Being inclusive does not (should not!) cultivate a spirit of exclusivity of others. Sounds simple, right? Apparently some think it’s not so easy. So, let me break it down. I recently had a meeting about a group I am a part of. We are an inclusive group rooted in PCUSA theology where we uplift all…
Category: PCUSA
Redirecting elephants in Cuba.
Two Mondays ago, I arrived in Havana, Cuba, for the first of my two scheduled visits of 2017. Had you asked me a year ago if I would ever go to Cuba, I don’t know that I could have said yes. Not because I didn’t want to, but it was never on my radar. Until…
letter: (noun) a direct or personal written or printed message addressed to a person or organization; origin: middle english, 13th century
The following letter was written about a year ago while I was surfing around on church websites trying to glean how to write some blurbs for a project I was working on. Dear Church People, I love you. I love you all, so much. I am one of you. Even though we are all different,…
I want to be part of an authentic church.
Today, on my day off, in between car washes, trips to the store, the mechanic, and multiple loads of laundry, I read two things: First, I read a piece from the Washington Post by Rachel held Evans that one of my youth leaders sent me this morning from April of 2015 called, Want millennials back…
Life comes from death.
This week, I’ve had the privilege of spending the week with the Montreat College Conference with over 1,500 college students and some of my dearest friends in life and in ministry as I serve as the conference pastor, a workshop leader, and the conference artist. It’s been a blast. Even as I battle a lingering…
proactive: (adjective) controlling a situation by making things happen or by preparing for future problems; origin: 1993
Tonight, I’m starting a new practice. I’m practicing being proactive. Long gone are the days of being much younger when things fell into my lap. Competition is getting stiffer. And younger. Seriously, younger than me. And I’m not old. I’m just older than a lot of other people looking for first calls! I spend atleast 20…
space: (noun) the amount of an area, room, surface, etc., that is empty or available for use; an area that is used or available for a specific purpose; origin: middle english, 14th century
My office is one of my spaces. I have several of them. There’s my apartment, my car, the booths at Chick-fil-A down the street from work, the member’s lounge at the Art Institute of Chicago, Creation Lab, and a few others that I like to drop into from time to time. But my office is…
certification: (noun) the act of making something official; official approval to do something professional or legally; origin: 15th century
I have been certified to do many things in my life. I’ve been certified as a lifeguard, as a challenge course instructor, as a babysitter in high school, in wilderness first aid, on ropes courses and climbing walls. Yesterday, I got a new certification: certified ready to receive a call. For those of you not…
sandwich: (noun) two pieces of bread with something (such as meat, peanut butter, etc.) between them; origin: john montagu, 4th earl of sandwich, first known use 1762
I love food. I love food like I love Jesus: unconditionally and with all my being. I can’t live without either, because without them, I am left unfulfilled. Literally. I am one of those people who eats her feelings. Because I’m Southern and that’s what you do. I won’t speak for all Southerners, but the…
attention: (noun) the act or power of carefully thinking about, listening to, or watching someone or something; notice, interest, awareness; special care or treatment; origin: 14th century, middle english
I think I’m convinced: not everyone needs Lent. I hear what you’re saying, “you have to have Lent to get to Easter.” Well, sure you do. But not really. Because no matter what, Easter is coming, whether you like it or not. (And who doesn’t like Easter? Are you some sort of Easter-hating jerk?). Jesus…
koine: (noun) the greek language commonly spoken and written in eastern Mediterranean countries in the Hellenistic and Roman periods; origin: first known use, 1901
Last night, I found myself sitting up late into the night attempting to understand the Koine Greek translations that I had done when I was in the midst of my seminary education. Thinking back on my Hebrew and Greek classes, I remember them fondly. In fact, in my mind, I was quite good at them….
nighttime: (noun) the time of darkness between one day and the next; the time of day when no light form the sun can be seen; origin: 14th century
Sleep is something that has pervaded me for much of my life. Not by my choice, mind you. To know what it feels like to have no sleep when your body is desperately begging for it but refuses to give it to you is to know what it feels like to have your body betray…
thetravellingtheologian 