My name is Chad Holtz. Father of 4, husband to one, pastor to many and a student of all. I am working on my MDiv at Duke Divinity School and have the honor of pastoring a wonderful rural church called Marrow’s Chapel United Methodist while I study. Welcome to my blog. This is where I try to put words to my thoughts about a One who is unscripted. It is not a task any of us should do alone but with friends. Grab a cup of coffee or other favorite beverage and let’s chat. Peace.
Chad,
this is off any theological discussion.
How old are you? and have you lived in Henderson your whole life?
I ask because I have a good friend, that was raised in henderson, last name Winton.
Just curious, I know it is a small town.
Hey Travis!
I’m 33. We moved here in June of 07 when I began at a church here in Henderson and started at Duke Divinity school.
I don’t know anyone named Winton but would be happy to look him up for you if you’d like. Are you from around here? We love it.
peace,
Chad
Oh, and Travis, I was meaning to email you today. You seem like a smart guy with a good heart. I stumbled on that website with Bob Morley and wanted to tell you to be careful. The stuff they spout there is as close to a cult as I think I’ve ever seen. Just be careful…..this is the kinda stuff that happens when people endorse a doctrine of God that makes “hate” into an attribute.
grace and peace,
Chad
“stumbled on that website with Bob Morley and wanted to tell you to be careful. The stuff they spout there is as close to a cult as I think I’ve ever seen.”
Could you expand on this? Are they misrepresenting the word of God, and could you give an example?
saved by grace –
I think the posts in that blog are pretty self-evident without my having to explain. To quote someone Bob would no doubt dismiss but who is right all the same, “Christianity that displays itself with a raised fist rather than the outstretched, pierced hands of Jesus” is not really the gospel at all, but something quite different.
So yes, I would say they are doing worse than misrepresenting the word of God (who does this perfectly anyways?) but they are misrepresenting the Christ revealed in the Word of God.
peace,
Chad
Chad,
I just discovered your blog. I am truly enjoying it. It takes some time for me to digest it, but it is always a blessing. You are a gifted writer and thinker.
Love you guys,
Rita
Rita! Great to “see” you! Thanks for the kind words. We love and miss you too.
I’m starting the NOOMA series in our SS class tomorrow – brings back fond memories of our SALT days!
peace
Hey – I came across your site from your Ethiopia adoption post. I am a pastor (church planted four and a half years ago in Michigan) as well and we are just beginning the journey. Thanks for sharing. I also dig your site. Thanks!
Hi Steve!
Glad you stopped in to say hello. Where about in MI? I lived in Toledo, OH (Sylvania, really) during my high school years and went up into Ann Arbor quite often.
Are you still pastoring up there? I pray God’s blessings on your ministry. Did I understand you correctly in that you are starting the adoption process? My wife and I would love to hear your story if you would like to share it. If you’d rather not here feel free to email me at chad.holtz@duke.edu
peace!
Chad
Steve,
Your church’s website is awesome! Just got done browsing through it and I have to say it is one of the best I have seen. Love your mission and vision. You guys have something great going on there, I can tell.
grace and peace.
Chad, I must say, you have an adorable family. You mentioned 2 becoming 4 soon? Twins or adoption? Congrats (I hope)
. We have one more girl baking in the oven and is due July 3rd-ish.
Methodist church, huh. I have been Bible church, Vineyard, Baptist, Presbyterian, and now Covenant, but not Methodist—yet! What is it you like about the Methodist Tribe? Some things that frustrate you?
You can email me if you’d prefer: jeromyj@sbcglobal.net
Jeromy,
Congrats on your expecting bundle of joy! You said “one more girl” ….who else is in the bunch?
As for the two more we are getting it is via adoption. We leave May 10th for Ethiopia to bring our 2 kids home! A brother and sister ages 3 and 4. We have felt God leading us in this direction and started the journey last November. It’s hard to believe we are just 2 weeks away from completing this! On one of my posts here we have some pictures of our kids and me and my wife (my wife mostly) tell the story of our journey on our adoption blog: http://www.missionholtz.blogspot.com
I too am a denominational mutt. I was born into the Nazarene church (dad was a pastor) and then he became Lutheran and therefore so did I. I then took an 8 year break fro faith during which I dabbled in some non-denom churches if I went and then a Presbyterian church then a Church of God (when I was dating the lady who is now my wife) and now Methodist.
I love that Methodists are, as one theologian I know puts it, “mongrels.” We have in a real sense taken much of the best from all the strains of history. John Wesley was Anglican and read much of the Eastern fathers so we have some Catholic, some Orthodox, some Anglican, some Reformed, some Lutheran some Moravian (holiness) and more all as part of our heritage.
I love the fact that we preach a God who really IS love and died for all the world, not just a select club. I love that we train in discipleship and believe that faith is active and helps us grow today for tomorrow and that history is really going somewhere. And I love that we are ecumenical and seek to find common ground rather than find things that divide us.
A great true story that illustrates why I love bein a Methodist: A group of pastors from various backgrounds went on a retreat together. There was a Catholic priest, some Lutheran pastors a Baptist and some Presbyterians (forget which synod) and a Methodist. At the close of the retreat they thought it would be great to have communion together. As they looked around to see who would serve it, the Methodist pastor stood, being the only one who could serve communion in good conscience to all those present because our invitation to the table simply reads: to all those who love Jesus and strive to serve him…welcome.
One thing that could be a possible frustration but hasn’t affected me yet as a pastor is our itinerant system of moving pastors every few years. I recognize the good that is in this but can also see the faults. Any system in this way is imperfect, I think. We just do the best we can with what we have.
This is probably much longer than you were asking for
I’m not too familiar with Covenant. Can you fill me in? You are allowed to be long winded like I.
peace,
Chad
Here is our family as it currently stands. We have one boy (Caleb-7) and a girl (Ashlyn-2) and one dog (Cheddar-3) and two beta fish (Angel and Luke-have lived WAY too long).
The adoption sounds exciting. After I asked we ran across your post, my wife followed it to your wife’s blog and began crying. Congratulations!
That’s a cool thing to hear about the Methodist church (being very ecumenical and all). I have heard about the rotating-pastor thing. On the one hand it prevents pastors from becoming “super-stars” and churches from becoming too overly dependent on one pastor. But the flip side is you loose any sense of rootedness as a pastor and church (specially with a young family).
The Covenant church is a fairly relaxed bunch as well. In fact, the basically nail it down to these few things:
* Evangelical, but not exclusive
* Biblical, but not doctrinaire
* Traditional, but not rigid
* Congregational, but not independent
Their roots are from Sweeden and hold to a few (five to be exact) affirmations. See here for more stuff: http://www.covchurch.org/home/who-we-are
But, God is bringing a group of us together (about 7 leaders now) to dream and create a new community in the Sacramento area bent on restoration and discipleship. It is exciting to see a decade of soul/ministry re-forming finally beginning to come to fruition. But we are trying to listen, wait, and do it in his timing, not ours.
Jeromy
Your family sounds perfect. I failed to mention our Golden Ret, Bella, who is a 70lb puppy and our two cats, Milo and Hope. Hope was a stray that showed up and my wife began feeding and surprise! she got pregnant and last week had one kitten. The other 3, sadly, did not make it. BUT, I learned what it costs to have a C-section done on a stray cat. Ouch.
Your church sounds exciting and thanks for providing the link. Do you mind me asking what your role is in this new community that is coming together? what a great idea.
peace,
Chad
No way…Cheddar (our dog) is a Golden Retriever as well. Is yours a co-dependent and needy as ours? Like you can pet him 24hrs for 3 days straight and as soon as you stop his anxiety disorder kicks in, nudging you with his snout and not leaving you alone?
My role? Just one of the “priesthood of all believers” operating in my gifts. After 14 years in some sort of church-pastoral-leadership-full-time-paid-clergy role, the thought of just being a fellow human playing my music sounds really good and healthy. That said, I am part of the seven or so people that God has pulled together to begin dreaming and planning. What my specific role might be based on my experience and gifts, well someone put it well on my site the other day: I’ll just keep listening to the music and see when my foot starts tapping. The cool thing is that when all seven of us sit together, we all bring vastly different gifts and perspectives to the table. It’s pretty cool to watch.
Wow. This is turning into that Seinfeld episode where there was the “other” Jerry, Kramer and George that Elaine befriended. And yeah, Bella is very co-dependent. I have always had Goldens and they all seem to love being loved.
Best wishes in your weeks and months ahead as you guys dream big with God. For what it’s worth, I have for some time now stopped praying that God would bless what I am doing but that he would help me see what work He is already blessing and inspire me to get involved. What you all are doing sounds to me like something God is already blessing…so just sing along.
peace.
I never watched much Seinfeld, but it gets weirder—I am also 33. When were you guys married? We were married on June 20, 1998. Jen is 30. It’s like you’re the East Coast “me”. LOL
Well, you guys have us topped in the marriage counter. We were married four years ago on April 10th. And to save you from doing the math (there is a reason I love theology), I already did it: Soon to be four kids in four years all under four years old. The other day at a district pastors meeting our district superintendent announced our news and then said, “now, if I have done my math right this means you will have four kids all under the age of four in your home, right?” To which I replied, “that is not a subject we discuss much in our home, but, um, yeah.”
I am happy to be so well represented on the west coast.
If you ever go to LA let me know – you can look my brother up. He’s been attending Mosaic, Macmanus’s church, as of late.
peace.
My sister lives in LA. How does he like Mosaic?
Jeromy,
He likes it, but is looking into some other communities. He is a volunteer at one of the satellite churches near Hollywood and has made many friends and got baptized (a huge praise God! My brother has an amazing story of how God saved him from a life of addiction while he was living in Vegas). Anyways, I think he is looking for some older people (he’s 27…lol) and says his church is mostly young people which he likes but wants to see what else is out there being so new to the church and all.
Is your sister a church goer? Might she have any suggestions? My brother is a bar tender at a swank restaurant in Hollywood and wanted to be an actor but is now feeling a call into ministry (God help him
)
peace.
Chad
oh, I read your questions to me on your blog about the family tree. I am chewing over that and will get back to you later today or tomorrow.
Hi Chad, I wanted to let you know I have been following the blog about Does God Love everybody and Oh man, my heart is heavy.
I agree with your point of view 100%. I wish I had the guts to have comments like some of those remain on MY page.
I had it happen once, where I commented on a lady who despite her claims on her blog, was clearly soooo hateful towards people who were not saved.
Whenever I quoted her scripture, lovingly, even told her I would pray about it! She erased every single thing I wrote to her, except her “rebuke” to me!
It was then, that I decided I would only pray for people when I saw things of this nature going on, on anyone else’s blog.
Nevertheless, I went ahead and commented on Jean because of the inflammatory nature of some of her comments.
I can’t wait to hear what she has to say to me. lol.
But in anycase, I have blogrolled yours and I’ll be reading other stuff too.
I respect your blog and you greatly and will be praying.
IN Christ Jesus,
Renee
Hi Chad, I linked to your blog from a discussion on biblicalthought.com about a review of a book by Greg Boyd. You seemed like a very sensible person (maybe the only one on that thread), and after perusing your blog I’m glad to see my impression was correct. I very much enjoy your writing and the obvious love for God that shows through it.
Blessings,
Joshua
Joshua,
Hello! Good to meet you. That thread on Greg Boyd gives me heartburn when I think about it
Glad you stopped by here. What is your story?
peace,
Chad
I’m a student at the University of Washington and I have a small interest in theology, so I generally jump around various blogs and blogging communities just to read up on stuff. I’m also an Open Theist so I try to find stuff that people write about it when I can, which is how I got to that Greg Boyd post.
Joshua,
What led you to open theism? As you could probably tell from that other blog I am very sympathetic to what people like Boyd and Pinnock are doing yet I have some reservations on some things. During that whole discussion I had the good fortune of emailing back and forth with Boyd about a few things. Have you ever listened to any of his sermons on his church website? He’s a great speaker and communicator of God’s Word.
Good to have you around, Josh.
peace.
Chad
I’m not really sure what “led” me to Open Theism; as far as I can can tell its what I’ve naturally thought about God. It’s just always been very intuitive to me that there were parts of the future that were open and that the Bible seemed to show that God saw it that way as well. Although, it was only about three months ago that I was comfortable enough to just come out and say “This is what I believe”. I wrote a series of three posts on my blog in January to that effect.
Can I ask what kind of reservations you have? Personally I worry about the exegetical strength of the Open View, although that’s slowly changing.
I haven’t listened to any of Boyd’s sermons, although I did have the good fortune of meeting him and Clark Pinnock at a conference in LA back in April. He definitely is a good communicator, and very much committed to Scripture and the kingdom of God. That’s why I was so dismayed to read the general attitude of that thread on BiblicalThought, really. It betrayed a complete ignorance of the man and what he stands for. It’s also why I was gratified to see you providing a more level-headed perspective.
Hi Josh, thanks for sharing.
So you have come out of the closet. Careful, or our friends at biblicalthought might create a magazine and have you pose for the cover of “Open.”
What sort of conference were you at in LA that you got to meet Boyd and Pinnock? I have read several of Pinnock’s stuff and have heard him described as a immensely gracious and humble, soft-spoken man. That says a lot about someone who has been branded so many things by many people whom he called brother and sister for so long. Same goes for Boyd.
You ask me what my reservations are. Good question. To be honest, I need to revisit this and flesh it out some more. In my undergrad work we read Boyd and some other open theists and I had to write a critique on it. I recall at the time that I was, as I am now, sympathetic and yet I had a few points I disagreed with. For the life of me I can’t recall what they were but I may be able to find that essay and see if I still agree with myself (something that to my delight I find doesn’t happen often).
I am like you in that intuitively it seems to be so. However, if we are basing scripture as our norm to define the openess of God than I also have to acknowledge scripture elsewhere that seems to make the future a very certain reality in the mind of God. I am compelled to answer somewhat like Rob Bell in his magic marker illustration on Everything Is Spiritual, and so if asked whether or not the future for God is open or closed to answer, “yep.”
Perhaps this is something worth discussing more in depth.
peace,
Chad
Hi Chad
I came across your comments on http://www.alittleleaven.com and was touched by the gentle spirit in which you made your comments and conversed with the “not always so gentle” answers you received on that site.
As I read through your site here, my eyes filled with tears of joy that there are people like you who take it seriously to live by Christ love and grace to all humanity.
If my spelling and grammar are not perfect, sorry, I’m Afrikaans speaking…
I live in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where I serve in Impetus Gemeente (I don’t want to give the website now, because it needs serious updating), as worship pastor/program director. Me and my wife have been talking about adoption for a number of years and we feel the time is approaching… We have 2 beautiful kids. Dillon is 3 and Maneesha 6.
I would love to chat to from time to time about various subjects.
Eugene
Greetings, Eugene!
I never ceased to be amazed at how God brings people together from so many parts of His good earth. I too have been reading your thoughts on that same site and have been impressed with your humility and spirit – not to mention knowledge.
And then to learn you are from South Africa and thinking of adoption! How exciting! I would more than welcome an opportunity to chat with you any time you like on anything you like. If it should be something you’d rather not broadcast feel free to email me at chad.holtz@duke.edu.
Any chance you speak Amharic or Tigrinya? lol. Our kids are very talkative and unfortunately much of their conversation is met with a very dumb looking (and feeling!) dad! Thankfully kids are far smarter than us old farts and seem to pick up on our language much faster than we theirs.
I would love to hear more of your story when you are able to share it. God bless you and your family as you follow God’s leading in your lives.
grace and peace,
Chad
Eugene,
I also wanted to ask: Do you know Peter Storey? He was on the apartheid commission with Mandela and others. I had the good pleasure of meeting him as he was on staff here at Duke Divinity for some time and still comes by to speak now and then.
peace,
Chad
Hi Chad
How I wish I could speak one of the indigenous languages of Africa except for Afrikaans! That is one of the effects that apartheid had on the majority of us white people in South Africa, not having the need to learn a “black” language. Sorry to disappoint you there. Unfortunately I don’t know Peter Storey, but I have read up on him on the net in the meantime and he seems to be an extraordinary man.
My story… mmm… I’ll have to warn you that it might become boring. I think I’ll rather email it to you than take up valuable space on your blog
Lately I have been on this journey of spiritual transformation. As I have progressed in my Christian walk I found many superficial things along the way and threw them out. But by doing that I also have found that I somewhere lost that innocence that is required to just trust and grow. I’m struggling with words here, but I hope you catch what I mean. A few months back me and my colleague went to a learning community (ekerk) at Mosaiek church in Johannesburg during which we had a time of spiritual reflection in their chapel together with their ministry team. It was made up of silence, scripture reading, singing a repetative verse, some more silence, and communion. Now coming from a penticostal and protestant backround this felt strange to me at first, but I suddenly felt that real touch of God in my heart again. So I am on this jorney, just starting…
Have you ever read any of these books? Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson; Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening
by Cynthia Bourgeault; Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard. I’m busy with Eat This Book and will read the other two next. The are books that deal with spiritual transformation. If you have, please share your thoughts with me on it.
Eugene,
Thanks for sharing, and please don’t worry about taking space on this blog – I enjoy hearing how God is moving in lives of people all over the world.
I undestand exactly what you mean about reconnecting with the innocence that allows us to trust and grow. I liken it to becoming like a child again, as Jesus said, and being able to just stand or bow in awe. I too struggle with this and find myself often walking the tightrope of my academic work in seminary and my heart life in the church. I never forget the words of Paul to the Roman church where he says, “you who teach others, do you teach yourself?” I constantly have to remind myself of that.
I am a big fan of Peterson and have read Eat This Book along with many others by him. I have not read anything by Bourgeault but know of those books and I have read much of Willard but not that particular book (though I have skimmed it and thought it looked very good). Eat This Book was very good, I thought. I used several of the stories in there as sermon illustrations over the last few years. I especially liked how he disabused us of the notion that scripture is some other-worldly book but something that is very real, practical and edgy and current with the times in which it was written. Peter Enns has a great book about Scripture called Inspiration and Incarnation where he tries to get evangelicals to consider that the Bible is 100% human and 100% divine – just like Jesus. We have no problem ascribing humanity to Christ so why do we get uneasy when we subscribe the same to scripture?
I would be happy to discuss any of those books in further detail if you wish. Feel free to type whatever comes to mind. I would also recommend if you have not already read them, Merton and Nouwen, for spiritual formation. Anything they have written is worth the read.
grace and peace.
Just thinking now…
Do you think it is worth our time writing and debating on blog like alittleleaven? Well… At least we met there haha.
lol. The short answer? No, I doubt it. Buttttttttt….you are right, we did meet there. And everynow and then I get an email or a post from someone who is “lurking” to say that they appreciate having the “other side” being represented on sites like that. It takes its toll, however. I can become easily dismayed by the state of the church when I see some of the stuff that gets said and done in the name of Christ. And then I meet someone like you and others who give me hope once more.
It doesnt help that I am a debate addict
My wife would agree!
I am poles theologically apart from you and likely Eugene as well, but I was thinking the same thing as Eugene. Though I am not sympathetic to most of the things that Chris R. is against, I find his debate reasoning to be embarassing at times. Feel free to e-mail me.
Brian,
Good to meet you. Your email address has the word pastor in it. Where do you pastor? I pray your ministry is going well.
God bless.
Hello Brian
How good it is to meet you here. I only met Chad yesterday and already I am chatting away here as if this is my home… I love to converse with people who do not hold the same view as me. I would love to hear what you think on various subjects.
Hi Chad,
I met them both at the Open Theology and Science Conference that was held at Azusa Pacific University. And yes, Pinnock and Boyd are as described, very gracious and nary a pointed tail or pitchfork to be seen (as some sources may have erroneously stated).
I would agree with you that scripturally supporting Open Theism is probably the biggest hurdle for its proponents. On the philosophical side there are a startling number of very prestigious Christian philosophers who support it, but the theological front isn’t quite as rosy (although its changing!). I’m reading Jon Goldingay’s first volume of Old Testament Theology, and if he’s not an Open Theist then he is close enough to cause people fits anyway. Quite a few of the people I met at the Conference were professors of Systematic Theology or Biblical Studies at various seminaries, so I’m optimistic.
Even if you don’t agree with the Open view, I would say its worth brushing up on. If God willing it gains some general acceptance (instead of knee-jerk anger) as an acceptable perspective then it will most definitely be beneficial to be able to talk about it.
God Bless,
-Josh
I have been reading through your posts on Surprised by Hope and found it very engaging and thought provoking. I read till well after 12 last night. If I can’t keep my eyes open I will blame you today, lol:) I’m still formulating questions and comments and will humour you soon with them.
I’ve been reading through a number of other people’s comments and I must say that the people commenting here are highly intelectual and well spoken. I feel that most of time I struggle to get my thoughts onto the keyboard, so I hope that my comments are understood. (English is my second language, so…)
Chad, perhaps you and others can help me understand what it is about Rick Warren that bug the people so much on bogs like alittleleaven.com and biblicalthoughts.com. I have read Purpose Driven Church and Purpose Driven Life, we have done 40 Days of Purpose and 40 Days of Community in our church and have found it wonderful. We’ve had many conversions and our church have become very involved in our community because of these campains. If a tree/book/author/pastor is to be judged by its/his fruits, Rick Warren is a great blessing to the church. Why all the fuss? Jealousy?
Eugene,
I would never have guessed English is your second language. You put most of us uni-lingual people to shame!
I hope you don’t mind but I thought your insightful question deserved its own post. I started a post on the topic of PDL and will offer some of a response there.
God bless!
Chad
Chad,
I minister up in Michigan. Things are going well. Thanks for your kind words.
Eugene,
I have some perspective on PDL that perhaps you have not considered. Believe me, with some of the critics of PDL, it is not jealousy. Chad has my permission to forward my e-mail to you. I would rather not do the discussion in a forum like this. I might be able to to discuss things with you until the upcoming mid-week. The ministry schedule quickly became much busier this weekend.
Thank you Brian, I’m looking forward to discuss this with you. Please do not hesitate to question or even criticize my views. How else will I learn?
I pray that your ministry goes well this weekend.
Brian,
I will be happy to forward your email address on to Eugene. However, I wouldn’t mind hearing your perspective on the thread I just began about PDL if you care to share. Perhaps we can all learn a little something from each other.
peace, and blessings on your ministry.
I’m playing with our blues band tonight. We’re only 2 born again Christians in the band. Hope I get called a friend of sinners tonight. Lots of great food and wine in this restaurant. . .
That sounds like a great time, Eugene. Wish we could be there to join you. Are any of your tunes downloadable and able to be played online? I’d love to hear some good blues from South Africa!
Chad, I’ve got some video’s on my myspace and facebook. Try this link http://www.myspace.com/eugeneroberts
I woke up this morning thinking about the difficulty modernism has with accepting two different answers as valid to a question/problem.
The dual property of light is an example of this: When looking at light as a wave it acts as a wave with all the properties of a wave. When testing for particle properties again it acts as made up out of particles and not as a wave. The two properties are exclusive but true at the same time. Interesting that the Bible describes God as light (1 John 1:5), and as light of the world (John 1). I’m not trying to make a theology of this, I’m just thinking . . .
Another few interesting parallels and musings:
Light is the only absolute in space-time. What can we learn from that about God and theology?
When approaching the speed of light an object becomes infinitely heavier thus no object can move that fast. Is God moving to fast to comprehend? As soon as we think we know we find out we really don’t know much at all.
Anyone else want to chip in, or call me mad?
Eugene, shame on you – I haven’t had time to pour my first cup of coffee and I wake up to quantum physics.
One of my favorite words I learned in Old Testament studies was “multivoce.” That is, TRUTH for the ancient Hebrews did not have a single story but multiple voices. In fact, something was deemd as more truthful the more voices it had telling the story (i.e. Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 or the four gospel accounts). If you came to an ancient Hebrew with one story to explain, say, the creation of the world they would call you mad.
Have you seen Rob Bell’s “Everything is Spiritual”? He gets into some of where you’re heading here – very good stuff.
You said: Light is the only absolute in space-time. What can we learn from that about God and theology?
I think I know what you mean here (or did not mean to say) though if I may point out that I would not lump “God” and “theology” together like this as to imply that both are equally absolute. God, yes. Theology, not so much. As I’m sure you would agree, theology is merely humankind’s attempt at grasping for God and speaking about God.
Ok, now let me get that coffee
peace.
Did I say ‘God and theology’? Sorry, I’ll blame it on the not so awake state I wrote in, lol. I have seen the Everything Is Spiritual dvd and enjoyed it very much, though Rob got a few facts wrong like the size of a neutron star and as I remember the speed of light. . . Guess his a theologan not a scientist, hey? But still its a really great dvd with some wonderful conclusions.
No worries. You seem to know a bit about science (I know next to nothing). Can you elaborate on the facts Bell missed on EIS? I had not heard that before. Do his mistakes take away from the main premise? Just curious.
thanks.
I know a little teeny weeny bit about science. I was a mechanical engineer in my previous (work) life and I love to read physics, though I have to read those books about five times before I get some grasp on it…
I’ll have to watch the dvd again to be more specific on the facts that he missed. One I can remember is the size of a neutron star which he said can fit onto a tea spoon. That tea spoon will have to be about 20km in diameter. I picked up on that one and when he mentioned the speed of light I felt uneasy, but I have to check the dvd again.
I quickly did a search and found this link: http://eallison.org/rocket_science/2006/07/errata-of-everything-is-spirit.html
Eric is obviously a much more attentive listener than me and knows way more about science than me.
I don’t think the mistakes take away from the main premise, but it does make me hesitant to show EIS to my scientist/athiest friends, which I would love to do in order to jumpstart a conversation. (I must sometime tell you about them)
{comment deleted at his request}
Keith,
I sent you an email in response to your comment.
grace and peace,
Chad
Ok let’s see if this works…
I finally got my blog going… Thanks for your kind words about my comments on the “other” blog.
I didn’t add the link to my blog… OOPS!
http://eugeneroberts.wordpress.com
Great , Eugene! Yeah, I noticed that last night when I went to your band’s page
peace,
Chad
Hey Chad,
I left a comment on Extreme Theology on the With Gentleness thread explaining how desperately we need programs like P.E.A.C.E. to help spread the Good News in Africa. Unfortunately it was ignored except for one comment by catransplant48 and one in similar vein by Rick Frueh. The debate was totally dominated by Ken Silva and Richard Abanes arguing with each other and other people trying to prove themselves right. I came way there quite disheartened at the attitude of these people. Don’t they hear the cry of the world?
I appreciate your friendship and am looking forward to the day we can meet face to face.
Eugene
Sorry it was on the “Rick Warren Purpose Driven Critique – My Presuppositions” thread that I left the comment…
Eugene,
Yes, I saw that and wondered the same thing as you. It is a shame how self-involved the church has become in so many different ways.
blessings.
Chad,
you have an email I can email you directly at?
Nathan, sent you an email. If you don’t get it email me at chad.holtz@duke.edu
Hi Chad:
Saw your blog after being directed here by another blogger. Interesting posts and good discussion.
I like the recent post about facing change. I’ve been through my share of personal upheaval lately (we had twins and lost one of them) and our little methodist church (my wife is actually pastor) is grappling with trying to change in order to survive.
BTW, Christ breaks down barriers. Someone at Duke Divinity talking to a University of Maryland graduate about matters of faith.
My wife is a Duke-fan too though she didn’t go there — not much to cheer in terms of sports at Wesley Seminary.
ALAN
Alan-
Glad you stumbled on (over) me!
I am so sorry to hear about your recent loss. I cannot imagine and my heart breaks for you and your family. I pray God’s peace in your lives.
Would enjoy getting to know you more through this crazy blog world. Where do you all live now? Where is your wife pastoring?
Wesley Sem is a good school. Understand the sport thing – kinda like Duke football. I used to live in Annapolis. Loved it there and would move back if not for the traffic.
We have bumper stickers around here that say “A House Divided” between a Duke and UNC logo. Around here people might say this is one barrier Jesus hadn’t forseen.
good to meet you, brother.
Chad
Chad:
[BTW, you can use my e-mail -- al_can_dance@hotmail.com -- to communicate if you wish.]
Thanks for the prayers. We’ve been on a painful journey chronicled at my blog: http://bigalscorner.blogspot.com.
You know about pain as a sports fan if you follow Duke football … now basketball is another matter. We Terp fans know about pain in basketball … though Gary Williams has bought us better days — but not the past few years alas. We had our National Championship and ACC Title but have struggled since then. Hope springs eternal come November… but there’s always Duke and Carolina (and the rest of the ACC) looming over us. (I saw one of those house divided stickers the other day. We need one for us!)
Laurie pastors Lodge Forest UMC in Edgemere, MD. We’re on the outskirts of Baltimore in a community that sprang up around Bethlehem Steel — the plant still exists though greatly diminished from its heyday. The community becomes more of a “bed and breakfast” community for people working elsewhere. Old bungaloes disappear and are replaced by expensive houses on the waterfront. Lodge Forest is a small congregation grappling with trying to survive the changes in their community and their world. We make slow progress; we do some good ministry but we struggle (so far) to add new people. We have had some in recent years — hence some of the change and growth we have seen — but I think we’ll need more to survive and grow. (We’ve been away from regular involvement for three months with maternity/bereavement, but return in mid-August.)
Our website is: http://www.lodgeforestumc.org/templates/System/default.asp?id=32464
Keep up the good blogging.
ALAN
Alan,
I checked out your blog and your church website. Thank you for sharing that. You are also free to email me at anytime at chad.holtz@duke.edu
Your wife is lucky to have a guy like you in her corner (and I am sure the same is true in reverse).
I know some of the challenges of pastoring a church in an area that doesn’t seem to have much to offer in the growth department. While we are not in a declining industrial area we are in rural country and have similar challenges, though they take on different faces.
I’ll have to come visit your church when we are up in Annapolis visiting my sister. I used to live there when I was in the Navy and she is still there with her 2 sons. We are only 4 hours away here in NC.
You and your family are in our prayers.
grace and peace,
Chad
Chad,
I just wanted you to know that as a young ministry student, I’ve been blessed by your writing and your example. I have added the link to your site to my own site so my friends and family can also be encouraged and edified by your words.
Thank you and keep up the good work!
Best,
Sam Hill
Sam,
I was hoping that we might have a chance to “chat”! I guess Ratliff’s blog can have some redeemable value afterall!
I was going to post something there asking you to email me or get in touch some other way but since I already said my good-byes I figured I’d leave it at that.
Where are you a ministry student? What type of plans do you have? Feel free to email me if you’d rather – chad.holtz@duke.edu
Thanks for dropping by and hope to hear more from you in the future.
grace and peace,
Chad
Thanks! Really amazing. I wish i could spend my time on writing articles…just have no time for it.
Thanks! Really interesting. Big ups!
Chad,
I am a Duke Divinity grad (05) and served City Road UMC in Henderson! I found your blog through a search for comments & thoughts on Matthew 13.31-33 (Mustard & Yeast). It connected through “Irresistible Revolution” & “Blue Like Jazz”. It is very exciting to see the Divinity school having such an mustard-like influence on the world. If you have the chance, look up Michael & Gaye Hobbs (retired NC minister living on Kerr Lake) – wonderful man of God!
I’m serving in Augusta, Ga at Asbury UMC. I’ll check back in the future. Grace & Peace to your family!!
Matt Nelson
Duke Div (05)
Hi Matt!
)
So glad you stumbled over this site! How are things in Augusta? Do you have a green-side view of the Masters? You shouldn’t have told me this…I may be calling upon you to honor our “connectional ministries” obligations come April next year
Hope to see you around some more.
peace,
Chad
Hello,
I just watched the interview with your mother Lyndell and your father David, and I would like to send Lyndell a message of peace. Would you please send her email contact information?
Sincerely,
Lisa
Lisa- I emailed you. God bless you!
chad, would love to hear your opinion of
http://www.messianicrx.net
it is a Messianic website
J-
Do you have something specific you want to ask? I glanced at the website. What about it?
peace
what do you think of it cause i think it is a great testimony website
[...] Please also know that this is in no way intended as a mockery of Holtz who, by way of introduction, tells us he is currently: working on my MDiv at Duke Divinity School and have the honor of pastoring a wonderful rural church called Marrow’s Chapel United Methodist while I study. (Online source) [...]
Chad,
You have the distinct honor of being the first commenter — ever — at my infant blog. Thanks so much for stopping by.
I found your site this morning through the Wesley Report link. Put simply, your blog is stunning. Just outstanding in every way. I’ve lost a few billable hours this morning reading your review of Bishop Willimon’s excellent book, Who Will Be Saved?. I read the book a few months ago, and it had a similar impact on me. (As I’m just now discovering Barth, it will take me a while to digest all of it, but you’re helping me.)
One other interesting connection: I was a Teach For America corps member in North Carolina from 2001 to 2003. I taught in Louisburg (7th grade English) and lived in Henderson, attended FUMC in Henderson when Chuck Cook was the pastor. From the comments above, I got the impression that you may live in Henderson as you attend Duke — is that correct?
Thanks again for stopping by. I’m hoping to keep my site updated at least once a week, as my actual career and family life allow.
Grace and peace to you,
Jack Burden*
*A pseudonym. If you’ve not read All the King’s Men, drop everything and get to it.
Jack-
I will cherish it always.
Being the first to comment on your wonderful new blog (which, by the way, is the same design format I started mine with last year) may turn out to be the highest honor I receive this year!
Glad to find a fellow Methodist who has read Who Will Be Saved? We will have to chat some about it. I hope to get more chapter synopsii (is that the plural of synopsis?) up here before too long. I’m on vacation now and internet time is sparse.
I know exactly where Louisburg is. We live in Oxford right now but my church is in Henderson. And yes, I am a 2nd year student at Duke Divinity.
Chuch Cook is awesome! He taught our worship seminar at my Pastor’s Licensing School in Rocky Mount. Because of him I fell in love with Eucharist and Baptism all over again. You know he is a DS now, right?
So you are a lawyer now, right? Where abouts?
Thanks for coming by and I look forward to getting to know you more.
grace and peace,
Chad
*I’ll check out All the King’s Men.
Chad,
I know that area very well, and miss it all the time. Such warm, loving people live in that part of North Carolina.
I’m a huge Chuck Cook fan — had no idea he was a DS now — that is fantastic. When I was attending FUMC in Henderson, he took the time to exchange rather lengthy emails with me regarding some theological points he had made in his sermon that I was interested in — just way beyond the call of duty for a kid that he knew was just “passing through” for a couple of years. Two other people in that congregation, Donald and Virginia Paynter, also made a lasting impression — the sweetest people in the world — had me over for Sunday lunch on several occasions.
These days, I’m a lawyer in Birmingham, Alabama (I’m originally from Alabama), after spending my three years after Louisburg at the University of Virginia School of Law. Although I love it here — it’s home — I know now that there at least two other places in this world that I wouldn’t hesitate to call home: central North Carolina (the Triangle) and Charlottesville, Virginia.
Thanks again for responding. Now that you’re going through Willimon’s book, I’m going to read it again.
God bless,
Jack Burden
I have some friends that are heading back to Alabama after they graduate. They recently met with Willimon (I suppose you know he is the bishop there now) and are hoping to serve a church there in the next year.
If you are ever up this way again I hope you will let us know.
I’ll have to ask after your friends, the Paynters. One of our dear friends is on staff at FUMC working with the youth. Small world, huh?
blessings on you and yours down there.
Hey Chad,
I’m planning to go back to school and start seminary as well as trying to break into the minstry full-time. I feel like it willbe a good fit for a seminary student rather than my current financial vocation! Anyway, I would love to hear your thoughts on seminaries, and why you choose Duke. I have been seqrching and like only a few. Duke is one as well as Bethel and possibly RTS. I’m not reformed but have heard its good place to learn!
Thanks
Tony
Tony – Praise God! That is exciting and I commend you for stepping out in faith in such a bold way!
I would love to talk to you about seminaries and my reasons for picking Duke. Would you rather I email you? Please feel free to email me with any questions. What are you looking for in a seminary?
chad.holtz@duke.edu
peace.
Hey Chad! I just wanted to introduce myself to you. My name is Josh and I’ll begin serving Rehoboth UMC in Henderson as a Student Pastor. My wife and I will be moving there June 23th. Would love to get together with you sometime this summer. Blessings!
Hey Josh!
Glad you found me. How exciting for you and your wife! Please email me at chad.holtz@duke.edu I’ll give you my number and if you wanna chat at all I’d be happy to. You will be right up the road from us.
Have a peaceful summer!
Chad