Read and Know and Understand

November 26, 2016 by Jonathan Malone

The sharing of one’s experience will never be full or complete. It will be imperfect as we see in many poorly written memoirs. No matter how much the author opens up, or anyone opens up and shares we can never fully know the other. No matter how much we strive to understand the plight and life and experiences of someone we can never presume to know what kind of hope they may embrace or desire. It will be imperfect, but that should not keep us for striving, with humility, to know and understand someone else, and then to listen for the hope that they desire.

Dylan in Switzerland

November 04, 2016 by Jonathan Malone

People like Dylan are agents of change who are a combination driven, genius and crazy. They are Picasso, Van Gogh, Mozart, Billie Holiday and the like. Often misunderstood, the inspiration they channel sometimes stretches beyond their own comprehension.

Existential Quicksand

October 28, 2016 by Jonathan Malone

People are not alone, in isolation, struggling in their own pit of quicksand. Society, gatherings of individuals need to consider how to be deliberate in their relationships with those who are struggling.

Honestly Tough Love

October 12, 2016 by Jonathan Malone

Part of grief is finding a sense of closure in one’s relationship with the deceased, and covering up the imperfections complicates that closure. It is important to tell the truth.

Johnny! Be Good!

September 08, 2016 by Jonathan Malone

The community of faith can be an important corrective to the selfishness. In a community we hope that there will be a voice calling others to do the right thing, to take a chance. In a community, even when the majority are staying in a mindset of scarcity and selfishness, there is a hope that there will be a voice of dissent that will call the people to turn back to God

Liturgical Laughter

June 25, 2016 by Jonathan Malone

Sometimes it takes humor to start to speak about those hurtful and harmful truths of our world. The jokes that we laugh at and then squirm over are powerful and at times necessary.

Knowing and Knowing

June 03, 2016 by Jonathan Malone

There is no one right way to “know” and experience God. There are ways that may suite us more, but if we lean on one, the other muscles of faith atrophy, which can lead to a crippling doubt. We need to have a balance in the ways that we grow in our relationship with God.

God's Still Small Voice of Silence

May 06, 2016 by Jonathan Malone

If we are patient enough, God always speaks; that is, when we remove our own expectation of an audible voice, human or otherwise, and are ready to hear God when God is ready to be heard. We need to put aside the urge to seek after the voice in the burning bush.

Gee, Thanks...

April 05, 2016 by Jonathan Malone

We are called to be thankful, to show our gratitude. In our trust of God, through our relationship with God in Christ, and by our actions may we demonstrate our gratitude for all the gifts that we have received from the Lord. Don’t write God a thank-you note, show God your gratitude for all your gifts and take a chance with your very life.

Measuring Faith

February 26, 2016 by Jonathan Malone

I have moments of doubt, I wrestle with some of the basic tenants of what it means to be a Christian, and I know people, people I have worked with in congregations that seem to have a much deeper and stronger faith than I do. Especially when sitting with people in pain, anguish, and loss, I wonder if my faith is enough.

The Good Work of Doubt

February 13, 2016 by Jonathan Malone

It is not easy to allow ourselves to doubt. In the realm of faith it means looking closely at what we believe and asking we can really embrace that faith. It means questioning many of the basic assumptions of our faith and that can be scary and challenging especially if it is a faith that we grew up with. Yet it could mean a deeper and mature hope on the other side.

Faith in Changing Times

January 23, 2016 by Jonathan Malone

We all have to deal with change whether it be reactionary, conciliatory or somewhere in-between. Look at the history of religions and movements of faith and you will find that the majority of the conflicts that occur seem to be focused around wrestling and responding to change in one way or another.

2015 - My Year In Review

January 15, 2016 by Jonathan Malone

This past year I kept track of all of the books/magazines/journals I read as well as all of the movies I watched. It is my own needy way to show that I am productive with my time and I am doing things without having to actually do anything of depth or meaning. So, here is my list of productivity for 2015:

The Mystery of Proof

December 26, 2015 by Jonathan Malone

So how can we be expected to believe in God when we cannot show or experience God? How do we believe in God when we cannot find any mystery in the world in which to place the presence of God Perhaps, instead of looking for the presence and existence of God, we should be looking for mystery that still continues today.

Pretending Faith

December 11, 2015 by Jonathan Malone

We will all have those times when we do not feel like worshipping, praying, or if we have any connection with the divine at all. It may talk all of our faith to simply go through the motions. And yet, to just go through the motions might be enough.

Searching for Doubt

November 16, 2015 by Jonathan Malone

It concerns me when a normal and natural human feeling, like doubt, brings a sense of shame and guilt.

The Thin Spaces

September 14, 2015 by Jonathan Malone

Fitch’s work is peppered with poetry breaking up the narrative and inviting the reader to do more than stop and smell the roses (or in this case the oleanders).

A Eulogy for a Bible

August 25, 2015 by Jonathan Malone

My Bible has been with me for almost 20 years, has gone with me to work every day, has challenged me and comforted me and been a part of my identity as a pastor. And now it is time to say goodbye.

Locally Grown Classical Music

August 05, 2015 by Jonathan Malone

I believe that the arts are important for all people because they speak to a greater reality, a shared experience, and a way of living that we all encounter in a unifying way but can allow for a diversity of the experiences of the individual. The arts, when liberated from the constricting interpretations and demands of the ivory tower, can offer an experience of truth that is specific to the individual experiencing the music/painting, etc.

Mo' Money, Mo' Faith

March 01, 2015 by Jonathan Malone

A mentor warned me of two sermons that bring fear and trembling to a pastor – the Easter sermon (because you can only do so much with the story and because you have a larger than normal audience and because most of them there are not committed Christians so you have to temper your sermon a different way than you would for the people who are there week after week, and because for some reason everyone expects your sermon to be so amazing that everyone who is there will be inspired to become a committed church member) and the Stewardship sermon because your salary depends upon it and the babies need to eat.