Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Knack For Noticing

Home
About
Preaching Resources
Small Group Studies
Events
A/V Media
Categories
- Biblical References
  - Corinthians
- Church Year
  - Ash Wednesday
  - Easter
- Mission Work
  - Send Hope
- Preaching
  - Preaching Paul

Home
Progressive Christian

2013-05-24T08:19:43-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

You too?

Last updated on: May 24, 2013 at 8:19 am By Alyce McKenzie

This summer I’m going to the reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg on its 150th anniversary. I am not a Civil War buff, though I do find it interesting. I’m going in place of my dad. My dad, Robert H. Fowler, Sr., was a Civil War Buff, published Civil War Times Illustrated magazine and wrote an award winning novel on the Civil War entitled Jim Mundy. He passed away 11 years ago. My 3 siblings and I grew up in... Read more

Uncategorized

2013-05-20T08:28:43-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Boot Against the Wall

Last updated on: May 20, 2013 at 8:28 am By Alyce McKenzie

I was on a 6 pm flight from Memphis to Dallas several months ago. I had given several lectures at Memphis Theological Seminary. I had preached at their midweek Chapel service. I was physically and mentally fatigued. It was a small American Eagle plane, the kind that has two seats on the right and one on the left and no first class. I had somehow gotten the best seat in the house! I was sitting in the first row on... Read more

Uncategorized

2013-05-06T18:03:06-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Saying Nes and Saying Yo: Discernment and Indecision

Last updated on: May 6, 2013 at 6:03 pm By Alyce McKenzie

“Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No.’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:37) Lately I’ve been translating this verse, Let your yes be “Not really, but maybe” and your no be “Sure, I guess I not.” (Matthew 5:37 the MCV version of the Bible = McKenzie’s Corrupted Version) I was doing so well earlier in the year with defining my core purpose and my essential identity and gifts and what my priorities need... Read more

Uncategorized

2013-04-20T14:09:07-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“A Psalm for Boston?”

Last updated on: April 20, 2013 at 2:09 pm By Alyce McKenzie

For a long time Psalm 121 has been one of my favorite psalms. I used to think the opening was lovely and inspiring “I lift up mine eyes unto the hills. Whence cometh my help? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” I still think it’s inspiring, but in a more “Yikes, let’s get real!” kind of way. Because the hills are seen as places of danger. Ambushers, avalanches and wild animals come down from the... Read more

Uncategorized

2013-04-11T07:38:42-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Really? You’re Not Taking Any Notes??

Last updated on: April 11, 2013 at 7:38 am By Alyce McKenzie

I don’t give exams in my Introduction to Preaching classes. But maybe I should start. I don’t give exams, but, instead, students are evaluated on the basis of their sermons, the content based on a written manuscript, and the delivery in class. They also write several response papers to books I assign them to read. From week to week, class consists of some combination of lectures, class discussions, and guest speakers. There is a lot of good material put out... Read more

Uncategorized

2013-04-19T14:20:40-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

My New Motto

Last updated on: April 19, 2013 at 2:20 pm By Alyce McKenzie

Three occasions have arisen recently in which I have had to stand and deliver and, thank God, been able to do so. I am aware that the origins of “stand and deliver” are when English Highwaymen would stop carriages and demand that people deliver their jewels, pocket watches and valuables. It may be a dicey historical metaphor, but let’s just harvest it for the concept of coming through with what is needed in a tight spot. The first occasion was... Read more

Uncategorized

2013-04-08T10:45:43-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

How to Write a Pompous Letter

Last updated on: April 8, 2013 at 10:45 am By Alyce McKenzie

I get asked to write a lot of recommendation letters. Today I’m writing three of them. Perhaps because I have so many other things to do today, I’m wasting time staring at my computer screen, pondering the particulars of letter writing, with which, up until now, I have not unduly concerned myself. How should I open a letter to scholarship granting organization about which I know little and in whose ranks I know no one? This calls for trying out... Read more

Uncategorized

2013-03-20T14:03:34-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Harnessing the Darkness

Last updated on: March 20, 2013 at 2:03 pm By Alyce McKenzie

As Easter approaches a lot of people are under the mistaken belief that being a Christian means living in a state of untroubled emotional bliss. They may feel that periods of anxiety and depression make one repellent to God. They may feel that they should not even attempt to scale the Kilimanjaro spiritual heights of Easter Sunday joy. When preachers pray before they preach “Lord, help me to get out of the way so your message can be heard,” I... Read more

Daily Life Experiences

Easter depression anxiety

2013-03-18T09:26:48-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What Gives??

Last updated on: March 18, 2013 at 9:26 am By Alyce McKenzie

A pastor friend of mine told me the following story recently. About ten years ago he was serving as a local pastor in Houston and owned a lake house on Lake Livingston in East Texas. The house was located in a wooded area with only two other dwellings nearby. His neighbor to the left was a vociferous atheist. His neighbor to the right self identified as a lapsed Catholic. My friend was planning to sell the lake house to finance... Read more

Uncategorized

2013-03-06T20:11:45-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Getting Our Story Straight

Last updated on: March 6, 2013 at 8:11 pm By Alyce McKenzie

I am teaching a course on preaching and storytelling at Perkins School of Theology this spring. Every Tuesday afternoon from 1:30-4:20, 12 of us gather to hear stories, tell stories. and reflect on why they are such a powerhouse and how they function in our lives. We’re shaping an understanding of Christian preaching as placing our lifestories in the context of a larger Story with a better preface and a whole lot better ending that the shrunken, shriveled stories we’re... Read more

Uncategorized

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the Bible say about using one's gifts or talents?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Hide them Use them for God's glory Brag about them Waste them

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Ash Wednesday Biblical References Church Year Daily Experiences Daily Life Experiences Easter Gospel of John Humor Life of Prayer Mission Work Preaching Send Hope Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 March 2016 February 2016 July 2015 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 October 2011 August 2011 July 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010

TRENDING AT PATHEOS Progressive Christian