The Bishop’s Blog

"There's a great line at the end of the last battle in C.S. Lewis' Narnia series, where Aslan sees all the people assembled and says, 'You do not yet look so happy as I mean you to be.' That is something that we as Christians should stop to think about—are we actually as happy as God means us to be?" 

In this week's message, Bishop Alex urges us to remember that God means for us to find both struggle and joy in this life.

"One of the weaknesses of Christian discipleship today in the church, particularly in the West, is we often think that if we follow the Lord, everything is going to be simple and easy. And that is simply not true. Ask the people of Israel and Moses as they walked through the desert. That was clearly the leading of the Lord, and it was not easy." 

In this week's message, Bishop Alex addresses leaders in our congregations, encouraging them in humility and confidence, even as they walk difficult roads.

"As Christians, it's easy for us to consider security as our highest value. Indeed, security does matter... but safety and security can't be all that matter in the Christian life. Ultimately, I do believe that the Christian life is a great adventure from beginning to end. And as with all great adventures, it is filled with joys and sorrows, perils and consolations, all along the way."

In his last video before his July vacation, Bishop Alex reflects on his first year as bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh, discussing what's surprised him about Pittsburgh, what he's grateful for in his first twelve months, and what he looks forward to in the months to come.

Looking for a new book recommendation for your summer travels or Sunday afternoons? Here are nine of Bishop Alex's favorite books for our summer vacation reading lists. Which of these have you read? And what's in your beach day tote bag?

"The truth is that when we are not operationally excellent, we expend a lot of time, energy, and sometimes money on things that take away from being kingdom minded, being missional, being invested in discipling, being relational with our leaders. Being operationally agile, being able to respond quickly, having operational and administrative tasks handled well within our churches—and more broadly within our diocese—ultimately supports the fulfillment of the mission of the gospel." 

"We need to be unapologetic that making disciples is what Jesus asked us to do... not because we want to grow our particular fiefdom, but because it's fantastic to know Jesus." 

In this third video of a four-part series, Bishop Alex explains the importance of the third pillar in his vision for the diocese: prayerful, relational, kingdom-minded, and agile. 

"We have a tendency to want to rely on programs, on teaching large groups, which is efficient. But it is not—and can never be—a replacement for relational, one-on-one discipling, for an apprenticeship kind of ministry, particularly in raising up leaders." 

In this second video of a four-part series, Bishop Alex explains the importance of the second pillar in his vision for the diocese: prayerful, relational, kingdom-minded, and agile. 

"True prayer reminds us that ultimately the work of the Gospel, the work of reaching people with the Gospel, the work of transformation in churches, is the work of God. Clearly we have some responsibility in that. But indeed, it is the work of God. So being at prayer reminds us that we can do nothing, we can change nothing. We need to invite the power and the presence of God into the middle of our circumstances."