In all developmental theories of humanity, they all include this one idea of “transcend and include.” From Piaget, to Kohlberg, to Maslow, to Spiral Dynamics, all of them build upon the previous stages of growth. So here is a thought...
This past week, the James Webb Space Telescope released some of it’s first pictures of the cosmos. This telescope has been in the process of being built for the past 40 years, and is stationed further out than the Hubble...
Acts 2 is conventionally understood as the “birthday of the church.” It is the day on which Peter gave a sermon that outlined Hebrew history leading up to that point (and which never mentioned hell, curiously), and culminated with the...
From the Micro to the Macro, Every Level of Existence Needs Antibodies Within a small organism, if there are ever any viruses, there needs to be healthy antibodies that know how to rise up and challenge the virus. This is...
Failed Resolutions? At this point of the year, you may have given up on your New Year’s Resolutions. For some it included working out more, talking with friends more, eliminating unnecessary spending, eliminating bad habits, etc. And, possibly for you,...
We All Start Somewhere I was not raised or taught to say, “The Jesus Tradition.” I was raised Lutheran. It was a good foundation to build upon. It was almost a given that within my psyche would be the theme...
Do You Feel the Need to Go Further? Spiritual formation is something that needs a more robust understanding. Is it possible that people are leaving churches because they find the spiritual maturity of that community to be lacking? Of course....
This past week I heard a conversation between Alexander John Shaia and Rob Bell. Both figures push the boundaries of the conventional (the commonly agreed upon codes and practices of a group, at the expense of individuality) and so I...
We are told not to talk about religion or politics at dinner. This has also translated over into being told not to talk about religion or politics at church, hasn’t it? That being said, I have become less and less...
On Having a Growth Mindset My parents did a great job of instilling the importance of a growth mindset. I do not always live up to it, or remember to maintain it, but in my better moments I am able...
© 2026 · John Chaffee MDiv, ThM