us become more like Jesus.  So why doesn’t everyone practice those skills? Why do we ourselves often…