Many people on the blogsphere have been posting recently about their influences. I too will join the trend.

Personal influences have been the work of Pastor Kevin Phillips, former rector for St Timothy's Episcopal Church in Mt. View, CA. Pastor Dale Winslow of Foothill Community Church, Azusa, CA. And the late Dr. Gerald Wilson, professor at Azusa Pacific University. All of their compassion and unique views of ministry have helped me. Mostly from them, I gain a sense of freedom in taking initiatives and risk and pressing forward.

Less personal, are the works of William Temple, though I do not share all of his views, I appreciate his attempts and his ecumenical, restorative focus.

Leonardo Boff has written some great things, Miroslav Volf is up there as well. I was impressed early on by C.S. Lewis.

Shane Claiborne is a challenging inspiration and though I did not find Irresistible Revolution to be the best book, many components have stuck deep within me.

The host of this blog has deeply influenced my engagement with social and political issues far more intelligently than I used to be.

The very soon-to-be Mrs. Tension Treatises has also been an amazing influence in the way I look at practical ministry again and how to incorporate the ministered as leaders of the ministry - her influence in this area has especially been with children.

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