One of the first lessons I have learned on this renewal leave: just because you think you are helping doesn’t mean you actually are. You have to ask. You have to find out what they really need. You have to probe beyond their own discomfort and go a little deeper. You have to listen. For…
Ministry in Heels
life as a young adult pastor
Salvaging Faith in 2020
It’s been a while. A long time since I just sat down to write without a deadline looming. Without it being someone else’s project. Without the pressure to say just the right thing for a specific audience. It’s been a long time since I wrote just for me. I started this blog in the summer…
Six Week Challenge
I stepped on the scale about two months ago and the number was higher than my previous personal highest. I was busy, in the midst of finishing up writing a book, and knew I didn’t have the time and energy to do anything about it. Now that its a few months later, the book is…
Everyday, Ordinary Worship
It’s Sunday morning. According to the Pew Research Center, even though 77% of adults in Iowa claim the Christian faith, only 36% of those people commit to going to church worship at least once a week. Another 33% attend anywhere between twice a month to a few times a year. If we are generous with…
When strangers meet in the woods..
I was run/walking today on a wooded path alone. Three guys were heading towards me, drinking beers, joking around. My heart rate increased. I did that mental calculus, wondering if something happened, and I screamed, would anyone hear. As they got closer, one of the guys said: good morning, ma’am! So I said good morning…
every piece of the pie
I’ve always liked playing Trivial Pursuit. The questions were always so difficult, but I like that the game aims to help you be well-rounded in your knowledge. The goal is to get every single different piece of the pie filled in… only then do you win the game. Maybe that’s because I’ve always been somewhat of…
Dirt, plants, and hope #gc2016
In the Scriptures, Jeremiah buys a field as the Babylonians are on the doorstep. It is a symbol of hope, promise, and faithfulness. The Lord of heavenly forces, the God of Israel, proclaims: Houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land. – Jeremiah 35:15 One of the last things on my to do list…
Pastoral Persona
A while back, Verily put out an article: Three Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Post Something on Social Media The basic three questions are these: Is it useful? Is it truthful? Is it fruitful? I had shared the article with other pastors because I thought that the three questions raised in the article are…