For years I’ve been exchanging religious poetry with friends. Today, Good Friday, a friend sent me “Here Hangs A Man Discarded” by songwriter Brian Wren. I can’t share the poem here because of probable copyright issues, but the text inspired this sketch. Have a blessed Good Friday.

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Besides having one of the coolest names of the church fathers, Symeon the New Theologian was also a poet who recorded his mystical experiences in a collection of poems titled “Hymns of Divine Love.” (His given name was George, which itself is not as cool-sounding as his adopted name). He was a politician (an imperial senator) turned monk, and eventually became the abbot of the St. Mamas monastery. Eventually outcast for his mystical teachings and spiritual practices, he later gathered a group of followers and started his own monastery. His poem “We Awaken in Christ’s Body” makes for a great Maundy Thursday reflection.

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Here’s a favorite Lenten poem. Lent is the penitant season, where the resisted discipline of confession is given a central place. Luis de Camoes (1524-1580) is considered Portugal’s greatest poet. A soldier for much of his life, his religious and romantic poems are worth getting to know.

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I recently was asked to respond to an alumnus (a pastor of a church) about his displeasure over the choice of the seminary’s new president-elect. I was asked to respond as someone who had been a member of the now-defunct presidential search committee. At first I resisted, warning the person who asked me to respond that my initial impulse was to ask, “Do you personally give money to the seminary or is the seminary in your church’s missions budget? If not, then thanks for sharing but I’d just as soon you keep your opinion to yourself.”

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An interesting (illustrated) typology of “Flame warriors”. What type are you? I find some of these types operating in real life, outside of the usual “virtual” world they occupy.

Click here for the Warriors Roster.

I like G. K. Chesterton on many levels. As a personality he was both deep and flambouyant (he was either an Enneagram 5 or a 4 with a strong wing of either of those). His classic work, Orthodoxy helped me define my theological center. This is one of my favorite poems of his, a playful perspective on Palm Sunday.

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I’m currently working on a book, with a colleague, on planning the educational program of the local church. I’d like some feedback from those of you who have done educational planning in the local church (past or present). I’ll be asking a series of questions on this blog over the next few weeks and would appreciate your input.

Question 1: What are the three most useful tools or resources you use in planning the Christian education program in your church?

Question 2: Do you rely on denominational resources (ocassionally, somewhat, heavily), or do you primarily do a “homegrown” program?

Thanks in advance for your help. Your input is appreciated.