Friendship Weighs More Than Ideology Michael Jinkins Not long after beginning as Assistant Pastor at the historic Beechgrove Church in Aberdeen, Scotland, our Senior Minister, the Reverend Tom Alsup, asked if I would be willing to visit regularly with a particular member of the congregation, Dr. David Cairns, Professor
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor” (Part 3) “The Listening Neighbor” Michael Jinkins There is no place in this country where ideological disputes rage with more vigor, and often viscous, violent rhetoric, than in higher education. Colleges, universities and seminaries are intended to provide a place for free-wheeling debate,
June 7, 2019 A Neighbor Within (Part 2) Michael Jinkins We all know the parable. While on a journey a man falls victim to robbers who beat him, take his money, and leave him for dead. As he lies beside the road, three other men come along, one after
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (Part 1) Michael Jinkins Just recently there was a fascinating article on National Public Radio about a congregation in Raleigh, North Carolina, that had found a “Center” that holds in this highly divisive time: White Memorial Presbyterian Church, a congregation of about 4000 members.
“Our Original Vocation” Michael Jinkins The first thing we learn in the Bible about God is that God is Creator. This seems to be God’s vocation. And one of the first things we learn about humanity is that we are gardeners. It seems that this may be our original
When Justice Goes Mad Michael Jinkins “A time is coming when [people] will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him, saying, ‘You are mad, you are not like us.’” St. Anthony of Egypt (c. 251-356) There’s an interesting connection, in
“The Miracle in the Moment” Michael Jinkins “To treat life as less than a miracle is to give up on it. “ – Wendell Berry Perhaps the truest, purest form of thankfulness is simply not to take life for granted as we are living it. Just paying attention
“The Gift of Adversity” Michael Jinkins Several years ago a friend gave me a small marble plaque with a quote on it from Sir Winston Churchill: “When you’re going through hell, don’t stop!” While you could always count on Sir Winston to find just the right phrase to buck
“Some Christians Give Christianity a Bad Name” Michael Jinkins Some Christians give Christianity a bad name. This is not a new thing. Skip a stone across the ripply surface of history and we are likely to hit so many shame-filled incidents starring Christians as villains that will make
April 19, 2019 “The Passion Never Ends” Michael Jinkins Today is Good Friday when we observe the crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus. Today is the hinge on which turns Holy Week. Together with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday provides that point in time and remembrance when betrayal leads to