Van Gennep himself defined rites de passage as “rites which accompany every change of place, state, social position and age.” To point up the contrast between “state” and “transition,” I employ “state” to include all his other terms. It is a more inclusive concept than “status” or “office,” and refers to any type of stable … Continue reading Forsaken Separation
God’s Deafening Silence: A Reflection on Job 19:1-8
Author Note: A Sermon delivered to Orange City United Methodist Church (Orange City, FL) on August 8, 2021. “How long ago was that day?” Job thought. He’d been so distraught and disturbed, he could merely only observe that time had continued to progress unrelentingly, unmercifully, without noting its amount or meaning. Time had continued—was it … Continue reading God’s Deafening Silence: A Reflection on Job 19:1-8
Joseph’s Liminality and the Pit of Suffering
A Sermon delivered to Orange City United Methodist Church in Orange City, FL. Date: August 1, 2021. Scripture Text: Genesis 37:9-36 A video of this sermon can be watched here The journey of life is often fraught with difficult times of transition, change, and in some cases deep suffering. There are times that test us, … Continue reading Joseph’s Liminality and the Pit of Suffering