The Apocalypse is an unfolding epic story, a full sensory immersion in the story of the Lamb, the revelation of Jesus Christ. The author John, exiled pastor, writer of the Gospel, Apostle, Beloved and friend of Jesus, writes this letter to his seven churches to give them a bigger, truer picture of reality. These churches, living in the shadow of the Roman Empire, are experiencing the pressures of persecution and martyrdom. Life is hard. How will they endure?  

In this paper, I will explore the central figure of Revelation, the slain Lamb, focusing on Revelation 5:6-14. I will demonstrate that the Lamb refers to Christ crucified (the Paschal Lamb), displaying the healing power of cruciform love. To do that, I will focus on Lamb imagery in the Johannine tradition in light of Hebrew scriptures, commentaries, and ancient and modern voices, and propose that Christ as Lamb heals the world through self-emptying love that centers our worship and response. 

The parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 is given to us by Apostle, tax collector and gospel author Matthew. Written somewhere between 60 and 90 A.D., this is most likely the second gospel written (while Origen holds it as the first), reflecting much of the work of Mark. Matthew gives us a comprehensive gospel intended to help pastor a growing Church still under Roman rule in a time of great turmoil and stress.[1]

Some understand this parable as a portrayal of the final judgment and eternal punishment for all those who lack the oil of grace and/or Holy Spirit. Instead, I propose an Emmaus Road interpretation of the parable of the ten virgins from Matthew 25:1-13. I will address the problem of viewing Christ as punisher and excluder as it relates to the loving, healing nature of Christ. To do that, I will explore the meaning of the passage in the context of the book of Matthew, and in light of scriptures, commentaries and articles, and propose that this parable is an invitation to all followers of Jesus to live watchful lives of mercy rather than a prediction of eternal separation and punishment.

An Emmaus reading opens the parable in light of the person and story of Jesus as the full revelation of God. We read by the light of Spirit to see a story of redemption centered in a loving, self-giving Christ present to heal, serve and save. This is the Christ, the bridegroom, we see in Matthew and in this parable offering compassionate mercy that corrects rather than condemns, seeking to bring all to the wedding feast.

Matthew brings us Jesus in full color, sharing extensively from his teachings in the Sermon on the Mount (Ch 5-7) as well as the Olivet Discourse (Ch 24-25). In Matthew we see Jesus teaching, healing, delivering and fulfilling the Messianic prophecies of the Hebrew scriptures. Concerned with the Kingdom, Matthew helps us see the Kingdom, the rule and reign of God, in Jesus.

 The hunger for a more experiential, mystical faith is growing in an American landscape dotted with Evangelical churches too purpose-driven to offer personalized pastoral care for the soul. In this void, many desiring a more transformational, embodied spiritual life are seeking spiritual directors. These guides are trained to listen empathetically and help people understand what God is doing and saying in their lives. “Spiritual direction,” says Richard Foster, “is an interpersonal relationship in which we learn how to grow, live, and love in the spiritual life.”[1]

In an article titled “Growing Demand for Spiritual Directors,” Lisa Wangsness of the Boston Globe writes, “The Rev. Michelle Sanchez, a young evangelical Christian pastor, believes the interest in spiritual direction highlights what is missing from religious institutions today….So many religious traditions end up feeling quite divorced from your everyday life and experience, so it’s essentially irrelevant…I think people are tired of that, and I think they hunger for a God they can experience, that is relevant, and close, and that can actually transform them.’’[2]

Within the context of spiritual relationship, directors open space for seekers to listen to God as well as to their own hearts. The empathy of the director shapes a space rooted in love and ripe for knowing God and self. This experiential knowing of love brings growth and healing. Gregory the Great and other Church Fathers emphasized the importance of spiritual direction in pastoral care as part of the pastoral office and central to a healthy spiritual life.

In this paper, I will explore the centrality of spiritual direction and empathy in spiritual health and wholeness. I will demonstrate that empathy creates space for spiritual transformation as we experience God as love and come to know our true selves in love. To do that, I will focus on the connection between empathy and our experience of God’s love through the writings of Thomas Oden and Gregory the Great as well as Bernard of Clairvaux, Julian of Norwich and Meister Eckhart. I'll propose that our spiritual healing and wholeness come primarily through union with love in God, ourselves and others. 

I never aspired to higher learning. Four years of college definitely felt like enough. Yet when I heard about the masters program at St. Stephens University, studying with Dean Dr. Bradley Jersak and an amazing faculty, I felt compelled. The program seemed tailor-made for my journey as I’ve been renewing and re-forming my faith. I’m finishing the second of four modules, and to say it’s been transformative, stretching, grounding, and soul restoring would not be to understate the impact.

A few friends have asked me to share what I’ve been learning. Then a professor suggested publishing my work. So over time, I’ll be sharing my papers with you. Be forewarned. This is academic writing. You’ll find a bibliography, footnotes, the whole deal. But I also hope you’ll find help in your own journey. This first paper describes the theological underpinnings of what we see in the transformational, face to face ministry of Roots&Branches all the time. I’m not sure whether to say “buckle up” or “enjoy,” so maybe I’ll say both.

Honored to contribute once again to the Global Leadership Network! Here’s an excerpt from my latest article. Click here to read the entire piece.

Our capacity for bounce-back—the ability to recover quickly, stay positive and see new opportunities in the midst of setbacks—has been challenged of late. Perhaps you’ve noticed.

We’re living and leading in liminal space—the time between what was and what’s next. For many, this long season has drained our reserves and reduced our resiliency. We all feel it.

We’re faced with new challenges and new problems to solve that require us to find new ways to live and lead through disruption. For many of us, long seasons in this in-between space can drain our reserves and reduce our resiliency.

How do we get our bounce-back back?

Here’s the good news. Your resiliency is a muscle that can be built with practice. And your past, present and future hold the keys for strength building.

This special blog post features all of Chapter 13, (IN) Body, from rooted (IN): Thriving in Connection with God, Yourself, and Others. This chapter has never felt more timely. Here’s a taste to get you started.

Jesus prays this amazing, confounding prayer. A seemingly unanswerable prayer that communicates the deepest intention of his life and death and resurrection. He prays that we would be one with him as he is one with the Father, that we would be one with each other. In a world increasingly fragmented, fearful, and partisan, the answer to this prayer seems impossible. But the truth is, God has already made the way, and the way is (IN). In Jesus, he invites us to live connected with God, with ourselves and with others in truth and in grace, rooted and grounded in love.

From Dan Henry—my friend and spiritual director—a practice of Awareness, Understanding, and Right Action that leads us into peace. Founder of PilgrimHeart Spiritual Direction, Dan is also an instructor with Sustainable Faith’s School of Spiritual Direction. Find out more here: http://www.pilgrimheart.io/

In the face of great sadness and suffering such as in this current pandemic, is it possible to be at peace?

If you are a follower of Christ, you most likely know the “correct” answer to that question. But sometimes there is a gap between what I tell myself I believe about God, and what the patterns and flow of my life say about what I truly believe. For example, I might declare that I’ve received the peace of Christ, I am loved, and all is well despite challenging circumstances. After all, Jesus promised us peace that transcends understanding. But if, in actuality, the inner atmosphere of my soul is characterized by things like fear or anger, then it’s safe to say that I am not truly experiencing all the peace of God that I’ve been promised.

Several years ago, and well into my “peace-ward” journey, I had one of those rare (for me) moments where I felt I “heard” something quite specific from God. It was more of a nonverbal sense, but the gist of it was, “Dan, the most important thing you can do is to cultivate a peaceful heart.” Cultivating a peaceful heart has been at the center of my reflection and practice ever since. It’s my through-line and spiritual thermometer every day.