Every year when the liturgical season of lent rolls around, I try not to just give something up that I love like chocolate, but instead develop a practice that is good for me, something that will actually encourage my relationship with God. Maybe it will mean I give something up, but I like to think…
Notes on hope.
My new favorite thing at the moment is a book group I’m hosting with several ladies from our church. It wasn’t intentionally only meant for women, but that’s how it ended up going this time around. It’s not perfect, some people are still having trouble getting into the Zoom calls and connections aren’t always great,…
Grief and sacred milkshakes.
“Recovery is one day realizing that your ability to talk about the loss you’ve experienced is indeed normal and healthy.” (The Grief Recovery Handbook, James & Freidman, pg.7) A few weeks ago I was talking with my therapist about grief and all its forms. In that conversation, I remembered times where I was able to…
Church doesn’t work. Well, not in its current version.
Maybe it once did, but not anymore. Atleast not in its current version. Ans yes, as a pastor of a church, I see the irony of all this. It’s possible this is just my cynical side coming out after getting a long weekend with friends and family and wishing I was back at home drinking…
Divorce Casserole, revisited.
There’s a great article I’ve shared before: “The Casserole Rules”. Back in 2019, I wrote a piece on this topic and shared a decent attempt at some Cracker Barrel Hashbrowns. I’ve even give a sermon in 2020 about divorce casseroles. And I probably will again at some point. Recently, I was reminded of this topic…
Creative Youth Ministry
I’m about ask the question that I don’t think my other youth workers would want me to say aloud but I am pretty sure there are a bunch of us who are already thinking this, but… is social media is killing the creativity of youth ministry? There. I said it. I’m part of multiple youth…
Stop hiding.
Earlier I read a report from Buzzfeed News about a teacher who was fired from his job because he repeatedly and intentionally mis-gendered a student. He hid behind the claim that his “religious beliefs” prevented him from lying, and by calling a student (who had transitioned from female to male) by the male pronouns that…
I am not your therapist.
I didn’t go to school for therapy or counseling. I went to seminary school. I don’t have a DSM on my shelf. I have a lot of Bibles and books with big words about theology, but I am not equipped to be your therapist. Yes, I can help you spiritually. I can talk to you…
Divorce casserole.
Recently someone on the great book of faces posted this article called “The Casserole Rules.” Written by Jill English, her entry takes notice of how churches make casseroles for days if you are sick or there’s been a death in your family. But not when a marriage falls apart. No, there’s no casserole when one…
Calling All Clergy: Let Someone Else Hold Space for You.
This morning I found myself in a position I almost rarely do. I was hurt by something small, like really small in the grand scheme of things. And it involved a person I’ve come to trust and regard as a close friend in the last year or so. For what feels like the first time…
Calling All Youth Pastors: Stop Wasting Food in the Name of Fun!
Last night I picked up a random book I had gotten a year or so ago. It was a book of youth ministry fails that had been collected from a Facebook group I’m a member of for youth workers. For the most part, it’s hilarious. You name it, it’s happened. And so many of the…
Calling all clergy: Don’t settle.
Recently I was telling a colleague and friend who is in the midst of job hunting for a call in the PCUSA, “Don’t settle, wait for the right call.” Easier said than done. You get out of seminary and you need a job. And for the majority of us, you need a call to get…
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