Keith Howard

Category: Reflections

  • Acedia – Silent Killer of the Soul

    —

    by

    Keith Howard
    in

    Since the death of my son Caleb two years ago, I have written only sermons. Lent feels like the appropriate time to put nib to paper once again. Writing forms part of the process of renovating my life. Acedia, the silent killer of the soul, is the focus.

  • How Urgent is urgent?

    —

    by

    Keith Howard
    in

    Most of the BC folks straggled in last evening for the Future of Theological Education Consultation. The clock says 10 and the body says 7. As Brenda, Jim and (later) Janet gathered for a late supper and Diet Cokes the conversation turned to the matter of urgency. James Kotter names it as foundational in his…

  • A Call

    —

    by

    Keith Howard
    in

    A young man had just been admitted with terminal cancer and was not “doing well,” said the Emergency Room attendant. The call came around 7:30 am to Gaye who volunteers as an on-call chaplain at the hospital. On Sunday I preached on another call, the famous call of Isaiah. One of the points I circled…

  • Heresy and Hospitality

    —

    by

    Keith Howard
    in ,

    One of the ways Emerging Spirit talked of the shift in the spiritual and generational foundations of our time was through a focus on the words believe, behave and belong. In times past, if one was curious about being a Christian the entry point was often a conversation about beliefs. Many very bright and gifted…

  • Meetings – weapons of mass interruption

    —

    by

    Keith Howard
    in ,

    If an apocalyptic meltdown of the national umbrella of the United Church does occur – as some predict – what will be the last things standing? The Pension Fund (I hope); the Standard Salary Schedule; our penchant for meetings? A friend casually remarked that the roots of the system upon which ours is based actually…