Christianity is an untidy faith. It’s full of grace and therefore full of the breaking of rules and the loving of people despite their breaking of rules. Our guy–God in the flesh, the Savior of all creation–gets his ass whipped, his hands and feet nailed to a freaking tree trunk and his gut sliced open like a Christmas turkey*. His cousin had his head cut off*. … Continue reading Messy Religion
This week, as a pastor, I… Considered what teenage boys need to know about God, Taught about how to pray for San Bernadino, Completed my last task (a thank you letter) for a now defunct congregation, Met a homeless mom with 5 kids, a minivan and a surprisingly easy smile, Wondered how to teach generosity in the year to come, Encountered a man who had … Continue reading This Week in Ministry
This week in ministry, I… passed out chocolate kisses, drank beer and ate pizza, scrubbed urinals at the shelter, hung up garland poorly, wrote to the Bishop, read a book on my phone, thought a lot about John the Baptist, wondered what to say or do about terrorism and gun violence, recruited parishioners for a new ministry. Things are getting busier, but most of what there is to … Continue reading This Week in Ministry
The flowers guy was right. And we should start planting flowers every time an act of violence ruins our day. The idea is to resist ugliness by adding beauty. Honestly, I want as much gun control legislation as you can get. But the counter-arguments are probably somewhat true: bad guys don’t care about laws, etc., etc. Furthermore, I have limited confidence in legislation. I am … Continue reading A Spirituality of Peace in an Age of Violence
TEXT Luke 1:8-20 Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. Then there appeared to him an angel of … Continue reading Bible Leads: Luke 1:8-20
Sometimes I feel like I ought to wear my collar during the week, just to better illustrate the things I do as a pastor. This week I just did a lot of seeing other people in various capacities. So this we, as a pastor, I … ate a ton of Thanksgiving food, almost 2 weeks before the actual day. stumbled over praying for Paris, then wrote … Continue reading This Week in Ministry
This past week I: Thought about Jesus as a bad Thanksgiving guest Got to drive a MAX train Rediscovered the challenge of talking with teenage boys Learned a lot about Salt Engaged racial disparities in my county Prayed contemplatively…twice Got paid to eat pancakes…twice I also got back in the learning to run groove. A very busy but good week. Continue reading This Week in Ministry
This week’s Humpday Devo is about Veteran’s Day, known originally as Armistice Day. Scripture Matthew 8:5-13 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, in terrible distress.’ And he said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.’ The centurion answered, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my … Continue reading Humpday Devo: Veteran’s Day/Armistice Day
This is an excerpt from some brainstorming writing I did for a recent clergy gathering… “My contribution conceptually in the group has been to help them see the opportunities before them…I told [them] that PNW and O/I needed to get over themselves and realize the blessing of NOT having cultural Christianity breathing down their necks all the time…Ministry up here to our “None brothers & sisters” … Continue reading Ministry in the Great Northwest
TEXT Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 7 Crazy things you can do with salt Tour Inside the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland (pictured below) History of Salt We throw out an insane amount … Continue reading Bible Leads: Matthew 5:13
