Coffee with Creamer

Barry concludes his series on the artifacts of higher education and church life. We have so much to gain from being involved in faith and learning communities, as we all need someone else to tug on our bootstraps from time to time.  

Barry describes the odd artifact of many Sunday morning services, where we all sit looking toward the front as the preacher tells us things that (hopefully) we already know. It is similar to a college class and the interaction between professor and student. What is it that keeps these dinosaurs from going extinct?     […]

Barry reads some poetry to remind us that time’s winged chariot is hurrying near, and we best make the most of what we have. Whether it’s acknowledging the importance of people who are living, people we have lost, or the people we are to become in our remaining time, this stuff matters. Poems: To His […]

Barry explores a story in the Old Testament that reminds us of a glorious truth in the New Testament. In his peaceful comfort in Persia, Nehemiah begins with heartfelt intercession for the people in Jerusalem, and then moves to incarnation as he goes himself, and identifies with the sins, sorrow, and shame of His people. […]

Barry heads to Psalm 82 for a productive counseling session with God. Just as when we go to counseling to talk about all those people that are at fault, there is always that awkward moment in the session when the counselor (in this case, God) turns the focus to you, to us. We are the […]

Barry covers a narrative in Matthew 16 where Simon receives two names. The first one is quite wonderful—Peter. The second one… not so much. The connection between this confession and rejection is undeniable: to accept Christ’s identity means to embrace (and follow) his purpose. Scripture: Matt 16:13-28  

While we think of worship as something going from us to God, it is also important because of how it moves between us, and how it prepares us to receive from Him. When we run out of thanks, He still has more to offer than we might find on our own.       Scriptures: […]

Barry talks about the things we do and don’t realize about the world in which we live, the relationships we have to others in that world, and the nature of the table to which Christ invites us.       Scripture: 1 Cor 11:28-34 Books: The Human Condition, Hannah Arendt, On Christian Doctrine Book III, […]

Barry walks through Psalm 80, utilizing a repeated phrase to evaluate our need and our provision. We bring two things to the equation of this relationship with God: need and willingness to remain under the weight of his glory. God brings absolutely everything else. Scripture: Psalm 80  

Barry concludes the conversation about what it means to both do and be human. It is humbling to realize that our mundane processes can provide for us and others, our work can shape the way people see and live in the world, and our presence and actions can make all of us together more like […]